Fluoride Consumption During Pregnancy May Harm Fetal Brain Development

Researchers at the Keck School of Medicine of USC carried out the first study in the U.S. exploring the connection between prenatal fluoride exposure and the social, emotional, and behavioral development of children.

Almost 75% of the U.S. population gets drinking water with added fluoride, a measure initiated in 1945 to combat tooth decay. However, recent research indicates that fluoride consumption during pregnancy—a crucial time for brain development—may harm the fetus.