The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) on February 9 published a critique of the National Toxicology Program's (NTP) second draft of a monograph on fluoride and neurotoxicity.
The NTP monograph, titled "Systematic Review of Fluoride Exposure and Neurodevelopmental and Cognitive Health Effects," concluded that fluoride negatively affects people's cognitive abilities. But NASEM stated in a press release that the document "still falls short of providing clear and convincing documentation of the evidence to support its conclusions."
In a February 11 statement, the American Fluoridation Society (AFS), which supports community water fluoridation, lauded NASEM's report.
"We welcome NASEM's new review because it should bring clarity to this issue," said AFS President Dr. Johnny Johnson. "For more than a year, opponents of water fluoridation have weaponized the NTP's draft monograph as they tried to pressure local communities to end water fluoridation."
