Fluoride: Potential Developmental Neurotoxicity

Topic Overview
Background Information
The National Toxicology Program (NTP) conducted a systematic review of the scientific research on fluoride exposure and neurodevelopmental and cognitive health effects in humans. The report underwent two peer reviews by the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM). Both times, the NASEM committee stated that NTP had not adequately supported its conclusions that fluoride should be classified as a cognitive neurodevelopmental hazard for humans.
Based on the NASEM review, the NTP removed the hazard conclusion classification of fluoride and made additional changes, resulting in two draft documents, 1) an NTP Monograph on the State of the Science that considered research published through May 2020, and 2) a manuscript on the meta-analysis of the data that considered research published through November 2021.
In May 2022, NTP Director Rick Woychik, Ph.D., tasked the NTP Board of Scientific Counselors (BSC) to conduct additional scientific review of these documents. A BSC working group is evaluating the input from the NASEM committee, federal agencies, and external experts about the scientific strength of the NTP fluoride report and analysis. The BSC is expected to make its recommendations to Dr. Woychik in early 2023. Dr. Woychik will consider the recommendations and make the decision about publication and dissemination of the NTP Fluoride Monograph and submission of the meta-analysis manuscript to a journal.
Documents
Date | Document |
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Oct 07, 2015 | Federal Register notice requesting information on nominated substances |
Nov 19, 2015 | Proposed NTP Evaluation on Fluoride Concept |
Dec 02, 2015 | Presentation: NTP Evaluation of Fluoride Exposure and Potential for Developmental Neurobehavioral Effects |
Jul 01, 2016 | Completed Systematic Review Preferred Citation: NTP (National Toxicology Program). 2016. Systematic Literature Review on the Effects of Fluoride on Learning and Memory in Animal Studies. NTP Research Report 1. Research Triangle Park, NC: National Toxicology Program. |
Jun 01, 2017 | NTP Protocol for Systematic Review of Human, Animal, and Mechanistic Evidence |
May 29, 2019 | NTP Protocol for Systematic Review of Human, Animal, and Mechanistic Evidence - First Revision |
Sept 16, 2020 | NTP Protocol for Systematic Review of Human, Animal, and Mechanistic Evidence - Second Revision |
Sept 16, 2020 | Literature Search Results |
Meetings & Events
Date | Event | Event Type | Materials |
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Oct 19, 2020 | Peer Review of the Revised NTP Monograph on Fluoride Exposure and Neurodevelopmental and Cognitive Health Effects by the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine | Expert Panels - Other Panels |
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Nov 06, 2019 | Peer Review of the Draft NTP Monograph on Systematic Review of Fluoride Exposure and Neurodevelopmental and Cognitive Health Effects by the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine | Expert Panels - Other Panels |
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Dec 01, 2015 | NTP Board of Scientific Counselors Meeting | Board of Scientific Counselors |
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Supplemental materials for some events, meetings, and workshops prior to 2019 have been archived. These archived materials frequently include presentations, background materials, and public comments. Email us or use our contact form to request a list or copy of archived materials.
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