Washington - (Saba):
A new study has revealed that children in the United States are exposed to fluoridated drinking water and are at a 526% increased risk of developing autism spectrum disorder.
A team from the Maryland Chronic Disease Institute studied the health records of more than 73,000 children in Florida over a ten-year period.
The results showed that children who lived in areas with fluoridated water throughout their childhood were more likely to develop autism and intellectual disabilities than children who were not exposed to fluoride, according to Western media.
About two-thirds of the total US population receives fluoridated water from public water networks.
The study indicates a clear link between continued exposure to fluoride and an increased risk of several health problems, including autism and developmental delays.
Despite these exciting results, some medical experts question the validity of the study due to limitations, such as not knowing how much fluoride each child consumed or whether genetic factors might have influenced the results.
Fluoride has been added to drinking water in America since the 1940s to reduce tooth decay and has proven effective in this regard. However, this study raises new questions about its effect on brain development.
US Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vocal critic of the country's fluoridation policy, revealed this week that he intends to formally request the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to stop recommending the chemical be added to water systems nationwide.
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