In utero exposure to fluoride and cognitive development delay in children

Abstract

The objective of this research was to evaluate the association between in utero exposure to Fluoride (F) and Mental Development in children . The sample was composed of 65 mothers and children. Levels of F in tap and bottled water and F in urine were quantified with the ion selective method for each trimester of pregnancy during the follow up. The values reported for each trimester for F in tap water were 2.6 ± 1.1 mg/l, 3.1 ± 1.1 mg/l and 3.7 ± 1.0 mg/l. F levels in urine during the three trimesters of pregnancy were 1.9 ± 1.0 mg/l in the first, 2.0 ± 1.1 mg/l in the second and 2.7 ± 1.1 mg/l in the third and over 96% of the urine samples in the mother had F levels higher than 0.63 mg/l. Three months after birth, the BDI-II scale was applied to assess mental development index (MDI) and psychomotor development index (PDI). After adjusting for confounding factors (gestational age, marginalization index and consumption of tap water), in a multiple linear regression model, the MDI showed an inverse association with F levels in maternal urine for the second trimester (β= -22.294; p=0.005). Our results suggest that the effects of F on cognitive development can begin during pregnancy.