(NaturalNews) A study published in the journal Environmental Health reinforces what many people have known for a long time: Increasing levels of fluoride in drinking water is harmful to health. While its findings are disturbing, the study is good news for those who have been told time and again that fluoride is safe, as it arms them with even more evidence of the harms caused by this chemical.

Titled, "Exposure to fluoridated water and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder prevalence among children and adolescents in the United States: an ecological association," the study noted that a "1% increase in artificial fluoridation prevalence in 1992 was associated with approximately 67,000 to 131,000 additional ADHD diagnoses from 2003 to 2011."⁽¹⁾

Proof that children's neurological issues linked to fluoride in drinking water

That's right, a mere 1% increase in the fluoride levels of drinking water was found to cause ADHD cases up into the hundreds of thousands. Just as important is the fact that the study goes back to fluoridation in 1992, showing that detrimental effects exist some 20 years later. This proves that ongoing usage of a chemical, even in just one year's time, can cause it to linger in the body for years. Therefore, the importance of considering potential future health drawbacks rather than jumping on the what's-in-it-for-me-now bandwagon, as many pro-fluoridation folks do, is vital.

The study analyzed information pertaining to children between four and 17 years old, which was collected over several years from the National Survey of Children's Health. The prevalence of state water fluoridation was also collected, based on information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).⁽¹⁾

"Parents reported higher rates of medically-diagnosed ADHD in their children in states in which a greater proportion of people receive fluoridated water from public water supplies," the study concludes. It's aim was to delve deeper into the "epidemiological and animal-based studies [which] have suggested that prenatal and postnatal fluoride exposure has adverse effects on neurodevelopment."⁽¹⁾

Health experts suggest lowering amount of fluoride in drinking water, but it's not for the reason it should be

Interestingly, about two months after this study came out, the Department of Health and Human Services announced that the amount of fluoride in drinking water be lowered to nearly half of its current recommended range of 0.7 to 1.2 milligrams. It's the first time since the 1960s that the federal heath officials have suggested such a change; they now say that exactly 0.7 milligrams, instead of the broader range, should be put in place.⁽²⁾

Sounds good, doesn't it? The recommendation, yes. The reason for it, no.

Unfortunately, they're not doing it because they were motivated by the study published in Environmental Health. Sadly, a group that has "health" as part of their name is homing in on a vain reason, saying that increased access to fluorides (toothpastes, mouthwashes, etc.) is leading to fluorosis, which creates small, white streaks on people's teeth.

Of this news to reduce fluorides in drinking water, Barbara Gooch, a dentist with the CDC, said, "The only documented risk of water fluoridation is fluorosis, and it is primarily a cosmetic risk." She added that fluorosis, at least in the milder form, "is not a health risk."⁽²⁾

Meanwhile, according to the same organization -- the CDC -- "The percentage of children with an ADHD diagnosis continues to increase, from 7.8% in 2003 to 9.5% in 2007 and to 11.0% in 2011."⁽³⁾

Isn't it time, especially when study after study comes out showing the harmful effects of fluoride in drinking water -- from neurological problems like ADHD to hypothyroidism -- that people see the problem for what it is rather than grasping at straws to diminish the severity of the issue?

Sources for this article include:

(1) http://www.ehjournal.net

(2) http://www.npr.org

(3) http://www.cdc.gov