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Impact of early life fluoride exposure on cognitive and behavioural outcomes in children

Award Number: R21ES027044
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCES
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/30/2016
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/31/2019

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Impact of early life fluoride exposure on cognitive and behavioural outcomes in children - Project Summary / Abstract Water fluoridation is a population health intervention used in Canada and the United States to control tooth decay. The safety of administering fluoride via public drinking water is uncertain. Recent human studies suggest that exposure to fluoride in drinking water may alter thyroid function, increase blood lead levels, lower IQ, and increase the risk of developing ADHD. Still, many of the human studies included groups who were exposed to higher levels of fluoride and they often lacked a comparison group or sensitive measures of behavior or learning. Given widespread exposure to fluoridated water, the US National Research Council concluded in a 2007 report that rigorous epidemiological research is urgently needed to address the controversy about the safety of this public health intervention. The aim of this study is to determine if prenatal and childhood exposure to fluoride impacts learning abilities and behavioral problems in young Canadian children, with particular emphasis on vulnerable populations. The present proposal will build upon an exceptional national pregnancy cohort study: “Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals” (MIREC). The MIREC cohort is ideally suited to address the research objectives because the requisite information (urine during pregnancy and child outcomes) was collected in a large sample that varied as a function of municipal water fluoridation. Fluoride concentrations will be measured using stored urine samples obtained from a sample of 1960 pregnant women living in ten large Canadian cities – half of which add fluoride to municipal water. Out of 1207 participants who were approached, standardized questionnaires assessing behavioral outcomes are available for 898 children (74% of sample) living in select cities across Canada. In addition, standardized cognitive assessments, or IQ scores, are available for 610 of the children in the birth cohort. The study will also examine whether neurodevelopmental outcomes differ among children who ingested infant formula using fluoridated versus non-fluoridated water. Finally, we will examine whether serial urinary fluoride concentrations in pregnant women are higher in women who live in communities that fluoridate their municipal drinking water. The results of this study will inform public health officials and decision makers about “real-time” fluoride levels of pregnant women living in fluoridated and non-fluoridated communities. It will also provide important information about whether fluoride exposure adversely impacts children’s behaviors or learning abilities. This information will direclty impact decision making concerning the safety of water fluoridation among vulnerable populations and is therefore an area of high


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2020	2017	YORK UNIVERSITY	4700 KEELE ST	NORTH YORK	ON	M3J 1P3		CAN	Environmental Health	000	2	1/3/2020	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2017 ( Subtotal = $151,023 )
2017	2017	YORK UNIVERSITY	4700 KEELE ST, YORK RESEARCH TOWER, 5TH FL	NORTH YORK	ON	M3J 1P3		CAN	Environmental Health	001	2	9/13/2017	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$64,893
2017	2017	YORK UNIVERSITY	4700 KEELE ST, YORK RESEARCH TOWER, 5TH FL	NORTH YORK	ON	M3J 1P3		CAN	Environmental Health	000	2	9/7/2017	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$86,130
														Subtotal = $151,023

Issue Date FY: 2016 ( Subtotal = $210,553 )
2016	2016	YORK UNIVERSITY	4700 KEELE STREET	OTTAWA, ONTARIO				CAN	Environmental Health	000	1	9/13/2016	NEW	$210,553
														Subtotal = $210,553

Grand Total All Awards = $361,576

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Impact of early life fluoride exposure on cognitive and behavioural outcomes in children

Award Number: R21ES027044

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCES

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/30/2016

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/31/2019

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