Susan Goldhaber on Fluoride, IQ Studies, and the Battle Between MAHA and the ADA

Susan Goldhaber, writer for the American Council on Science and Health and a former EPA researcher, joins the Health Policy Podcast to examine the renewed debate over fluoride in drinking water. With decades of experience studying fluoride standards, Goldhaber explains the history of fluoridation — from early 20th-century dental discoveries to its adoption as a major public health measure after World War II. The conversation explores why the EPA is conducting a new toxicity assessment, the controversy surrounding recent National Toxicology Program findings linking higher fluoride levels to potential IQ effects, and the arguments from both sides of the debate. Goldhaber breaks down the science behind fluoride exposure levels, discusses how today's broader sources of fluoride complicate the issue, and weighs the growing influence of the "Make America Healthy Again" movement against the longstanding position of the American Dental Association. As legal challenges and regulatory reviews unfold, this episode examines where the science stands — and where the battle over fluoridation may head next.