The possibility of fluoride being pumped into Norfolk's drinking water to help solve the county's dental crisis has sparked controversy.
Green county councillor Paul Neale said he was "very concerned" about the potential move, in the light of studies linking higher levels of fluoride exposure with lower IQ in children.
"I know there's three eminent professors who have sent a report to the government questioning things.
"There has been evidence of issues with foetal development and IQ."
Mr Neale was referring to how a federal agency in the United States determined "with moderate confidence" a link between higher levels of fluoride exposure and lower IQ in children.
The National Toxicology Programme based its conclusion on studies involving fluoride levels at about twice the recommended limit for drinking water.
A federal judge later cited that study in ordering the US Environmental Protection Agency to further regulate fluoride in drinking water.
US District Judge Edward Chen cautioned it was not certain the amount of fluoride typically added to water was causing lower IQ in children, but he concluded mounting research points to an unreasonable risk it could be.
He ordered the EPA to take steps to lower that risk, but did not say what those measures should be.
Cindy Marsh, Norfolk County Council public health consultant said fluoride was a naturally-occurring mineral, but levels in Norfolk were too low to help improve oral health.
She said 10pc of the population in the UK had artificially fluoridated water and statistics showed it had an impact on dental health.
She said: "The four chief medical officers of the UK all support water fluoridation as a safe and effective public health measure, especially for children and to narrow health inequalities."
Mr Neale said he did not dispute fluoride could improve dental health, but said: "It's more the point that do we have the right amount of evidence that there's not other detrimental issues?
"I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but I do worry that if you start sticking one chemical in water, what will be the next go-to thing in the future?
"Putting fluoride in water is just a quick fix when you have to look at why we have issues with everybody's dental health, which is the lack of NHS funding for dental care.
"Trying to solve it by sticking something in the water is not the answer, so I'm very, very concerned about that."
Brian Long, the Conservative chairman of the communities select committee, where Mr Neale made his remarks, said it was important the council had the "best information available" when it come to deciding how to proceed.
Some studies have claimed an association with hip fracture, Down’s syndrome, kidney stones, bladder cancer or osteosarcoma - a cancer of the bone.
However, the UK's chief medical officers said: "There is conflicting evidence to support these claims and prevailing public health opinion is now that there is no significant association between water fluoridation and these conditions."
That means the government would cover the cost, reimburse water companies for adding the fluoride, with no impact on customer bills.
The Conservative-controlled council has said there would be consultation with the public before any future application is made.
The move comes amid a dental crisis, with people struggling to find dentists providing NHS treatment.
Among five-year-olds, Norfolk and Waveney had the highest prevalence of tooth decay in the East of England, at 23.8pc, just above the national average of 23.7pc.
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