Fluoride
City of Mesa
Fluoride occurs naturally in surface and groundwater and is also added to drinking water by many water systems. Read More.
Fluoride has been promoted as a chemical that reduces dental cavities. Yet it is now well-established that fluoride primarily exerts its protective effects through topical mechanisms, such as sodium fluoride in toothpaste and mouthwash. In contrast, long-term ingestion of fluoride in water increases dental fluorosis, which includes mottling, pitting and weakening of the teeth. EPA's maximum legal limit is set at 4 parts per million (ppm) to prevent skeletal fluorosis, a condition where bones become brittle and more susceptible to fractures, although these effects may occur at lower doses.
Even fluoride levels of 0.7 ppm, the amount of fluoride in drinking water recommended by the U.S. Public Health Service, can result in too much fluoride for bottle-fed babies. EWG recommends that caregivers mix baby formula with fluoride-free water. The National Toxicology Program is investigating the potential for low doses of fluoride to alter thyroid function and childhood brain development.
Testing results - average by year
Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
---|---|---|---|---|
2013 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
2014 | 0.650 ppm | 1 | 1 | 0.650 ppm |
2015 | 0.318 ppm | 30 | 22 | ND - 1.15 ppm |
2016 | 0.703 ppm | 2 | 2 | 0.693 ppm - 0.712 ppm |
2017 | 0.700 ppm | 1 | 1 | 0.700 ppm |
2018 | 0.373 ppm | 30 | 23 | ND - 1.12 ppm |
2019 | 0.405 ppm | 15 | 10 | ND - 1.19 ppm |
ppm = parts per million
State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines
EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 4 ppm
ppm = parts per million
All test results
Date | Lab ID | Result |
---|---|---|
2014-10-08 | 14100297 | 0.650 ppm |
2015-04-07 | 15040273 | 0.320 ppm |
2015-04-07 | 15040272 | 0.340 ppm |
2015-04-07 | 15040249 | 0.672 ppm |
2015-04-14 | 15040400 | ND |
2015-04-21 | 15040606 | 0.696 ppm |
2015-04-28 | 15040768 | ND |
2015-04-29 | 15040771 | 0.211 ppm |
2015-04-29 | 15040772 | 0.303 ppm |
2015-07-06 | 15070077 | 0.291 ppm |
2015-07-06 | 15070076 | 0.453 ppm |
2015-07-06 | 15070074 | 0.798 ppm |
2015-07-06 | 15070073 | 0.624 ppm |
2015-07-07 | 15070120IOC | 0.301 ppm |
2015-07-07 | 15070119I | 0.332 ppm |
2015-07-07 | 15070117 | 0.393 ppm |
2015-07-13 | 15070247I | ND |
2015-07-13 | 15070249 | 0.261 ppm |
2015-07-13 | 15070251 | 0.373 ppm |
2015-07-13 | 15070250 | 1.15 ppm |
2015-07-14 | 15070255 | 0.481 ppm |
2015-07-14 | 15070254 | 0.424 ppm |
2015-07-14 | 15070253 | 0.268 ppm |
2015-07-14 | 15070252I | ND |
2015-07-20 | 15070391 | 0.272 ppm |
2015-07-21 | 15070448 | ND |
2015-07-21 | 15070447 | 0.208 ppm |
2015-07-21 | 15070449 | ND |
2015-07-21 | 15070450 | ND |
2015-07-21 | 15070451 | ND |
2015-07-27 | 15070541 | 0.380 ppm |
2016-06-08 | 16060165I | 0.712 ppm |
2016-10-04 | 16100039 | 0.693 ppm |
2017-10-10 | 17100401 | 0.700 ppm |
2018-04-02 | 18030942 | 0.226 ppm |
2018-04-04 | 18030948 IOC | 0.274 ppm |
2018-04-09 | 18040100 IOC | 0.222 ppm |
2018-04-09 | 18040098 | ND |
2018-04-10 | 18040101 | ND |
2018-04-16 | 18040222 IOC | 0.271 ppm |
2018-04-16 | 18040220 IOC | ND |
2018-04-17 | 18040224 | ND |
2018-04-17 | 18040223 IOC | 0.679 ppm |
2018-04-24 | 18040504 IOC | 0.314 ppm |
2018-04-24 | 18040503 IOC | 0.315 ppm |
2018-04-24 | 18040502 IOC | ND |
2018-04-30 | 18040540 IOC | ND |
2018-05-10 | 18050425 | 0.444 ppm |
2018-08-07 | 18080202 IOC | 0.681 ppm |
2018-10-11 | 18100452 | 0.326 ppm |
2018-10-15 | 18100506 | 0.320 ppm |
2018-10-15 | 18100484 | 1.12 ppm |
2018-10-16 | 18100519 | 0.766 ppm |
2018-10-16 | 18100517 | 0.638 ppm |
2018-10-17 | 18100557 | 0.716 ppm |
2018-10-17 | 18100555 IOC | 0.734 ppm |
2018-10-18 | 18100597 | 0.736 ppm |
2018-10-22 | 18100638 | 0.350 ppm |
2018-10-22 | 18100640 | ND |
2018-10-23 | 18100673 | 0.341 ppm |
2018-10-24 | 18100683 | 0.478 ppm |
2018-10-24 | 18100681 | 0.453 ppm |
2018-10-29 | 18100752 | 0.387 ppm |
2018-11-26 | 18110662 IOC | 0.395 ppm |
2019-03-27 | 19030655 | 0.645 ppm |
2019-03-28 | 19030580 | 0.346 ppm |
2019-04-08 | 19040180 | ND |
2019-04-08 | 19040182 | ND |
2019-04-10 | 19040260 | ND |
2019-04-11 | 19040287 | ND |
2019-04-15 | 19040331 | 0.421 ppm |
2019-04-16 | 19040354 | 0.648 ppm |
2019-04-16 | 19040352 | 0.242 ppm |
2019-04-24 | 19040522 | ND |
2019-08-05 | 19080019 | 1.19 ppm |
2019-08-08 | 19080129 | 0.697 ppm |
2019-08-15 | 19080280 | 0.700 ppm |
2019-08-26 | 19080657 | 0.722 ppm |
2019-09-19 | 19090600 | 0.464 ppm |