Fluoride
Camp Pendleton (South)
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.
Samples
Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)
Samples exceeding
health guidelines
Testing results - average by year
| Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 2014 | 0.383 ppm | 21 | 21 | 0.110 ppm - 0.660 ppm |
| 2015 | 0.342 ppm | 24 | 24 | 0.110 ppm - 0.500 ppm |
| 2016 | 0.362 ppm | 20 | 18 | ND - 0.520 ppm |
| 2017 | 0.434 ppm | 23 | 23 | 0.110 ppm - 0.840 ppm |
| 2018 | 0.390 ppm | 28 | 28 | 0.120 ppm - 0.800 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.385 ppm | 25 | 25 | 0.130 ppm - 0.830 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-01-27 | 9590-039-1100 | 0.490 ppm |
| 2014-01-29 | 9590-032-1115 | 0.410 ppm |
| 2014-02-13 | 9590-030-1115 | 0.410 ppm |
| 2014-04-23 | 9590-009-0944 | 0.340 ppm |
| 2014-04-23 | 9590-034-1115 | 0.360 ppm |
| 2014-04-24 | 9590-022-1115 | 0.430 ppm |
| 2014-04-25 | 9590-014-1150 | 0.660 ppm |
| 2014-04-25 | 9590-036-1115 | 0.510 ppm |
| 2014-04-28 | 9590-035-1210 | 0.330 ppm |
| 2014-05-21 | 9590-030-1015 | 0.360 ppm |
| 2014-05-21 | 9590-039-1050 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2014-05-23 | 9590-049-1030 | 0.110 ppm |
| 2014-06-11 | 9590-043-1140 | 0.400 ppm |
| 2014-06-12 | 9590-044-1220 | 0.400 ppm |
| 2014-06-24 | 9590-037-1100 | 0.340 ppm |
| 2014-07-09 | 9590-049-1030 | 0.130 ppm |
| 2014-07-14 | 9590-039-1120 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2014-07-17 | 9590-030-1140 | 0.410 ppm |
| 2014-10-28 | 9590-030-1115 | 0.380 ppm |
| 2014-11-06 | 9590-049-1155 | 0.130 ppm |
| 2014-11-20 | 9590-039-1255 | 0.450 ppm |
| 2015-01-16 | 9590-030-1035 | 0.330 ppm |
| 2015-01-21 | 9590-049-1315 | 0.130 ppm |
| 2015-01-26 | 9590-039-1210 | 0.420 ppm |
| 2015-03-13 | 9590-043-1336 | 0.400 ppm |
| 2015-03-13 | 9590-044-1310 | 0.400 ppm |
| 2015-03-16 | 9590-020-1220 | 0.290 ppm |
| 2015-03-16 | 9590-037-1250 | 0.410 ppm |
| 2015-03-18 | 9590-019-1050 | 0.310 ppm |
| 2015-03-18 | 9590-034-1242 | 0.310 ppm |
| 2015-03-19 | 9590-018-0800 | 0.340 ppm |
| 2015-03-24 | 9590-022-1105 | 0.440 ppm |
| 2015-04-01 | 9590-036-1025 | 0.460 ppm |
| 2015-04-09 | 9590-014-0945 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2015-05-11 | 9590-039-1145 | 0.480 ppm |
| 2015-05-12 | 9590-049-1135 | 0.120 ppm |
| 2015-05-20 | 9590-030-1000 | 0.330 ppm |
| 2015-07-24 | 9590-030-1020 | 0.380 ppm |
| 2015-07-27 | 9590-039-1300 | 0.490 ppm |
| 2015-08-13 | 9590-035-1046 | 0.300 ppm |
| 2015-08-24 | 9590-049-1145 | 0.110 ppm |
| 2015-08-24 | 9590-051-1230 | 0.310 ppm |
| 2015-10-14 | 9590-039-1230 | 0.480 ppm |
| 2015-10-14 | 9590-049-1120 | 0.120 ppm |
| 2015-10-15 | 9590-030-1215 | 0.340 ppm |
| 2016-01-13 | 9590-049-1230 | ND |
| 2016-02-05 | 9590-039-1115 | 0.490 ppm |
| 2016-02-19 | 9590-030-1050 | 0.370 ppm |
| 2016-04-21 | 9590-034-1236 | 0.360 ppm |
| 2016-04-21 | 9590-035-1205 | 0.280 ppm |
| 2016-04-26 | 9590-022-1105 | 0.440 ppm |
| 2016-04-26 | 9590-037-1220 | 0.350 ppm |
| 2016-04-27 | 9590-019-1248 | 0.330 ppm |
| 2016-04-28 | 9590-043-1145 | 0.420 ppm |
| 2016-04-28 | 9590-044-1102 | 0.420 ppm |
| 2016-04-29 | 9590-014-1130 | 0.460 ppm |
| 2016-04-29 | 9590-036-1048 | 0.510 ppm |
| 2016-05-03 | 9590-030-1200 | 0.340 ppm |
| 2016-05-05 | 9590-039-1115 | 0.520 ppm |
| 2016-05-05 | 9590-051-1045 | 0.300 ppm |
| 2016-05-12 | 9590-020-1130 | 0.310 ppm |
| 2016-08-03 | 9590-039-1200 | 0.480 ppm |
| 2016-08-08 | 9590-030-1130 | ND |
| 2016-11-01 | 9590-030-1115 | 0.360 ppm |
| 2016-11-21 | 9590-039-1325 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2017-01-09 | 9590-030-1140 | 0.370 ppm |
| 2017-02-15 | 9590-039-1120 | 0.840 ppm |
| 2017-03-07 | 9590-036-1110 | 0.520 ppm |
| 2017-03-08 | 9590-014-1105 | 0.730 ppm |
| 2017-03-09 | 9590-020-1115 | 0.340 ppm |
| 2017-03-09 | 9590-035-1150 | 0.320 ppm |
| 2017-03-09 | 9590-051-1230 | 0.300 ppm |
| 2017-03-17 | 9590-019-1146 | 0.320 ppm |
| 2017-03-17 | 9590-034-1240 | 0.370 ppm |
| 2017-03-17 | 9590-037-1115 | 0.430 ppm |
| 2017-03-23 | 9590-022-1250 | 0.430 ppm |
| 2017-03-30 | 9590-043-1135 | 0.440 ppm |
| 2017-03-30 | 9590-044-1115 | 0.450 ppm |
| 2017-05-10 | 9590-039-1215 | 0.840 ppm |
| 2017-05-11 | 9590-030-1245 | 0.120 ppm |
| 2017-07-13 | 9590-030-1300 | 0.380 ppm |
| 2017-07-21 | 9590-049-1310 | 0.130 ppm |
| 2017-07-24 | 9590-039-1030 | 0.720 ppm |
| 2017-11-01 | 9590-039-1200 | 0.720 ppm |
| 2017-11-17 | 9590-032-1045 | 0.340 ppm |
| 2017-12-04 | 9590-030-1245 | 0.400 ppm |
| 2017-12-13 | 9590-018-0740 | 0.360 ppm |
| 2017-12-28 | 9590-049-1110 | 0.110 ppm |
| 2018-01-09 | 9590-032-1320 | 0.320 ppm |
| 2018-01-25 | 9590-039-1120 | 0.700 ppm |
| 2018-02-05 | 9590-030-1315 | 0.320 ppm |
| 2018-02-08 | 9590-014-1235 | 0.680 ppm |
| 2018-02-12 | 9590-036-1335 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2018-02-12 | 9590-049-1110 | 0.150 ppm |
| 2018-02-14 | 9590-018-0740 | 0.360 ppm |
| 2018-03-14 | 9590-051-1242 | 0.290 ppm |
| 2018-03-15 | 9590-020-1130 | 0.300 ppm |
| 2018-03-15 | 9590-035-1200 | 0.300 ppm |
| 2018-03-21 | 9590-034-1245 | 0.340 ppm |
| 2018-03-22 | 9590-043-1125 | 0.440 ppm |
| 2018-03-22 | 9590-044-1020 | 0.410 ppm |
| 2018-03-26 | 9590-022-1340 | 0.390 ppm |
| 2018-03-29 | 9590-019-1225 | 0.300 ppm |
| 2018-03-29 | 9590-037-1302 | 0.360 ppm |
| 2018-04-24 | 9590-039-1220 | 0.720 ppm |
| 2018-04-25 | 9590-030-1300 | 0.340 ppm |
| 2018-05-01 | 9590-049-1300 | 0.140 ppm |
| 2018-05-16 | 9590-032-1230 | 0.310 ppm |
| 2018-07-23 | 9590-039-1145 | 0.800 ppm |
| 2018-07-25 | 9590-030-1152 | 0.430 ppm |
| 2018-07-27 | 9590-032-0822 | 0.170 ppm |
| 2018-07-27 | 9590-049-0930 | 0.390 ppm |
| 2018-11-06 | 9590-030-1245 | 0.330 ppm |
| 2018-11-13 | 9590-032-1245 | 0.300 ppm |
| 2018-11-13 | 9590-049-1230 | 0.120 ppm |
| 2018-11-19 | 9590-039-1100 | 0.720 ppm |
| 2019-01-09 | 9590-030-1230 | 0.350 ppm |
| 2019-01-23 | 9590-039-1200 | 0.720 ppm |
| 2019-01-28 | 9590-032-0945 | 0.360 ppm |
| 2019-01-28 | 9590-049-1040 | 0.150 ppm |
| 2019-01-30 | 9590-020-1052 | 0.300 ppm |
| 2019-01-31 | 9590-034-1100 | 0.320 ppm |
| 2019-02-21 | 9590-014-1320 | 0.670 ppm |
| 2019-02-28 | 9590-051-1042 | 0.300 ppm |
| 2019-03-01 | 9590-035-1102 | 0.290 ppm |
| 2019-03-15 | 9590-043-1035 | 0.400 ppm |
| 2019-03-15 | 9590-044-1120 | 0.400 ppm |
| 2019-03-21 | 9590-019-1136 | 0.320 ppm |
| 2019-03-21 | 9590-037-1100 | 0.400 ppm |
| 2019-05-07 | 9590-032-0835 | 0.340 ppm |
| 2019-05-07 | 9590-049-1025 | 0.130 ppm |
| 2019-05-08 | 9590-039-1215 | 0.700 ppm |
| 2019-05-09 | 9590-030-1100 | 0.310 ppm |
| 2019-07-24 | 9590-039-1200 | 0.830 ppm |
| 2019-07-30 | 9590-032-0730 | 0.330 ppm |
| 2019-07-30 | 9590-049-0830 | 0.150 ppm |
| 2019-09-19 | 9590-030-0638 | 0.290 ppm |
| 2019-10-30 | 9590-030-1045 | 0.320 ppm |
| 2019-11-12 | 9590-039-1220 | 0.810 ppm |
| 2019-11-14 | 9590-032-0710 | 0.300 ppm |
| 2019-11-14 | 9590-049-0810 | 0.140 ppm |