Fluoride
South Bethany
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 0.895 ppm | 23 | 23 | 0.630 ppm - 1.80 ppm |
| 2015 | 0.417 ppm | 20 | 20 | 0.197 ppm - 0.819 ppm |
| 2016 | 0.303 ppm | 23 | 23 | 0.120 ppm - 0.583 ppm |
| 2017 | 0.475 ppm | 21 | 19 | ND - 0.820 ppm |
| 2018 | 0.748 ppm | 22 | 22 | 0.510 ppm - 1.03 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.641 ppm | 20 | 19 | ND - 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-01-15 | L4901040-1 | 0.889 ppm |
| 2014-01-15 | L4901040-2 | 0.889 ppm |
| 2014-02-06 | L4934220-1 | 0.861 ppm |
| 2014-03-06 | L4969340-1 | 1.80 ppm |
| 2014-03-06 | L4969340-2 | 0.908 ppm |
| 2014-04-10 | L5011849-1 | 1.06 ppm |
| 2014-05-07 | L5050455-1 | 0.734 ppm |
| 2014-06-11 | L5105470-1 | 0.760 ppm |
| 2014-06-18 | L5117633-1 | 0.801 ppm |
| 2014-06-30 | L5127589-1 | 0.852 ppm |
| 2014-07-08 | L5148534-1 | 0.850 ppm |
| 2014-07-08 | L5148534-2 | 0.847 ppm |
| 2014-08-07 | L5197312-1 | 0.864 ppm |
| 2014-08-07 | L5197312-2 | 0.692 ppm |
| 2014-09-18 | L5251487-1 | 1.03 ppm |
| 2014-09-25 | L5257242-1 | 0.630 ppm |
| 2014-10-17 | L5288577-1 | 0.771 ppm |
| 2014-10-22 | L5293422-1 | 0.981 ppm |
| 2014-11-12 | L5323206-1 | 0.659 ppm |
| 2014-11-20 | L5329667-1 | 0.923 ppm |
| 2014-12-12 | L5359094-1 | 0.719 ppm |
| 2014-12-16 | S590445 | 1.11 ppm |
| 2014-12-16 | S590446 | 0.950 ppm |
| 2015-01-12 | L5402873-1 | 0.639 ppm |
| 2015-02-27 | L5468140-1 | 0.618 ppm |
| 2015-03-12 | L5492761-1 | 0.733 ppm |
| 2015-04-20 | L5543105-1 | 0.819 ppm |
| 2015-05-14 | L5590639-1 | 0.372 ppm |
| 2015-06-03 | L5628228-1 | 0.250 ppm |
| 2015-06-03 | L5628228-2 | 0.476 ppm |
| 2015-06-24 | L5665887-1-QC | 0.249 ppm |
| 2015-06-24 | L5665888-A | 0.387 ppm |
| 2015-07-13 | L5702067-1 | 0.255 ppm |
| 2015-07-13 | L5702067-2 | 0.310 ppm |
| 2015-08-11 | L5759332-1 | 0.251 ppm |
| 2015-08-11 | L5759332-2 | 0.407 ppm |
| 2015-09-11 | L5812347-1 | 0.247 ppm |
| 2015-09-11 | L5812437-2 | 0.371 ppm |
| 2015-10-05 | L5852555-1 | 0.362 ppm |
| 2015-11-03 | L5900132-1 | 0.356 ppm |
| 2015-11-20 | L5921829-1 | 0.684 ppm |
| 2015-12-01 | L5946124-1 | 0.197 ppm |
| 2015-12-14 | L5961012-1 | 0.359 ppm |
| 2016-01-11 | L6011109-1 | 0.206 ppm |
| 2016-01-11 | L6011110-1A | 0.190 ppm |
| 2016-01-20 | L6025633-1A | 0.441 ppm |
| 2016-01-20 | L6025647-1 | 0.394 ppm |
| 2016-02-05 | L6060069-1 | 0.263 ppm |
| 2016-03-01 | L6109014-1 | 0.238 ppm |
| 2016-04-08 | L6173802-1 | 0.264 ppm |
| 2016-05-04 | L6236736-1 | 0.344 ppm |
| 2016-05-23 | L6264430-1 | 0.138 ppm |
| 2016-06-02 | L6296435-1 | 0.321 ppm |
| 2016-06-07 | L6302635-1 | 0.120 ppm |
| 2016-07-06 | L6359961-1 | 0.222 ppm |
| 2016-07-06 | L6359961-2 | 0.422 ppm |
| 2016-08-02 | L6404809-1 | 0.222 ppm |
| 2016-08-02 | L6404809-2 | 0.370 ppm |
| 2016-08-08 | L6413069-1 | 0.462 ppm |
| 2016-08-08 | L6413069-2 | 0.583 ppm |
| 2016-09-01 | L6445051-1 | 0.406 ppm |
| 2016-09-07 | L6459250-1 | 0.281 ppm |
| 2016-10-06 | L6503415-1 | 0.377 ppm |
| 2016-11-02 | L6540685-1 | 0.242 ppm |
| 2016-12-06 | L6581854-1 | 0.174 ppm |
| 2016-12-22 | L6605865-1 | 0.288 ppm |
| 2017-01-09 | L6632399-1 | 0.279 ppm |
| 2017-02-06 | L6672634-1 | 0.208 ppm |
| 2017-03-03 | L6710365-1 | ND |
| 2017-04-21 | L6770513-1 | 0.330 ppm |
| 2017-04-26 | L6775603-1 | 0.332 ppm |
| 2017-05-05 | L6796892-1 | 0.517 ppm |
| 2017-05-05 | L6796892-2 | 0.435 ppm |
| 2017-06-02 | L6835703-1 | 0.484 ppm |
| 2017-06-02 | L6835703-2 | 0.581 ppm |
| 2017-07-13 | L6903763-1 | ND |
| 2017-07-13 | L6903763-2 | 0.506 ppm |
| 2017-07-19 | L6910743-1 | 0.710 ppm |
| 2017-08-03 | L6930459-2 | 0.762 ppm |
| 2017-08-03 | L6930459-3 | 0.595 ppm |
| 2017-08-30 | L6944270 | 0.741 ppm |
| 2017-08-30 | L6944272 | 0.488 ppm |
| 2017-09-14 | L6951960-1 | 0.678 ppm |
| 2017-09-14 | L6951960-2 | 0.427 ppm |
| 2017-10-04 | L6957799-1 | 0.458 ppm |
| 2017-11-03 | L6968536-1 | 0.820 ppm |
| 2017-12-12 | 7121383-01 | 0.630 ppm |
| 2018-01-24 | 8011838-01 | 0.650 ppm |
| 2018-01-24 | 8011839-01 | 0.610 ppm |
| 2018-02-15 | 8021689-01 | 0.850 ppm |
| 2018-02-15 | 8021690-01 | 0.510 ppm |
| 2018-03-14 | 8031611-01 | 0.620 ppm |
| 2018-04-03 | 8034715-01 | 0.730 ppm |
| 2018-04-26 | 8034714-01 | 0.640 ppm |
| 2018-05-01 | 8051504-01 | 0.620 ppm |
| 2018-05-30 | 8055288-01 | 0.730 ppm |
| 2018-06-06 | 8061440-01 | 0.840 ppm |
| 2018-06-20 | 8061441-01 | 0.910 ppm |
| 2018-07-03 | 8071595-01 | 0.790 ppm |
| 2018-07-03 | 8071596-01 | 1.03 ppm |
| 2018-08-15 | 8076308-01 | 0.860 ppm |
| 2018-09-13 | 8091658-01 | 0.830 ppm |
| 2018-09-26 | 8091659-01 | 0.710 ppm |
| 2018-09-26 | 8101075-01 CHME | 0.830 ppm |
| 2018-09-26 | 8101077-01 | 0.780 ppm |
| 2018-10-16 | 8101770-01 | 0.850 ppm |
| 2018-10-18 | 8101771-01 | 0.800 ppm |
| 2018-11-16 | 8111571-01 | 0.660 ppm |
| 2018-12-05 | 8114922-01 | 0.610 ppm |
| 2019-01-08 | 8124635-01 | 0.800 ppm |
| 2019-02-06 | 9021369-01 | 0.830 ppm |
| 2019-03-12 | 9031335-01 | 0.650 ppm |
| 2019-04-10 | 9042031-01 | 0.820 ppm |
| 2019-05-01 | 9051487-01 | 0.720 ppm |
| 2019-05-28 | 9055237-01 | 0.690 ppm |
| 2019-06-04 | 9055495-01 | 0.800 ppm |
| 2019-06-19 | 9055496-01 | 0.690 ppm |
| 2019-07-02 | 9071992-01 | 0.770 ppm |
| 2019-07-02 | 9071993-01 | 0.610 ppm |
| 2019-08-15 | 9081897-01 | 0.630 ppm |
| 2019-08-15 | 9083940-01 | ND |
| 2019-08-22 | 9084989-01 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2019-08-26 | 9083228-01 SCHE | 0.540 ppm |
| 2019-08-26 | 9083233-01 SCHE | 0.570 ppm |
| 2019-09-04 | 9085890-01 | 0.660 ppm |
| 2019-09-04 | 9091682-01 | 0.450 ppm |
| 2019-10-01 | 9101691-01 | 0.750 ppm |
| 2019-11-05 | 9105767-01 | 0.620 ppm |
| 2019-12-04 | 9114231-01 | 0.610 ppm |