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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Fluoride

Lee County Utilities

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.

 

42

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2013N/A00N/A
20140.306 ppm54ND - 0.820 ppm
20150.0800 ppm220.0800 ppm
20160.183 ppm1310ND - 0.340 ppm
20170.376 ppm108ND - 0.630 ppm
20180.0950 ppm880.0500 ppm - 0.130 ppm
20190.0450 ppm42ND - 0.0900 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 Result
2014-02-050.820 ppm
2014-03-030.530 ppm
2014-04-160.120 ppm
2014-04-160.0600 ppm
2014-10-08ND
2015-10-120.0800 ppm
2015-10-120.0800 ppm
2016-02-08ND
2016-02-08ND
2016-03-010.340 ppm
2016-03-010.320 ppm
2016-03-010.340 ppm
2016-03-010.320 ppm
2016-03-030.330 ppm
2016-03-03ND
2016-05-090.0500 ppm
2016-05-090.0500 ppm
2016-06-070.290 ppm
2016-06-070.290 ppm
2016-10-030.0500 ppm
2017-02-010.630 ppm
2017-02-010.630 ppm
2017-03-020.490 ppm
2017-03-020.490 ppm
2017-04-030.200 ppm
2017-04-030.200 ppm
2017-04-030.560 ppm
2017-04-030.560 ppm
2017-10-05ND
2017-10-05ND
2018-06-110.110 ppm
2018-06-110.110 ppm
2018-07-090.0900 ppm
2018-07-090.0900 ppm
2018-10-010.130 ppm
2018-10-010.130 ppm
2018-10-160.0500 ppm
2018-10-160.0500 ppm
2019-01-070.0900 ppm
2019-01-070.0900 ppm
2019-10-07ND
2019-10-07ND