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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Fluoride

Americus

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.

 

20

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20140.287 ppm32ND - 0.450 ppm
20150.540 ppm440.360 ppm - 0.630 ppm
20160.536 ppm550.350 ppm - 0.660 ppm
20170.570 ppm440.490 ppm - 0.620 ppm
20180.660 ppm220.650 ppm - 0.670 ppm
20190.325 ppm21ND - 0.650 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
2014-05-28AI416530.410 ppm
2014-08-28AI51841ND
2014-11-11AI593790.450 ppm
2015-02-19AI652620.540 ppm
2015-04-28AI757590.360 ppm
2015-08-11AI860480.630 ppm
2015-11-05AJ005720.630 ppm
2016-02-24AJ070810.660 ppm
2016-04-14AJ101570.590 ppm
2016-06-06AJ134940.540 ppm
2016-08-01AJ204870.540 ppm
2016-10-18AJ316230.350 ppm
2017-01-30AJ437310.490 ppm
2017-05-03AJ546990.570 ppm
2017-07-25AJ616850.600 ppm
2017-11-20AJ741080.620 ppm
2018-03-06AJ851190.670 ppm
2018-05-21AJ898460.650 ppm
2019-05-02AK16278ND
2019-05-02AK162790.650 ppm