Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Fluoride

Desert Sky Dwid

Fluoride occurs naturally in surface and groundwater and is also added to drinking water by many water systems to prevent cavities and support oral health in people.

In 2015, the Department of Health and Human Services updated its recommendation of an optimal level of 0.7 parts per million, or ppm, added to drinking water based on the health benefits of tooth decay prevention. Studies have shown that fluoride added to community water systems at this level reduces dental cavities, especially in children.

And studies have conclusively shown that fluoride in toothpaste and mouthwash can also provide these benefits. Read More.

Health Concerns

Although the HHS-recommended level of 0.7 ppm can help promote oral health in children and adults, this level is likely too high for bottle-fed babies. EWG recommends that caregivers mix baby formula with fluoride-free water.

And fluoride in water at higher levels can be detrimental for everyone, especially children.

Long-term ingestion of higher levels of fluoride in water increases dental fluorosis, which includes mottling, pitting and weakening of the teeth in children.

A 2024 authoritative assessment by the National Toxicology Program found that higher levels of fluoride exposure, such as drinking water containing more than 1.5 ppm of fluoride, are associated with lower IQ in children. The conclusion was based on studies in human populations outside of the U.S.

Affecting systems with naturally occurring fluoride, 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 fracture. But these effects may occur at lower levels of exposure, raising concerns that the current limit may not adequately protect public health.

 

96

Samples

8

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018N/A00N/A
20190.574 ppm3915ND - 6.10 ppm
20201.95 ppm1310ND - 5.99 ppm
20210.235 ppm1716ND - 0.510 ppm
2022ND130ND
20230.464 ppm141ND - 6.50 ppm

ppm = parts per million

State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL): 4 ppm

ppm = parts per million

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2019-02-2052728-020.200 ppm
2019-02-2052728-01ND
2019-02-2052728-300.480 ppm
2019-02-2052728-29ND
2019-02-2052728-286.10 ppm
2019-02-2052728-27ND
2019-02-2052728-25ND
2019-02-2052728-23ND
2019-02-2052728-22ND
2019-02-2052728-21ND
2019-02-2052728-140.210 ppm
2019-02-2052728-13ND
2019-02-2052728-12ND
2019-02-2052728-11ND
2019-02-2052728-10ND
2019-02-2052728-090.570 ppm
2019-02-2052728-080.240 ppm
2019-02-2052728-07ND
2019-02-2052728-05ND
2019-02-2052728-04ND
2019-03-1052853-050.270 ppm
2019-03-1052853-12ND
2019-03-1052853-110.260 ppm
2019-03-1052853-105.80 ppm
2019-03-1052853-09ND
2019-03-1052853-07ND
2019-03-1052853-06ND
2019-03-1052853-03ND
2019-03-1052853-04ND
2019-03-1052853-085.80 ppm
2019-04-0253068-12ND
2019-04-0253068-230.960 ppm
2019-04-0253068-20ND
2019-04-0253068-130.380 ppm
2019-04-0253068-090.250 ppm
2019-04-0253068-060.650 ppm
2019-04-0253068-05ND
2019-04-0253068-04ND
2019-04-0253068-020.200 ppm
2020-12-2220L2595-135.99 ppm
2020-12-2220L2595-125.94 ppm
2020-12-2220L2595-110.680 ppm
2020-12-2220L2595-100.690 ppm
2020-12-2220L2595-09ND
2020-12-2220L2595-080.300 ppm
2020-12-2220L2595-060.200 ppm
2020-12-2220L2595-050.310 ppm
2020-12-2220L2595-040.180 ppm
2020-12-2220L2595-03ND
2020-12-2220L2595-025.08 ppm
2020-12-2220L2595-01ND
2020-12-2220L2595-075.97 ppm
2021-01-2021A2327-040.450 ppm
2021-01-2021A2327-07ND
2021-01-2021A2327-030.390 ppm
2021-01-2021A2327-020.210 ppm
2021-12-0921L1322-050.170 ppm
2021-12-0921L1322-130.230 ppm
2021-12-0921L1322-120.240 ppm
2021-12-0921L1322-110.260 ppm
2021-12-0921L1322-100.130 ppm
2021-12-0921L1322-090.110 ppm
2021-12-0921L1322-080.1000 ppm
2021-12-0921L1322-070.210 ppm
2021-12-0921L1322-060.120 ppm
2021-12-0921L1322-040.510 ppm
2021-12-0921L1322-030.370 ppm
2021-12-0921L1322-020.370 ppm
2021-12-0921L1322-010.120 ppm
2022-06-15550-185685-11IOCND
2022-06-15550-185685-9IOCND
2022-06-15550-185685-8IOCND
2022-06-15550-185685-7IOCND
2022-06-15550-185685-6IOCND
2022-06-15550-185685-5IOCND
2022-06-15550-185685-4IOCND
2022-06-15550-185685-2IOCND
2022-06-15550-185685-14IOCND
2022-06-15550-185685-13IOCND
2022-06-15550-185685-12IOCND
2022-06-15550-185685-10IOCND
2022-06-15550-185685-3IOCND
2023-06-23550-203846-13ND
2023-06-23550-203846-9ND
2023-06-23550-203846-8ND
2023-06-23550-203846-7ND
2023-06-23550-203846-6ND
2023-06-23550-203846-56.50 ppm
2023-06-23550-203846-4ND
2023-06-23550-203846-3ND
2023-06-23550-203846-2ND
2023-06-23550-203846-12ND
2023-06-23550-203846-11ND
2023-06-23550-203846-10ND
2023-06-23550-203846-1ND
2023-07-1323G1688-01ND