Fluoride
Burbank Water Department
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 | 0.577 ppm | 22 | 22 | 0.450 ppm - 0.670 ppm |
| 2015 | 0.532 ppm | 23 | 23 | 0.440 ppm - 0.660 ppm |
| 2016 | 0.499 ppm | 20 | 20 | 0.400 ppm - 0.580 ppm |
| 2017 | 0.508 ppm | 25 | 25 | 0.440 ppm - 0.580 ppm |
| 2018 | 0.489 ppm | 21 | 21 | 0.390 ppm - 0.550 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.502 ppm | 24 | 24 | 0.400 ppm - 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-01-05 | 9590-053-0910 | 0.630 ppm |
| 2014-01-06 | 9590-053-0715 | 0.620 ppm |
| 2014-02-10 | 9590-053-0700 | 0.630 ppm |
| 2014-02-28 | 9590-053-0715 | 0.590 ppm |
| 2014-04-01 | 9590-026-0945 | 0.460 ppm |
| 2014-04-01 | 9590-028-1055 | 0.470 ppm |
| 2014-04-02 | 9590-023-0855 | 0.510 ppm |
| 2014-04-02 | 9590-025-1035 | 0.490 ppm |
| 2014-04-02 | 9590-027-1145 | 0.450 ppm |
| 2014-04-02 | 9590-029-1235 | 0.490 ppm |
| 2014-04-07 | 9590-024-1035 | 0.480 ppm |
| 2014-04-07 | 9590-053-0705 | 0.620 ppm |
| 2014-05-01 | 9590-053-0805 | 0.650 ppm |
| 2014-07-04 | 9590-053-0720 | 0.610 ppm |
| 2014-07-07 | 9590-053-0700 | 0.620 ppm |
| 2014-08-22 | 9590-053-0640 | 0.640 ppm |
| 2014-09-02 | 9590-053-0725 | 0.670 ppm |
| 2014-09-12 | 9590-053-0930 | 0.670 ppm |
| 2014-10-03 | 9590-053-0930 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2014-10-06 | 9590-053-0710 | 0.650 ppm |
| 2014-11-14 | 9590-053-1000 | 0.570 ppm |
| 2014-12-05 | 9590-053-1000 | 0.580 ppm |
| 2015-01-02 | 9590-053-1445 | 0.650 ppm |
| 2015-01-05 | 9590-053-0840 | 0.660 ppm |
| 2015-02-07 | 9590-053-0950 | 0.560 ppm |
| 2015-03-06 | 9590-053-1000 | 0.510 ppm |
| 2015-04-03 | 9590-053-0645 | 0.580 ppm |
| 2015-04-06 | 9590-053-0730 | 0.530 ppm |
| 2015-04-14 | 9590-023-1035 | 0.490 ppm |
| 2015-04-14 | 9590-024-1145 | 0.490 ppm |
| 2015-04-14 | 9590-025-1110 | 0.450 ppm |
| 2015-04-14 | 9590-028-0850 | 0.450 ppm |
| 2015-04-15 | 9590-026-1035 | 0.440 ppm |
| 2015-04-15 | 9590-029-0910 | 0.480 ppm |
| 2015-05-03 | 9590-053-0908 | 0.560 ppm |
| 2015-06-05 | 9590-053-0640 | 0.530 ppm |
| 2015-07-03 | 9590-053-0930 | 0.540 ppm |
| 2015-07-06 | 9590-053-0730 | 0.530 ppm |
| 2015-08-01 | 9590-053-1030 | 0.550 ppm |
| 2015-09-06 | 9590-053-1200 | 0.570 ppm |
| 2015-10-03 | 9590-053-1100 | 0.530 ppm |
| 2015-10-05 | 9590-053-0700 | 0.560 ppm |
| 2015-11-06 | 9590-053-0910 | 0.580 ppm |
| 2015-11-10 | 9590-027-1020 | 0.450 ppm |
| 2015-12-04 | 9590-053-1000 | 0.550 ppm |
| 2016-01-01 | 9590-053-0800 | 0.580 ppm |
| 2016-01-04 | 9590-053-1045 | 0.550 ppm |
| 2016-02-05 | 9590-053-1000 | 0.580 ppm |
| 2016-03-04 | 9590-053-0700 | 0.530 ppm |
| 2016-04-01 | 9590-053-1000 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2016-04-13 | 9590-028-1335 | 0.450 ppm |
| 2016-04-13 | 9590-029-1405 | 0.460 ppm |
| 2016-04-13 | 9590-053-0800 | 0.530 ppm |
| 2016-04-18 | 9590-023-1010 | 0.400 ppm |
| 2016-04-19 | 9590-024-1400 | 0.440 ppm |
| 2016-04-19 | 9590-025-1440 | 0.480 ppm |
| 2016-04-20 | 9590-026-1325 | 0.440 ppm |
| 2016-04-20 | 9590-027-1405 | 0.430 ppm |
| 2016-05-05 | 9590-053-0730 | 0.540 ppm |
| 2016-07-02 | 9590-053-0730 | 0.510 ppm |
| 2016-07-05 | 9590-053-0830 | 0.520 ppm |
| 2016-08-05 | 9590-053-0950 | 0.510 ppm |
| 2016-10-01 | 9590-053-0700 | 0.510 ppm |
| 2016-10-03 | 9590-053-0920 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2016-11-05 | 9590-053-1030 | 0.520 ppm |
| 2017-01-03 | 9590-053-0720 | 0.520 ppm |
| 2017-01-05 | 9590-053-0800 | 0.580 ppm |
| 2017-02-03 | 9588-053-1000 | 0.450 ppm |
| 2017-03-03 | 9588-053-1500 | 0.510 ppm |
| 2017-04-06 | 9588-053-1400 | 0.520 ppm |
| 2017-04-10 | 9588-053-0800 | 0.550 ppm |
| 2017-04-11 | 9588-024-1045 | 0.480 ppm |
| 2017-04-11 | 9588-027-1345 | 0.450 ppm |
| 2017-04-12 | 9588-028-0915 | 0.440 ppm |
| 2017-04-13 | 9588-026-1130 | 0.460 ppm |
| 2017-04-13 | 9588-029-0850 | 0.510 ppm |
| 2017-05-04 | 9588-025-1000 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2017-05-05 | 9588-053-0900 | 0.520 ppm |
| 2017-06-02 | 9588-053-0745 | 0.540 ppm |
| 2017-06-05 | 9588-053-0745 | 0.540 ppm |
| 2017-06-30 | 9588-053-0950 | 0.530 ppm |
| 2017-07-03 | 9588-053-0700 | 0.520 ppm |
| 2017-07-21 | 9588-053-1000 | 0.560 ppm |
| 2017-08-03 | 9588-053-0700 | 0.480 ppm |
| 2017-08-15 | 9588-023-0940 | 0.460 ppm |
| 2017-09-01 | 9588-053-1010 | 0.520 ppm |
| 2017-10-02 | 9588-053-0710 | 0.530 ppm |
| 2017-10-06 | 9588-053-1255 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2017-11-03 | 9588-053-0840 | 0.530 ppm |
| 2017-12-01 | 9588-053-0700 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2018-01-02 | 9588-053-0800 | 0.470 ppm |
| 2018-01-05 | 9588-053-0730 | 0.490 ppm |
| 2018-02-02 | 9588-053-0730 | 0.530 ppm |
| 2018-03-02 | 9588-053-0700 | 0.480 ppm |
| 2018-04-02 | 9588-053-0700 | 0.480 ppm |
| 2018-04-03 | 9588-023-0935 | 0.450 ppm |
| 2018-04-03 | 9588-028-1040 | 0.410 ppm |
| 2018-04-06 | 9588-027-0905 | 0.390 ppm |
| 2018-04-06 | 9588-029-1020 | 0.430 ppm |
| 2018-04-06 | 9588-053-0915 | 0.480 ppm |
| 2018-04-12 | 9588-024-1035 | 0.510 ppm |
| 2018-05-03 | 9588-053-1030 | 0.540 ppm |
| 2018-06-01 | 9588-053-0930 | 0.490 ppm |
| 2018-07-02 | 9588-053-0700 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2018-07-06 | 9588-053-0925 | 0.530 ppm |
| 2018-08-03 | 9588-053-1000 | 0.550 ppm |
| 2018-09-07 | 9588-053-1130 | 0.520 ppm |
| 2018-10-01 | 9588-053-0800 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2018-10-05 | 9588-053-0710 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2018-11-02 | 9588-053-1100 | 0.490 ppm |
| 2018-12-07 | 9588-053-0700 | 0.530 ppm |
| 2019-01-04 | 9588-053-0800 | 0.460 ppm |
| 2019-01-07 | 9588-053-0705 | 0.480 ppm |
| 2019-02-01 | 9588-053-0920 | 0.510 ppm |
| 2019-03-04 | 9588-053-0600 | 0.570 ppm |
| 2019-04-01 | 9588-053-0720 | 0.580 ppm |
| 2019-04-02 | 9588-023-0930 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2019-04-02 | 9588-024-1030 | 0.460 ppm |
| 2019-04-03 | 9588-025-0930 | 0.450 ppm |
| 2019-04-03 | 9588-026-1035 | 0.400 ppm |
| 2019-04-03 | 9588-028-0820 | 0.430 ppm |
| 2019-04-04 | 9588-027-0930 | 0.450 ppm |
| 2019-04-04 | 9588-029-1050 | 0.490 ppm |
| 2019-04-04 | 9588-053-0930 | 0.520 ppm |
| 2019-05-02 | 9588-053-0955 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2019-06-07 | 9588-053-0730 | 0.650 ppm |
| 2019-07-01 | 9588-053-0815 | 0.580 ppm |
| 2019-07-05 | 9588-053-0645 | 0.540 ppm |
| 2019-08-01 | 9588-053-0700 | 0.530 ppm |
| 2019-09-05 | 9588-053-1020 | 0.590 ppm |
| 2019-10-03 | 9588-053-0745 | 0.490 ppm |
| 2019-10-07 | 9588-053-0700 | 0.430 ppm |
| 2019-11-15 | 9588-053-0700 | 0.420 ppm |
| 2019-11-18 | 9588-053-0700 | 0.420 ppm |
| 2019-12-05 | 9588-053-0720 | 0.600 ppm |