Fluoride

City of Sacramento Main

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.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

161

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	0.135 ppm	41	27	ND - 0.820 ppm
2015	0.189 ppm	15	13	ND - 0.720 ppm
2016	0.148 ppm	31	26	ND - 0.740 ppm
2017	0.107 ppm	29	18	ND - 0.700 ppm
2018	0.148 ppm	25	19	ND - 0.700 ppm
2019	0.165 ppm	20	16	ND - 0.800 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
2014-02-05	2706-042-1140	0.110 ppm
2014-02-05	9054-042-1215	ND
2014-02-06	9054-023-1345	ND
2014-02-19	9054-022-1235	ND
2014-02-21	9054-055-1200	0.120 ppm
2014-02-26	9054-029-0945	0.130 ppm
2014-03-25	9054-050-1030	0.180 ppm
2014-04-11	9054-015-0930	0.130 ppm
2014-04-17	9054-038-1310	0.160 ppm
2014-08-07	9054-002-0930	0.820 ppm
2014-08-07	9054-008-1050	0.800 ppm
2014-09-08	9054-018-1155	0.190 ppm
2014-09-08	9054-027-1010	0.180 ppm
2014-09-08	9054-030-1135	0.190 ppm
2014-09-08	9054-032-0910	0.150 ppm
2014-09-08	9054-037-1030	0.220 ppm
2014-09-08	9054-038-1105	0.200 ppm
2014-09-08	9054-045-0940	0.170 ppm
2014-09-08	9054-056-1050	0.210 ppm
2014-09-22	9054-009-1230	ND
2014-09-22	9054-028-0955	0.140 ppm
2014-09-22	9054-040-1030	0.160 ppm
2014-09-22	9054-041-1100	0.200 ppm
2014-09-22	9054-052-0925	ND
2014-09-22	9054-055-1130	0.180 ppm
2014-10-14	9054-009-0905	ND
2014-10-14	9054-018-1050	ND
2014-10-14	9054-027-0927	ND
2014-10-14	9054-028-0935	ND
2014-10-14	9054-030-1037	0.1000 ppm
2014-10-14	9054-032-0915	ND
2014-10-14	9054-037-0953	0.150 ppm
2014-10-14	9054-038-1025	0.140 ppm
2014-10-14	9054-040-0945	ND
2014-10-14	9054-041-1000	0.130 ppm
2014-10-14	9054-045-1005	ND
2014-10-14	9054-052-0845	ND
2014-10-14	9054-055-1025	ND
2014-10-14	9054-056-0940	0.130 ppm
2014-12-02	9054-017-1050	0.120 ppm
2014-12-03	9054-054-1045	0.110 ppm
2015-01-20	9054-016-1127	0.200 ppm
2015-08-11	9054-002-1005	0.590 ppm
2015-08-11	9054-008-1055	0.720 ppm
2015-10-15	9054-018-1208	0.120 ppm
2015-10-15	9054-027-1100	0.140 ppm
2015-10-15	9054-028-1138	0.110 ppm
2015-10-15	9054-030-1125	0.130 ppm
2015-10-15	9054-032-1026	0.1000 ppm
2015-10-15	9054-034-1307	0.110 ppm
2015-10-15	9054-038-0945	0.140 ppm
2015-10-15	9054-050-1214	0.150 ppm
2015-10-15	9054-052-1030	ND
2015-10-15	9054-054-1056	ND
2015-10-15	9054-055-1340	0.130 ppm
2015-12-03	9054-041-1026	0.190 ppm
2016-02-02	9054-034-1101	0.140 ppm
2016-02-04	9054-037-0950	0.180 ppm
2016-03-01	9054-009-1248	ND
2016-03-14	9054-034-0900	0.140 ppm
2016-04-19	9054-051-1050	0.110 ppm
2016-05-12	9054-040-1220	0.120 ppm
2016-05-31	9054-035-1048	0.130 ppm
2016-06-13	9054-010-1041	ND
2016-07-26	9054-045-1012	0.1000 ppm
2016-07-26	9054-056-1042	0.200 ppm
2016-08-02	9054-002-1005	0.740 ppm
2016-08-02	9054-008-1130	0.730 ppm
2016-10-11	9054-010-1038	ND
2016-10-11	9054-018-1228	0.1000 ppm
2016-10-11	9054-027-1420	0.1000 ppm
2016-10-11	9054-028-1438	0.1000 ppm
2016-10-11	9054-030-1208	0.1000 ppm
2016-10-11	9054-032-1508	0.1000 ppm
2016-10-11	9054-034-1215	0.1000 ppm
2016-10-11	9054-035-1407	0.1000 ppm
2016-10-11	9054-037-1142	0.200 ppm
2016-10-11	9054-038-1157	0.200 ppm
2016-10-11	9054-040-1432	0.1000 ppm
2016-10-11	9054-041-1351	0.200 ppm
2016-10-11	9054-045-1358	0.1000 ppm
2016-10-11	9054-051-1530	0.1000 ppm
2016-10-11	9054-052-1127	ND
2016-10-11	9054-055-1253	0.1000 ppm
2016-10-11	9054-056-1100	0.200 ppm
2016-11-21	9054-009-1255	ND
2016-12-06	9054-054-1015	0.1000 ppm
2017-03-07	9054-023-1130	0.1000 ppm
2017-03-07	9054-042-1010	0.1000 ppm
2017-03-20	9054-022-1108	0.1000 ppm
2017-03-20	9054-029-1230	0.1000 ppm
2017-04-03	9054-015-1008	0.1000 ppm
2017-04-03	9054-017-1112	0.1000 ppm
2017-05-08	9054-018-1113	0.1000 ppm
2017-05-08	9054-027-1252	0.1000 ppm
2017-05-08	9054-028-1238	ND
2017-05-08	9054-030-1044	0.1000 ppm
2017-05-08	9054-037-1147	0.1000 ppm
2017-05-08	9054-038-1206	0.200 ppm
2017-05-08	9054-051-1222	ND
2017-05-09	9054-009-1220	ND
2017-05-09	9054-010-1210	ND
2017-05-09	9054-034-1356	0.1000 ppm
2017-05-09	9054-040-1505	ND
2017-05-09	9054-041-1408	0.1000 ppm
2017-05-09	9054-045-1448	ND
2017-05-09	9054-052-1526	ND
2017-05-09	9054-055-1305	0.1000 ppm
2017-05-09	9054-056-1340	0.1000 ppm
2017-05-22	9054-035-0954	0.1000 ppm
2017-06-20	9054-017-1130	ND
2017-08-02	9054-002-1018	0.700 ppm
2017-08-02	9054-008-1000	0.700 ppm
2017-08-24	9054-017-1105	ND
2017-08-24	9054-032-0912	ND
2017-08-24	9054-054-1300	ND
2018-02-26	9054-027-1030	0.200 ppm
2018-02-26	9054-028-1056	0.1000 ppm
2018-02-26	9054-030-1125	0.1000 ppm
2018-02-26	9054-037-1210	0.200 ppm
2018-02-26	9054-038-1241	0.200 ppm
2018-02-26	9054-040-1316	0.1000 ppm
2018-02-26	9054-041-1433	0.200 ppm
2018-02-26	9054-052-1408	ND
2018-02-27	9054-009-1138	ND
2018-02-27	9054-010-1100	ND
2018-02-27	9054-018-1450	0.1000 ppm
2018-02-27	9054-034-1228	0.200 ppm
2018-02-27	9054-035-1259	0.1000 ppm
2018-02-27	9054-051-1326	0.1000 ppm
2018-04-09	9054-054-1130	ND
2018-04-20	9054-023-1000	ND
2018-04-20	9054-029-2130	0.1000 ppm
2018-04-27	9054-017-1007	0.1000 ppm
2018-04-27	9054-022-1033	ND
2018-04-27	9054-032-1059	0.1000 ppm
2018-04-27	9054-045-1120	0.1000 ppm
2018-04-27	9054-056-1144	0.200 ppm
2018-08-07	9054-002-0950	0.700 ppm
2018-08-07	9054-008-1220	0.700 ppm
2018-09-10	9054-042-1030	0.1000 ppm
2019-02-04	9054-009-1023	ND
2019-02-04	9054-017-1053	0.1000 ppm
2019-02-04	9054-018-1113	0.1000 ppm
2019-02-04	9054-027-1139	0.1000 ppm
2019-02-04	9054-030-1203	0.1000 ppm
2019-02-04	9054-032-1228	0.1000 ppm
2019-02-04	9054-034-0952	0.1000 ppm
2019-02-04	9054-035-1245	0.1000 ppm
2019-02-04	9054-037-1108	0.200 ppm
2019-02-04	9054-038-1027	0.200 ppm
2019-02-04	9054-040-1331	0.1000 ppm
2019-02-04	9054-041-1220	0.200 ppm
2019-02-04	9054-045-1249	0.1000 ppm
2019-02-04	9054-051-1310	0.1000 ppm
2019-02-04	9054-052-1320	ND
2019-02-04	9054-054-1335	ND
2019-02-04	9054-056-1139	0.200 ppm
2019-03-05	9054-042-1140	ND
2019-08-06	9054-002-0940	0.800 ppm
2019-08-06	9054-008-1210	0.700 ppm