Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Fluoride

Travis Air Force Base Water Treatment Plant - Vallejo

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.

 

27

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20180.475 ppm21ND - 0.950 ppm
20190.230 ppm53ND - 0.850 ppm
20200.212 ppm53ND - 0.800 ppm
20210.246 ppm550.110 ppm - 0.760 ppm
20220.192 ppm53ND - 0.680 ppm
20230.198 ppm53ND - 0.690 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
2018-09-10CA4810015_001_001-2018091012270.950 ppm
2018-10-09CA4810015_003_003-201810090750ND
2019-01-07CA4810015_003_003-201901070825ND
2019-04-02CA4810015_003_003-2019040207450.198 ppm
2019-07-01CA4810015_003_003-201907010805ND
2019-09-12CA4810015_001_001-2019091211150.850 ppm
2019-10-08CA4810015_003_003-2019100809000.1000 ppm
2020-01-07CA4810015_003_003-2020010708550.101 ppm
2020-04-01CA4810015_003_003-2020040108200.158 ppm
2020-07-13CA4810015_003_003-202007130945ND
2020-09-14CA4810015_001_001-2020091411020.800 ppm
2020-10-05CA4810015_003_003-202010050835ND
2021-01-11CA4810015_003_003-2021011108420.110 ppm
2021-04-01CA4810015_003_003-2021040108180.130 ppm
2021-07-07CA4810015_003_003-2021070708150.120 ppm
2021-09-13CA4810015_001_001-2021091311330.760 ppm
2021-10-04CA4810015_003_003-2021100408050.110 ppm
2022-01-05CA4810015_003_003-2022010509040.140 ppm
2022-04-04CA4810015_003_003-2022040406130.140 ppm
2022-07-06CA4810015_003_003-202207060830ND
2022-09-12CA4810015_001_001-2022091211110.680 ppm
2022-10-04CA4810015_003_003-202210040806ND
2023-01-10CA4810015_003_003-2023011008100.110 ppm
2023-04-04CA4810015_003_003-2023040409300.190 ppm
2023-07-05CA4810015_003_003-202307050730ND
2023-09-11CA4810015_001_001-2023091112590.690 ppm
2023-10-03CA4810015_003_003-202310030835ND