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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Fluoride

City of Brighton

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.

 

32

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20140.730 ppm220.730 ppm
20150.615 ppm220.600 ppm - 0.630 ppm
20160.594 ppm11110.490 ppm - 0.780 ppm
20170.589 ppm880.530 ppm - 0.670 ppm
20180.586 ppm770.550 ppm - 0.650 ppm
20190.655 ppm220.610 ppm - 0.700 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 Result
2014-03-180.730 ppm
2014-03-180.730 ppm
2015-03-090.600 ppm
2015-03-090.630 ppm
2016-01-040.540 ppm
2016-02-010.540 ppm
2016-02-010.650 ppm
2016-02-010.630 ppm
2016-03-020.510 ppm
2016-04-010.780 ppm
2016-08-020.640 ppm
2016-09-010.660 ppm
2016-10-030.560 ppm
2016-11-010.490 ppm
2016-12-010.530 ppm
2017-01-040.530 ppm
2017-02-010.550 ppm
2017-02-070.620 ppm
2017-02-070.630 ppm
2017-08-020.560 ppm
2017-09-010.570 ppm
2017-10-020.670 ppm
2017-12-040.580 ppm
2018-01-030.550 ppm
2018-02-010.570 ppm
2018-02-200.650 ppm
2018-02-200.650 ppm
2018-03-010.560 ppm
2018-06-040.550 ppm
2018-07-020.570 ppm
2019-05-230.610 ppm
2019-05-230.700 ppm