Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Fluoride

Henlopen Acres, Town of

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.

 

22

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20180.324 ppm54ND - 0.725 ppm
20190.177 ppm110.177 ppm
20200.713 ppm330.452 ppm - 0.982 ppm
20210.149 ppm110.149 ppm
20220.254 ppm110.254 ppm
20230.635 ppm119ND - 1.83 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
2018-06-12S8000070.725 ppm
2018-07-10S7925780.323 ppm
2018-07-10S7997620.318 ppm
2018-08-06S7999570.253 ppm
2018-09-19S824549ND
2019-02-25S8562280.177 ppm
2020-02-10S9325990.982 ppm
2020-04-10S9436460.706 ppm
2020-05-22S9440040.452 ppm
2021-10-26S11176030.149 ppm
2022-06-22S12091920.254 ppm
2023-01-05S12564751.53 ppm
2023-02-15S11502410.620 ppm
2023-03-14S12721360.807 ppm
2023-04-13S12710000.593 ppm
2023-05-02S11505000.248 ppm
2023-06-12S12773810.483 ppm
2023-07-25S12985330.184 ppm
2023-09-26S1304889ND
2023-10-17S1314485ND
2023-11-06S13146721.83 ppm
2023-12-20S13140870.683 ppm