Fluoride
Lake Alfred, City of
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.
Testing results - average by year
Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | 0.380 ppm | 2 | 2 | 0.300 ppm - 0.460 ppm |
2015 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
2016 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
2017 | 0.619 ppm | 28 | 28 | 0.292 ppm - 0.976 ppm |
2018 | 0.469 ppm | 42 | 33 | ND - 0.814 ppm |
2019 | 0.526 ppm | 41 | 41 | 0.265 ppm - 0.835 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 |
---|---|
2014-08-27 | 0.460 ppm |
2014-08-27 | 0.300 ppm |
2017-07-05 | 0.292 ppm |
2017-07-05 | 0.306 ppm |
2017-08-15 | 0.648 ppm |
2017-08-15 | 0.648 ppm |
2017-08-15 | 0.648 ppm |
2017-08-15 | 0.648 ppm |
2017-08-15 | 0.648 ppm |
2017-08-15 | 0.648 ppm |
2017-08-15 | 0.648 ppm |
2017-08-15 | 0.648 ppm |
2017-08-15 | 0.648 ppm |
2017-08-15 | 0.648 ppm |
2017-08-15 | 0.648 ppm |
2017-08-15 | 0.648 ppm |
2017-09-27 | 0.641 ppm |
2017-09-27 | 0.641 ppm |
2017-09-27 | 0.641 ppm |
2017-09-27 | 0.641 ppm |
2017-10-11 | 0.420 ppm |
2017-10-11 | 0.323 ppm |
2017-10-11 | 0.323 ppm |
2017-10-11 | 0.420 ppm |
2017-12-06 | 0.874 ppm |
2017-12-06 | 0.874 ppm |
2017-12-13 | 0.976 ppm |
2017-12-13 | 0.976 ppm |
2017-12-20 | 0.637 ppm |
2017-12-20 | 0.582 ppm |
2018-01-31 | 0.813 ppm |
2018-01-31 | 0.790 ppm |
2018-03-21 | 0.518 ppm |
2018-03-21 | 0.601 ppm |
2018-03-21 | 0.601 ppm |
2018-03-21 | 0.518 ppm |
2018-04-30 | 0.304 ppm |
2018-04-30 | 0.215 ppm |
2018-04-30 | ND |
2018-04-30 | ND |
2018-05-16 | 0.238 ppm |
2018-05-16 | ND |
2018-05-16 | ND |
2018-05-16 | ND |
2018-06-27 | 0.384 ppm |
2018-06-27 | 0.521 ppm |
2018-06-27 | 0.384 ppm |
2018-06-27 | 0.521 ppm |
2018-07-25 | 0.599 ppm |
2018-07-25 | 0.696 ppm |
2018-07-25 | 0.696 ppm |
2018-07-25 | 0.599 ppm |
2018-07-25 | 0.696 ppm |
2018-07-25 | 0.599 ppm |
2018-07-25 | 0.599 ppm |
2018-07-25 | 0.696 ppm |
2018-08-22 | 0.779 ppm |
2018-08-22 | 0.706 ppm |
2018-08-22 | 0.779 ppm |
2018-08-22 | 0.706 ppm |
2018-09-19 | 0.814 ppm |
2018-09-19 | 0.814 ppm |
2018-09-19 | 0.814 ppm |
2018-09-19 | 0.738 ppm |
2018-10-03 | 0.509 ppm |
2018-10-31 | 0.509 ppm |
2018-10-31 | 0.479 ppm |
2018-10-31 | 0.479 ppm |
2018-12-26 | ND |
2018-12-26 | ND |
2018-12-26 | ND |
2018-12-26 | ND |
2019-01-16 | 0.823 ppm |
2019-01-16 | 0.835 ppm |
2019-01-16 | 0.823 ppm |
2019-01-16 | 0.835 ppm |
2019-02-27 | 0.732 ppm |
2019-02-27 | 0.793 ppm |
2019-03-20 | 0.577 ppm |
2019-03-20 | 0.572 ppm |
2019-03-20 | 0.572 ppm |
2019-03-20 | 0.577 ppm |
2019-04-17 | 0.465 ppm |
2019-04-17 | 0.449 ppm |
2019-04-17 | 0.465 ppm |
2019-04-17 | 0.449 ppm |
2019-05-22 | 0.683 ppm |
2019-05-22 | 0.692 ppm |
2019-05-22 | 0.692 ppm |
2019-05-22 | 0.683 ppm |
2019-06-24 | 0.341 ppm |
2019-06-24 | 0.353 ppm |
2019-06-24 | 0.351 ppm |
2019-06-24 | 0.353 ppm |
2019-07-03 | 0.349 ppm |
2019-07-03 | 0.349 ppm |
2019-07-03 | 0.346 ppm |
2019-07-03 | 0.346 ppm |
2019-08-14 | 0.600 ppm |
2019-08-14 | 0.553 ppm |
2019-08-14 | 0.600 ppm |
2019-08-14 | 0.553 ppm |
2019-09-18 | 0.265 ppm |
2019-09-18 | 0.265 ppm |
2019-09-18 | 0.269 ppm |
2019-10-09 | 0.369 ppm |
2019-10-09 | 0.372 ppm |
2019-10-09 | 0.372 ppm |
2019-10-09 | 0.369 ppm |
2019-11-20 | 0.606 ppm |
2019-11-20 | 0.623 ppm |
2019-11-20 | 0.606 ppm |
2019-11-20 | 0.623 ppm |