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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Fluoride

Gainesville

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.

 

12

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20140.780 ppm220.750 ppm - 0.810 ppm
20150.760 ppm220.730 ppm - 0.790 ppm
20160.825 ppm220.750 ppm - 0.900 ppm
20170.635 ppm220.600 ppm - 0.670 ppm
20180.500 ppm220.480 ppm - 0.520 ppm
20190.675 ppm220.670 ppm - 0.680 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
2014-02-25AI286750.750 ppm
2014-02-25AI286760.810 ppm
2015-02-10AI648730.730 ppm
2015-02-10AI648740.790 ppm
2016-01-20AJ047630.900 ppm
2016-01-20AJ047640.750 ppm
2017-01-31AJ445860.670 ppm
2017-01-31AJ445870.600 ppm
2018-01-30AJ784260.480 ppm
2018-01-30AJ784270.520 ppm
2019-01-29AK101980.680 ppm
2019-01-29AK101990.670 ppm