Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Fluoride

Midland-lonaconing

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.

 

26

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND60ND
2019ND30ND
2020ND60ND
2021ND50ND
20220.0167 ppm61ND - 0.1000 ppm
2023N/A00N/A

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
2018-01-188010278_01ND
2018-04-25E18003843001ND
2018-04-25E18003843002ND
2018-04-25E18003843003ND
2018-12-208121742_01ND
2018-12-208121743_01ND
2019-01-289010332_01ND
2019-11-059103820_01ND
2019-11-059103821_01ND
2020-01-140010223_01ND
2020-05-27E20003658002ND
2020-05-27E20003658003ND
2020-05-27E20003658004ND
2020-10-200043733_01ND
2020-10-200043735_01ND
2021-05-18E21003370001ND
2021-05-18E21003370002ND
2021-05-18E21003370003ND
2021-10-191J00502_01ND
2021-10-191J00503_01ND
2022-01-242A00636_01ND
2022-08-30E2300047002ND
2022-08-30E2300047003ND
2022-08-30E2300047004ND
2022-12-20E2300130201ND
2022-12-20E23001302020.1000 ppm