Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Fluoride

Town of Poolesville

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.

 

24

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND20ND
2019N/A00N/A
20200.0857 ppm72ND - 0.300 ppm
2021ND70ND
20220.120 ppm32ND - 0.200 ppm
2023ND50ND

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
2018-11-216389_424_1_2ND
2018-11-216389_424_1_1ND
2020-02-116389_443_1_10.300 ppm
2020-02-116389_443_1_12ND
2020-02-116389_443_1_30.300 ppm
2020-02-116389_443_1_7ND
2020-02-116389_443_1_8ND
2020-06-046389_497_1_2ND
2020-12-296389_526_1ND
2021-01-21E21001854001ND
2021-03-166389_538_1_1ND
2021-03-166389_538_1_2ND
2021-04-06E21002752001ND
2021-04-06E21002752002ND
2021-08-05E22000415001ND
2021-08-05E22000415002ND
2022-07-19E2300011801ND
2022-07-19E23000118020.160 ppm
2022-07-19E23000118030.200 ppm
2023-06-13FXF0255-01ND
2023-06-13FXF0255-02ND
2023-06-13FXF0255-03ND
2023-06-13FXF0255-04ND
2023-10-18E2400146801ND