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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Fluoride

Albion

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.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

 

156

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20140.545 ppm220.110 ppm - 0.980 ppm
2015N/A00N/A
2016N/A00N/A
2017N/A00N/A
20180.453 ppm12120.110 ppm - 0.560 ppm
20190.335 ppm142118ND - 0.670 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
2014-09-18LLF391280.980 ppm
2014-09-18LLF391270.110 ppm
2018-09-17LLI058540.550 ppm
2018-09-17LLI058530.110 ppm
2018-11-19LLI159960.520 ppm
2018-11-19LLI159950.530 ppm
2018-11-19LLI159930.530 ppm
2018-11-19LLI159920.110 ppm
2018-11-19LLI159940.560 ppm
2018-11-21LLI164320.530 ppm
2018-11-21LLI164310.540 ppm
2018-11-21LLI164330.520 ppm
2018-12-12LLI190230.500 ppm
2018-12-26LLI206970.440 ppm
2019-01-07LLI213890.520 ppm
2019-01-14LLI222140.470 ppm
2019-01-14LLI222130.480 ppm
2019-01-14LLI222120.480 ppm
2019-01-14LLI22211ND
2019-01-23LLI231930.530 ppm
2019-01-23LLI231950.110 ppm
2019-01-23LLI231940.110 ppm
2019-01-29LLI237930.500 ppm
2019-01-29LLI237940.550 ppm
2019-01-29LLI237920.510 ppm
2019-01-31LLI239770.510 ppm
2019-01-31LLI239790.500 ppm
2019-01-31LLI239780.500 ppm
2019-02-04LLI240810.540 ppm
2019-02-04LLI240820.560 ppm
2019-02-04LLI240800.560 ppm
2019-02-04LLI240790.120 ppm
2019-02-04LLI240830.580 ppm
2019-02-04LLI240840.540 ppm
2019-02-04LLI240780.1000 ppm
2019-02-04LLI240850.550 ppm
2019-02-20LLI263640.110 ppm
2019-02-20LLI263620.470 ppm
2019-02-20LLI26363ND
2019-03-04LLI276200.1000 ppm
2019-03-04LLI276190.520 ppm
2019-03-04LLI27621ND
2019-03-18LLI29511ND
2019-03-18LLI29512ND
2019-03-18LLI295100.520 ppm
2019-04-01LLI313190.520 ppm
2019-04-01LLI31315ND
2019-04-01LLI313200.550 ppm
2019-04-01LLI31316ND
2019-04-01LLI313170.510 ppm
2019-04-01LLI313210.540 ppm
2019-04-01LLI313180.520 ppm
2019-04-15LLI332230.510 ppm
2019-04-15LLI332200.510 ppm
2019-04-15LLI332210.500 ppm
2019-04-15LLI332240.500 ppm
2019-04-15LLI332180.510 ppm
2019-04-15LLI332190.500 ppm
2019-04-15LLI332220.510 ppm
2019-04-17LLI337100.130 ppm
2019-04-17LLI337120.120 ppm
2019-04-17LLI337090.140 ppm
2019-04-17LLI337110.150 ppm
2019-04-29LLI35266ND
2019-04-29LLI35267ND
2019-04-29LLI352680.520 ppm
2019-04-29LLI352630.470 ppm
2019-04-29LLI352650.520 ppm
2019-04-29LLI352620.510 ppm
2019-04-29LLI352640.510 ppm
2019-05-13LLI374670.250 ppm
2019-05-13LLI374650.420 ppm
2019-05-13LLI37464ND
2019-05-13LLI374700.550 ppm
2019-05-13LLI37466ND
2019-05-13LLI374680.560 ppm
2019-05-13LLI374690.540 ppm
2019-05-28LLI395940.520 ppm
2019-05-28LLI395930.540 ppm
2019-05-28LLI395950.440 ppm
2019-05-28LLI395970.530 ppm
2019-05-28LLI39599ND
2019-05-28LLI395960.560 ppm
2019-05-28LLI39598ND
2019-06-10LLI418790.570 ppm
2019-06-10LLI41876ND
2019-06-10LLI418800.550 ppm
2019-06-10LLI418770.550 ppm
2019-06-10LLI418810.540 ppm
2019-06-10LLI418780.110 ppm
2019-06-10LLI418820.550 ppm
2019-06-24LLI456100.480 ppm
2019-06-24LLI45609ND
2019-06-24LLI456150.500 ppm
2019-06-24LLI456120.500 ppm
2019-06-24LLI456140.500 ppm
2019-06-24LLI45611ND
2019-06-24LLI456130.500 ppm
2019-07-08LLI482010.540 ppm
2019-07-08LLI481950.530 ppm
2019-07-08LLI481970.510 ppm
2019-07-08LLI48199ND
2019-07-08LLI481980.510 ppm
2019-07-08LLI481960.540 ppm
2019-07-08LLI48200ND
2019-07-15LLI495230.540 ppm
2019-07-15LLI495220.520 ppm
2019-07-15LLI495240.520 ppm
2019-07-22LLI509650.150 ppm
2019-07-22LLI509680.490 ppm
2019-07-22LLI509690.110 ppm
2019-07-22LLI509660.120 ppm
2019-07-22LLI509670.200 ppm
2019-07-26LLI521710.120 ppm
2019-07-26LLI521700.540 ppm
2019-08-05LLI538190.110 ppm
2019-08-05LLI538170.110 ppm
2019-08-05LLI538180.670 ppm
2019-08-19LLI572900.160 ppm
2019-08-19LLI572890.620 ppm
2019-08-19LLI572910.140 ppm
2019-08-19LLI572880.180 ppm
2019-08-26LLI591180.530 ppm
2019-09-03LLI608920.130 ppm
2019-09-03LLI608910.560 ppm
2019-09-03LLI608900.120 ppm
2019-09-16LLI642950.510 ppm
2019-09-16LLI642960.140 ppm
2019-09-16LLI642970.130 ppm
2019-09-30LLI682530.110 ppm
2019-09-30LLI682540.610 ppm
2019-09-30LLI682520.110 ppm
2019-10-07LLI693950.550 ppm
2019-10-07LLI693940.550 ppm
2019-10-07LLI693960.540 ppm
2019-10-14LLI706760.400 ppm
2019-10-14LLI706750.110 ppm
2019-10-14LLI70677ND
2019-10-21LLI715090.130 ppm
2019-10-21LLI715080.550 ppm
2019-10-21LLI71507ND
2019-10-28LLI730280.120 ppm
2019-10-28LLI730270.510 ppm
2019-10-28LLI73029ND
2019-11-13LLI766370.130 ppm
2019-11-13LLI766380.560 ppm
2019-11-18LLI775470.1000 ppm
2019-11-25LLI79655ND
2019-11-25LLI796560.120 ppm
2019-11-25LLI796540.480 ppm
2019-12-09LLI821000.110 ppm
2019-12-09LLI82098ND
2019-12-09LLI820990.480 ppm
2019-12-23LLI85508ND
2019-12-23LLI855060.520 ppm
2019-12-23LLI855070.110 ppm