Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Fluoride

Bangor

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.

 

76

Samples

1

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20180.330 ppm54ND - 0.560 ppm
20190.900 ppm54540.1000 ppm - 11.0 ppm
20200.700 ppm880.160 ppm - 1.60 ppm
20210.617 ppm75ND - 1.10 ppm
20220.770 ppm110.770 ppm
20230.890 ppm110.890 ppm

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
2018-06-04LLH836530.510 ppm
2018-06-04LLH836580.450 ppm
2018-06-04LLH836590.560 ppm
2018-06-04LLH836540.130 ppm
2018-06-04LLH83655ND
2019-04-17LLI337840.180 ppm
2019-04-17LLI337850.1000 ppm
2019-04-17LLI337860.250 ppm
2019-04-17LLI337820.400 ppm
2019-04-17LLI337830.170 ppm
2019-07-08LLI482610.500 ppm
2019-07-08LLI482630.640 ppm
2019-07-08LLI482630.640 ppm
2019-07-08LLI482640.570 ppm
2019-07-08LLI482640.570 ppm
2019-07-08LLI482630.640 ppm
2019-07-08LLI482630.640 ppm
2019-07-08LLI482620.420 ppm
2019-07-08LLI482640.570 ppm
2019-07-08LLI482640.570 ppm
2019-07-08LLI482600.520 ppm
2019-07-22LLI510250.460 ppm
2019-07-22LLI510240.390 ppm
2019-07-22LLI510230.200 ppm
2019-08-05LLI539200.120 ppm
2019-08-05LLI539220.310 ppm
2019-08-05LLI539210.440 ppm
2019-08-19LLI574150.310 ppm
2019-08-19LLI574170.690 ppm
2019-08-19LLI5741611.0 ppm
2019-09-03LLI611090.780 ppm
2019-09-03LLI611080.810 ppm
2019-09-03LLI611070.670 ppm
2019-09-16LLI643800.670 ppm
2019-09-16LLI643810.670 ppm
2019-09-16LLI643820.680 ppm
2019-10-01LLI686490.870 ppm
2019-10-01LLI686510.560 ppm
2019-10-01LLI686500.850 ppm
2019-10-01LLI686520.900 ppm
2019-10-01LLI686530.910 ppm
2019-10-15LLI709100.780 ppm
2019-10-15LLI709080.710 ppm
2019-10-15LLI709090.740 ppm
2019-10-28LLI730853.20 ppm
2019-10-28LLI730840.830 ppm
2019-10-28LLI730863.10 ppm
2019-11-13LLI768050.670 ppm
2019-11-13LLI768060.450 ppm
2019-11-13LLI768040.420 ppm
2019-11-25LLI797511.10 ppm
2019-11-25LLI797531.10 ppm
2019-11-25LLI797520.660 ppm
2019-12-09LLI822291.000 ppm
2019-12-09LLI822301.000 ppm
2019-12-09LLI822280.720 ppm
2019-12-19LLI852000.660 ppm
2019-12-19LLI852020.880 ppm
2019-12-19LLI852010.900 ppm
2020-01-081.60 ppm
2020-06-010.170 ppm
2020-06-150.950 ppm
2020-07-060.910 ppm
2020-07-200.450 ppm
2020-08-030.160 ppm
2020-08-170.160 ppm
2020-11-101.20 ppm
2021-02-011.10 ppm
2021-05-050.810 ppm
2021-08-310.960 ppm
2021-08-311.10 ppm
2021-08-31ND
2021-08-310.350 ppm
2021-11-03ND
2022-07-060.770 ppm
2023-07-270.890 ppm