Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Fluoride

Burr Oak

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.

 

72

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20180.140 ppm110.140 ppm
20190.134 ppm2019ND - 0.180 ppm
2020N/A00N/A
20210.0864 ppm2516ND - 0.180 ppm
20220.0712 ppm2615ND - 0.200 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
2018-09-10LLI040900.140 ppm
2019-07-12LLI494210.140 ppm
2019-07-25LLI520640.150 ppm
2019-07-25LLI520610.110 ppm
2019-07-25LLI520620.140 ppm
2019-08-12LLI555450.150 ppm
2019-08-23LLI589650.140 ppm
2019-09-03LLI612520.130 ppm
2019-09-19LLI652140.150 ppm
2019-09-30LLI682240.130 ppm
2019-09-30LLI682250.130 ppm
2019-10-18LLI713970.170 ppm
2019-10-30LLI737020.130 ppm
2019-11-15LLI772930.170 ppm
2019-11-25LLI797670.180 ppm
2019-12-04LLI812440.140 ppm
2019-12-30LLI860760.120 ppm
2019-12-30LLI860730.130 ppm
2019-12-30LLI860740.120 ppm
2019-12-31LLI861010.140 ppm
2019-12-31LLI86102ND
2021-01-13ND
2021-01-270.130 ppm
2021-02-100.120 ppm
2021-02-23ND
2021-03-080.150 ppm
2021-03-230.160 ppm
2021-04-130.110 ppm
2021-04-270.130 ppm
2021-05-120.130 ppm
2021-05-240.130 ppm
2021-06-080.180 ppm
2021-06-240.140 ppm
2021-07-080.150 ppm
2021-07-210.140 ppm
2021-08-040.110 ppm
2021-08-19ND
2021-08-240.140 ppm
2021-09-13ND
2021-09-28ND
2021-10-13ND
2021-10-27ND
2021-11-03ND
2021-11-230.120 ppm
2021-12-01ND
2021-12-150.120 ppm
2022-01-040.120 ppm
2022-01-19ND
2022-02-030.110 ppm
2022-02-140.120 ppm
2022-03-010.1000 ppm
2022-03-16ND
2022-03-290.110 ppm
2022-04-040.120 ppm
2022-04-270.160 ppm
2022-05-04ND
2022-05-230.110 ppm
2022-06-08ND
2022-06-220.110 ppm
2022-07-060.1000 ppm
2022-07-21ND
2022-08-04ND
2022-08-180.150 ppm
2022-09-010.200 ppm
2022-09-13ND
2022-09-29ND
2022-10-13ND
2022-10-190.110 ppm
2022-11-09ND
2022-11-21ND
2022-11-290.130 ppm
2022-12-200.1000 ppm