Fluoride
Mountain Lake
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.
Samples
Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)
Samples exceeding
health guidelines
Testing results - average by year
| Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 0.804 ppm | 7 | 7 | 0.390 ppm - 1.60 ppm |
| 2015 | 0.845 ppm | 4 | 4 | 0.760 ppm - 0.910 ppm |
| 2016 | 0.765 ppm | 4 | 4 | 0.710 ppm - 0.790 ppm |
| 2017 | 0.736 ppm | 5 | 5 | 0.660 ppm - 0.810 ppm |
| 2018 | 0.750 ppm | 5 | 5 | 0.700 ppm - 0.830 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.720 ppm | 4 | 4 | 0.640 ppm - 0.790 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-02-03 | 14B0053-02 | 0.440 ppm |
| 2014-02-03 | 14B0053-03 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2014-02-03 | 14B0053-01 | 0.390 ppm |
| 2014-02-04 | 14B0243-01 | 1.60 ppm |
| 2014-05-01 | 14E0640-01 | 0.930 ppm |
| 2014-07-23 | 14G2047-01 | 0.920 ppm |
| 2014-10-08 | 14J0617-01 | 0.850 ppm |
| 2015-01-13 | 15A0406-01 | 0.910 ppm |
| 2015-05-13 | 15E1260-01 | 0.760 ppm |
| 2015-07-14 | 15G1270-01 | 0.900 ppm |
| 2015-10-06 | 15J0378-01 | 0.810 ppm |
| 2016-01-27 | 16B0011-01 | 0.770 ppm |
| 2016-04-25 | 16D1702-01 | 0.790 ppm |
| 2016-07-19 | 16G1222-01 | 0.790 ppm |
| 2016-11-07 | 16K0410-01 | 0.710 ppm |
| 2017-02-01 | 17B0106-01 | 0.740 ppm |
| 2017-05-01 | 17E0059-01 | 0.690 ppm |
| 2017-05-10 | 17E0968-01 | 0.660 ppm |
| 2017-08-01 | 17H0095-01 | 0.810 ppm |
| 2017-11-27 | 17K1059-01 | 0.780 ppm |
| 2018-01-29 | 18A1107-01 | 0.780 ppm |
| 2018-04-17 | 18D1014-01 | 0.830 ppm |
| 2018-07-16 | 18G0796-01 | 0.700 ppm |
| 2018-07-16 | 18G0798-01 | 0.710 ppm |
| 2018-11-19 | 18K0912-01 | 0.730 ppm |
| 2019-02-04 | 19B0106-01 | 0.700 ppm |
| 2019-04-16 | 19D1080-01 | 0.750 ppm |
| 2019-07-16 | 19G0996-01 | 0.790 ppm |
| 2019-11-13 | 19K0545-01 | 0.640 ppm |