Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Fluoride

Elysian

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
20180.720 ppm440.210 ppm - 1.000 ppm
20191.49 ppm440.680 ppm - 3.20 ppm
20200.773 ppm440.490 ppm - 0.950 ppm
20210.738 ppm440.470 ppm - 0.990 ppm
20220.738 ppm440.670 ppm - 0.790 ppm
20230.623 ppm440.550 ppm - 0.680 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
2018-01-1718A0612-010.810 ppm
2018-04-2618D1629-010.860 ppm
2018-08-1318H1053-011.000 ppm
2018-12-2618L0808-010.210 ppm
2019-06-0619F0399-013.20 ppm
2019-06-2419F1619-011.10 ppm
2019-07-2919G2055-010.680 ppm
2019-11-0519K0213-010.970 ppm
2020-02-0420B0119-010.860 ppm
2020-04-2720D0884-010.950 ppm
2020-07-1320G0740-010.790 ppm
2020-11-3020L0065-010.490 ppm
2021-02-1621B1016-010.470 ppm
2021-04-0721D0348-010.990 ppm
2021-07-2721H0013-010.710 ppm
2021-10-1221J0542-010.780 ppm
2022-01-2522A1118-010.670 ppm
2022-05-0922E0719-010.720 ppm
2022-08-0322H0368-010.790 ppm
2022-11-1622K0792-010.770 ppm
2023-01-3123B0009-010.640 ppm
2023-04-2623D1618-010.550 ppm
2023-08-1623H2152-010.620 ppm
2023-11-2723L0156-010.680 ppm