Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Fluoride

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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.

 

25

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20180.553 ppm440.420 ppm - 0.770 ppm
20190.578 ppm440.560 ppm - 0.600 ppm
20200.568 ppm440.360 ppm - 0.740 ppm
20210.568 ppm440.210 ppm - 0.810 ppm
20220.442 ppm550.240 ppm - 0.710 ppm
20230.498 ppm440.390 ppm - 0.550 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
2018-02-0118B0179-010.590 ppm
2018-04-1018D0598-010.430 ppm
2018-07-1618G0948-010.770 ppm
2018-11-2718K1185-010.420 ppm
2019-02-0719B0382-010.600 ppm
2019-06-1119F0652-010.570 ppm
2019-10-2919J1596-010.560 ppm
2019-11-0119K0051-010.580 ppm
2020-02-1920B0943-010.740 ppm
2020-04-0120D0010-010.360 ppm
2020-08-1820H1322-010.620 ppm
2020-12-2221A0238-010.550 ppm
2021-01-0421A0007-010.550 ppm
2021-05-2021E1339-010.210 ppm
2021-08-1621H1251-010.810 ppm
2021-11-0121K0066-010.700 ppm
2022-01-1022A0195-010.470 ppm
2022-04-2522E0519-010.710 ppm
2022-07-1922G1681-010.480 ppm
2022-11-1022K0560-010.240 ppm
2022-11-1522K0800-010.310 ppm
2023-02-1423B1029-010.500 ppm
2023-05-2423E2793-010.550 ppm
2023-07-1023G0201-010.550 ppm
2023-11-1523K0736-010.390 ppm