Fluoride
Missouri American - Joplin
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 2014 | 0.421 ppm | 22 | 19 | ND - 0.680 ppm |
| 2015 | 0.623 ppm | 14 | 14 | 0.150 ppm - 0.720 ppm |
| 2016 | 0.448 ppm | 20 | 18 | ND - 0.730 ppm |
| 2017 | 0.611 ppm | 15 | 14 | ND - 0.970 ppm |
| 2018 | 0.392 ppm | 13 | 6 | ND - 0.960 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.500 ppm | 21 | 15 | ND - 1.02 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-01-14 | 24589201 | 0.650 ppm |
| 2014-02-11 | 24688001 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2014-03-18 | 24967301 | 0.610 ppm |
| 2014-03-18 | 24967901 | 0.620 ppm |
| 2014-03-18 | 24968401 | 0.160 ppm |
| 2014-03-18 | 24968901 | 0.110 ppm |
| 2014-04-01 | 25137101 | 0.630 ppm |
| 2014-04-01 | 25137601 | 0.180 ppm |
| 2014-04-01 | 25138001 | ND |
| 2014-04-01 | 25138401 | ND |
| 2014-05-06 | 25588001 | 0.590 ppm |
| 2014-06-03 | 25851501 | 0.660 ppm |
| 2014-06-03 | 25855101 | 0.170 ppm |
| 2014-06-03 | 25855401 | 0.260 ppm |
| 2014-07-15 | 26139801 | 0.650 ppm |
| 2014-08-05 | 26543701 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2014-09-15 | 26903401 | 0.660 ppm |
| 2014-09-15 | 26904001 | 0.120 ppm |
| 2014-09-15 | 26904501 | ND |
| 2014-10-06 | 27157401 | 0.660 ppm |
| 2014-11-04 | 27377401 | 0.650 ppm |
| 2014-12-01 | 27653201 | 0.680 ppm |
| 2015-01-06 | 27906501 | 0.670 ppm |
| 2015-02-11 | 28150801 | 0.670 ppm |
| 2015-03-09 | 28409101 | 0.660 ppm |
| 2015-03-09 | 28409701 | 0.660 ppm |
| 2015-04-13 | 28620701 | 0.660 ppm |
| 2015-04-13 | 28621201 | 0.150 ppm |
| 2015-05-05 | 28881001 | 0.640 ppm |
| 2015-06-16 | 29186301 | 0.560 ppm |
| 2015-07-07 | 29458601 | 0.680 ppm |
| 2015-08-04 | 29798201 | 0.670 ppm |
| 2015-09-15 | 30121801 | 0.670 ppm |
| 2015-10-05 | 30312501 | 0.660 ppm |
| 2015-11-02 | 30644501 | 0.650 ppm |
| 2015-12-07 | 30784001 | 0.720 ppm |
| 2016-01-05 | 30933501 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2016-02-08 | 31260501 | 0.520 ppm |
| 2016-03-04 | 31416301 | 0.550 ppm |
| 2016-03-04 | 31417001 | 0.550 ppm |
| 2016-03-04 | 31417401 | 0.130 ppm |
| 2016-03-04 | 31417801 | 0.120 ppm |
| 2016-04-18 | 31772801 | ND |
| 2016-04-18 | 31773201 | 0.1000 ppm |
| 2016-04-19 | 31771801 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2016-05-09 | 31960801 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2016-06-07 | 32170901 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2016-06-07 | 32171501 | 0.150 ppm |
| 2016-06-07 | 32171901 | 0.330 ppm |
| 2016-07-11 | 32593101 | 0.610 ppm |
| 2016-07-19 | 31772401 | ND |
| 2016-08-23 | 33013901 | 0.670 ppm |
| 2016-09-13 | 33275501 | 0.730 ppm |
| 2016-10-03 | 33409701 | 0.730 ppm |
| 2016-11-07 | 33701201 | 0.680 ppm |
| 2016-12-06 | 33974601 | 0.690 ppm |
| 2017-01-24 | 34318601 | 0.490 ppm |
| 2017-02-14 | 34564201 | 0.450 ppm |
| 2017-03-13 | 34852501 | 0.690 ppm |
| 2017-03-13 | 34853101 | 0.700 ppm |
| 2017-04-04 | 35117501 | 0.700 ppm |
| 2017-05-08 | 35399301 | 0.720 ppm |
| 2017-06-06 | 35747701 | 0.700 ppm |
| 2017-07-11 | 36137101 | 0.720 ppm |
| 2017-08-08 | 36569001 | 0.710 ppm |
| 2017-09-05 | 36993501 | 0.170 ppm |
| 2017-09-05 | 36993201 | 0.730 ppm |
| 2017-10-02 | 37225801 | 0.720 ppm |
| 2017-11-13 | 37658401 | 0.700 ppm |
| 2017-11-14 | 36993801 | ND |
| 2017-12-11 | 37883201 | 0.970 ppm |
| 2018-01-09 | 38142501 | 0.950 ppm |
| 2018-02-09 | 38581201 | 0.910 ppm |
| 2018-03-06 | 38819601 | 0.730 ppm |
| 2018-03-07 | 38819101 | 0.750 ppm |
| 2018-04-09 | 39049001 | 0.790 ppm |
| 2018-05-08 | 39341901 | 0.960 ppm |
| 2018-06-12 | 39788401 | ND |
| 2018-07-10 | 40291001 | ND |
| 2018-08-07 | 40557501 | ND |
| 2018-09-04 | 40927501 | ND |
| 2018-10-12 | 41285901 | ND |
| 2018-11-15 | 41787301 | ND |
| 2018-12-03 | 42213301 | ND |
| 2019-01-07 | 42525001 | ND |
| 2019-02-11 | 43196401 | ND |
| 2019-03-11 | 43437501 | 0.150 ppm |
| 2019-03-11 | 43437701 | 0.120 ppm |
| 2019-03-11 | 43438201 | 0.910 ppm |
| 2019-03-11 | 43438801 | 0.930 ppm |
| 2019-04-08 | 43595401 | ND |
| 2019-04-08 | 43595601 | ND |
| 2019-04-08 | 43596801 | 0.950 ppm |
| 2019-05-06 | 43955701 | 0.940 ppm |
| 2019-06-03 | 44569901 | 0.180 ppm |
| 2019-06-03 | 44570001 | 0.110 ppm |
| 2019-06-03 | 44570901 | 1.01 ppm |
| 2019-07-09 | 45227901 | 1.02 ppm |
| 2019-08-05 | 45736601 | 0.980 ppm |
| 2019-08-19 | 43595901 | ND |
| 2019-09-09 | 46385801 | 1.02 ppm |
| 2019-10-01 | 46954701 | 0.840 ppm |
| 2019-11-18 | 47089601 | 0.650 ppm |
| 2019-11-19 | 47678303 | ND |
| 2019-12-04 | 47530301 | 0.680 ppm |