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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Fluoride

Bladen County Water Dist-West Bladen

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.

 

16

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND30ND
2015ND20ND
2016ND30ND
20170.0667 ppm32ND - 0.1000 ppm
2018ND20ND
20190.0333 ppm31ND - 0.1000 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
2014-01-028527-010214-E08IND
2014-04-028527-040214-E04IND
2014-04-028527-040214-E05IND
2015-01-07ND
2015-04-01ND
2016-03-028527-030216-L06IND
2016-07-058527-070516-E09IND
2016-12-068527-120616-E11IND
2017-01-048527-010417-E08IND
2017-04-058527-040517-E04I0.1000 ppm
2017-04-058527-040517-E05I0.1000 ppm
2018-01-028527-010218-L06IND
2018-04-108527-041018-E08IND
2019-03-138527-031319-L06I0.1000 ppm
2019-07-038527-070319-E09IND
2019-12-128527-121219-E11IND