Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Fluoride

West Point, City of

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.

 

41

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20180.787 ppm12120.742 ppm - 0.820 ppm
20190.789 ppm12120.743 ppm - 0.878 ppm
20200.687 ppm13130.233 ppm - 0.890 ppm
20210.686 ppm440.621 ppm - 0.789 ppm
2022N/A00N/A
2023N/A00N/A

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
2018-01-025304740.786 ppm
2018-02-065360540.773 ppm
2018-03-055394840.776 ppm
2018-04-025428630.789 ppm
2018-05-075490710.742 ppm
2018-06-045542360.785 ppm
2018-07-095589440.820 ppm
2018-08-065666970.814 ppm
2018-09-045708460.799 ppm
2018-10-015768240.776 ppm
2018-11-055823210.781 ppm
2018-12-035860950.805 ppm
2019-01-075895580.761 ppm
2019-02-045949890.878 ppm
2019-03-045983320.785 ppm
2019-04-016022610.784 ppm
2019-05-066098940.817 ppm
2019-06-036137680.755 ppm
2019-07-016199760.778 ppm
2019-08-056275860.861 ppm
2019-09-036317420.800 ppm
2019-10-076370570.754 ppm
2019-11-046438050.743 ppm
2019-12-026482700.757 ppm
2020-01-066526960.711 ppm
2020-02-036510330.233 ppm
2020-02-036576950.713 ppm
2020-03-026612850.734 ppm
2020-04-066663450.783 ppm
2020-05-046711300.836 ppm
2020-06-016771810.732 ppm
2020-07-066811400.890 ppm
2020-08-036891730.601 ppm
2020-09-086944050.673 ppm
2020-10-056984050.718 ppm
2020-11-027055090.712 ppm
2020-12-077096740.599 ppm
2021-01-047138550.621 ppm
2021-02-017190500.672 ppm
2021-03-017235470.663 ppm
2021-04-057256610.789 ppm