Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Fluoride

Fullerton, 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.

 

44

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20181.02 ppm12120.856 ppm - 1.19 ppm
20191.01 ppm1312ND - 1.58 ppm
20200.878 ppm13130.589 ppm - 0.979 ppm
20210.918 ppm440.527 ppm - 1.31 ppm
20220.321 ppm110.321 ppm
20230.972 ppm110.972 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
2018-01-295294001.07 ppm
2018-02-275349651.09 ppm
2018-03-275385730.886 ppm
2018-04-245416111.01 ppm
2018-05-315478540.856 ppm
2018-06-255532490.894 ppm
2018-07-305577650.916 ppm
2018-08-285655120.914 ppm
2018-09-195698601.000 ppm
2018-10-245756881.17 ppm
2018-11-265812231.19 ppm
2018-12-175851931.19 ppm
2019-01-225884871.58 ppm
2019-02-265939011.36 ppm
2019-03-255974250.860 ppm
2019-04-176011151.14 ppm
2019-05-06603104ND
2019-05-226087130.971 ppm
2019-06-186127661.02 ppm
2019-07-236180591.09 ppm
2019-08-216263951.02 ppm
2019-09-256307551.17 ppm
2019-10-226359330.934 ppm
2019-11-126427171.04 ppm
2019-12-186482160.954 ppm
2020-01-226509370.713 ppm
2020-01-276525990.931 ppm
2020-02-256566070.907 ppm
2020-03-246604540.942 ppm
2020-04-286653740.939 ppm
2020-05-276705750.932 ppm
2020-06-236765440.937 ppm
2020-07-276801620.950 ppm
2020-08-256881860.979 ppm
2020-09-286934150.953 ppm
2020-10-216979710.936 ppm
2020-11-177052860.589 ppm
2020-12-227094500.710 ppm
2021-01-277136440.733 ppm
2021-02-027187910.527 ppm
2021-03-037227981.10 ppm
2021-04-067255011.31 ppm
2022-04-117927900.321 ppm
2023-01-058443540.972 ppm