Fluoride
Niagara Falls Water Board
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.
Testing results - average by year
Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | 0.902 ppm | 13 | 13 | 0.830 ppm - 1.000 ppm |
2015 | 0.781 ppm | 9 | 9 | 0.630 ppm - 0.900 ppm |
2016 | 0.623 ppm | 13 | 13 | 0.000650 ppm - 0.700 ppm |
2017 | 0.693 ppm | 13 | 13 | 0.000700 ppm - 0.810 ppm |
2018 | 0.620 ppm | 1 | 1 | 0.620 ppm |
2019 | 0.740 ppm | 1 | 1 | 0.740 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 |
---|---|---|
2014-01-02 | EHS1400000301-01 | 0.900 ppm |
2014-02-04 | FL NF WADS 2014- | 1.000 ppm |
2014-03-04 | FL NF WADS 2014- | 0.900 ppm |
2014-04-03 | FL NF WADS 2014- | 0.900 ppm |
2014-05-06 | FL NF WADS 2014- | 0.900 ppm |
2014-06-03 | FL NF WADS 2014- | 0.900 ppm |
2014-06-25 | 1406J30-001 | 0.830 ppm |
2014-07-03 | FL NF WADS 2014- | 0.900 ppm |
2014-08-07 | FL NF WADS 2014- | 0.900 ppm |
2014-09-09 | FL NF WADS 2014- | 0.900 ppm |
2014-10-03 | FL NF WADS 2014- | 0.900 ppm |
2014-11-24 | FL NF WADS 2014- | 0.900 ppm |
2014-12-12 | FL NF WADS 2014- | 0.900 ppm |
2015-01-09 | FL NF WADS 2015- | 0.900 ppm |
2015-02-06 | FL NF WADS 2015- | 0.900 ppm |
2015-03-04 | FL WADS NFWB 201 | 0.900 ppm |
2015-05-04 | FL NFWB 2015-05 | 0.900 ppm |
2015-06-09 | FL NFWB 2015-06 | 0.700 ppm |
2015-06-16 | NFWB 2015 IOC | 0.630 ppm |
2015-09-16 | FL NFWB 2015-09 | 0.700 ppm |
2015-10-15 | FL NFWB 2015-10 | 0.700 ppm |
2015-11-11 | FL NFWB 2015-11 | 0.700 ppm |
2016-01-06 | FL NFWB 2016-01 | 0.600 ppm |
2016-02-05 | NFWB FL 2016-02 | 0.600 ppm |
2016-03-06 | NFWB FL 2016-03 | 0.700 ppm |
2016-04-08 | NFWB FL 2016-04 | 0.700 ppm |
2016-05-08 | NFWB FL 2016-05 | 0.700 ppm |
2016-06-13 | NF FL 2016-06 | 0.700 ppm |
2016-06-20 | NFWB 2016 IOC | 0.000650 ppm |
2016-07-19 | NF FL 2016-07 | 0.700 ppm |
2016-08-18 | NF FL 2016-08 | 0.700 ppm |
2016-09-07 | NF FL 2016-09 | 0.600 ppm |
2016-10-04 | NF FL 2016-10 | 0.700 ppm |
2016-11-02 | NF FL 2016-11 | 0.700 ppm |
2016-12-02 | NF FL 2016-12 | 0.700 ppm |
2017-01-02 | FL NFWB WADS 201 | 0.700 ppm |
2017-02-09 | FL NFWB WADS 201 | 0.700 ppm |
2017-03-01 | FL NFWB WADS 201 | 0.700 ppm |
2017-04-05 | FL NFWB WADS 201 | 0.800 ppm |
2017-05-02 | FL NFWB WADS 201 | 0.800 ppm |
2017-06-05 | FL NFWB WADS 201 | 0.700 ppm |
2017-06-15 | NFWB IOC 2017 | 0.810 ppm |
2017-07-10 | FL NFWB WADS 201 | 0.700 ppm |
2017-08-09 | FL NFWB WADS 201 | 0.800 ppm |
2017-09-13 | FL NFWB WADS 201 | 0.800 ppm |
2017-10-12 | FL NFWB WADS 201 | 0.800 ppm |
2017-11-06 | FL NFWB WADS 201 | 0.000700 ppm |
2017-12-12 | FL NFWB WADS 201 | 0.700 ppm |
2018-06-14 | NFWB 2018 IOC | 0.620 ppm |
2019-06-19 | NFWB 2019 IOC | 0.740 ppm |