Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Fluoride

Purcell

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.

 

58

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20180.709 ppm13130.160 ppm - 0.930 ppm
20190.643 ppm770.160 ppm - 0.790 ppm
20200.523 ppm12120.210 ppm - 0.810 ppm
20210.716 ppm990.510 ppm - 0.990 ppm
20220.544 ppm550.210 ppm - 0.650 ppm
20230.620 ppm12120.550 ppm - 0.710 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
2018-01-088A08033-020.160 ppm
2018-02-12AB12028-010.880 ppm
2018-02-27AB27114-010.220 ppm
2018-03-06AC06122-010.930 ppm
2018-04-03AD03103-010.880 ppm
2018-05-01AE01110-010.610 ppm
2018-06-11AF11056-010.760 ppm
2018-07-03AG03175-010.790 ppm
2018-08-09AH09149-010.760 ppm
2018-09-10AI10035-010.810 ppm
2018-10-02AJ02099-010.930 ppm
2018-11-15AK15101-010.780 ppm
2018-12-04AL04124-010.710 ppm
2019-01-08BA08135-020.510 ppm
2019-02-05BB05114-010.160 ppm
2019-03-05BC05101-020.760 ppm
2019-04-02BD02080-020.780 ppm
2019-07-08BG09045-010.710 ppm
2019-10-01BJ01097-020.790 ppm
2019-12-03BL03089-020.790 ppm
2020-01-14CA14147-010.810 ppm
2020-02-11CB11135-020.730 ppm
2020-02-18CB18089-010.210 ppm
2020-03-10CC10165-010.420 ppm
2020-04-14CD14142-020.220 ppm
2020-05-12CE12161-020.730 ppm
2020-06-11CF11126-020.380 ppm
2020-07-14CG14165-020.470 ppm
2020-08-11CH11145-020.470 ppm
2020-09-15CI15119-020.280 ppm
2020-10-13CJ13130-020.750 ppm
2020-11-09CK10139-020.810 ppm
2021-01-12DA12131-020.510 ppm
2021-02-09DB09086-020.990 ppm
2021-03-09DC09124-020.770 ppm
2021-04-13DD13171-020.930 ppm
2021-05-11DE11163-010.730 ppm
2021-06-15DF15119-010.700 ppm
2021-07-13DG13172-010.660 ppm
2021-11-09DK09170-010.540 ppm
2021-12-28DL28083-010.610 ppm
2022-05-10EE10162-020.580 ppm
2022-07-12EG12150-020.210 ppm
2022-09-13EI13147-020.650 ppm
2022-11-08EK08109-020.640 ppm
2022-12-13EL13155-020.640 ppm
2023-01-10FA10146-020.660 ppm
2023-02-14FB14125-010.700 ppm
2023-03-14FC14112-010.680 ppm
2023-04-11FD11162-010.710 ppm
2023-05-09FE09156-010.660 ppm
2023-06-13FF13178-020.580 ppm
2023-07-11FG11143-010.580 ppm
2023-08-15FH15159-020.580 ppm
2023-09-12FI12155-020.550 ppm
2023-10-10FJ10123-020.580 ppm
2023-11-14FK14152-010.590 ppm
2023-12-12FL12150-020.570 ppm