Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Fluoride

Heartland House

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.

 

24

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20180.140 ppm440.120 ppm - 0.162 ppm
20190.964 ppm440.178 ppm - 3.26 ppm
20200.232 ppm440.131 ppm - 0.416 ppm
20210.244 ppm440.211 ppm - 0.265 ppm
20220.113 ppm43ND - 0.281 ppm
2023ND40ND

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
2018-03-21Q18115220030.120 ppm
2018-04-19Q18161640010.146 ppm
2018-08-22Q18335830030.132 ppm
2018-12-12Q18512600010.162 ppm
2019-03-13Q19106900013.26 ppm
2019-06-06Q19328210010.178 ppm
2019-09-12Q19644430010.182 ppm
2019-12-05Q19791590010.236 ppm
2020-03-19Q20120670020.416 ppm
2020-06-16Q20239400070.176 ppm
2020-09-22Q20375260010.131 ppm
2020-12-08Q20488150010.203 ppm
2021-03-10Q21063900030.254 ppm
2021-06-23Q21164180010.265 ppm
2021-09-08Q21244460030.246 ppm
2021-12-06Q21344680010.211 ppm
2022-03-22Q22091980030.135 ppm
2022-06-14Q22165120010.281 ppm
2022-09-19Q22279030020.0349 ppm
2022-12-12Q2237096002ND
2023-03-20Q2310479002ND
2023-06-12Q2322085004ND
2023-09-20Q2340851003ND
2023-12-12Q2352975001ND