Fluoride
Lake Monticello
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.
Samples
Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)
Samples exceeding
health guidelines
Testing results - average by year
| Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 2014 | 0.548 ppm | 13 | 13 | 0.280 ppm - 0.670 ppm |
| 2015 | 0.608 ppm | 13 | 13 | 0.310 ppm - 0.800 ppm |
| 2016 | 0.598 ppm | 13 | 13 | 0.450 ppm - 0.750 ppm |
| 2017 | 0.611 ppm | 13 | 13 | 0.327 ppm - 0.800 ppm |
| 2018 | 0.556 ppm | 1 | 1 | 0.556 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.500 ppm | 1 | 1 | 0.500 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-01-15 | E130902211 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2014-02-02 | E130902212 | 0.580 ppm |
| 2014-03-12 | E130902213 | 0.280 ppm |
| 2014-04-02 | E130902214 | 0.530 ppm |
| 2014-04-09 | 1404C84-02A-I | 0.450 ppm |
| 2014-05-14 | E130902215 | 0.670 ppm |
| 2014-06-09 | E130902216 | 0.650 ppm |
| 2014-07-01 | E130902217 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2014-08-06 | E130902218 | 0.570 ppm |
| 2014-09-03 | E130902219 | 0.560 ppm |
| 2014-10-08 | E130902220 | 0.470 ppm |
| 2014-11-04 | E130902221 | 0.670 ppm |
| 2014-12-08 | E141001703 | 0.590 ppm |
| 2015-01-12 | VA010-DCLS | 0.570 ppm |
| 2015-02-02 | VA010-DCLS | 0.770 ppm |
| 2015-03-09 | VA010-DCLS | 0.680 ppm |
| 2015-04-06 | VA010-DCLS | 0.460 ppm |
| 2015-05-05 | VA010-DCLS | 0.800 ppm |
| 2015-06-01 | VA010-DCLS | 0.670 ppm |
| 2015-06-25 | 460021-AIR, WATE | 0.630 ppm |
| 2015-07-13 | VA010-DCLS | 0.310 ppm |
| 2015-08-04 | VA010-DCLS | 0.660 ppm |
| 2015-09-01 | VA010-DCLS | 0.580 ppm |
| 2015-10-06 | VA010-DCLS | 0.620 ppm |
| 2015-11-02 | VA010-DCLS | 0.410 ppm |
| 2015-12-01 | VA010-DCLS | 0.750 ppm |
| 2016-01-04 | E150907368 | 0.640 ppm |
| 2016-02-01 | E150907369 | 0.570 ppm |
| 2016-03-02 | E150907370 | 0.630 ppm |
| 2016-04-04 | E150907371 | 0.720 ppm |
| 2016-04-18 | 16042050-03A | 0.540 ppm |
| 2016-05-03 | E150907372 | 0.660 ppm |
| 2016-06-01 | E150907373 | 0.620 ppm |
| 2016-07-05 | E150907374 | 0.620 ppm |
| 2016-08-02 | E150907375 | 0.540 ppm |
| 2016-09-01 | E150907376 | 0.560 ppm |
| 2016-10-03 | E150907377 | 0.450 ppm |
| 2016-11-01 | E150907378 | 0.470 ppm |
| 2016-12-05 | E150907380 | 0.750 ppm |
| 2017-01-03 | E150907381 | 0.420 ppm |
| 2017-02-01 | E150907382 | 0.760 ppm |
| 2017-03-01 | E150907383 | 0.520 ppm |
| 2017-04-04 | E150907384 | 0.730 ppm |
| 2017-05-01 | E150907385 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2017-05-16 | 17052119-06A | 0.507 ppm |
| 2017-06-14 | E150907386 | 0.670 ppm |
| 2017-07-05 | E150907387 | 0.800 ppm |
| 2017-08-01 | E150907379 | 0.700 ppm |
| 2017-09-12 | E150907388 | 0.540 ppm |
| 2017-10-03 | E150907389 | 0.800 ppm |
| 2017-11-20 | E150907390 | 0.570 ppm |
| 2017-12-05 | 17120620-03A | 0.327 ppm |
| 2018-06-12 | 18061625-01A | 0.556 ppm |
| 2019-04-16 | 19D0745-03 | 0.500 ppm |