Fluoride
Altavista, Town of
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.
154
Samples
0
Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)
0
Samples exceeding
health guidelines
Testing results - average by year
| Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 0.924 ppm | 37 | 37 | 0.650 ppm - 1.16 ppm |
| 2015 | 0.838 ppm | 35 | 35 | 0.570 ppm - 1.16 ppm |
| 2016 | 0.539 ppm | 40 | 38 | ND - 0.960 ppm |
| 2017 | 0.500 ppm | 36 | 36 | 0.0700 ppm - 0.950 ppm |
| 2018 | 0.555 ppm | 2 | 2 | 0.550 ppm - 0.560 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.675 ppm | 4 | 4 | 0.530 ppm - 0.800 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-01-06 | E131203665 | 0.720 ppm |
| 2014-01-06 | E131203662 | 0.870 ppm |
| 2014-01-15 | E131203647 | 0.850 ppm |
| 2014-02-03 | E131203664 | 0.840 ppm |
| 2014-02-03 | E131203661 | 0.840 ppm |
| 2014-02-10 | E131203646 | 0.840 ppm |
| 2014-03-04 | E131203645 | 0.940 ppm |
| 2014-03-06 | E131203663 | 1.000 ppm |
| 2014-03-09 | E131203660 | 0.930 ppm |
| 2014-04-07 | E140303713 | 0.820 ppm |
| 2014-04-07 | E140303703 | 0.950 ppm |
| 2014-04-23 | E140303719 | 1.16 ppm |
| 2014-05-06 | E140303702 | 0.970 ppm |
| 2014-05-12 | E140303712 | 1.08 ppm |
| 2014-05-12 | E140303720 | 1.07 ppm |
| 2014-06-02 | E140303701 | 0.950 ppm |
| 2014-06-05 | E140303721 | 1.16 ppm |
| 2014-06-11 | E140303711 | 1.04 ppm |
| 2014-07-02 | E140606514 | 1.06 ppm |
| 2014-07-21 | E140606509 | 1.14 ppm |
| 2014-07-28 | E140606511 | 1.000 ppm |
| 2014-08-04 | E140606516 | 0.930 ppm |
| 2014-08-11 | E140606513 | 0.950 ppm |
| 2014-08-11 | E140606510 | 0.940 ppm |
| 2014-09-02 | E140606512 | 1.02 ppm |
| 2014-09-15 | E140606515 | 0.970 ppm |
| 2014-09-15 | E140606508 | 0.790 ppm |
| 2014-10-01 | E140900878 | 0.870 ppm |
| 2014-10-06 | E140900877 | 0.900 ppm |
| 2014-10-06 | E140900870 | 0.760 ppm |
| 2014-10-16 | E140900872 | 0.830 ppm |
| 2014-11-10 | E140900869 | 0.870 ppm |
| 2014-11-12 | E140900873 | 0.890 ppm |
| 2014-11-12 | E140900875 | 0.860 ppm |
| 2014-12-10 | E140900876 | 0.890 ppm |
| 2014-12-10 | E140900871 | 0.820 ppm |
| 2014-12-11 | E140900874 | 0.650 ppm |
| 2015-01-05 | VA010-DCLS | 0.810 ppm |
| 2015-01-23 | VA010-DCLS | 0.890 ppm |
| 2015-01-24 | VA010-DCLS | 0.880 ppm |
| 2015-02-04 | VA010-DCLS | 1.11 ppm |
| 2015-02-04 | VA010-DCLS | 0.870 ppm |
| 2015-02-05 | VA010-DCLS | 0.980 ppm |
| 2015-03-03 | VA010-DCLS | 0.960 ppm |
| 2015-03-03 | VA010-DCLS | 0.950 ppm |
| 2015-03-08 | VA010-DCLS | 0.590 ppm |
| 2015-04-07 | VA010-DCLS | 1.06 ppm |
| 2015-04-16 | VA010-DCLS | 0.710 ppm |
| 2015-04-20 | VA010-DCLS | 0.790 ppm |
| 2015-05-18 | VA010-DCLS | 0.840 ppm |
| 2015-05-20 | VA010-DCLS | 1.16 ppm |
| 2015-05-20 | VA010-DCLS | 0.760 ppm |
| 2015-06-01 | VA010-DCLS | 0.900 ppm |
| 2015-06-01 | VA010-DCLS | 0.700 ppm |
| 2015-06-03 | VA010-DCLS | 1.000 ppm |
| 2015-07-15 | VA010-DCLS | 0.630 ppm |
| 2015-07-15 | VA010-DCLS | 0.570 ppm |
| 2015-07-30 | 00281-REI CONSUL | 0.750 ppm |
| 2015-08-12 | 00281-REI CONSUL | 0.880 ppm |
| 2015-08-12 | 00281-REI CONSUL | 0.660 ppm |
| 2015-08-25 | 00281-REI CONSUL | 0.780 ppm |
| 2015-09-15 | 00281-REI CONSUL | 0.610 ppm |
| 2015-09-16 | 00281-REI CONSUL | 0.820 ppm |
| 2015-09-24 | 00281-REI CONSUL | 0.750 ppm |
| 2015-10-01 | 00281-REI CONSUL | 0.930 ppm |
| 2015-10-01 | 00281-REI CONSUL | 0.920 ppm |
| 2015-10-05 | 00281-REI CONSUL | 0.950 ppm |
| 2015-10-08 | 00281-REI CONSUL | 1.12 ppm |
| 2015-11-05 | 00281-REI CONSUL | 0.770 ppm |
| 2015-12-05 | 00281-REI CONSUL | 0.710 ppm |
| 2015-12-05 | 00281-REI CONSUL | 0.690 ppm |
| 2015-12-14 | 00281-REI CONSUL | 0.840 ppm |
| 2016-01-06 | 1601652-01A | 0.740 ppm |
| 2016-01-20 | 1601L21-02A | 0.820 ppm |
| 2016-01-21 | 1601L21-01A | 0.660 ppm |
| 2016-02-03 | 1602750-01A | 0.780 ppm |
| 2016-02-24 | 1602V27-03A | 0.640 ppm |
| 2016-02-25 | 1602V27-06A | 0.610 ppm |
| 2016-03-07 | 16031498-01A | 0.760 ppm |
| 2016-03-23 | 16033014-04A | 0.960 ppm |
| 2016-03-23 | 16033014-03A | 0.750 ppm |
| 2016-04-07 | 16040905-02A | 0.680 ppm |
| 2016-04-07 | 16040905-01A | 0.300 ppm |
| 2016-04-21 | 16042394-03A | 0.670 ppm |
| 2016-05-04 | 16051545-03A | 0.690 ppm |
| 2016-05-10 | 16051545-11A | 0.480 ppm |
| 2016-05-10 | 16051545-10A | 0.450 ppm |
| 2016-06-16 | 16062118-06A | 0.520 ppm |
| 2016-06-16 | 16062118-07A | 0.520 ppm |
| 2016-07-05 | 16070333-02A | ND |
| 2016-07-05 | 16070333-01A | ND |
| 2016-07-19 | 16071962-07A | 0.590 ppm |
| 2016-07-19 | 16071962-01A | 0.440 ppm |
| 2016-07-19 | 16071962-06A | 0.360 ppm |
| 2016-08-02 | 16080332-08A | 0.610 ppm |
| 2016-08-02 | 16080332-07A | 0.510 ppm |
| 2016-08-16 | 16082129-03A | 0.160 ppm |
| 2016-09-06 | 16090419-10A | 0.600 ppm |
| 2016-09-06 | 16090419-09A | 0.470 ppm |
| 2016-09-20 | 16092198-03A | 0.550 ppm |
| 2016-10-11 | 16101205-04A/04B | 0.650 ppm |
| 2016-10-11 | 16101205-06A | 0.650 ppm |
| 2016-10-11 | 16101205-10A | 0.590 ppm |
| 2016-10-11 | 1610205-11A | 0.400 ppm |
| 2016-10-11 | 16101205-05A/05B | 0.290 ppm |
| 2016-10-25 | 16102729-03A | 0.530 ppm |
| 2016-11-08 | 16111051-01A | 0.540 ppm |
| 2016-11-08 | 16111051-02A | 0.390 ppm |
| 2016-11-22 | 16112736-01A | 0.530 ppm |
| 2016-12-06 | 16121235-03A | 0.740 ppm |
| 2016-12-06 | 16121235-02A | 0.230 ppm |
| 2016-12-13 | 16121623-03A | 0.700 ppm |
| 2017-01-10 | 17010935-01A | 0.740 ppm |
| 2017-01-10 | 17010935-02A | 0.640 ppm |
| 2017-01-17 | 17011689-0.3A | 0.580 ppm |
| 2017-02-07 | 17020918-01A | 0.950 ppm |
| 2017-02-07 | 17020918-02A | 0.840 ppm |
| 2017-03-07 | 17030889-07A | 0.790 ppm |
| 2017-03-07 | 17030889-08A | 0.470 ppm |
| 2017-03-21 | 17032530-03A | 0.620 ppm |
| 2017-04-04 | 17040391-08A | 0.280 ppm |
| 2017-04-04 | 17040391-07A | 0.230 ppm |
| 2017-04-18 | 17042098-09A | 0.640 ppm |
| 2017-05-02 | 17050323-06A | 0.550 ppm |
| 2017-05-02 | 17050323-05A | 0.110 ppm |
| 2017-05-16 | 17052123-03A | 0.700 ppm |
| 2017-06-08 | 17061284-08A | 0.570 ppm |
| 2017-06-08 | 17061284-07A | 0.150 ppm |
| 2017-06-20 | 17062692 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2017-07-11 | 17071665-04A | 0.460 ppm |
| 2017-07-11 | 17071665--03A | 0.420 ppm |
| 2017-07-25 | 17072919-01A | 0.710 ppm |
| 2017-08-08 | 17081202-03A | 0.250 ppm |
| 2017-08-08 | 17081202-04A | 0.150 ppm |
| 2017-08-22 | 17083188-03A | 0.520 ppm |
| 2017-09-05 | 17090389-08A | 0.710 ppm |
| 2017-09-05 | 17090389-09A | 0.220 ppm |
| 2017-09-19 | 17092419-03A | 0.620 ppm |
| 2017-10-03 | 17100325-05A | 0.650 ppm |
| 2017-10-03 | 17100325-06A | 0.450 ppm |
| 2017-10-17 | 17102174-03A | 0.540 ppm |
| 2017-11-07 | 17111135-08A | 0.630 ppm |
| 2017-11-07 | 17111135-07A | 0.300 ppm |
| 2017-11-14 | 17112161-03A | 0.510 ppm |
| 2017-12-05 | 17120503-07A | 0.760 ppm |
| 2017-12-05 | 17120503-08A | 0.190 ppm |
| 2017-12-19 | 17122496-03A | 0.490 ppm |
| 2017-12-21 | 17122931-01A | 0.0700 ppm |
| 2018-01-09 | 18010811-02A | 0.550 ppm |
| 2018-10-16 | 18102190-05A | 0.560 ppm |
| 2019-05-21 | 19052725-05A | 0.530 ppm |
| 2019-10-14 | 734664009 | 0.790 ppm |
| 2019-10-14 | 734664012 | 0.580 ppm |
| 2019-10-14 | 734664015 | 0.800 ppm |