Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Fluoride

Rocky Mount, Town of

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.

 

44

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20180.650 ppm110.650 ppm
20190.715 ppm220.650 ppm - 0.780 ppm
20200.618 ppm13130.540 ppm - 0.690 ppm
20210.644 ppm14140.540 ppm - 0.790 ppm
20220.628 ppm13130.460 ppm - 0.750 ppm
20230.630 ppm110.630 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
2018-01-2318012393-04A0.650 ppm
2019-03-1219031635-02A0.780 ppm
2019-06-1019061301-01A0.650 ppm
2020-01-1473145190010.610 ppm
2020-02-1073175220010.640 ppm
2020-02-2473190020030.630 ppm
2020-03-1673213530010.640 ppm
2020-04-0773233510010.660 ppm
2020-05-1173273670010.540 ppm
2020-06-1573315650010.610 ppm
2020-07-1373348670010.580 ppm
2020-08-1073382920010.690 ppm
2020-09-0973418980010.660 ppm
2020-10-0773454730010.620 ppm
2020-11-097349743001_4601480.560 ppm
2020-12-0973534940010.590 ppm
2021-01-1373570980010.650 ppm
2021-02-0873597150010.700 ppm
2021-02-087359793003_4601480.540 ppm
2021-03-157363829001_4601480.620 ppm
2021-04-127367152001_4601480.580 ppm
2021-05-107370869001_4601480.570 ppm
2021-06-167376055001_4601480.580 ppm
2021-07-147380128001_4601480.560 ppm
2021-08-117383972001_4601480.570 ppm
2021-09-087388486001_4601480.640 ppm
2021-10-137393464001_4601480.790 ppm
2021-11-107397641001_4601480.770 ppm
2021-11-107397641001FL20.770 ppm
2021-12-1573102692001FL20.680 ppm
2022-01-1273105905003INO0.680 ppm
2022-01-1273105937001INO0.610 ppm
2022-02-0930464668001FL20.590 ppm
2022-03-0930471917001FL20.730 ppm
2022-04-0630479107001FL20.750 ppm
2022-05-1130488734001FL20.670 ppm
2022-06-1530498560001FL20.640 ppm
2022-07-0630503935001FL20.600 ppm
2022-08-1030513675001FL20.550 ppm
2022-09-0730520482001FL20.680 ppm
2022-10-0530527888001FL20.460 ppm
2022-11-0930537418001FL20.590 ppm
2022-12-0730544996001FL20.620 ppm
2023-01-0430551829003INO0.630 ppm