Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Fluoride

Jblm Mcchord Field

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.

 

42

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018N/A00N/A
2019N/A00N/A
2020N/A00N/A
2021N/A00N/A
20220.0467 ppm183ND - 0.300 ppm
20230.154 ppm2416ND - 0.790 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
2022-04-0642726000.240 ppm
2022-04-064272599ND
2022-05-1842951980.300 ppm
2022-05-184295199ND
2022-05-2742951970.300 ppm
2022-06-024318740ND
2022-06-024291240ND
2022-06-094295208ND
2022-07-074310994ND
2022-07-074310993ND
2022-08-044332326ND
2022-08-044332243ND
2022-09-074338544ND
2022-09-074338546ND
2022-10-054365931ND
2022-10-054365933ND
2022-11-024371582ND
2022-12-074388501ND
2023-01-044399661ND
2023-01-1344014840.0600 ppm
2023-02-014408717ND
2023-03-014424264ND
2023-04-1244427010.120 ppm
2023-05-0344521000.170 ppm
2023-05-034452101ND
2023-06-074468473ND
2023-06-0744684720.0700 ppm
2023-07-054478257ND
2023-07-0544782560.0600 ppm
2023-07-0544782490.650 ppm
2023-07-0544782520.620 ppm
2023-08-0345002510.1000 ppm
2023-08-034500252ND
2023-09-0545147900.0800 ppm
2023-09-0545147910.140 ppm
2023-10-0445405580.110 ppm
2023-10-0445405570.140 ppm
2023-11-024542955ND
2023-11-1345555620.340 ppm
2023-12-0745564690.790 ppm
2023-12-0745564640.130 ppm
2023-12-0745564730.110 ppm