Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Fluoride

Lumberport 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.

 

28

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND10ND
20190.410 ppm32ND - 0.670 ppm
20200.517 ppm660.370 ppm - 0.720 ppm
20210.213 ppm330.0700 ppm - 0.400 ppm
2022ND80ND
2023ND70ND

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
2018-01-11279861-2018-DWND
2019-01-10299558-2019-DWND
2019-09-03312881-2019-DW0.670 ppm
2019-11-12315858-2019-W0.560 ppm
2020-01-14318947-2020-DW0.570 ppm
2020-01-14318947-2020-DW0.570 ppm
2020-03-03321273-2020-DW0.370 ppm
2020-03-03321273-2020-DW0.370 ppm
2020-08-17330538-2020-DW0.500 ppm
2020-12-03336677-2020-DW0.720 ppm
2021-03-17340798-2021-DW0.400 ppm
2021-11-0473967280010.170 ppm
2021-12-15731024810020.0700 ppm
2022-06-08AWF3086-03ND
2022-07-13AWG3722-07ND
2022-08-10AWH3329-03ND
2022-09-15AWI4139-03ND
2022-10-13AWJ3598-04ND
2022-11-17AWK5140-05ND
2022-11-17AWK5140-04ND
2022-12-08AWL1849-03ND
2023-01-12AXA2890-05ND
2023-02-09AXB2728-04ND
2023-03-09AXC2393-04ND
2023-04-20AXD4739-02ND
2023-05-04AXE1802-02ND
2023-06-08AXF2595-01ND
2023-07-20AXG4995-02ND