Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Fluoride

Elkins City 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.

 

46

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20180.580 ppm220.560 ppm - 0.600 ppm
20190.680 ppm110.680 ppm
20200.451 ppm76ND - 0.600 ppm
20210.158 ppm54ND - 0.230 ppm
20220.183 ppm1311ND - 0.290 ppm
20230.258 ppm185ND - 3.90 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
2018-05-25286782-2018-DW0.560 ppm
2018-11-07296635-2018-DW0.600 ppm
2019-12-04317085-2019-DW0.680 ppm
2020-01-08318723-2020-DW0.600 ppm
2020-01-08318723-2020-DW0.600 ppm
2020-02-05319926-2020-DW0.410 ppm
2020-02-05319926-2020-DW0.410 ppm
2020-02-12320298-2020-DW0.570 ppm
2020-02-12320298-2020-DW0.570 ppm
2020-10-21334310-2020-DWND
2021-09-1573892000030.230 ppm
2021-11-1073980250070.160 ppm
2021-11-107398025004ND
2021-11-1073980250050.170 ppm
2021-12-09731015040070.230 ppm
2022-02-24304681540020.180 ppm
2022-03-02304693320060.290 ppm
2022-04-13304806370040.240 ppm
2022-05-11304883940060.210 ppm
2022-06-15304981880060.200 ppm
2022-07-06305034530060.170 ppm
2022-08-09305132280040.260 ppm
2022-09-07305199300040.210 ppm
2022-10-12305294630060.190 ppm
2022-10-26305334480020.210 ppm
2022-11-09305369660060.220 ppm
2022-12-0730544656001ND
2022-12-0730544500006ND
2023-01-11305534630040.180 ppm
2023-01-11305534600013.90 ppm
2023-02-0830560833001ND
2023-02-08305608420030.200 ppm
2023-02-15305629150010.180 ppm
2023-03-08305685140060.180 ppm
2023-03-0830568518001ND
2023-04-0530575867006ND
2023-05-1030586511006ND
2023-05-1030586516001ND
2023-06-0730594101008ND
2023-06-0730594168001ND
2023-07-1230603976008ND
2023-08-0930612241006ND
2023-10-1130630016006ND
2023-11-0130635583006ND
2023-11-0230636080002ND
2023-12-0630644644004ND