Fluoride
Altus
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.
Samples
Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)
Samples exceeding
health guidelines
Testing results - average by year
| Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 2014 | 0.399 ppm | 12 | 12 | 0.320 ppm - 0.490 ppm |
| 2015 | 0.249 ppm | 12 | 12 | 0.150 ppm - 0.390 ppm |
| 2016 | 0.167 ppm | 12 | 12 | 0.130 ppm - 0.220 ppm |
| 2017 | 0.170 ppm | 12 | 12 | 0.1000 ppm - 0.240 ppm |
| 2018 | 0.205 ppm | 11 | 11 | 0.170 ppm - 0.240 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.143 ppm | 3 | 3 | 0.1000 ppm - 0.180 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-01-02 | 4A03010-01 | 0.390 ppm |
| 2014-02-04 | 4B05010-01 | 0.360 ppm |
| 2014-03-10 | 4C11008-01 | 0.370 ppm |
| 2014-04-01 | 4D02013-01 | 0.380 ppm |
| 2014-05-05 | 4E06004-01 | 0.490 ppm |
| 2014-06-03 | 4F04040-01 | 0.440 ppm |
| 2014-07-15 | 4G16004-01 | 0.440 ppm |
| 2014-08-04 | 4H05039-01 | 0.320 ppm |
| 2014-09-04 | 4I05005-01 | 0.400 ppm |
| 2014-10-06 | 4J07005-01 | 0.380 ppm |
| 2014-11-12 | 4K13006-01 | 0.430 ppm |
| 2014-12-01 | 4L03012-01 | 0.390 ppm |
| 2015-01-12 | 5A13006-01 | 0.360 ppm |
| 2015-02-02 | 5B03012-01 | 0.360 ppm |
| 2015-03-05 | 5C09005-01 | 0.390 ppm |
| 2015-04-06 | 5D07011-01 | 0.350 ppm |
| 2015-05-04 | 5E05013-01 | 0.380 ppm |
| 2015-06-04 | 5F05006-01 | 0.160 ppm |
| 2015-07-16 | 5G17006-01 | 0.150 ppm |
| 2015-08-03 | 5H04012-01 | 0.150 ppm |
| 2015-09-02 | 5I03025-01 | 0.170 ppm |
| 2015-10-01 | 5J02003-01 | 0.160 ppm |
| 2015-11-04 | 5K05007-01 | 0.180 ppm |
| 2015-12-01 | 5L02008-01 | 0.180 ppm |
| 2016-01-13 | 6A14007-01 | 0.170 ppm |
| 2016-02-01 | 6B02015-01 | 0.160 ppm |
| 2016-03-15 | 6C16006-01 | 0.180 ppm |
| 2016-04-11 | 6D12010-01 | 0.140 ppm |
| 2016-05-11 | 6E12008-01 | 0.190 ppm |
| 2016-06-07 | 6F08018-01 | 0.220 ppm |
| 2016-07-18 | 6G19011-01 | 0.170 ppm |
| 2016-08-09 | 6H10009-01 | 0.130 ppm |
| 2016-09-19 | 6I20011-01 | 0.180 ppm |
| 2016-10-18 | 6J19007-01 | 0.150 ppm |
| 2016-11-08 | 6K09010-01 | 0.150 ppm |
| 2016-12-05 | 6L06015-01 | 0.160 ppm |
| 2017-01-04 | 7A05012-01 | 0.240 ppm |
| 2017-02-06 | 7B07033-01 | 0.160 ppm |
| 2017-03-06 | 7C07030-01 | 0.160 ppm |
| 2017-04-17 | 7D18047-01 | 0.1000 ppm |
| 2017-05-18 | 7E19003-01 | 0.170 ppm |
| 2017-06-13 | 7F14011-01 | 0.170 ppm |
| 2017-07-17 | 7G18006-01 | 0.160 ppm |
| 2017-08-16 | 7H17023-01 | 0.180 ppm |
| 2017-09-13 | 7I14005-01 | 0.180 ppm |
| 2017-10-16 | 7J17023-01 | 0.180 ppm |
| 2017-11-13 | 7K14011-01 | 0.130 ppm |
| 2017-12-06 | 7L07006-01 | 0.210 ppm |
| 2018-01-11 | 8A12001-01 | 0.170 ppm |
| 2018-03-06 | AC07086-01 | 0.200 ppm |
| 2018-04-10 | AD11012-01 | 0.180 ppm |
| 2018-05-14 | AE15024-01 | 0.190 ppm |
| 2018-06-13 | AF14012-01 | 0.230 ppm |
| 2018-07-23 | AG24017-01 | 0.200 ppm |
| 2018-08-30 | AH31008-01 | 0.170 ppm |
| 2018-09-17 | AI18032-01 | 0.230 ppm |
| 2018-10-03 | AJ03206-01 | 0.240 ppm |
| 2018-11-07 | AK07150-01 | 0.220 ppm |
| 2018-12-12 | AL12119-01 | 0.230 ppm |
| 2019-01-16 | BA16126-01 | 0.180 ppm |
| 2019-03-28 | BC28056-01 | 0.1000 ppm |
| 2019-05-08 | BE08106-01 | 0.150 ppm |