Fluoride
City of Tucson
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.
Testing results - average by year
Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
---|---|---|---|---|
2013 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
2014 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
2015 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
2016 | 0.238 ppm | 108 | 102 | ND - 1.17 ppm |
2017 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
2018 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
2019 | 0.301 ppm | 98 | 98 | 0.119 ppm - 1.11 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 |
---|---|---|
2016-01-11 | L160042-01I | 0.202 ppm |
2016-01-11 | L160042-03I | 0.133 ppm |
2016-01-11 | L160042-04I | 0.336 ppm |
2016-01-12 | L160043-01I | 0.171 ppm |
2016-01-12 | L160043-02I | 0.155 ppm |
2016-01-12 | L160043-03I | 0.230 ppm |
2016-01-12 | L160043-04I | 0.164 ppm |
2016-01-12 | L160043-05I | 0.329 ppm |
2016-01-13 | L160045-02I | 1.17 ppm |
2016-01-13 | L160045-04I | 0.244 ppm |
2016-01-13 | L160045-05I | 0.186 ppm |
2016-01-14 | L160046-01I | 0.199 ppm |
2016-01-14 | L160046-03I | 0.213 ppm |
2016-01-14 | L160046-04I | 0.377 ppm |
2016-01-14 | L160046-05I | 0.341 ppm |
2016-01-19 | L160066-01I | 0.140 ppm |
2016-01-19 | L160066-02I | 0.147 ppm |
2016-01-19 | L160066-03I | 0.162 ppm |
2016-01-19 | L160066-04I | 0.321 ppm |
2016-01-19 | L160066-05I | 0.132 ppm |
2016-01-20 | L160068-01I | 0.188 ppm |
2016-01-20 | L160068-02I | 0.179 ppm |
2016-01-20 | L160068-03I | 0.490 ppm |
2016-01-20 | L160068-04I | 0.154 ppm |
2016-01-20 | L160068-05I | 0.308 ppm |
2016-01-21 | L160069-01I | 0.136 ppm |
2016-01-21 | L160069-02I | 0.138 ppm |
2016-01-21 | L160069-03I | 0.178 ppm |
2016-01-21 | L160069-04I | 0.238 ppm |
2016-01-21 | L160069-05I | 0.229 ppm |
2016-01-25 | L160091-01I | 0.220 ppm |
2016-01-25 | L160091-02I | 0.204 ppm |
2016-01-25 | L160091-03I | 0.214 ppm |
2016-01-25 | L160091-04I | 0.137 ppm |
2016-01-25 | L160091-05I | 0.166 ppm |
2016-01-26 | L160092-01I | 0.162 ppm |
2016-01-26 | L160092-03I | 0.167 ppm |
2016-01-26 | L160092-04I | ND |
2016-01-26 | L160092-05I | 0.368 ppm |
2016-01-27 | L160094-01I | 0.196 ppm |
2016-01-27 | L160094-02I | 0.139 ppm |
2016-01-27 | L160094-04I | 0.153 ppm |
2016-01-27 | L160094-05I | 0.351 ppm |
2016-01-28 | L160104-02I | 0.179 ppm |
2016-01-28 | L160104-03I | 0.452 ppm |
2016-01-28 | L160104-04I | 0.637 ppm |
2016-01-28 | L160118-01 | 0.278 ppm |
2016-02-01 | L160119-01 | 0.763 ppm |
2016-02-01 | L160119-03I | 0.316 ppm |
2016-02-01 | L160119-04I | 0.282 ppm |
2016-02-02 | L160122-01I | 0.264 ppm |
2016-02-02 | L160122-02I | 0.234 ppm |
2016-02-02 | L160122-03I | 0.281 ppm |
2016-02-02 | L160122-04I | 0.293 ppm |
2016-02-02 | L160122-05I | 0.330 ppm |
2016-02-03 | L160123-01I | 0.153 ppm |
2016-02-03 | L160123-04I | 0.210 ppm |
2016-02-04 | L160125-01I | 0.259 ppm |
2016-02-04 | L160125-02I | 0.289 ppm |
2016-02-04 | L160125-03I | 0.416 ppm |
2016-02-04 | L160125-04I | 0.264 ppm |
2016-02-08 | L160143-02I | 0.195 ppm |
2016-02-08 | L160143-03I | 0.151 ppm |
2016-02-08 | L160143-05I | 0.200 ppm |
2016-02-09 | L160144-02I | 0.160 ppm |
2016-02-09 | L160144-03I | 0.210 ppm |
2016-02-09 | L160144-04I | 0.242 ppm |
2016-02-09 | L160144-05I | 0.268 ppm |
2016-02-10 | L160145-03I | 0.195 ppm |
2016-02-10 | L160145-04I | 0.252 ppm |
2016-02-10 | L160145-05I | 0.174 ppm |
2016-02-11 | L160148-01 | 0.132 ppm |
2016-02-11 | L160148-02T | 0.154 ppm |
2016-02-11 | L160148-04T | 0.136 ppm |
2016-02-11 | L160148-05I | 0.158 ppm |
2016-02-11 | L160171-01I | 0.124 ppm |
2016-02-16 | L160172-03I | 0.116 ppm |
2016-02-16 | L160172-04I | 0.173 ppm |
2016-02-17 | L160173-01I | 0.158 ppm |
2016-02-17 | L160173-02 | 0.194 ppm |
2016-02-18 | L160178-04 | 0.172 ppm |
2016-02-23 | L160210-01 | 0.274 ppm |
2016-02-23 | L160210-02 | 0.102 ppm |
2016-02-23 | L160210-03 | 0.176 ppm |
2016-02-24 | L160211-01J | 0.115 ppm |
2016-02-24 | L160211-02J | ND |
2016-02-24 | L160211-03J | 0.138 ppm |
2016-02-25 | L160212-03 | ND |
2016-02-29 | L160245-01 | 0.177 ppm |
2016-02-29 | L160245-02 | 0.133 ppm |
2016-03-01 | L160246-03J | 0.165 ppm |
2016-03-02 | L160247-01 | 0.287 ppm |
2016-03-07 | L160268-02J | 0.117 ppm |
2016-03-10 | L160280-02J | 0.239 ppm |
2016-03-10 | L160280-03T | 0.135 ppm |
2016-04-20 | L160468-01 | 0.585 ppm |
2016-04-27 | L160497-05 | ND |
2016-04-28 | L160498-01 | 0.511 ppm |
2016-04-28 | L160498-02 | ND |
2016-04-28 | L160498-04 | 0.762 ppm |
2016-05-02 | L160516-01 | 0.629 ppm |
2016-05-03 | L160517-01 | ND |
2016-05-05 | L160525-02 | 0.102 ppm |
2016-05-31 | L160656-01I | 0.441 ppm |
2016-05-31 | L160656-02I | 0.443 ppm |
2016-06-14 | L160697-01I | 0.154 ppm |
2016-06-16 | L160723-01I | 0.337 ppm |
2016-10-04 | L161215-01 | 0.166 ppm |
2019-03-19 | L190423-01 IOC | 0.698 ppm |
2019-04-01 | L190499-02 | 0.431 ppm |
2019-04-01 | L190499-03 | 0.246 ppm |
2019-04-01 | L190499-05 | 0.441 ppm |
2019-04-01 | L190499-06 | 0.218 ppm |
2019-04-04 | L190541-01 | 0.211 ppm |
2019-04-11 | L190512-01 | 0.183 ppm |
2019-04-11 | L190512-02 | 0.196 ppm |
2019-04-11 | L190512-03 | 0.223 ppm |
2019-04-11 | L190512-04 | 1.11 ppm |
2019-04-15 | L190597-01 | 0.244 ppm |
2019-04-15 | L190597-02 | 0.266 ppm |
2019-04-15 | L190597-03 | 0.213 ppm |
2019-04-15 | L190597-04 | 0.802 ppm |
2019-04-17 | L190610-01 | 0.224 ppm |
2019-04-17 | L190610-03 | 0.181 ppm |
2019-04-18 | L190624-01 | 0.268 ppm |
2019-04-18 | L190624-02 | 0.217 ppm |
2019-04-18 | L190624-03 | 0.407 ppm |
2019-04-23 | L190640-01 | 0.423 ppm |
2019-04-23 | L190640-02 | 0.305 ppm |
2019-04-23 | L190640-03 | 0.700 ppm |
2019-04-23 | L190640-04 | 0.380 ppm |
2019-04-24 | L190645-02 | 0.160 ppm |
2019-04-24 | L190645-03 | 0.191 ppm |
2019-04-25 | L190648-01 | 0.231 ppm |
2019-04-25 | L190648-02 | 0.214 ppm |
2019-04-25 | L190648-03 | 0.223 ppm |
2019-04-30 | L190670-01 | 0.491 ppm |
2019-04-30 | L190670-02 | 0.187 ppm |
2019-05-01 | L190678-02 | 0.371 ppm |
2019-05-01 | L190678-03 | 0.317 ppm |
2019-05-01 | L190678-04 | 0.387 ppm |
2019-05-02 | L190690-01 | 0.155 ppm |
2019-05-02 | L190690-03 | 0.298 ppm |
2019-05-06 | L190704-03 | 0.263 ppm |
2019-05-07 | L190712-01 | 0.212 ppm |
2019-05-07 | L190712-02 | 0.185 ppm |
2019-05-07 | L190712-03 | 0.246 ppm |
2019-05-08 | L190725-01 | 0.338 ppm |
2019-05-08 | L190725-02 | 0.222 ppm |
2019-05-09 | L190728-01-20131 | 0.247 ppm |
2019-05-13 | L190741-01-20131 | 0.215 ppm |
2019-05-13 | L190741-02-20131 | 0.169 ppm |
2019-05-14 | L190748-02-20131 | 0.480 ppm |
2019-05-15 | L190761-01-20131 | 0.370 ppm |
2019-05-15 | L190761-02-20131 | 0.210 ppm |
2019-05-15 | L190761-03-20131 | 0.309 ppm |
2019-05-20 | L190783-02-20131 | 0.192 ppm |
2019-05-20 | L190783-03-20131 | 0.332 ppm |
2019-05-28 | L190813-01-06260 | 0.186 ppm |
2019-05-28 | L190813-02-06260 | 0.291 ppm |
2019-05-28 | L190813-03-06260 | 0.202 ppm |
2019-05-28 | L190813-04-06260 | 0.221 ppm |
2019-05-30 | L190835-01-06260 | 0.516 ppm |
2019-05-30 | L190835-02-06260 | 0.850 ppm |
2019-05-30 | L190835-03-06260 | 0.352 ppm |
2019-05-30 | L190835-04-06260 | 0.502 ppm |
2019-05-30 | L190835-05-06260 | 0.450 ppm |
2019-05-30 | L190835-06-06260 | 0.488 ppm |
2019-06-03 | L190837-01-06260 | 0.204 ppm |
2019-06-03 | L190837-02-06260 | 0.245 ppm |
2019-06-03 | L190837-03-06260 | 0.181 ppm |
2019-06-03 | L190837-04-06260 | 0.174 ppm |
2019-06-03 | L190837-05-06260 | 0.453 ppm |
2019-06-04 | L190851-01-06281 | 0.188 ppm |
2019-06-04 | L190851-03-06281 | 0.156 ppm |
2019-06-04 | L190851-04-06281 | 0.564 ppm |
2019-06-04 | L190851-05-06281 | 0.224 ppm |
2019-06-06 | L190879-01-06281 | 0.215 ppm |
2019-06-06 | L190879-02-06281 | 0.232 ppm |
2019-06-06 | L190879-03-06281 | 0.285 ppm |
2019-06-06 | L190879-04-06281 | 0.313 ppm |
2019-06-06 | L190879-05-06281 | 0.324 ppm |
2019-06-11 | L190893-01-06281 | 0.162 ppm |
2019-06-11 | L190893-02-06281 | 0.307 ppm |
2019-06-11 | L190893-03-06281 | 0.248 ppm |
2019-06-11 | L190893-04-06281 | 0.307 ppm |
2019-06-13 | L190907-01-07081 | 0.331 ppm |
2019-06-13 | L190907-02-07081 | 0.207 ppm |
2019-06-13 | L190907-03-07081 | 0.223 ppm |
2019-06-13 | L190907-04-07081 | 0.138 ppm |
2019-06-25 | L190968-01-07081 | 0.247 ppm |
2019-06-27 | L190983-01-08131 | 0.580 ppm |
2019-08-20 | L191266-01-10011 | 0.238 ppm |
2019-08-20 | L191266-02-10011 | 0.241 ppm |
2019-08-22 | L191282-01-10011 | 0.183 ppm |
2019-08-22 | L191282-02-10011 | 0.169 ppm |
2019-09-09 | L191400-01-10011 | 0.308 ppm |
2019-09-09 | L191400-02-10011 | 0.119 ppm |
2019-09-10 | L191408-01-10011 | 0.205 ppm |
2019-09-11 | L191425-01-10011 | 0.190 ppm |
2019-09-11 | L191425-02-10011 | 0.186 ppm |
2019-09-11 | L191425-03-10011 | 0.250 ppm |
2019-09-12 | L191433-01-10011 | 0.335 ppm |
2019-09-16 | L191452-01-10021 | 0.292 ppm |
2019-11-19 | L191822-01-01071 | 0.228 ppm |
2019-11-20 | L191829-01-01071 | 0.232 ppm |