Fluoride
Front Royal
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 | 0.794 ppm | 13 | 13 | 0.649 ppm - 0.940 ppm |
2015 | 0.687 ppm | 13 | 13 | 0.556 ppm - 0.831 ppm |
2016 | 0.538 ppm | 12 | 10 | ND - 0.715 ppm |
2017 | 0.621 ppm | 13 | 13 | 0.339 ppm - 0.852 ppm |
2018 | 0.404 ppm | 3 | 2 | ND - 0.653 ppm |
2019 | 0.647 ppm | 3 | 3 | 0.580 ppm - 0.690 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 |
---|---|---|
2014-01-14 | 4A17053-03 | 0.778 ppm |
2014-02-10 | 4B14014-03 | 0.747 ppm |
2014-03-10 | 4C13035-03 | 0.730 ppm |
2014-04-14 | 0032854INO | 0.770 ppm |
2014-04-15 | 4D22-011-03 | 0.786 ppm |
2014-05-06 | 4E08070--03 | 0.831 ppm |
2014-06-16 | 1406171558 | 0.869 ppm |
2014-07-14 | 4G17043-03 | 0.883 ppm |
2014-08-05 | 4H08034-02 | 0.940 ppm |
2014-09-09 | 4I12048-03 | 0.828 ppm |
2014-10-07 | 4J10041-03 | 0.745 ppm |
2014-11-05 | 4K11014-03 | 0.769 ppm |
2014-12-02 | 4L05016-03 | 0.649 ppm |
2015-01-05 | 460212-FAIRWAY L | 0.556 ppm |
2015-02-03 | 460212-FAIRWAY L | 0.696 ppm |
2015-03-03 | 460212-FAIRWAY L | 0.630 ppm |
2015-04-06 | 460212-FAIRWAY L | 0.686 ppm |
2015-05-04 | 460212-FAIRWAY L | 0.700 ppm |
2015-05-05 | 460160-ANALYTICS | 0.680 ppm |
2015-06-09 | 460212-FAIRWAY L | 0.621 ppm |
2015-07-14 | 460212-FAIRWAY L | 0.710 ppm |
2015-08-11 | 460212-FAIRWAY L | 0.750 ppm |
2015-09-08 | 460212-FAIRWAY L | 0.707 ppm |
2015-10-06 | 460212-FAIRWAY L | 0.831 ppm |
2015-11-03 | 460212-FAIRWAY L | 0.593 ppm |
2015-12-07 | 460212-FAIRWAY L | 0.765 ppm |
2016-01-05 | 6A08064-03 | 0.715 ppm |
2016-02-09 | 6B12055-03 | 0.626 ppm |
2016-03-01 | 6C04055-03 | ND |
2016-04-05 | 6D08055-03 | 0.714 ppm |
2016-04-21 | ESS0067307INO | 0.640 ppm |
2016-05-03 | 6E06050-03 | 0.654 ppm |
2016-06-07 | 6F10049-03 | 0.640 ppm |
2016-08-02 | 6H09018-03 | ND |
2016-09-06 | 6109102-03 | 0.698 ppm |
2016-10-04 | 6J07056-03 | 0.633 ppm |
2016-11-01 | 6K04038-03 | 0.602 ppm |
2016-12-13 | 6L6038-03 | 0.535 ppm |
2017-01-09 | 7A12028-03 | 0.339 ppm |
2017-02-07 | 7B10038-04 | 0.540 ppm |
2017-03-07 | 7C10026-03 | 0.510 ppm |
2017-04-04 | 7D07097-03 | 0.653 ppm |
2017-04-10 | ESS0084688RINO | 0.620 ppm |
2017-05-02 | 7E05030-03 | 0.662 ppm |
2017-06-06 | 7F09057-03 | 0.592 ppm |
2017-07-12 | 7G14041-03 | 0.852 ppm |
2017-08-08 | 7H15028-03 | 0.783 ppm |
2017-09-05 | 7I08162-03 | 0.596 ppm |
2017-10-03 | 1710041535 | 0.763 ppm |
2017-11-07 | 1711081509 | 0.625 ppm |
2017-12-05 | 7L08080-03 | 0.532 ppm |
2018-01-02 | 8A05041-03 | 0.653 ppm |
2018-02-01 | 1231 | ND |
2018-04-30 | 0108560INO | 0.560 ppm |
2019-03-06 | 0125608 | 0.580 ppm |
2019-04-09 | 0127624INO | 0.670 ppm |
2019-06-03 | 0130694 | 0.690 ppm |