F-
Fluoride
inorganicSDWA code: 1025
EPA Limit (MCL)
4 mg/L
Health Goal (MCLG)
4 mg/L
Unit of Measure
mg/L
How concentrations are reported
Secondary MCL of 2 mg/L for cosmetic effects (dental fluorosis). Primary MCL of 4 mg/L for health effects.
Health Effects
Dental fluorosis (cosmetic) at 2 mg/L. Skeletal fluorosis (bone damage) at 4 mg/L. Below 0.7 mg/L used for dental health.
How It Gets Into Water
Erosion of natural deposits; water additive to promote dental health; discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories
How to Reduce Exposure
- 1Reverse osmosis systems remove fluoride
- 2Distillation removes fluoride
- 3Standard carbon filters do NOT remove fluoride
- 4Fluoride at recommended levels (0.7 mg/L) promotes dental health
Always look for NSF/ANSI certified filtration products. Certification means the filter has been independently tested to remove the stated contaminants.
Official EPA Guidance
For authoritative information on Fluoridein drinking water, visit the EPA's official resource page.
View EPA Guidance ↗