Adjusted Fluoride Concentrations and Control Ranges in 34 States: 2006–2010 and 2015

Abstract

To inform selection of a control range around the Public Health Service's recommended 0.7 mg/L drinking water fluoride concentration to prevent tooth decay, CDC's Water Fluoridation Reporting System data for 2006-2010 and 2015 were analyzed. Monthly average concentration data from 4,251 fluoride-adjusted community water systems for 191,266 of 255,060 system-months (2006-2010) were compared to control ranges 0.6 mg/L to 0.2 mg/L wide. Percentages of system-months within control ranges ≥0.4 mg/L wide (e.g., ±0.2 mg/L) were >83% versus 68% for 0.2 mg/L wide (±0.1 mg/L). In 2015, 70% of adjusted systems maintained averages within ±0.1 mg/L of their system's annual average for 9 of 12 months, 67% used the 0.7 mg/L target and 45% used it with a ±0.1 mg/L control range. Adoption of the 0.7 mg/L target was underway but not completed in 2015. Control ranges narrower than ±0.2 mg/L may be feasible for monthly average fluoride concentration.