Fluoride in Groundwater

Abstract

What is fluoride? Fluoride is a chemical that occurs naturally within many types of rock. The average concentration of inorganic fluoride from natural sources in British Columbia drinking water is generally less than 0.050 milligrams per litre (mg/L), but concentrations can get higher than 10 mg/L. The Maximum Acceptable Concentration of fluoride in drinking water in Canada is 1.5 mg/L. Fluoridation is the addition of fluoride compounds into drinking water, to adjust concentrations to levels between 0.8 and 1.0 mg/L for the beneficial effect of tooth decay prevention. Studies have shown that children drinking fluoridated water can expect to have up to 35% less tooth decay than those drinking non-fluoridated water. Within British Columbia approximately 4.5% of the population drink fluoridated water. Everyone is exposed to fluoride in their diet. Most people are also exposed to fluoride in toothpaste or other dental products.