Fluoride in Cambridge Drinking Water

The Cambridge Water Department maintains a target fluoride level of 0.7 milligrams per Liter (mg/L) or parts per million (ppm) in the drinking water as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and several other prominent organizations. The strong position taken by the CDC, one of the world’s leading public health institutions, is important to understanding Cambridge Water Department’s addition of fluoride to reduce tooth decay and promote community public health. 

CDC recently published a report, Ten Great Public Health Achievements — United States 1900-1999, that listed fluoridation of public water supplies to reduce dental cavities as one of the leading public health achievements of the entire century. http://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/

The summary of CDC’s views is included in the document: Achievements in Public Health, 1900 to 1999: Fluoridation to Prevent Dental Cavities.  The CDC is highly regarded for their scientific expertise and objectivity, and it is important to us that their position on fluoridation is unequivocal.

Our approach is reinforced by the views of other organizations with strong public health and medical credentials that also support fluoridation including:

Cambridge Public Health Department

http://www.cambridgepublichealth.org/news/article.php?id=166

World Health Organization (WHO) Fluoride in Drinking Water

American Dental Association (ADA)

http://www.ada.org/en/public-programs/advocating-for-the-public/fluoride-and-fluoridation

New Mouth information on oral health and dentistry:

https://www.newmouth.com/dentistry/

https://www.newmouth.com/oral-health/

 

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets fluoride standards to guard drinking water safety. For fluoride, 4.0 parts per million is the Maximum Contaminant Level Goal, the level below which there is no known or expected risk to health. 

Cambridge Water Department maintains a target fluoride level of 0.7 ppm, as recommended by the CDC, MDPH, ADA, and WHO, and continuously monitors the levels. Cambridge Water Department has fluoridated at this level for over 20 years Cambridge Water Department is aware that a number of people across the country are raising questions about fluoride in drinking water. Cambridge Water Department intends to keep an open-minded view on any matters of technical competency, and we will pay close attention to competing viewpoints. But it is doubtful that Cambridge Water Department’s position will change so long as the CDC, MDPH, and others continue to support fluoridation and its benefits. 

Any questions, comments or concerns call the Water Quality Laboratory at  617-349-4780 any time, if no answer leave a message or email us