ArticleEnvironmental science. Advances2026
Assessing Fluoride Concentrations in Iowa's Groundwater and Drinking Water: Implications for Public Health and Water Management.
Article in Environmental science. Advances, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
10 authors.
Funding
Abstract
This study investigates the occurrence and distribution of fluoride in Iowa's groundwater and drinking water. Fluoride, added to community water supplies to prevent dental caries, can pose health risks at high concentrations. The U.S. Public Health Service recommends an optimal fluoride concentration of 0.7 mg/L, while the EPA sets a maximum contaminant level (MCL) at 4 mg/L and a secondary MCL at 2 mg/L. This research analyzes fluoride data from various sources, including the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the US Geological Survey, covering 9,011 raw groundwater samples from 1931 and 2017 and 26,280 treated drinking water samples from 1934 to 2021. Fluoride concentrations in Iowa's groundwater ranged from <0.1 mg/L to 11.2 mg/L, with an average of 0.65 mg/L and a median of 0.35 mg/L. Approximately 69% of untreated raw source groundwater samples fell below the recommended 0.7 mg/L, while 7% exceeded the secondary MCL of 2 mg/L. Higher fluoride levels are associated with deeper wells and specific aquifers, such as the Cambrian-Ordovician and Mississippian. Treated public drinking water showed an average fluoride concentration of 0.87 mg/L, indicating a higher average of 0.24 mg/L (mean) compared to untreated groundwater due to fluoridation practices. Fluoride concentrations in treated water peaked between 1980 and 1999, then declined slightly after 2000 and more so when systems began aligning with the 2015 recommendation to lower the optimal level to 0.7 mg/L. This pattern reflects how regulatory guidance and water source management have influenced fluoride levels over time. This study highlights significant regional variability in fluoride levels, influenced by aquifer lithology, well depth, and water chemistry. Anthropogenic sources also contribute to fluoride concentrations. The findings underscore the need for tailored water management strategies to balance the benefits of fluoridation with the risks of excessive fluoride intake. This research provides valuable insights for public health agencies, water suppliers, and residents, aiming to optimize fluoride levels in Iowa's drinking water to ensure safety and efficacy.
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.