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A graphic of two hands reaching up to catch water from a flowing spigot.
(Provided by Gigafact)

The city of Aspen voted to add fluoride to its drinking water in 1968. 

Fluoride is a compound found naturally in soil, food, plants, animals and the human body. Almost all water contains some naturally occurring fluoride, but usually at levels too low to prevent cavities. 

The recommended fluoride concentration in drinking water is 0.7 milligrams per liter. This is about equal to 3 drops of water in a 55-gallon barrel.

The highest concentration allowed under Environmental Protection Agency rules is 4 milligrams per liter. Fluoride consumed in excess of that over many years could cause bone disease.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says 72.7% of the U.S. population receives supplemental fluoride in their drinking water. That number is 75.2% in Colorado, making it 28th among states when ranked by the percentage of their populations using fluoridated water.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

See full source list below.

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The Colorado Sun partners with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-size fact-checks of trending claims. Read our methodology to learn how we check claims.

Corrections:

About Aspen Water, City of Aspen, accessed October 2024. Source link.

About Community Water Fluoridation, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, accessed October 2024. Source link.

2020 Water Fluoridation Statistics, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, May 15, 2024. Source link.

Type of Story: Fact-Check

Checks a specific statement or set of statements asserted as fact.

Justin George is a 1995 graduate of Columbine High School. He has worked as a reporter at six news organizations including the Boulder Daily Camera, the Baltimore Sun and the Washington Post. Email him at justin@coloradosun.com