What standards for levels of fluoride in water are set by the EPA?
Under the Safe Drinking Water Act and its amendments (1974, 1986 and 1996), the EPA establishes criteria for safe drinking water. These standards include the maximum contaminant level goal (MCLG), the maximum contaminant level (MCL), and the secondary maximum contaminant level (SMCL). The MCLG is a nonenforceable health goal set at a concentration to minimize adverse health effects and serves as an advisory to the states. The MCL is an enforceable regulatory standard that is set as close to the MCLG as practical, taking into consideration other factors such as treatment technology and costs. The SMCL is a nonenforceable secondary standard providing guidance on cosmetic or aesthetic considerations. In 1986, EPA established an MCLG and MCL for fluoride at a concentration of 4 milligrams per liter (mg/L) and an SMCL of 2 mg/L. The Safe Drinking Water Act requires periodic reassessment of regulations for drinking water contaminants. How does the release of the 2006 National Research Counci
