Fluoride Action Network

State Fluoride Database

Read the latest fluoride news from your state; find out if your town is fluoridated, see if any communities have recently rejected fluoridation, learn if your state has a law that mandates fluoridation, and other fluoride-related information.

New Mexico

WATER FLUORIDATION STATUS:

  • PERCENT OF PEOPLE SERVED BY PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS THAT ARE FLUORIDATED:
    201876.7% – ranked #26 among the states (100% fluoridated is ranked #1)
    201677.0%
    2014:  77.0%
    201277.0%
    200677.0%
    200076.7%
    199266.2%
  • To see if your town is fluoridated, click here.
  • To learn when your town was fluoridated, and which fluoridation chemical it uses, click here.

WATER FLUORIDATION ACCIDENTS:

  • NOVEMBER 1978 – Los Lunas: – Faulty electric relay switch causes concentrated fluoride to be pumped into water system. 34 people experience acute fluoride poisoning. Symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, muscle twitching and excess salivation. (SOURCE: Bevis 1981 | Hoffman 1980)

LATEST NEWS:

  • To see the latest news on fluoride developments in New Mexico, click here.
  • To see an updated list of New Mexico’s professionals calling for an end to fluoridation, click here.

New Mexico’s FLUORIDATION LAW:

  • The State of New Mexico does not mandate fluoridation.  Local governments control fluoridation policy in NM.  City councils can begin or discontinue fluoridation at their discretion, or by a referendum vote.  To learn more about these fluoridation laws, click here.

DATA ON ORAL HEALTH:

  • 2006. New Mexico Oral Health Surveillance System. NMORSS Special Report on Children 2006. Office of Oral Health, Health Systems Bureau, New Mexico Department of Health. Funding was provided by State Oral Health Collaborative Systems Grant, # H47MCO1945, Health Resources Services Administration, US Department of Health and Human Services. No mention of dental fluorosis.
  • 2006. New Mexico Oral Health Surveillance System. NMOHSS Special Report on the Border Counties 2006. Office of Oral Health, Health Systems Bureau, New Mexico Department of Health. Funding was provided by State Oral Health Collaborative Systems Grant, # H47MCO1945, Health Resources Services Administration, US Department of Health and Human Services.
    Dental fluorosis is mentioned on page 5. “The EPA- established Maximum Contaminant Level Goal  (MCLG) for fluoride is currently 4 mg/L; higher  levels increase the risk of severe enamel  fluorosis (discoloration, enamel loss, and pitting of the teeth during tooth development in children).

FAN’S STATE COORDINATOR IN New Mexico:

If you live in NM and want to get the fluoride out of your water contact David Albright, FAN’s New Mexico state coordinator.

New Mexico COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE REJECTED FLUORIDATION:

Community Population Date
Albuquerque

Resumed in
September 2017

157,428 May 18, 2016
Santa Fe 68,642 July 11, 2012
Albuquerque 500,000 April 11, 2012

NEW MEXICO WATER SYSTEMS WITH HIGH FLUORIDE LEVELS:

Water System County Population Size Fluoride Level (ppm)
Angel West Apts Colfax 40 1.6
Brazito Dona Ana 252 1.8
Cannon Air Force Base Curry 8,666 2.2
Canon Plaza Rio Arriba 88 1.6
Causey Roosevelt 57 2.6
Cedar Grove Santa Fe 50 3.4
Chilili Bernalillo 250 1.6
Chimayo Rio Arriba 75 3.4
Clovis Curry 30,954 2.4
Columbus Luna 641 6.4
Continental Mobile Home park Lea 22 1.6
Coyote Rio Arriba 57 2.8
El Coroco San Miguel 100 1.5
Elida Roosevelt 202 3.5
Enchanted Mesa M.H.P. Rio Arriba 230 2.3
Espanola Rio Arriba 8,389 1.9
Floyd Roosevelt 117 5.8
Fort Sumner De Baca 1,269 2.4
Garfield Dona Ana 500 1.8
Glen Acres Hidahgo 150 4.7
Hachita Grant 80 4.3
Holman Moa 96 3.7
Hurley Grant 1,534 1.9
Jal Lea 2,156 2.4
Keyah #1 Community San Juan 350 1.5
Lake Vallely Chapter San Juan 30 13.0
Llano Chimayo San Juan 63 2.3
Llano Quemado Taos 590 2.8
Lordsburg Hidalgo 2,951 4.2
Mariano Lake Chapter McKinley 250 2.9
Melrose Curry 701 1.9
Mosquero Harding 320 2.3
Mulholland Well McKinley 50 1.8
Nacshitti Public Sch San Juan 300 1.5
Newcomb Community San Juan 310 3.0
Playas Hidalgo 900 1.7
Portales Roosevelt 10,690 2.1
Pueblo Pintado School McKinley 230 9.2
Quemado Catron 150 2.5
Ramah R-4 McKinley 0 2.0
Ribera San Miguel 180 2.6
Rincon Dona Ana 350 2.6
Rodeo Hidalgo 120 3.2
Roy Harding 362 1.9
San Jon Quay 340 2.4
San Jose San Miguel 200 2.2
San Ysidro Sandoval 233 1.6
Shady Grove T.S. Hidalgo 50 2.6
Sheep Springs Community San Juan 270 1.5
Sheep Springs North Community San Juan 340 1.5
Standing Rock School McKinley 110 2.8
Texico Curry 966 1.7
Vaughn (Encino) Guadalupe 867 2.7
Whiterock Chapter San Juan 50 3.7
Information from CDC’s Fluoridation Census published in 1993.

FLUORIDE POLLUTION SOURCES IN NEW MEXICO:

In 2008, New Mexico ranked #40 out of 48 states for Hydrogen Fluoride releases (132,445 pounds) into the environment. The following data comes from EPA’s Toxic Release Inventory (TRI). “Total releases” includes both water and air pollution. It’s important to note, however, that not all industries or sources that release fluoride into the environment are included in the TRI.

2008 Releases
(in pounds)
Type of Industry Name of Industry
83,269 Coal-fired power plant FOUR CORNERS STEAM ELECTRIC STATION. COUNTY RD 6675, FRUITLAND, New Mexico 87416 (SAN JUAN)
35,000 Coal-fired power plant AN JUAN GENERATING STATION. COUNTY RD 6800, WATERFLOW, New Mexico 87421 (SAN JUAN)
12,800 Coal-fired power plant TRI-STATE GENERATION & TRANSMISSION – ESCALANTE STATION. COUNTY RD 19, PREWITT, New Mexico 87045 (MCKINLEY)
955 Computers/Electronics NTEL CORP. 4100 SARA RD MS RR5-491, RIO RANCHO, New Mexico 87124 (SANDOVAL)
347 Petroleum NAVAJO REFINING CO. 501 E MAIN ST, ARTESIA, New Mexico 88210 (EDDY)
74 Petroleum WESTERN REFINING SOUTHWEST INC – GALLUP REFINERY. I-40 EXIT 39, JAMESTOWN, New Mexico 87347 (MCKINLEY)

back to top