A survey of fluorine content in drinking water of Yi County in Hebei Province in 2012

Abstract

Objective To find out fluorine content in drinking water in Yi County, and to provide a scientific basis for prevention of endemic fluorosis and children's dental caries. Methods According to Fluoride Distribution Survey Program in Drinking Water of Hebei Province, an administrative village was taken as a unit, one drinking water sample was randomly collected from every village with centralized water supply. For villages with decentralized water supply, five drinking water samples were randomly collected according to directions (east, west, south, north and centre) if there were more than five water sources in the village; samples from all the water sources were collected if there were less than five. Fluorine content was determined with drinking water standard test methods (GB/T 5750.2-2006). Analysis and comparison of fluoride content in drinking water of different landscapes, water types and different well depth were carried out. Results The range of water fluoride content was 0.00-18.39 mg/L, and water fluorine median was 0.24 mg/L in 1 024 water samples in 27 towns in the county. Water samples of 490, 505 and 29 copies were collected in the hills, plains and mountains, and water fluorine median was 0.26, 0.22 and 0.21 mg/L, respectively. Concerning water fluorine content in drinking water, mountains were higher than hills and plains(χ2=71.71, 17.74, all P 0.05). Water samples of 742, 228 and 54 copies were collected, respectively, in household well water, tap water and mountain spring water, and water fluoride median was 0.22, 0.24 and 0.33 mg/L, respectively. Concerning water fluoridation content in drinking water, spring water were higher than tap water and household well water(χ2 = 53.16, 50.85, all P 0.05). Water samples of 583 and 441 copies were collected, respectively, in well depth 0.05). Conclusions Fluoride content of drinking water in Yi County is not high, endemic fluorosis disease does not occur. Key words: Drinking; Fluorine; Data collection; Outcome assessment