Abstract

Objective To master the epidemic situation of drinking-water borne endemic fluorosis in Xinzhou,evaluate the effects of water improvement project to reduce fluoride,and to provide a timely scientific basis for monitoring the disease and for establishment of preventive countermeasures.Methods According to the water fluoride concentration and type of the disease,after stratification 25 endemic villages were selected as survey points.Five water samples were collected in water unimproved monitoring villages according to water well locations of east,west,south,north and center.In monitoring villages with improved water,3 tap water and 1 source water samples were collected,respectively.The fluorine content in water samples was determined according to the “Standard Testing Methods for Drinking Water”(GB/T 5750-2006).All children aged 8 to 12 of the survey villages were examined for dental fluorosis by Dean method.Clinical osteofluorosis of all the resident over the age of 16 was examined,8 villages of these counties were selected,10 men and.women were randomly selected in each village,respectively,and they were examined again by X-ray using “Diagnostic Criteria of Endemic Skeletal Fluorosis” (WS/T 192-2007).Children aged 8 to 12 in 13 villages of chosen villages were selected for urine collection,6 unne samples were collected in each age group and a total of 30 samples were collected,and urinary fluoride was determined by F-ion selective electrode method(WS/T 89-2006).Results A total of 56 water samples were tested in water-unimproved villages,the average water fluorine was 2.7 mg/L And 52 water samples were tested in waterimproved villages,the average water fluorine was 1.6 mg/L,water fluoride content > 1.5 mg/L accounted for 46.15% (6/13) in the water-improved village.Incidences of dental fluorosis of children in the water-unimproved villages and water-improved villages were 74.75% (622/832) and 23.67% (241/1018),respectively.The difference was statistically significant(x2 =140,P < 0.01).The prevalence rate of skeletal fluorosis was 30.02%(2803/9335) in water-unimproved villages,and 9.44% (1230/13 022) in water-improved villages.The difference was statistically significant(x2 =1557.75,P < 0.01 ).The mean of urine fluorine in a total sample was 3.31 mg/L,the urinary fluoride concentration of children in water-improved villages was significantly different from that of water-unimproved villages(t =2.27,P < 0.05).Conclusions By reducing fluorine and improving drinking water,disease in drinkingwater borne endemic fluorosis areas in Xinzhou has been controlled to a certain degree.However,the disease is still very serious in some endemic areas.Fluoride in drinking water re-increases in some water-improved villages,the disease is also in a rise.So,the work of monitoring and prevention should be strengthened. Key words: Fluoride poisoning; Fluorosis, dental; Osteofluorosis; Data collection

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