Abstract
Objectives: 1) To identify the hydrogeological characteristics and fluoride (F-) concentration in drinking water in the southeast of the state of Morelos, Mexico, and 2) to estimate the association between the prevalence and severity of fluorosis, dental caries, and water F- concentration. Methods: A hydrogeological model was developed to determine the vertical distribution of lithostratigraphic units, rocks’ hydraulic conductivities, and groundwater flow characteristics. A total of 649 schoolchildren from two communities received oral examinations. One community was located in an area with 0.75 mg F-/L in the water supply and the other in an area with 1.6 mg F-/L. Fluorosis was assessed using the Thylstrup & Fejerskov Index (TFI) and the dental caries were assessed with the decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index. The region groundwater was extracted from an inter-granular aquifer consisting of volcano clasts of intermediate volcanic chemical composition. Results: Oral examinations showed that 32.35% of the children had severe forms of fluorosis (TFI ≥ 4) in the community with 1.60 mg F-/L and 7.8% in the 0.75 mg F-/L community (p -/L and 0.75 mg F-/L, respectively (p = 0.2259). Conclusions: The increasing extraction of underground water was associated with deeper water flows and higher F- concentration. In the community with high F-concentration, a third of the children showed objectionable levels of fluorosis. Adequate groundwater management actions are required to reduce fluorosis risk.
Highlights
The constant, worldwide increase in population results in a decrease in the volume of drinking water available per capita
Oral examinations showed that 32.35% of the children had severe forms of fluorosis (TFI ≥ 4) in the community with 1.60 mg F−/L and 7.8% in the 0.75 mg F−/L community (p < 0.0001)
The limits recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for the F− concentration in water range from 0.7 to 1.2 mg F−/L, depending on weather conditions and the amount of water consumed per day in the region [5]
Summary
The constant, worldwide increase in population results in a decrease in the volume of drinking water available per capita. The consumption of water provided in urban water systems, even in developed countries, sometimes can produce diseases that affect the health of large population groups [1]. Children are more susceptible than adults to diseases related to the consumption of poor water quality. To protect their health, it is not enough to provide them water; it is paramount to ensure the best possible water quality [2]. High water F− concentrations produce skeletal and dental fluorosis [4]. The limits recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for the F− concentration in water range from 0.7 to 1.2 mg F−/L, depending on weather conditions and the amount of water consumed per day in the region [5]
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