A comparative study of dental fluorosis and non-skeletal manifestations of fluorosis in areas with different water fluoride concentrations in rural Kolar

Abstract

Background:Fluorosis is an endemic disease which results due to excess exposure to high fluoride from different sources. The climatic factors and dependency on ground water add to the risk of fluorosis in Kolar. In addition to it, the epidemiological studies conducted on fluorosis in Kolar are very few.Aims:(1) To estimate age-specific prevalence of dental fluorosis in the study population. (2) To determine the proportion of study subjects with non-skeletal manifestations of fluorosis (3) To assess and compare the influence of various socio-epidemiological factors in the occurrence of dental fluorosis among the study population in areas with high and normal fluoride.Methodology:A cross-sectional study was conducted among the residents of three randomly selected villages, Thimmasandra and Batwarahalli (high fluoride) and Maddinayakanahalli (normal fluoride) belonging to Bangarpet taluk, Kolar for 1 year. Dental fluorosis was assessed by the Dean's grading. Non-skeletal manifestations were elicited based on clinical features. Fluoride levels of drinking water sources were estimated by ion-electrode method. The Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were used to see the difference in proportions and a P value of <0.05 was considered for statistical significance.Results:The prevalence of dental and non-skeletal fluorosis in the study groups with high and normal fluoride groups were 13.17%, 5.5%, 3.84%, 1.9%, respectively. The prevalence of dental fluorosis was significantly higher among the children and adolescents compared to adults (P < 0.05).Conclusion:Dental fluorosis is a public health problem mainly affecting children and adolescents in Bangarpet.

Effects of Contamination of Freshwater Habitat With Common Heavy Metals and Anions on the Prevalence of Human Adenoviruses and Enteroviruses

“…The slightly higher values recorded form sites A5 could be as a result of the impact of the pollution from the nearby sewage treatment plant located at the shoreline ( 56 ). Nitrate levels were within the WHO recommended limits, however, it should be noted that concentrations are normally exacerbated by human and animal wastes as well as fertilizer usage ( 57 ). The study area is highly characterized by these potential sources of nitrate contamination and therefore high concentration values could still be reported in future.…”

The assessment of water quality in river Molo water basin, Kenya

“…These values were considerably above the WHO recommended guideline for drinking water set at 1.5 mg/L (WHO 2011). Drinking water rich in fluorides may lead to dental fluorosis and the worst case scenario, skeletal problems (Shruthi and Anil 2018). This was evident from people living around Salgaa area and the larger Nakuru County.…”

“…This was evident from people living around Salgaa area and the larger Nakuru County. Skeletal fluorosis may manifest itself when one drinks water containing 3-6 mg/L of fluoride (Shruthi and Anil (2018); Sellami et al 2019). The data predict that people around Salgaa area and especially on the banks or Molo river area are at risk of skeletal fluorosis.…”

High prevalence of dental and skeletal fluorosis in the rural children of Bankura District, West Bengal, India

“…On the other hand, the intake of high fluoride containing food/water for long periods results in dental, skeletal, and non-skeletal fluorosis manifesting as muscle weakness, tiredness, fatigue, anaemia, dyspepsia, male infertility, polyuria, polydipsia, repeated stillbirths, abortions, etc. [4][5][6] . Thus, fluoride is considered a double-edged sword 4 .…”

“…[4][5][6] . Thus, fluoride is considered a double-edged sword 4 . The World Health Organisation and the Indian Council of Medical Research have recommended that the permissible level of fluoride in drinking water is 1.5 ppm 7,8 .…”