Rate of consumiption and recommendations of fluoride intake in Egypt from drinking water and the effect on the health of children and adults [electronic resource].

Includes references.

The present work aims to study the rate of consumption of fluoride in drinking water in Egypt to know the effect of this level in the health of children and adults. The fluoride concentration in water consumed by Egyptian population was determined to supply some of needed information related to fluorine in drinking water. Drinking water samples were collected monthly from twelve governorates in Egypt. The fluoride content in tap water (the origin is River Nile) from the ten governorates (Cairo, Giza. Kaliobia, Fayoum. Menia. Mansoura. Alexandria and Ismailia) ranged from 0.330 - 0.377 mg fL with an average of 0.36mg fL, whereas the drinking water from Marsa - matrouh and Arish (the origin of water is wells) contained high levels of fluoride. The average value being 0.761 and 0.926 mg fL, respectively. Eight types of in-bottle water samples were purchased from Egyptian markets. The fluoride concentration was determined and the samples were divided into three groups, A,B and C according to fluoride concentration. Mean fluoride concentration were 0.18, 0.42 and 0.54 mg F/L for groups A,B, and C, respectively. The rate of consumption of fluoride from drinking water was calculated as 0.585, 0.675 ,0.823 ,1.08, 1.215, 1.147, 1.057,0.900 and 0.810 mg daily for ages 1-2, 2-4, 4-6, 6-13, 13-19, 20-50, 50-59,60-69 and 70-79 years, respectively. So, It is recommended to use drinking water (tap water) for all ages except children aged from 1-2 and 2-4 year, since the daily intake is higher than their daily need and can be subjected to a major risk after dental fluorosis, therefore, it is necessary to make dilution for the drinking water by using distilled water free from fluoride. The rate of consumption of fluoride of in - bottle water ranged from 0.292 to 0.607 for group A, 0.682 - 1.338 for group B and 0.877 - 1.822 mg daily for group C. However, for group A (0.18 mg fL), the fluoride intake was less than the daily needs for all ages , so they are subjected to dental caries while for group B (0.42 mg /L), the fluoride intake for ages 1-13 years is very high. so they are subjected to health problems at the long run. For adults, this level provides their daily need, and for group C (0.54 mg /L), the daily intake is very high for all ages, so it is not recommended to be used.

Summary in Arabic.

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