Fluoride Levels in Drinking Water Across Lahore District Towns and Their Link to Dental Fluorosis (2022)

Authors

  • Komal Asif PG Trainee, Institute of Public Health, Lahore, Pakistan.
  • Saba Saleem Assistant Professor, Institute of Public Health, Lahore, Pakistan
  • Rabeet Asif PG Trainee, Institute of Public Health, Lahore, Pakistan.
  • M. Umer Farooq Demonstrator, Institute of Public Health, Lahore, Pakistan
  • Anjum Razzaq Senior Medical Officer, Jinnah Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51846/jucmd.v4i1.3550

Abstract

Objective: To measure the concentration of fluoride levels in drinking water and its association with dental fluorosis in various towns of Lahore district, Pakistan in the year 2022.

Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from 27th September to 30th December, 2022 across nine towns in Lahore, where 100 drinking water samples were collected from randomly selected tube wells. The tube wells were chosen using random number tables from a list provided by WASA. Additionally, 400 residents aged 25 years and above (4 residents per area) were interviewed and clinically examined for dental fluorosis in the areas corresponding to the water sample collection sites. Fluoride concentrations in all water samples were analyzed using the spectrophotometric method at the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) laboratory in Lahore.

Results: With 1.5 mg/l as the recommended fluoride level in drinking water, the fluoride concentration ranged from 0.50 to 1.63 mg/l, with a mean of 0.58 ± 0.33 mg/l among individuals with dental fluorosis compared to those without. This difference was statistically significant (p = 0.013). Dental fluorosis was observed in 189 participants (47.3%), of whom 48.8% were male and 39.7% were female.

Conclusion: Fluoride levels in drinking water exceeding the recommended limit were significantly associated with a higher frequency of dental fluorosis among residents.

Keywords: Fluoride concentration, Drinking water, Dental fluorosis, Dean’s fluorosis index, tube-wells.

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Published

20-12-2024

How to Cite

1.
Asif K, Saleem S, Asif R, Farooq MU, Razzaq A. Fluoride Levels in Drinking Water Across Lahore District Towns and Their Link to Dental Fluorosis (2022). J Univ Coll Med Dent. [Internet]. 2024 Dec. 20 [cited 2026 Mar. 29];4(1):66-72. Available from: https://testjournals.uol.edu.pk/index.php/jucmd/article/view/3550

Issue

Volume 4 Issue 1

Section

Original Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2024 Komal Asif, Rabeet Asif, Zainab Abbas, Saba Saleem, Anjum Razzaq, M. Umer Farooq

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