IADR Abstract Archives
Identification of Areas With Different Water Fluoride Levels in Khartoum
Objectives: In Sudan, which has a hyper-arid climate, the optimal level of fluoride in potable water to prevent caries and minimize fluorosis is 0.32-0.35ppm. Most Sudanese villages, outside the Nile Valley, depend on ground water which is richer in fluoride. The aim of this study is to identify areas in Khartoum state with different water fluoride levels and to estimate the level of fluorosis in these areas.
Methods: After Ethical approval: 1- Data from recent records of the Ministry of Water Resources were used to identify areas with varying fluoride levels. 2- Water samples were collected from different areas and analyzed in the Ministry of Water Resources laboratory using Hach Spectrophotometer 2400. Every sample was measured twice and the mean calculated. About 100 schoolchildren 8-12years-old were randomly selected and screened (using Deans Index) for fluorosis in an area with 1.98mg/L.
Results: Eight areas in Khartoum State were preliminary identified. Two areas with level of fluoride 4-4.5mg/L; two areas with level of 1.80-1.98mg/L; two other areas with optimum level of 0.37-0.44mg/L and finally two areas with level 0.02mg/L. All children examined in the area of 1.98mg/L had fluorosis with different levels of severity except those who were not permanent residents of the village. About 2% of the schoolchildren had normal teeth, 14% scored very mild, 18% scored mild, 60% scored moderate and 6% scored severe.
Conclusions: There is wide variation in the level of fluoride in the drinking water in Khartoum state.There is a high prevalence of fluorosis in areas with 1.98mg/L fluoride.
Methods: After Ethical approval: 1- Data from recent records of the Ministry of Water Resources were used to identify areas with varying fluoride levels. 2- Water samples were collected from different areas and analyzed in the Ministry of Water Resources laboratory using Hach Spectrophotometer 2400. Every sample was measured twice and the mean calculated. About 100 schoolchildren 8-12years-old were randomly selected and screened (using Deans Index) for fluorosis in an area with 1.98mg/L.
Results: Eight areas in Khartoum State were preliminary identified. Two areas with level of fluoride 4-4.5mg/L; two areas with level of 1.80-1.98mg/L; two other areas with optimum level of 0.37-0.44mg/L and finally two areas with level 0.02mg/L. All children examined in the area of 1.98mg/L had fluorosis with different levels of severity except those who were not permanent residents of the village. About 2% of the schoolchildren had normal teeth, 14% scored very mild, 18% scored mild, 60% scored moderate and 6% scored severe.
Conclusions: There is wide variation in the level of fluoride in the drinking water in Khartoum state.There is a high prevalence of fluorosis in areas with 1.98mg/L fluoride.