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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
Groundwater quality and its health impact: An assessment of dental fluorosis in rural inhabitants of the Main Ethiopian Rift
Environment International, Volume 43, No. 1, Year 2012
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Description
This study aims to assess the link between fluoride content in groundwater and its impact on dental health in rural communities of the Ethiopian Rift. A total of 148 water samples were collected from two drainage basins within the Main Ethiopian Rift (MER). In the Ziway-Shala basin in particular, wells had high fluoride levels (mean: 9.4±10.5mg/L; range: 1.1 to 68mg/L), with 48 of 50 exceeding the WHO drinking water guideline limit of 1.5mg/L. Total average daily intake of fluoride from drinking groundwater (calculated per weight unit) was also found to be six times higher than the No-Observed-Adverse-Effects-Level (NOAEL) value of 0.06mg/kg/day. The highest fluoride levels were found in highly-alkaline (pH of 7 to 8.9) groundwater characterized by high salinity; high concentrations of sodium (Na+), bicarbonate (HCO3-), and silica (SiO2); and low concentrations of calcium (Ca2+). A progressive Ca2+ decrease along the groundwater flow path is associated with an increase of fluoride in the groundwater. The groundwater quality problem is also coupled with the presence of other toxic elements, such as arsenic (As) and uranium (U). The health impact of fluoride was evaluated based on clinical examination of dental fluorosis (DF) among local residents using the Thylstrup and Fejerskov index (TFI). In total, 200 rural inhabitants between the ages of 7 and 40years old using water from 12 wells of fluoride range of 7.8-18mg/L were examined. Signs of DF (TF score of ≥1) were observed in all individuals. Most of the teeth (52%) recorded TF scores of 5 and 6, followed by TF scores of 3 and 4 (30%), and 8.4% had TF scores of 7 or higher. Sixty percent of the teeth exhibited loss of the outermost enamel. Within the range of fluoride contents, we did not find any correlation between fluoride content and DF. Finally, preliminary data suggest that milk intake has contributed to reducing the severity of DF. The study highlights the apparent positive role of milk on DF, and emphasizes the importance of nutrition in management efforts to mitigate DF in the MER and other parts of the world. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd.
Authors & Co-Authors
Rango, Tewodros
United States, Durham
Duke University
Kravchenko, Julia
United States, Durham
Duke Cancer Institute
Atlaw, Behailu
Ethiopia, Jimma
Jimma University
McCornick, Peter G.
Sri Lanka, Colombo
International Water Management Institute Iwmi Colombo
Jeuland, Marc A.
United States, Durham
Duke University
Merola, Brittany
United States, Durham
Duke University
Vengosh, Avner
United States, Durham
Duke University
Statistics
Citations: 151
Authors: 7
Affiliations: 4
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1016/j.envint.2012.03.002
Research Areas
Environmental
Food Security
Health System And Policy