[Fluoride concentration in bottled waters sold in Chile]

Area of Science:

• Dental Public Health
• Environmental Health
• Food Science

Context:

• Increased consumption of bottled water necessitates evaluation of its fluoride (F) content.
• Fluoride levels in bottled water are critical for balancing caries prevention and fluorosis risk.
• Chilean bottled water market lacks adequate fluoride information for consumers.

Purpose:

• To quantify fluoride concentrations in various types of bottled water sold in Chile.
• To assess the suitability of bottled water fluoride levels for dental health in Chile.

Summary:

• Fluoride analysis of 30 bottled water samples (mineral, purified, favored) in Chile was performed using an ion-specific electrode.
• Mean fluoride concentrations found were 0.39 ppm (mineral), 0.02 ppm (purified), and 0.11 ppm (favored).
• Only three samples met Chile's optimal fluoride range (0.6-1.0 ppm) for caries prevention; labeling accuracy was poor.

Impact:

• Findings indicate that 90% of bottled waters commercialized in Chile do not provide adequate fluoride for caries prevention.
• The majority of analyzed bottled waters present no increased risk of dental fluorosis due to low fluoride levels.
• This study highlights the need for better regulation and consumer information regarding fluoride content in bottled water in Chile.