Physiological indicators of fluoride exposure and utilization: an epidemiological study

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Dental Public Health
• Toxicology

Background:

• Fluoride in drinking water is a significant factor in dental health.
• Assessing fluoride exposure and its effects in children is crucial for public health.
• Understanding fluoride bioavailability from different biological samples is important.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between water fluoride levels and fluoride concentrations in various biological samples from Hungarian children.
• To evaluate the suitability of different biological matrices as indicators of fluoride exposure.
• To examine the impact of varying fluoride intake on caries experience and dental fluorosis.

Main Methods:

• Collection of urine, fingernails, head-hair, saliva, plaque, and enamel samples from three groups of 14-year-old Hungarian children.
• Exposure assessment based on distinct water fluoride concentration ranges (≤0.11 ppm, 0.5-1.1 ppm, 1.6-3.1 ppm).
• Analysis of fluoride concentrations in collected biological samples and assessment of dental health indicators.

Main Results:

• Mean fluoride concentrations in most samples (urine, hair, saliva, enamel) increased with higher water fluoride levels.
• Plaque fluoride levels did not show a consistent increase, suggesting it is less suitable as an exposure indicator.
• Caries experience significantly decreased as water fluoride exposure increased.
• Dental fluorosis was observed but did not present clinical or aesthetic concerns.

Conclusions:

• Urine, fingernails, head-hair, saliva, and enamel are suitable indicators for assessing population-level fluoride exposure from drinking water.
• Increased water fluoride intake is associated with reduced caries prevalence in children.
• Optimal water fluoride levels can provide dental benefits without causing significant dental fluorosis.