Associations between Molar-Incisor Hypomineralisation and drinking water and groundwater parameters in Lower Austria:...

Associations between Molar-Incisor Hypomineralisation and drinking water and groundwater parameters in Lower Austria: results from an observational study Objectives: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of Molar-Incisor Hypomineralisation (MIH) in a large population of children in Lower Austria and to examine potential associations with regional drinking water chemistry and groundwater pesticide indicators using exposure assignment restricted to the gestational period.

Anonymised dental data of 46 751 children who were examined as part of the Apollonia NÖ program were ecologically linked with community-based drinking water monitoring data and groundwater pesticide indicators using year of birth as temporal reference. MIH was defined according to established epidemiological criteria and analysed as a binary outcome. Exposure windows were reconstructed based on the year of birth and restricted to the prenatal (gestational) period; postnatal exposure during the first year of life was not included.. Associations were assessed using descriptive statistics and multivariable regression models.

Of 46 751 examined children, MIH and sex were documented in 45 775. Overall MIH prevalence was 3.8 % (n = 1 761) with no significant sex difference. MIH predominantly affected first permanent molars and incisors and occurred more often in the maxilla than in the mandible (59.5 % vs. 40.5 %; p < 0.001). Among children aged 8-12 years (n = 12 896), prevalence was 5.2 % and varied geographically across districts (1.1-9.4 %).In the subset with reconstructed gestational drinking water exposure (n = 1 642), multivariable analyses showed weak associations between MIH and selected parameters (inverse for nitrate, calcium and magnesium; positive for potassium and total hardness). For groundwater pesticide indicators (n = 5 805-31 507 across parameters), no significant associations with MIH were observed.

MIH prevalence in Lower Austria is lower than that reported in many international studies. The findings indicate weak population-level associations between selected drinking water chemistry parameters and MIH, whereas no significant associations were observed for groundwater pesticide indicators after adjustment. These results should be interpreted as ecological correlations and do not imply causality.

Linking population-based dental surveillance with environmental monitoring data allows identification of subtle population-level associations relevant to MIH and may inform future hypothesis-driven research and public health planning, although the observed effects are of limited direct clinical relevance at the individual Powered by Editorial Manager® and ProduXion Manager® from Aries Systems Corporation level.KeywordsApollonia; Drinking-Water Chemistry; Environmental Indicators; Molar Incisor Hypomineralisation; Pesticide Indicators; PregnancyHighlights A large population-based dataset linking dental screening and environmental monitoring data in Lower Austria was analysed MIH prevalence was lower than reported in many international studies Weak ecological associations were observed for selected drinking water parameters No significant associations were found for groundwater pesticide indicators after adjustment MIH was observed more frequently in maxillary than in mandibular teeth.