Fluoride concentration of bottled water, tap water, and fluoridated salt from two communities in Mexico.
OBJECTIVE
To determine fluoride levels in bottled water, tap water, and fluoridated salt from two communities in Mexico.


METHODS
Stratified random collection of water and salt samples from Mexico City and Veracruz, Mexico for fluoride analysis.


METHODS
Samples were analysed using a combination fluoride ion-specific electrode. Results were compared using Student's t-test and mixed-model ANOVA. Water fluoride values were compared by type, community and collection area; salt fluoride values were compared by community and collection area.


RESULTS
197 tap water samples, 133 bottled water samples and 20 fluoridated salt samples were collected. The mean (+/- SD) fluoride content for all tap water was 0.20 +/- 0.17 microg F/g (ranging from 0.01 to 0.88 microg F/g) and 0.24 +/- 0.24 microg F/g for all bottled water (ranging from 0.01 to 2.80 microg F/g). This difference was not statistically significant. When results were analysed by city, the difference between tap water samples was statistically significant. Ten bottled water samples contained more than negligible fluoride (ranging from 0.7-2.8 microg F/g). Mean salt fluoride content was 230.0 +/- 49.8 microg F/g, which was within governmental regulation levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Some water samples had amounts of fluoride exceeding the maximum recommended levels. Salt fluoride levels were within regulation limits. Monitoring of fluoride content of both bottled and tap water is strongly advised.
Martínez-Mier
E Angeles
EA
Oral Health Research Institute, Indiana University School of Dentistry, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA. esmartin@iupui.edu
Soto-Rojas
Armando E
AE
Buckley
Christine M
CM
Zero
Domenick T
DT
Margineda
Jorge
J
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005459:Fluorides / Q000032:analysis*; D008800:Mexico; D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary / Q000032:analysis*; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D014881:Water Supply / Q000032:analysis*
D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary; D014867:Water; D005459:Fluorides