title: Fluoride levels in drinking water in the Central Province of Saudi Arabia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study was designed to assess the fluoride levels in drinking water in the Central Province of Saudi Arabia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 817 water samples were collected from 260 locations in Central Saudi Arabia. An atomic absorption spectrophotometer [HACH instrument, model DR 3000] was used in the analyses of water samples for fluoride levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that fluoride levels vary between 0.00 and 6.20 ppm. About 75% and 6% of the population in Riyadh and Qassim regions, respectively, were exposed to very low fluoride levels (0.00-0.03 ppm), while less than 3% of the population in both regions were exposed to fluoride levels ranging from 0.61 to 0.80 ppm. A higher percentage of the population in Qassim than Riyadh region were exposed to high fluoride levels (>0.81 ppm); 28.63% than in Riyadh with 9.24%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of this study can serve as a baseline data for water fluoridation and other dental preventive programs in the area.
authors.affiliation: Collge of Dentistry, King Saud University, and Riyadh Sewage and Water Works, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, amdosari@ksu.edu.sa.
authors.forename: Abdullah M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Aldosari
authors.forename: Enosakhare S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Akpata
authors.forename: Nazeer
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Amjad H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Wyne
authors.forename: Abdullah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Meheithif