title: Factors associated with fluoride concentrations in whole and parotid ductal saliva.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There are still uncertainties regarding the use of whole and parotid ductal saliva as indicators of chronic exposure to fluoride. This study evaluated the effect of water fluoride concentration, age, gender, geographical area and localization (urban/rural) on fluoride concentrations in whole and ductal saliva.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects (n = 300) aged 3-7, 14-20, 30-40 and 50-60 years, from five communities (A-E) with different fluoride concentrations in the drinking water, participated in the study. Two samples of drinking water and parotid and whole saliva were collected for each subject and were analyzed for fluoride using appropriate electrode techniques.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean water F concentrations (±SE, mg/l, n = 60) were 0.09 ± 0.01, 0.15 ± 0.01, 0.66 ± 0.01, 0.72 ± 0.02, and 1.68 ± 0.08 for A-E, respectively. Mean F concentrations (±SE, mg/l, n = 15) ranged between 0.014 ± 0.002 (A, 3-7 years) and 0.297 ± 0.057 (D, 14-20 years) for whole saliva and 0.009 ± 0.001 (C, 30-40 years) and 0.284 ± 0.038 (E, 50-60 years) for parotid saliva. Results of multivariate linear regression analysis showed that geographical area and water fluoride concentration exerted the strongest influence in whole and ductal saliva F concentrations, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Therefore, parotid ductal saliva seems to be a more appropriate biomarker of fluoride exposure, and factors like age and localization should also be considered when using this biomarker.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Bauru Dental School, University of São Paulo, Bauru, Brazil.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fukushima
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Pessan
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Sampaio
authors.forename: M A R
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Buzalaf
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015415:Biomarkers; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D060766:Drinking Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D005459:Fluorides / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D017736:Ion-Selective Electrodes; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000737:chemistry*; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D018987:Salivary Ducts / Q000737:chemistry*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D060766:Drinking Water; D005459:Fluorides