title: Drinking water fluoride levels for a city in northern Mexico (durango) determined using a direct electrochemical method and their potential effects on oral health.
abstract: Fluoride is ingested primarily through consuming drinking water. When drinking water contains fluoride concentrations>0.7 parts per million (ppm), consuming such water can be toxic to the human body; this toxicity is called "fluorosis." Therefore, it is critical to determine the fluoride concentrations in drinking water. The objective of this study was to determine the fluoride concentration in the drinking water of the city of Durango. The wells that supply the drinking water distribution system for the city of Durango were studied. One hundred eighty-nine (189) water samples were analyzed, and the fluoride concentration in each sample was quantified as established by the law NMX-AA-077-SCFI-2001. The fluoride concentrations in such samples varied between 2.22 and 7.23 ppm with a 4.313±1.318 ppm mean concentration. The highest values were observed in the northern area of the city, with a 5.001±2.669 ppm mean value. The samples produced values that exceeded the national standard for fluoride in drinking water. Chronic exposure to fluoride at such concentrations produces harmful health effects, the first sign of which is dental fluorosis. Therefore, it is essential that the government authorities implement water defluoridation programs and take preventative measures to reduce the ingestion of this toxic halogen.
authors.affiliation: Health Care Department, Autonomous Metropolitan University (UAM), Xochimilco, 04960 Mexico City, DF, Mexico.
authors.forename: Nelly
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Molina Frechero
authors.affiliation: Health Care Department, Autonomous Metropolitan University (UAM), Xochimilco, 04960 Mexico City, DF, Mexico.
authors.forename: Leonor
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sánchez Pérez
authors.affiliation: Health Care Department, Autonomous Metropolitan University (UAM), Xochimilco, 04960 Mexico City, DF, Mexico.
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Castañeda Castaneira
authors.affiliation: Health Care Department, Autonomous Metropolitan University (UAM), Xochimilco, 04960 Mexico City, DF, Mexico.
authors.forename: Anastasio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oropeza Oropeza
authors.affiliation: Health Care Department, Autonomous Metropolitan University (UAM), Xochimilco, 04960 Mexico City, DF, Mexico.
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gaona
authors.affiliation: Scientific Research Institute, Juárez University of the Durango State (UJED), 34000 Durango, DGO, Mexico.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Salas Pacheco
authors.affiliation: Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry, Juárez University of the Durango State (UJED), 34000 Durango, DGO, Mexico.
authors.forename: Ronell
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bologna Molina
mesh_terms: D005459:Fluorides / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D005843:Geography; D006801:Humans; D008800:Mexico; D009909:Oral Health; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000592:standards*
chemical_list: D014867:Water; D005459:Fluorides