title: Fluoride concentrations in the water of Maringá, Brazil, considering the benefit/risk balance of caries and fluorosis.
abstract: Current Brazilian law regarding water fluoridation classification is dichotomous with respect to the risks of and benefits for oral diseases, and fluoride (F) concentrations less than 0.6 or above 0.8 mg F/L are considered outside the normal limits. Thus, the law does not consider that both caries and fluorosis are dependent on the dosage and duration of fluoride exposure because they are both chronic diseases. Therefore, this study evaluated the quality of water fluoridation in Maringá, PR, Brazil, considering a new classification for the concentration of F in water the supply, based on the anticaries benefit and risk of fluorosis (CECOL/USP, 2011). Water samples (n = 325) were collected monthly over one year from 28 distribution water networks: 20 from treatment plants and 8 from artesian wells. F concentrations were determined using a specific ion electrode. The average F concentration was 0.77 mg F/L (ppm F), ranging from 0.44 to 1.22 mg F/L. Considering all of the water samples analyzed, 83.7% of them presented from 0.55 to 0.84 mg F/L, and according to the new classification used, they would provide maximum anticaries benefit with a low risk of fluorosis. This percentage was lower (75.4%) in the water samples supplied from artesian wells than from those distributed by the treatment plant (86%). In conclusion, based on the new classification of water F concentrations, the quality of water fluoridation in Maringá is adequate and is within the range of the best balance between risk and benefit.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Edmara Tatiely Pedroso
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Bergamo
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marlon
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barbana
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Raquel Sano Suga
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Terada
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jaime Aparecido
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Cury
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mitsue
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujimaki
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil; D002947:Cities; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005457:Fluoridation; D005459:Fluorides / Q000032:analysis*; D009050:Fluorosis, Dental / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D011634:Public Health; D012015:Reference Standards; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013997:Time Factors; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D014867:Water; D005459:Fluorides