title: Comparative Assessment of Intelligence Quotient among Children Living in High and Low Fluoride Areas of Kutch, India-a Pilot Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Long-term ingestion of large amounts of fluoride can lead to potentially severe skeletal problems and neurological consequences. The study was conducted to assess and compare intelligence quotient of children living in high and low fluoride areas in Kutch, Gujarat, India.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted among 100 school children aged 8 to 10 years, living in Kutch District, Gujarat, India during July 2012. Mundra (2.4 to 3.5 mg/L) and Bhuj (0.5mg/L) were the two villages randomly selected to represent the high and low water fluoride areas respectively. Seguin Form Board Test was used to assess the intelligence quotient (IQ) level of children. Descriptive statistics and independent sample t-test was used for analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean scores for average, shortest and total timing category were found to be significantly higher (P<0.05) among children living in Mundra (30.45±4.97) than those living in Bhuj (23.20±6.21). Mean differences at 95% confidence interval for these timings were found to be 7.24, 7.28 and 21.78 respectively. In both the villages, females had lower mean timing scores than males but the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chronic exposure to high levels of fluoride in water was observed to be associated with lower intelligence quotient.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Public Health Dentistry, Pacific Dental College and Hospital, Airport Road, Debari, Udaipur - 313024, Rajasthan, India.
authors.forename: Ramesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nagarajappa
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Public Health Dentistry, Pacific Dental College and Hospital, Airport Road, Debari, Udaipur - 313024, Rajasthan, India.
authors.forename: Piyush
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pujara
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Public Health Dentistry, Pacific Dental College and Hospital, Airport Road, Debari, Udaipur - 313024, Rajasthan, India.
authors.forename: Archana J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Sharda
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Public Health Dentistry, Pacific Dental College and Hospital, Airport Road, Debari, Udaipur - 313024, Rajasthan, India.
authors.forename: Kailash
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Asawa
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Public Health Dentistry, Pacific Dental College and Hospital, Airport Road, Debari, Udaipur - 313024, Rajasthan, India.
authors.forename: Mridula
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tak
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Public Health Dentistry, Pacific Dental College and Hospital, Airport Road, Debari, Udaipur - 313024, Rajasthan, India.
authors.forename: Pankaj
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Aapaliya
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Public Health Dentistry, Pacific Dental College and Hospital, Airport Road, Debari, Udaipur - 313024, Rajasthan, India.
authors.forename: Nikhil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bhanushali
keywords: Children; Cross sectional; Fluoride; Intelligence quotient; Seguin form board