title: Level of Fluoride in Soil, Grain and Water in Jalgaon District, Maharashtra, India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fluoride has an influence on both oral as well as systemic health. The major source of fluoride to body is through drinking water as well as through diet. Staple diet mainly depends on local environmental factors, food grains grown locally, its availability etc. Determination of fluoride level in these food grains is important. So, estimation of the amount of fluoride in grains and its relation to the sources of fluoride used for their cultivation viz., soil and water is important.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the relation of fluoride concentration in grains (Jowar) with respect to that of soil and water used for their cultivation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen samples each of soil, water and grains were collected using standardized method from the same farm fields of randomly selected villages of Jalgaon district. Fluoride ion concentration was determined in laboratory using SPADNS technique. Mean difference in fluoride levels in between the groups were analyzed using ANOVA and Post-Hoc Tukey test. Linear regression method was applied to analyse the association of the fluoride content of grain with water and soil.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant difference in between mean fluoride levels of soil and water (p<0.001) and in between soil and grain (p<0.001); however, difference in between mean fluoride levels of water and grain was found to be non significant (p=0.591). Also fluoride levels in all the three groups showed significant association with each other.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fluoride level of soil, grains and water should be adjusted to an optimum level. Soil has positive correlation with respect to uptake of fluoride by Jowar grains. So, Jowar grains with optimum fluoride content should be made available in the commercial markets so that oral and general health can be benefitted.
authors.affiliation: Senior Lecturer, Department of Public Health Dentistry, A.C.P.M. Dental College and Hospital , Dhule, Maharashtra, India .
authors.forename: Rahul Gaybarao
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Naik
authors.affiliation: Principal, Professor and Head, Department of Public Health Dentistry, A.C.P.M. Dental College and Hospital , Dhule, Maharashtra, India .
authors.forename: Arun Suresh
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Dodamani
authors.affiliation: Reader, Department of Public Health Dentistry, A.C.P.M. Dental College and Hospital , Dhule, Maharashtra, India .
authors.forename: Prashanth
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vishwakarma
authors.affiliation: Senior Lecturer, Department of Public Health Dentistry, A.C.P.M. Dental College and Hospital , Dhule, Maharashtra, India .
authors.forename: Harish Chaitram
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Jadhav
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University Dental College and Hospital , Sangli, Maharashtra, India .
authors.forename: Mahesh Ravindra
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Khairnar
authors.affiliation: Senior Lecturer, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Swargiya Dadasaheb Kalmegh Smruti Dental College and Hospital , Nagpur, Maharashtra, India .
authors.forename: Manjiri Abhay
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Deshmukh
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University Dental College and Hospital , Sangli, Maharashtra, India .
authors.forename: Umesh
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Wadgave
keywords: Black soil; Fluorosis; Jowar grain; Water