ABSTRACT
Objective To assess the health risks of fluoride in drinking water in rural schools in drinking-water fluorosis areas in Shaanxi Province, and to provide a scientific basis for formulating measures to prevent fluoride and improve water quality. Methods The drinking water of rural schools in Guanzhong and northern Shaanxi Province was monitored from 2017 to 2020. The fluoride concentration was evaluated in accordance with the “Sanitary Standards for Drinking Water” (GB5749-2006). The health risk assessment method recommended by USEPA was used to assess the health risk of rural students exposed to fluoride through drinking water in the two regions. Results A total of 2 826 water samples were monitored from 2017 to 2020. The overall compliance rate of fluoride in water quality was 92.29%, with an average concentration of 0.500 mg/L. The non-carcinogenic health risk of fluoride in drinking water in rural schools in drinking-water fluorosis areas was 0.05). In the same age group, the non-carcinogenic health risk of fluoride in groundwater was higher than that in surface water (P sedimentation filtration > conventional treatment > untreated (P < 0.05). Conclusion The non-carcinogenic risk of oral intake of fluoride in drinking water from rural schools in drinking-water fluorosis areas in Shaanxi Province is still at an acceptable level. In the future, it is necessary to continue to promote comprehensive prevention and treatment measures focusing on water improvement and fluoride reduction.
ABSTRACT
Objective To analyze the change in trends and existing problems of the water quality testing capabilities of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in different cities and counties (districts) in Shaanxi Province from 2017 to 2019, and to provide references for laboratory capacity building. Methods A unified questionnaire was developed to investigate the water quality testing ability of all CDCs in different regions of Shaanxi Province, and the data were reported through the “National Drinking Water Quality Inspection Information System”. Results From 2017 to 2019, in the testing of conventional indicators, the average number detected by the municipal CDCs was 37, 37, and 38, respectively, and all of them passed the measurement certification/laboratory accreditation. The average number detected by the county (district) CDCs was 30, 29, and 30, respectively, and only 65.14% of the county (district) CDCs passed the measurement certification/laboratory accreditation. In the testing of unconventional indicators, the average detectable number by city-level CDCs was 3, 5, and 4, respectively, while the average detectable number by county (district)-level CDCs was at most 1 item. There was no statistically significant difference in the average detection ability of CDCs at the city and county (district) levels in different regions in the same year (P>0.05); there was no significant difference in the average detection ability of CDCs at the city and county (district) levels in the same region in different years (P>0.05). Conclusion There is no difference in the CDC water quality testing level in different regions of Shaanxi Province, and the testing capacity needs to be further improved. It is recommended that the government should increase funding for disease control institutions, optimize the allocation of equipment and strengthen the construction of professional teams.