Endemic fluorosis in Guide county of Qinghai province in 2008: an analysis of surveillance results / 中国地方病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the prevalence of endemic fluorosis in Guide county of Qinghai province, in order to provide appropriate measures to monitor and control the disease. Methods Damo, Wenquan, Baoning villages(water source has been changed) and Taiping village(water source has not been changed) in Guide county were involved in the study in 2008. One tap water sample was collected in dry and rainy seasons, respectively. Water fluoride was tested in accordance with the "Standard Test Methods for Drinking Water" (GB/T 5750.5-2006); of all the children aged 8 to 12, dental fluorosis was diagnosed using Dean criteria; 6 copies of urine samples were collected in each age group, urinary fluoride was measured using fluoride ion-selective electrode (WS/T 89-1996). According to the "Clinical Diagnostic Criteria of Endemic Skeletal Fluorosis "(WS 192-2008), clinical skeletal fluorosis was determined in adults over the age of 16 by X-ray examination for 10 people in each selected village. Results The mean water fluoride was 0.58,0.38,2.28,0.37 mg/L in Damo, Wenquan, Taiping, and Baoning villages, respectively, and that of Taiping village exceeded the national standard(1.0 mg/L). One hundred and ninety-three children aged 8-12 were checked, the detection rate of dental fluorosis was 49.74% (96/193); urine samples of 116 children were tested, median urinary fluoride was 1.49 mg/L A total of 1503 adults over the age of 16 were examined, the clinical detection of skeletal fluorosis was 51.63%(776/1503); a total of 82 people were X-rayed, X-ray detection of skeletal fluorosis was 20.73%(17/82). The characteristic of X-rays were degeneration and ossification of interosseous membrane. Conclusions Prevalence of dental fluorosis of children and adult clinical skeletal fluorosis are higher. The endemic fluorosis is still comparatively serious. Prevention efforts need to be further strengthened.