Sanitation of rural drinking water and endemic fluorosis in Hunyuan county of Shanxi province: an analysis of monitoring results / 中国地方病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the sanitary status of rural drinking water in Hunyuan county, evaluate the effect of water improvement project to reduce fluoride in high fluoride areas, and to provide the basis for rural drinking water safety. Methods Between 2008 and 2010, in accordance with the "Rural water supply project implementation plan entral grant special funds for public health in Shanxi province", in Hunyuan county, 54 monitoring sites were selected, collected water samples. Water sample sensory properties, chemical, microbiological and other 19 indicators were tested. Forty project villages from 17 townships in Hunyuan county were selected to test water fluoride. June 2009 in Hunyuan county 3 high fluoride villages were chosen, all children aged 8 to 12 in the villages were examined of dental fluorosis (Dean method), and children's urine samples were collected to measured urinary fluoride. Water fluoride of the 3 villages was determined. Water and urinary fluoride were measured by fluoride ion-selective electrode method. Results In three years, a total of 188 samples were detected,with a pass rate of 35.1%(66/188), the main indicators that exceeded the standard were colony count(109 items), total coliforms (47 items), heat-resistant coliform bacteria(39 items) and fluoride(21 items). A total of 160 water samples in the 40 villages from the 17 townships were tested, the water fluoride excessive rate was 12.50%(20/160). A total of 522 children aged 8 to 12 were examined dental fluorosis, dental fluorosis rate was 7.66%(40/522), dental fluorosis index was 0.16; a total of 74 urinary fluoride of children aged 8 to 12 were measured, geometric mean was 1.17 mg/L, urinary fluoride range was 0.31 - 3.92 mg/L. Conclusions The drinking water improvement project in Hunyuan county rural areas has been successful, but sanitary conditions is poor. Water quality monitoring should be strengthened to ensure safe drinking water in the areas.