Drinking water quality and fluoride concentration
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1590/S0034-89102011005000046Keywords:
Potable Water, Fluoridation, Water Quality, Review, Dental fluorosisAbstract
This paper aimed to analyze the fluoride concentration in drinking water, taking into account the balance between the benefits and risks to health, in order to produce scientific backing for the updating of the Brazilian legislation. Systematic reviews studies, official documents and meteorological data were examined. The temperatures in Brazilian state capitals indicate that fluoride levels should be between 0.6 and 0.9 mg F/l in order to prevent dental caries. Natural fluoride concentration of 1.5 mg F/l is tolerated for consumption in Brazil if there is no technology with an acceptable cost-benefit ratio for adjusting/removing the excess. Daily intake of water with a fluoride concentration >; 0.9 mg F/l presents a risk to the dentition among children under the age of eight years, and consumers should be explicitly informed of this risk. In view of the expansion of the Brazilian water fluoridation program to regions with a typically tropical climate, Ordinance 635/75 relating to fluoride added to the public water supply should be revised.Downloads
Published
2011-10-01
Issue
Section
Review
How to Cite
Frazão, P., Peres, M. A., & Cury, J. A. (2011). Drinking water quality and fluoride concentration . Revista De Saúde Pública, 45(5), 964-973. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0034-89102011005000046