Medical Geology can be defined as the branch of geology dealing with the relationship between natural geological aspects and health in organisms (humans and animals), trying to determine the influence of ordinary envi...Medical Geology can be defined as the branch of geology dealing with the relationship between natural geological aspects and health in organisms (humans and animals), trying to determine the influence of ordinary environmental factors on the geographical distribution of health issues. The main goals of this research were: 1) to evaluate the severity of dental fluorosis (DF) and fluoride concentration in groundwater, used for human consumption, as an indicator of overexposure to fluorides, 2) to estimate the Community Fluorosis Index (CFI) in the Julimes municipality in Chihuahua, Mexico. Nine water samples were collected in four locations in the Julimes area: Hacienda Humboldt, La Regina, Colonia San Jose, and Julimes. Samples were collected and stored in accordance with the Mexican standard (NOM-014-SSA1-1993). All the samples exceeded the maximum permissible limit established in the modified Mexican standard (NOM-127-SSA1-1994) of 1.5 mgL<sup>-1</sup> for fluoride in water for human consumption. Average concentrations of 2.74 mgL<sup>-1</sup> were found in Colonia San Jose, 2.19 mgL<sup>-1</sup> in La Regina, 2.17 mgL<sup>-1</sup> in Julimes and 2.06 mgL<sup>-1</sup> in Hacienda Humboldt. Dental Fluorosis diagnosis was evaluated using the Dean Index and the CFI applied to residents. A total of 100 inhabitants were examined, with interviews and oral examinations also carried out. Dental Fluorosis prevalence was 92% overall for the municipality, while for Colonia San Jose was of 100%, of 88.89% for Hacienda Humboldt, 88.24% for Julimes and 96% for La Regina. Dental Fluorosis’ severity for the Julimes municipality was distributed as follows: 2% normal, 6% questionable, 8% very mild, 13% mild, 19% moderate, and 52% severe. An average CFI was found for the four localities of 3.02 points, with a very notable impact on public health.展开更多
This paper presents the grounds for an integrated approach to address endemic fluorosis in Jharkhand, India, an approach that encompasses health monitoring, community-based water systems management, and locally synthe...This paper presents the grounds for an integrated approach to address endemic fluorosis in Jharkhand, India, an approach that encompasses health monitoring, community-based water systems management, and locally synthesized hydroxyapatite, a sustainable water treatment technology. The results of this study, focusing on kinetics and sorption isotherms, demonstrate that an inexpensive, locally synthesized hydroxyapatite effectively removes fluoride from water and that the Dean Index, a measure of dental fluorosis, of school children provides a sensitive, rapid biometric to track the success of a fluoride water treatment intervention. Previous efforts to manage the fluoride problem in Jharkhand were unsuccessful, largely due to lack of accountability and inadequate community involvement. This paper explores how integrating the production of a locally synthesized hydroxyapatite with community health monitoring via the Dean Index fits into a management strategy with robust accountability mechanisms and community participation that, as historical examples suggest, is likely to succeed in Jharkhand.展开更多
The community La Llave, Queretaro State, Mexico, has not been identified by the sanitary authorities as living in a hazard area related to dental fluorosis. However;a high concentration of fluoride is found in their d...The community La Llave, Queretaro State, Mexico, has not been identified by the sanitary authorities as living in a hazard area related to dental fluorosis. However;a high concentration of fluoride is found in their drinking water causing them dental fluorosis. Physical-chemical analysis was carried out in the groundwater sources to determine the prevalence of dental fluorosis risk and caries accordingly to criteria of The World Health Organization, and 154 school children of ages 10 to 13 years were examined. As a result, 1.9 mg/L of fluorine concentration in drinking water was obtained;dental fluorosis presence was detected in the school children with an incidence of about 98%, in 47% of cases severe fluorosis with a dental caries index of 3.06 was traced. The groundwater sources in La Llave community contains fluorine above the limits dictated by Mexican regulations, producing serious repercussions on the health of school children, with an unnaturally high incidence of dental fluorosis.展开更多
文摘Medical Geology can be defined as the branch of geology dealing with the relationship between natural geological aspects and health in organisms (humans and animals), trying to determine the influence of ordinary environmental factors on the geographical distribution of health issues. The main goals of this research were: 1) to evaluate the severity of dental fluorosis (DF) and fluoride concentration in groundwater, used for human consumption, as an indicator of overexposure to fluorides, 2) to estimate the Community Fluorosis Index (CFI) in the Julimes municipality in Chihuahua, Mexico. Nine water samples were collected in four locations in the Julimes area: Hacienda Humboldt, La Regina, Colonia San Jose, and Julimes. Samples were collected and stored in accordance with the Mexican standard (NOM-014-SSA1-1993). All the samples exceeded the maximum permissible limit established in the modified Mexican standard (NOM-127-SSA1-1994) of 1.5 mgL<sup>-1</sup> for fluoride in water for human consumption. Average concentrations of 2.74 mgL<sup>-1</sup> were found in Colonia San Jose, 2.19 mgL<sup>-1</sup> in La Regina, 2.17 mgL<sup>-1</sup> in Julimes and 2.06 mgL<sup>-1</sup> in Hacienda Humboldt. Dental Fluorosis diagnosis was evaluated using the Dean Index and the CFI applied to residents. A total of 100 inhabitants were examined, with interviews and oral examinations also carried out. Dental Fluorosis prevalence was 92% overall for the municipality, while for Colonia San Jose was of 100%, of 88.89% for Hacienda Humboldt, 88.24% for Julimes and 96% for La Regina. Dental Fluorosis’ severity for the Julimes municipality was distributed as follows: 2% normal, 6% questionable, 8% very mild, 13% mild, 19% moderate, and 52% severe. An average CFI was found for the four localities of 3.02 points, with a very notable impact on public health.
文摘This paper presents the grounds for an integrated approach to address endemic fluorosis in Jharkhand, India, an approach that encompasses health monitoring, community-based water systems management, and locally synthesized hydroxyapatite, a sustainable water treatment technology. The results of this study, focusing on kinetics and sorption isotherms, demonstrate that an inexpensive, locally synthesized hydroxyapatite effectively removes fluoride from water and that the Dean Index, a measure of dental fluorosis, of school children provides a sensitive, rapid biometric to track the success of a fluoride water treatment intervention. Previous efforts to manage the fluoride problem in Jharkhand were unsuccessful, largely due to lack of accountability and inadequate community involvement. This paper explores how integrating the production of a locally synthesized hydroxyapatite with community health monitoring via the Dean Index fits into a management strategy with robust accountability mechanisms and community participation that, as historical examples suggest, is likely to succeed in Jharkhand.
文摘The community La Llave, Queretaro State, Mexico, has not been identified by the sanitary authorities as living in a hazard area related to dental fluorosis. However;a high concentration of fluoride is found in their drinking water causing them dental fluorosis. Physical-chemical analysis was carried out in the groundwater sources to determine the prevalence of dental fluorosis risk and caries accordingly to criteria of The World Health Organization, and 154 school children of ages 10 to 13 years were examined. As a result, 1.9 mg/L of fluorine concentration in drinking water was obtained;dental fluorosis presence was detected in the school children with an incidence of about 98%, in 47% of cases severe fluorosis with a dental caries index of 3.06 was traced. The groundwater sources in La Llave community contains fluorine above the limits dictated by Mexican regulations, producing serious repercussions on the health of school children, with an unnaturally high incidence of dental fluorosis.