Evaluation of the effect of water improvement in drinking water-borne endemic fluorosis areas in Huangzhong, Ping'an and Ledu districts of Qinghai Province in 2018 / 中华地方病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To understand the situation of drinking water-borne endemic fluorosis (short for drinking water fluorosis) in Huangzhong, Ping'an and Ledu districts of Qinghai Province and operation status of water improvement projects, and to evaluate the effect of control measures.Methods:In historical drinking water fluorosis villages of Huangzhong, Ping'an and Ledu districts of Qinghai Province in 2018, the status of water improvement, the operation of water improvement projects and the content of water fluoride were investigated; the dental fluorosis of 8-12 years old children in all investigated villages was checked; 3 villages from 3 districts were selected, X-ray examination for skeletal fluorosis and urinary fluoride detection of adults over 25 years old of age were performed.Results:Eight-two historical drinking water fluorosis villages in 3 districts were investigated and all the villages had water improvement projects, in addition, the water improvement projects were operating normally, and the water fluoride content ranged from 0.10 to 0.37 mg/L, which were in line with the drinking water fluoride content standard (< 1.2 mg/L). Totally 2 503 children aged 8-12 years old were examined, the detection rate of dental fluorosis was 6.03% (151/2 503), the index of dental fluorosis was 0.13, the epidemic intensity was negative; the detection rates of dental fluorosis in 3 districts were 6.24% (129/2 068), 4.05% (7/173), 5.73% (15/262), respectively, reaching the control standard (< 30%), and the detection rate of dental fluorosis in 81 villages was less than 30%; 198 adults over 25 years old were examined, the detection rate of skeletal fluorosis was 5.05% (10/198), the geometric mean of urinary fluoride was 0.81 mg/L, and skeletal fluorosis cases were mainly in the age group over 40 years old, all of them were mild cases.Conclusions:The fluoride content in drinking water and the detection rate of children's dental fluorosis are all up to the control standard, and the condition of skeletal fluorosis is significantly reduced after the implementation of water improvement measures in Huangzhong, Ping'an and Ledu districts. It can be seen that the prevention and control of drinking water fluorosis in Huangzhong, Ping'an and Ledu districts have achieved good results, but later management and condition monitoring of water improvement projects should be strengthened to prevent the disease from rebounding.