Prevalence and risk indicators of erosion in thirteen- to fourteen-year-olds on the Isle of Man.

AIMS: The aim was to determine the prevalence of erosion in 13- to 14-year-old children on the Isle of Man and to investigate the strength of association with dietary risk factors. METHODS: Exposed dentine was assessed on smooth surfaces of incisors/canines and occlusal surfaces of first molars. A questionnaire assessed the consumption frequency of foodstuffs. RESULTS: Of 629 children examined, 124 (20%) had dentine exposed labially, palatally or occlusally. More males had dentine exposed on these surfaces (OR = 1.7, 95% CI = 1.2-2.6). Palatal dentine exposure was present in 3% of the children and occlusal dentine exposure in 18%. In bivariate analyses, drinking fizzy drinks more than once a day was associated with erosion (OR = 1.6, 95% CI = 1.1-2.3). The mean DMFT scores were not statistically different for the children with smooth surface/occlusally exposed dentine (1.37) compared to those without (1.58). Multiple regression analysis showed age, gender and toothbrushing to be significant predictors of erosion. CONCLUSION: This study has found a higher proportion of 13- to 14-year-old children with exposed dentine in molars than previous studies. The results corroborate previous reports that males have more erosion than females.

Childhood overweight and obesity in the UK--a comparison of two environmentally distinct populations of 7-year-old children.

The proportions of overweight and obesity in seven-year-old children in two environmentally different UK based centres: Avon and the Isle of Man (IOM) have been compared. Children in the IOM (particularly boys) were more likely to be overweight and obese, when classified by body mass index (weight [kg]/height(2) [m]) (BMI), and waist circumference (WC).

Home radon levels and seasonal correction factors for the Isle of Man.

Ionizing radiation dose levels due to home radon can rise to levels that would be illegal for workers in the nuclear industry. It is well known that radon levels within homes and from home to home, and also from month to month, vary considerably. To define an Isle of Man radon seasonal correction factor, readings were taken in eight homes over a 12 month period. An average island indoor exposure of 48 Bq m(-3) (range 4-518 Bq m(-3)) was determined from 285 homes selected from a cohort of 1300 families participating in the European Longitudinal Study of Pregnancy and Childhood (ELSPAC) in the Isle of Man. This compares with a UK home average of 20 Bq m(-3) and a European Union average (excluding UK) of 68 Bq m(-3). Ten homes of those measured were found to have radon levels above the National Radiological Protection Board 200 Bq m(-3) action level. There are 29,377 homes on the Isle of Man, suggesting that there could be some 900 or more homes above the action level. No statistical difference was found between the NRPB and Isle of Man seasonal correction factors.