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Fluoride content of tank water in Australia
Author(s) -
Cochrane NJ,
Hopcraft MS,
Tong AC,
Thean HL,
Thum YS,
Tong DE,
Wen J,
Zhao SC,
Stanton DP,
Yuan Y,
Shen P,
Reynolds EC
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
australian dental journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.701
H-Index - 71
eISSN - 1834-7819
pISSN - 0045-0421
DOI - 10.1111/adj.12163
Subject(s) - fluoride , water source , dentistry , environmental science , environmental chemistry , toxicology , chemistry , medicine , inorganic chemistry , water resource management , biology
Background The aims of this study were to: (1) analyse the fluoride content of tank water; (2) determine whether the method of water collection or storage influenced fluoride content; and (3) survey participant attitudes towards water fluoridation. Methods Plastic tubes and a questionnaire were distributed through dentists to households with water tanks in Victoria. A midstream tank water sample was collected and fluoride analysed in triplicate using ion chromatography Results All samples (n = 123) contained negligible amounts of fluoride, with a mean fluoride concentration of <0.01 ppm (range: <0.01–0.18 ppm). No statistically significant association was found between fluoride content and variables investigated such as tank material, tank age, roof material and gutter material. Most people did not know whether their tank water contained fluoride and 40.8% preferred to have access to fluoridated water. The majority thought fluoride was safe and more than half of the respondents supported fluoridation. Fluoride content of tank water was well below the optimal levels for caries prevention. Conclusions People who rely solely on tank water for drinking may require additional exposure to fluoride for optimal caries prevention.