Investigation of the Urinary FluorideExcretion of School Children in Selected Localities of the Czech Republic

Overview

Within the framework of the IGA grant. 1324-3, Ministry of Health, CzechRepublic the authors assessed the urinary fluoride concentration in 1491 children from 10localities in the Czech Republic ( the submitted results are the fifth part of the final report from1995). The various localities differed as to their fluoride history. The children lived in theselocalities from birth. In nine places 12-year-old children were examined, in one all childrenattending elementary school (Chlum nr. Třeboň - small number of 12-year-old children). Inaddition to assessment of the urinary fluoride concentration in the children the DMF and DDEindex [8, 10] was recorded. Assessment of urinary fluorides was done by the direct potentio-metric method using a pair of electrodes: by an indication ion selective fluoride and a referencecalomel electrode. The mean concentration of urinary fluorides in the whole group was 0.623mg/l; (to obtain ppm values the figure is multiplied with the density expressed in g/ml). Indifferent localities it varied between 0.496 in Strakonice and 0.961 in Ostrava. In 1993 whenthe investigation was implemented in the Czech Republic no endogenous fluoride preventionwas used (drinking water was not fluoridated, no fluoride tablets were distributed). From this aspect the investigation provides comparable material for investigation of the development offluoride exposure in children.

Key words:
exposure to fluorides – urinary fluoride excretion – fluoride caries prevention