Flúor nas águas de abastecimento público relacionado a qualidade da água e indicadores socioeconômicos de municípios da Paraíba

Abstract

The fluoride’s effectiveness as a preventive agent to dental caries is widely demonstrated. The aim of this study is to analyse the residual levels of fluorine in public water supply, and their relation among weather variables, development indicators, health and the water’s quality. Ecological, descriptive and analytical study, accomplished in 22 cities of Paraíba, located in the Brazilian Northest. The water collection was carried out monthly, during 13 months. It was collected in 2 spots of the Water Treatment Centre. The first one was closest to the Water Treatment Plant and the second farther. The fluorine concentration was determined by the electrode method combined with specific-ion. The Collaborating Centre of Health Ministry on Oral Health Surveillance’s classification was utilized. Meteorological, demographic, socioeconomic human development characteristics, indicators related to the Family Health Strategy and oral health were also collected. 1196 samples from the four Geographical Macro Regions of Paraíba were collected. The fluoride’s residual content was found in all samples, variating from 0.04 to 0.80 mg F/L. The temperature variation was 21.7°C to 30.9°C. Considering the temperature values, only 6.34% of the samples were in the ideal range (minimal risk of dental fluorosis with the maximum benefit to prevent dental caries). It was observed the presence of residual fluoride in every sample analysed, the majority were considered below the appropriate values to the caries prevention with the minimum of dental fluorosis. Besides that, it was verified a considerable correlation between the fluoride concentration and the population covered by the Family Health Team (p<0.0001). The cities presented indicators within the criteria of water’s potability to human use.