Fluoride content of bottled water in Thailand in 2005.

Abstract

Water is the most important source of fluoride in daily life. The appropriate use of fluoride can prevent dental caries but consumption of water with fluoride more than 0.7 mg/L for a long time can cause dental fluorosis in less than 8-year-old children. Dental Health Division, Department of Health had surveyed fluoride content of bottled water in Thailand in 1996 and 2000. This 2005 study was the third survey. Bottled water 1,873 brands from 50 provinces were sampled for fluoride content assessment. The fluoride assay was performed using fluoride ion specific electrode and the ionanalyzer (model 3 EA 920, Orion®). The result revealed the variability of fluoride content in the samples ranged from < 0.01 to 3.63 mg/L. 89.9 % of bottled water had fluoride less than 0.3 mg/ L. 2.89 % had fluoride more than 0.7 mg/L and 0.59 % had fluoride more than 1.5 mg/L, which was above standard. Bottled water having fluoride more than 0.7 mg/L were found in Phayao , Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Mae Hongson, Phitsanulok, Phichit, Nonthaburi, Samutprakan, Samutsakhon, Ratchaburi, Nakhon Pathom, Saraburi, Suphanburi, Prachin Buri, Bangkok , Loei, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Songkhla.