Fluoride removal and its impact on oral health in Sri Lanka's dry zone: Discussion and recommendation

Fifty percent of the dry zone areas in Sri Lanka have fluoride levels above 1 ppm. This paper discusses the ground conditions and recommends an appropriate range of fluoride in drinking water which can support preventive practices for improving the oral health of children 8-years old and younger. In efforts to address the Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown etiology (CKDU), water treatment to reduce contaminant level in potable water has been implemented. Such treatment would also remove fluoride and has resulted in potable water with various fluoride levels, depending on concentrations in the raw water. While it is important to reduce fluoride levels, it is important to have appropriate residual levels for prevention of dental caries. It needs, however, to be noted fluoride in excess can cause dental fluorosis. In Sri Lanka's dry zone areas increasing prevalence of dental fluorosis with decreasing prevalence of dental caries has been noted. Consumption of tea and powdered milk could increase total intake of fluoride. Fluoridated toothpaste, when used properly, may, however, result in negligible intake of fluoride. Sri Lanka's hot tropical climate which results in substantial intake of fluids reinforces the need to consider reduction in water fluoride. Consideration of local studies and international standards indicate fluoride levels should be in the range of 0.225–0.500 ppm. In the range of 0.225–0.500 ppm, the prevalence of dental fluorosis and caries was only 14% and 8%, respectively, in an endemic district. When fluoride levels are above 0.500 ppm, the issue of dental fluorosis shall need to be addressed. When levels are below 0.225 ppm, oral health care services shall need to be directed at preventing dental caries.     

基于物元可拓法和偏好熵权的饮用水源水质评价——以天津市大港区为例

文章根据天津市饮用水受氟化物影响较大的现实情况,以物元可拓法为基本方法,利用偏好熵设置权重,一方面在无偏好情况下客观地确定各指标的权重进行水质评价,另一方面重点考虑了氟化物对水质的影响再进行评价,分析水质评价结果对氟化物的敏感程度。结果表明,在无偏好情况下,文章涉及的两个饮用水源地的水质较好,多为Ⅰ类水和Ⅱ类水;而在对氟化物偏好设置的情况下,2005～2006年初的水质评价结果偏差,说明此阶段水质评价结果对氟化物比较敏感,而后至2007年末则并未表现出此特征。     

Treatment of wastewaters from ore flotation containing aliphatic amines and hydrofluoric acid

Wastewaters from feldspar flotation containing hydrofluoric acid and amines were effectively purified by neutralization‐clarification with a 10% solution of lime and polyelectrolytes, followed by a coke filtration and/or a Zeolite or Activated Alumina adsorption. A Polish synthetic Ca‐type Zeolite proved to be efficient in the elimination of fluoride ions at the pH of 7.8. At this pH the Zeolite was more efficient than the Activated Alumina N. Wastewaters from feldspar washing were effectively treated by coagulation with A1₂(SO₄)₃, yielding final effluents with the characteristics very close to the clarified postilotation wastewaters. After clarification amines and fluoride ions could be removed from feldspar postflotation and feldspar washing effluents mixed together. A final concentration of fluorides and amines in the purified wastewaters was below 2 mg/1.     

环境空气中气态和颗粒态总氟化物分析方法优化

对双层磷酸氢二钾浸渍滤膜采集-氟离子选择电极测定环境空气中1、24 h气态和颗粒态总氟化物的方法进行了优化研究。方法采用小流量采集(24 h采样流量为16.7 L/min,1 h采样流量为50 L/min),解决了现有方法在样品采集上的问题,优化了样品制备中超声提取和静置方法。采样体积为3、24 m~3时,方法检出限分别为0.5、0.06μg/m~3,测定下限分别为2.0、0.24μg/m~3。实际样品测定,采样1 h时,加标回收率为87.9%~109%;采样24 h时,加标回收率为80.2%~99.3%,平行样测定的精密度为0.3%~2.9%,方法精密度和准确度良好,适用于环境空气中氟化物的测定。     

CaF2高温分解特性试验研究

作为燃煤和砖瓦烧制过程中钙基固氟剂燃烧固氟的最终产物CaF₂,其高温稳定特性对固氟效率有重要影响本义在固定床反应器上采用气态氟化物直接吸收分析法,结合XRD、DTA法对CaF₂晶体粉末在大气、干燥大气和饱和大气下的高温稳定性进行了实验研究.结果表明,在高温条件下CaF₂发生水解反应,水解反应起始温度830±10℃,水解率随燃烧温度和停留时间的增加而增加,空气中水蒸气含量对水解率有显著影响.动力学计算表明温度在850℃～1350℃范围内水解反应为一级反应,反应活化能E=115±2kJ/mol.研究结果对燃煤和砖瓦烧制过程中高温高效钙基燃烧固氟剂的开发有指导意义.     

Evaluation of hematological changes in population exposed to fluoride

Absorption of fluorine compounds produces chronic toxicity and the hematological changes appear earlier in blood than other organs. A study was undertaken to determine the status of hematological changes in the individual residing in fluoride-contaminated area. Two hundred and fifty nine and 233 subjects from the contaminated area and an unaffected area, respectively, were selected for hematological investigations. Total erythrocytes (red blood corpuscles (RBC)), total leucocytes (white blood corpuscles (WBC)), and hemoglobin (Hb) concentrations were determined in these populations. Results revealed that Hb values were significantly lower among all age groups in the exposed population compared to control subjects. There was a quantitative rise in WBC counts in study subjects compared to controls. The RBC counts showed reduction among exposed population.