Analysis on surveillance of endemic fluorosis in Shandong between 2002 and 2003

  Objective   To understand the process of endemic fluorosis prevention, cure, and the changes of sy mptom in Dongxu village Liangshan county from 2002 to 2003.

  Methods   According to the national sur veillance program of endemic fluorosis, the progress of water improving and management, usage, fluoride content of drinking water for the water improved project in Liangshan were investigated.The dental fluorosis incidence rate and index, and fluoride content of urine among chil dren aged 8~12 were researched.The fluoride content of end water among 10 households was examined in Dong xu village.

  Results   131 villages completed the water impr oving project among 215 endemic fluorosis villages in Liangshan county with the accomplishment rate 60.9%.Among 109 water improving facilities in total, 61 worked normally with the rate 56%.The av erage rate of water fluoride content(1.0mg/L)was 76.5% for the normal facilities between 2002 amd 2003, and the hig hest was 2.8 mg/L.The end water fluoride content remained below 0.5 mg/L; and the prevalence rate of dental fluorosis of children aged 8~12 was 16.5% in 2002 15.0% in 2003 with the dental fluor osis index 0.39, 0.30 respectively.The geo metric mean of the ur ine fluor ide in the children was < 1.0 mg/L.

  Conclusion   The water improving to reduce fluoride was a major way for controllingendemic fluorosis of drinking water type.However, it was slow to carry out the measures for water improving and the facilities were not used sufficiently.The county should strengthen the management; increase the invest ment; speed up the steps in water improv ing and effectively control the endemic fluorosis.