Prevalence of Fluorosis and pattern of Domestic filters use in two Fluoride endemic blocks of West Bengal, India

INTRODUCTION

Fluoride is one of the important factors in water quality management due to its adverse health effects. The problem of high fluoride concentration in groundwater resources has become one of the most important toxicological and geo-environmental issues in India. Excessive fluoride in drinking water causes dental and skeletal fluorosis, which is encountered in endemic proportions in several parts of the world. ^[1] World Health Organization (WHO) guideline value and the permissible limit of fluoride as per Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS) is 1.5 mg/L. ^[2]About 20 out of 35 states and union territories of India were identified as endemic for fluorosis ^[3] and about 66 million people in these regions are at risk of fluoride contamination. Fluorosis is known to occur due to the entry of excess fluoride into the body. It is a slow, progressive, crippling malady that affects every organ, tissue, and cells in the body, and results in health complaints that overlap with several other disorders. Most of the fluorides are readily soluble in water. Prolonged ingestion of fluoride above permissible level through water is the major cause of fluorosis.

Fluorosis disease can occur in three forms: dental fluorosis, skeletal fluorosis and non-skeletal fluorosis. Dental fluorosis occurs in the permanent teeth in children after 8 years of age.^[3][4] Skeletal fluorosis affects the bones and major joints of the body. ^[5][6] Non-skeletal fluorosis affects invariably all the soft tissues, organs, and systems of the body. ^[7] Dental fluorosis is a good indicator of exposure to excessive amounts of fluoride. The main natural source of inorganic fluorides in soil is the parent rock. Fluoride can also enter the body through food and fluoridated dental products as well as drugs. To confirm diagnosis of fluorosis, the fluoride is mainly estimated in serum, drinking water, and urine. ^[7]10-40% districts are affected in Assam, Jammu & Kashmir, Kerala, Chattisgarh and West Bengal. ^[8] In West Bengal, fluoride was first detected at Bhubanandapur in Nalhati I block of Birbhum district in 1996. During a rapid assessment survey by Public Health Engineering Department, Government of West Bengal (2005), 729 sources were found to be contaminated with fluoride above 1.5 ppm in 43 blocks of seven districts of West Bengal, with the affected population being approximately 2.26 lakhs. Fluoride level in West Bengal varies from 1.1 to 4.47 mg/L. ^[9] Studies show that withdrawal of sources identified for fluoride often leads to reduction of fluoride in the body fluids (re-testing urine and serum after a week or 10 days) and results in the disappearance of non-skeletal fluorosis within a short duration of 10-15 days. ^[7]

Fluorosis is an impending public health problem in West Bengal affecting a large number of population, and Birbhum is one of the affected districts with seven affected blocks. The present study was conducted to see the extent of fluorosis in two selected affected blocks of Birbhum District of West Bengal and to determine the pattern of usage of domestic filters by the villagers of the above selected endemic villages.

RESULTS

44.4% and 47.5% of the study population are found to be suffering from Dental fluorosis in Rampurhat and Khoerasol Block (Table I and Fig I)

Close

Fig 1 -

Graphical presentation of signs of Dental fluorosis in percentage among the participants in Rampurhat Block and Khoerasol Block

Export to PPT

Most common sign among skeletal fluorosis being inability to touch the chin with chest (22.2%& 26.2%) followed by inability to touch the toes without bending the knees (15.5% & 20%) and inability to stretch the arm to touch the back of the head (6.6% & 15%) among study population in Rampurhat and Khoerashol Block (Table I and Fig 2).

Close

Fig 2-

Graphical presentation of signs of skeletal fluorosis in percentage among the participants Series 1- Rampurhat Block, Series 2 - Khoerasol Block

Export to PPT

Polyurea/Polydypsia (33.3% & 40%), fatigue or depressions (26.6% & 31.2%) followed by bloating or flatulence (24.4%& 27.5%), loss of appetite (20% & 30%) and pain in stomach (20% &25%) were common among non skeletal fluorosis symptoms (Table I and Fig 3).

Close

Fig 3-

Graphical presentation of symptoms of non skeletal fluorosis in percentage among the participants. Series 1- Rampurhat Block, Series 2 - Khoerasol Block

Export to PPT

62.2% and 51.2% of the study population still using fluoride containing toothpaste in Rampurhat and Khoerashol Block (Table I). A large number of population in Khoerasol block are using tobacco (Guraku) and ash as an alternative to tooth paste. 62.2% and 65.0% of study population drink black lemon tea containing high fluoride in Rampurhat and Khoerashol Block (Table I and Fig 4) as milk is not easily available and even if it is available the villagers cannot afford it. Only those families having cow or buffalo in their house take milk tea.51.1% and 56.2% of study population takes plenty of green leafy vegetables and fruits containing antioxidants in Rampurhat and Khoerashol Block (Table I and Fig 4).42.2% and 52.5% of study population take adequate amount of fish followed by less frequent amount of egg and meat in Rampurhat and Khoerashol Block (Table I and Fig 4).

Close

Fig 4-

Graphical presentation of dietary intake in percentage among the participants. Series 1- Rampurhat Block, Series 2 - Khoerasol Block

Export to PPT

In general if we compare the manifestations of fluorosis among the study population in the two blocks, the condition of patients in Khoerasol Block (specially in Fullarchak village) is worse compared to patients in Rampurhat Block.

The children of Jamrand Primary school in Jamrand village of Khoerasol Block and Chakatla primary school in Kamdevpur village of Rampurhat Block were examined and screened for Dental caries and around 40% children in Jamrand Primary school and 30% children in Chakatla primary school were found to be having signs of dental fluorosis (60%- mild and 40%- Mod). Majority of school children suffering from Dental fluorosis were found to be from Fullarchak village.

The filter installed in the school was found to be unutilized and the children were seen drinking water from unsafe sources like the school tube well in Jamrand primary school and nearby tubewell in Chakatla School.

Discussion

The overall prevalence of dental fluorosis among the study participants was found to be 44.4-47.5% in this study. Choubisa in his study conducted in southern Rajasthan found the overall prevalence of dental fluorosis to be 45.7%. ^[10] Bharati et al., in their study conducted in Gudag and Bagalkot districts of Karnataka, found the prevalence of dental fluorosis to be 35%. ^[11] Yellowish-brown discoloration of teeth with horizontal streaks was the most common symptom of dental fluorosis, followed by blackening/pitting/chipping of teeth. Bharati et al. reported browning of teeth in 64.29% and pitting of teeth in 32.4% subjects. ^[11]Similar positive correlation between fluoride concentration and Dental Fluorosis Index (DFI) score was also found in studies by Ruan et al., ^[12] Mann et al., ^[13] Acharya, ^[14] and Kumar. ^[15]

Prevalence of manifestations of skeletal fluorosis was found to be 6.6-26.2% in this study. Bharati et al., in their study performed in Gudag and Bagalkot districts of Karnataka, found the prevalence of skeletal fluorosis to be 17% and both types to be 12.67%. ^[11] Choubisa in his study conducted in southern Rajasthan found that the overall prevalence of skeletal fluorosis was 22%. ^[10]The most common sign among skeletal fluorosis patients was found to be inability to touch the chin with chest (22.2% and26.2%, respectively) followed by inability to bend to touch the toe (15.5 to 20%). Joint pain was found in 31.87% subjects in the study done by Bharati et al. ^[11] Narayana et al. reported joint pain and neck stiffness in 50-70% of cases. ^[16] Shashi et al., in their study conducted in three endemic areas of Punjab state, observed back pain (73%) and neck pain (34%) as the symptoms of skeletal fluorosis.^[17]

In the present study, tobacco consumption in any form was found in 15.5-18.7% of the subjects. Kubakaddi et al. observed that 40% of the tobacco chewers were suffering from dental and skeletal fluorosis^[18] It is evident from previous studies that withdrawal of source(s) identified for fluoride leads to reduction of fluoride in body fluids and shall result in disappearance of health problems emanating from non-skeletal fluorosis within a short period.^[9]

Although the description of disease was done long back by eminent physicians like Dr S.S.Jolly, Dr Amaijeet Sing and Dr C.G.Pandit¹⁹ indicating a disease entity that originated in India in early 1930, not much have been done till date regarding its mitigation measures. However in to address the problem of fluorosis in the country, National Programme for Prevention and Control of fluorosis was launched in 2008-09 with an objective to collect, assess and use the baseline survey data of Department of Drinking Water Supply for Fluoride mapping along with comprehensive management and capacity building.^20,21

Conclusion

It is evident from this study that fluorosis is a definite public health problem in the selected block of Birbhum district, with increased prevalence of dental, skeletal, and non-skeletal fluorosis found among the study population. Withdrawal of source(s) identified for fluoride by supplying domestic and community filters along with dietary intervention leads to decreased manifestations of the three types of fluorosis ²² but from the study it is evident that 40% of selected families in Junitpur and Kamdevpur villages in Rampurhat Block and 10 -25% of selected families in Khoerashol block are using domestic filters and prevalence of manifestations of fluorosis is more in Khoerasol block in comparison to Rampurhat block. The reasons for not using the domestic filters are due to lack of awareness regarding health hazards of Fluoride toxicity, lack of maintenance and delay in repair of parts and lack of monitoring and supervision. Only supply of filters will not solve the problem but supply of safe water, awareness generation, motivation, demand generation for domestic filters along with nutritional interventions based on the above findings may be necessary to combat the problem of fluorosis.