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 symptom in Dongxu village Liangshan county from 2002 to 2003.Methods According to the national surveillance 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 children aged 8～12 were researched.The fluoride content of end water among 10 households was examined in Dongxu village.Results 131 villages completed the water-improving 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 average rate of water fluoride content (≤1.0mg/L) was 76.5% for the normal facilities between 2002 amd 2003,and the highest was 2.8mg/L.The end water fluoride content remained below 0.5mg/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 fluorosis index 0.39,0.30 respectively.The geometric mean of the urine fluoride in the children was 1.0mg/L.Conclusion The water-improving to reduce fluoride was a major way for controlling endemic 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 investment;speed up the steps in water-improving and effectively control the endemic fluorosis.