Chitta Ranjan Chowdhury1, Shahnawaz Khijmatgar1, Avidyuti Chowdhury2, Divya Kumari P1, Edward Lynch3,4, Martin Gootveld5. 1. Department of Oral Biology and Genomic Studies, A.B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, Nitte Deemed University, Deralakatte, Mangalore, Karnataka, 575018, India. 2. Global Child Dental Health Task Fund, Kings College London, Norfolk Building, Rooms GO3-GO3A, Surrey Street, London, WC2R 2ND, UK. 3. School of Dental Medicine, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, USA. 4. Warwick University Department of Dentistry, UK. 5. Department of Pharmacy, Health and Life Science Institute, De Montfort University, The Gateway, Leicester, LE1 9BH, UK.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The idea that hilly areas have a high background radiation which in turn is linked to dental fluorosis is widely held by many in India. There is little evidence to confirm this. OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to investigate the level of environmental radionuclide in order to determine any interrelationship between radionuclide and dental fluorosis in Pavagada, a fluorosis endemic area of Karnataka, India. METHODS: Gamma radionuclides (Th232, Ra226 and K40) were determined by high purity germanium (HPGe) gamma-ray spectrometer (Bq Kg-1) using a 50% relative efficiency p-type broad energy HPGe detector. Fluoride was estimated using fluoride Ion-selective electrode (ISE). Fluorosis was assessed using WHO diagnostic criteria. RESULTS: The average mean +_SD activity concentration in soil for K40 was detected between 416.6 ± 9.3 and 769.1 ± 15.0. Th232 was estimated between 13.6 ± 0.6 and 57.6 ± 1.3; and Ra226 was found between 6.4 ± 0.4 and 21.6 ± 0.7. Similarly, the mean activity concentration detected (Bq kg-1) in granite for K40 ranged between 259.8 ± 6.9 and 1608.5 ± 26.9. The activity concentration of Th232 ranged between 26.4 ± 0.8 and 57.6 ± 1.3: and that of Ra226 was between 6.6 ± 0.3 and 21.6 ± 07. Drinking water contains 2.98 ppm of fluoride. Dental fluorosis was diagnosed as mild to moderate. CONCLUSION: The radionuclide activity in water, soil and granites were below the detection limit. Hence, the study revealed no association of fluorosis and radionuclide level in Pavagada, Karnataka, India. This helps resolve an ambiguity.
BACKGROUND: The idea that hilly areas have a high background radiation which in turn is linked to dental fluorosis is widely held by many in India. There is little evidence to confirm this. OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to investigate the level of environmental radionuclide in order to determine any interrelationship between radionuclide and dental fluorosis in Pavagada, a fluorosis endemic area of Karnataka, India. METHODS: Gamma radionuclides (Th232, Ra226 and K40) were determined by high purity germanium (HPGe) gamma-ray spectrometer (Bq Kg-1) using a 50% relative efficiency p-type broad energy HPGe detector. Fluoride was estimated using fluoride Ion-selective electrode (ISE). Fluorosis was assessed using WHO diagnostic criteria. RESULTS: The average mean +_SD activity concentration in soil for K40 was detected between 416.6 ± 9.3 and 769.1 ± 15.0. Th232 was estimated between 13.6 ± 0.6 and 57.6 ± 1.3; and Ra226 was found between 6.4 ± 0.4 and 21.6 ± 0.7. Similarly, the mean activity concentration detected (Bq kg-1) in granite for K40 ranged between 259.8 ± 6.9 and 1608.5 ± 26.9. The activity concentration of Th232 ranged between 26.4 ± 0.8 and 57.6 ± 1.3: and that of Ra226 was between 6.6 ± 0.3 and 21.6 ± 07. Drinking water contains 2.98 ppm of fluoride. Dental fluorosis was diagnosed as mild to moderate. CONCLUSION: The radionuclide activity in water, soil and granites were below the detection limit. Hence, the study revealed no association of fluorosis and radionuclide level in Pavagada, Karnataka, India. This helps resolve an ambiguity.
Authors: Chitta R Chowdhury; Khijmatgar Shahnawaz; Divya Kumari; Avidyuti Chowdhury; Raman Bedi; Edward Lynch; Stewart Harding; Martin Grootveld Journal: Perspect Public Health Date: 2016-02-03