Child-education program for the reduction of health risks due to fluoride in water sources in the Chiang Mai Basin, Thailand

Abstract

Groundwater is the major source of drinking water in Lamphun Province in the Chiang Mai Basin, Thailand. However, groundwater contains high fluoride up to 16 mg F/L, which has caused dental and skeletal fluorosis. Although Thai Government installed RO membrane plants for the removal of fluoride from groundwater; and delivers RO-filtered bottled water that contains less fluoride than the Thai Standard of 0.7 mg F/L, it was found that the urinary fluoride levels are still high among the residents. To find the major sources of fluoride intake, fluoride contents in various water sources, such as village water supply, shallow and deep groundwaters, rain water and bottled water, were measured, and the local people's behavior on water uses was recorded by interview and questionnaire study. As a result, it was found that the highest risk of fluoride ingestion comes from cooking rice with fluoride-containing water because of a lack of knowledge on fluoride sources and fluoride chemistry. To reduce the health risks arising from fluoride intake, a hands-on educational program on the sources and risks of fluoride in water was developed and implemented in the local schools. The participatory educational program promoted active involvement of schoolchildren, but it was found that the effectiveness of education varied depending on the questions we asked. Therefore, it needs to be improved by an iterative and interactive educational program. In conclusion, it was found that the benefits of providing safe drinking water using such advanced technology as RO membrane can be maximized only when it comes along with a participatory educational program on fluoride sources and health risks.

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“…(2). (2) where q0 and q are the amounts of fluoride adsorbed (mM/g of dolomite) at the initial time and time t (min), and k2 is the rate constant of adsorption (g/mM•min).…”

“…Many countries such as India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, China and parts of East Africa have been faced with a fluorosis problem due to high fluoride concentrations in groundwater [1]. Exposing humans to high fluoride levels in water, which is used for cooking and drinking, can cause dental and skeletal fluorosis [2]. In the Thai Provinces of Chiang Mai and Lamphun, the populations have been exposed to high amounts of fluoride through their fluoride-rich groundwater [3].…”

Effects of Activated Carbon and Cationic Exchange Resin Pretreatments on Groundwater Defluoridation by Reverse Osmosis Process

“…Therefore, people who live in fluoride contaminated areas should understand the health risks. A child education program has been undertaken to help with reducing effects of the high fluoride concentration in groundwater [12]. Not only the child education program but also a fluoride removal process should be considered.…”

Kinetic Adsorption of Fluoride from an Aqueous Solution onto a Dolomite Sorbent

“…Exposing humans to high fluoride levels in water, which is used for cooking and drinking, can cause dental and skeletal fluorosis [2]. In the Thai Provinces of Chiang Mai and Lamphun, the populations have been exposed to high amounts of fluoride through their fluoride-rich groundwater [3].…”

“…Child-education program was implemented to reduce health risks from fluoride in their groundwater in the area [2]. Not only the child-education program but also fluoride removal technology should be considered.…”