Seven years of external control of fluoride levels in the public water supply in Bauru, São Paulo, Brazil

luoridation of the public water supplies is recognized as among the top ten public health achievements of the twentieth century. However, the positive aspects of this measure depend on the maintenance of fluoride concentrations within adequate levels. Objective: To report the results of seven years of external control of the fluoride (F) concentrations in the public water supply in Bauru, SP, Brazil in an attempt to verify, on the basis of risk/ benefit balance, whether the levels are appropriate. Material and Methods: From March 2004 to February 2011, 60 samples were collected every month from the 19 supply sectors of the city, totaling 4,641 samples. F concentrations in water samples were determined in duplicate, using an ion-speciflc electrode (Orion 9609) coupled to a potentiometer after buffering with TISAB II. After the analysis, the samples were classified according to the best risk-benefit adjustment. Results: Means (±standard deviation) of F concentrations ranged between 0.73±0.06 and 0.81±0.10 mg/L for the different sectors during the seven years. The individual values ranged between 0.03 and 2.63 mg/L. The percentages of the samples considered low risk for dental fluorosis development and of maximum benefit for dental caries prevention (0.55-0.84 mg F/L) in the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh years of the study were 82.0, 58.5, 37.4, 61.0, 89.9, 77.3, and 72.4%, respectively, and 69.0% for the entire period. Conclusions: Fluctuations of F levels were found in the public water supply in Bauru during the seven years of evaluation. These results suggest that external monitoring of water fluoridation by an independent assessor should be implemented in cities where there is adjusted fluoridation. This measure should be continued in order to verify that fluoride levels are suitable and, if not, to provide support for the appropriate adjustments.

Abastecimiento de agua potable y el saneamiento ambiental para la población rural dispersa en América Latina = Drinking water supply and sanitation for the dispersed rural population in Latin America

Incluye Bibliografía

Water supply and sanitation for the poor: the achievements of the International Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Decade in Latin America and the Caribbean

Includes bibliography

Sanitation in Latin America and the Caribbean: the achievements of the International Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Decade

Includes bibliography

Report on the Second Workshop on Private Participation in Water Supply and Sanitation Utilities in the Americas

Includes bibliography

Private sector participation in the Indian urban water supply and sanitation sector

Includes bibliography

Regional water supply planning: the work of the Capital Regional Water Board

Includes bibliography

Horizontal co-operation in drinking water supply and sanitation in the Caribbean

Se refiere a las actividades que sirven de antecedente a las actuales iniciativas de la CEPAL en el Caribe; describe los objetivos y el alcance de la cooperación horizontal; examina la experiencia del Caribe en materia de cooperación horizontal en el sector del agua potable y del saneamiento ambiental, y sobre esa base, identifica para el Caribe las principales consideraciones relativas al fortalecimiento de la cooperación técnica y económica en el sector.

Informe del Segundo Seminario Latinoamericano sobre Cooperación Horizontal para el Decenio Internacional del Agua Potable y del Saneamiento Ambiental = Report of the Second Latin American Seminar on Horizontal Co-operation for the International Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Decade

Incluye Bibliografía

Women and the International Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Decade in Latin America

Includes bibliography

Central America: recent experience on horizontal co-operation in drinking water supply and sanitation

Presenta una visión somera del estado actual de la cooperación horizontal en lo referente al suministro de agua potable y saneamiento ambiental en los 6 países del Istmo Centroamericano. Describe las principales actividades que se han llevado a cabo, presenta los posibles campos de acción para la cooperación y recoge conclusiones generales.

Water supply situation in the LDC's of the East Caribbean at the beginning of the International Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Decade: a brief note

Includes bibliography