TY - JOUR T1 - Fluoride intake through consumption of tap water and bottled water in Belgium. JF - Int J Environ Res Public Health Y1 - 2009 A1 - Stefanie Vandevijvere A1 - Horion, Benoit A1 - Fondu, Michel A1 - Mozin, Marie-Josée A1 - Ulens, Michèle A1 - Huybrechts, Inge A1 - Herman Van Oyen A1 - Noirfalise, Alfred KW - ADOLESCENT KW - Adult KW - Aged KW - Belgium KW - environmental exposure KW - Female KW - Fluorides KW - Humans KW - Male KW - middle aged KW - water supply KW - Young adult AB -

There is a tendency to align higher levels of fluoride in natural mineral water with the existing higher levels in tap water. Treatment of natural mineral waters could harm the preservation of their natural character. In this study fluoride intake through bottled and tap water consumption in the Belgian adult population was assessed, taking into account regional differences. A deterministic approach was used whereby consumption quantities of tap water and different brands of bottled water were linked with their respective fluoride concentrations. Data from the national food consumption survey (2004) were used and the Nusser methodology was applied to obtain usual intake estimates.Mean intake of fluoride through total water consumption in Flanders was 1.4+/-0.7 mg/day (97.5(th) percentile: 3.1 mg/day), while in the Walloon region it was on average 0.9+/-0.6 mg/day (97.5(th) percentile: 2.4 mg/day). The probability of exceeding the UL of 7 mg per day via a normal diet was estimated to be low. Consequently, there is no need to revise the existing norms, but higher fluoride concentrations should be more clearly indicated on the labels. Reliable data about total dietary fluoride intake in children, including intake of fluoride via tooth paste and food supplements, are needed.

VL - 6 CP - 5 U1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19543414?dopt=Abstract M3 - 10.3390/ijerph6051676 ER -