(217e) Defluoridation of Ground Water Using Impregnated Aluminum

Groundwater is an important source of drinking water and it is estimated that more than 200 million people worldwide are drinking groundwater with fluoride concentrations greater than the WHO guideline value of 1.5 mg/L. The majority of these cases occur in the developing world. fluoride has long been found to have a beneficial effect on dental health, although when present in drinking water at concentrations much above the WHO guideline value (and national drinking water limit for most countries) of 1.5 mg/L, long term use can result in development of dental fluorosis or at its worst, crippling skeletal fluorosis. The effects on health depend on a number of factors including dose from other sources of fluoride (toothpastes, food), age, gender and general health status.