RISK ASSESSMENT OF FLUORIDE IN DRINKING WATER AND CORRELATION WITH CHILDREN'S INTELLIGENCE QUOTIENT IN RURALS OF BUSHEHR PROVINCE.

Excessive fluoride (F) intake during infancy and early childhood causes some irreparable structural and functional changes in memory, learning and intellectual deficits. The aim of this study was risk assessment of F in drinking water and correlation with children's Intelligence Quotient in rurals of Bushehr province. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 8-12-years-old school children of 12 rurals (30 points) in Bushehr province, Iran on 140 children. The F levels were determined by using UV-Vis Shimadzu (UV-1601, PC) spectrophotometer. Children's intelligence was measured using the Raven's Standard Progressive Matrices. Data was statistically analyzed using the ANOVA test and Pearson correlation by Statistical Analysis Software (SPSS v. 23). The mean concentration of F was ranged from 0.55 to 8.63 mg/l. Most of the children's who were assessed were in categories D and E of Raven's Test. There are a negative and significant correlation between the IQ and F concentration level in drinking water (r= - 0.279, p-value= 0.002). But, no significant correlation observed between the IQ and sex of children's (r= -0.084, p-value= 0.361). Results supports that children exposed to F are at risk for impaired development of intelligence. For the benefit and health of future generations, immediate and basic attention needs to be focused on this significant public health problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]