The optimum fluoride concentration in drinking water in India is recommended to be?

AIIMS BBSR SNO - 2019

Community Health Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: AIIMS BBSR SNO - 2019

Explanation

The recommended range for fluoride in drinking water in India is 0.5-1 ppm.
This concentration is considered optimal as it effectively reduces the incidence of dental caries (tooth decay).
This range provides a safe margin to prevent the adverse effects of excessive fluoride, such as dental and skeletal fluorosis.
The WHO guideline value for fluoride is 1.5 mg/L (1.5 ppm), but national standards are adjusted based on local factors like climate and water intake, leading to the 0.5-1 ppm recommendation for India.

Option A: The range of 1-2 ppm is higher than the optimal level for India. While the lower end (1 ppm) is acceptable, levels approaching 2 ppm significantly increase the risk of developing dental fluorosis, especially in a hot climate where water consumption is higher.
Option B: A concentration of 3-5 ppm is toxic. This level is associated with a high incidence of dental fluorosis and can lead to skeletal fluorosis with chronic exposure, causing bone and joint problems.
Option D: The range of 0.1-0.2 ppm is too low to offer substantial protection against dental caries. While it poses no risk of fluorosis, it is not effective from a public health standpoint for preventing tooth decay.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain The concept tested is the optimal concentration of fluoride in drinking water for public health in India, balancing the prevention of dental caries against the risk of fluorosis as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses in community health settings must be aware of the fluoride levels in the local water supply to provide appropriate health education.
Identifying early signs of dental fluorosis (e.g., chalky white patches on teeth) in children is a key nursing role, enabling early intervention and advice on water sources.
In areas with endemic fluorosis (high fluoride levels), nurses should educate families on using alternative, safe water sources for drinking and cooking and advise against using fluoride-containing toothpaste for young children.

How to Approach the Question

Identify the key terms in the question: 'optimum fluoride concentration', 'drinking water', and 'India'.
Recognize this as a factual recall question based on public health standards.
Recall the principle that fluoride has both a beneficial (anti-caries) and a harmful (fluorosis) effect, and the goal is to find the optimal balance.
Evaluate each option based on this balance. Eliminate ranges that are too low (ineffective) or too high (toxic).
Select the range that is widely accepted as providing the best protection against cavities with the lowest risk of fluorosis for the Indian context.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: The concept tested is the optimal concentration of fluoride in drinking water for public health in India, balancing the prevention of dental caries against the risk of fluorosis.
Stem keywords: optimum fluoride concentration, drinking water, India
Lead-in keywords: recommended
Negative lead-in flag: false

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E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 2 — Subpart A (pp 1-232 of 464) p. 181-183

E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 2 — Subpart B (pp 233-449 of 464) p. 39-41