FLUORIDE LEVEL IN THE BREAST MILK IN KOOHBANAN, A CITY WITH ENDEMIC DENTAL FLUOROSIS

Dental fluorosis is a major health issue in Koohbanan, a city in Kerman province, Iran, and the aim of this study was to determine the amount of fluoride ion (F) in women's breast milk. Sixty-two mothers who breast-fed their infants participated in the study and were separated in two groups according to whether or not they had dental fluorosis. Two mL of the breast milk from each mother was sent to a laboratory in standard conditions and the amount of F measured with a special fluoride ion electrode. The data were analyzed with independent t-test using the SPSS version 20. The mean amount of F in the breast milk of mothers without dental fluorosis was 0.006 ppm while in the mothers with dental fluorosis it was markedly elevated at 0.550 ppm (p