Fluoride content in bottled mineral waters of Serbia

Abstract

The beneficial effects of fluoride, especially in reducing dental caries, are well known (recommended value 1mg/L of drinking water). However, prolonged intake of fluoride levels exceeding 1,5 mg/L can cause detrimental effects, mostly on teeth and skeleton. Since water is one of the principal sources of fluoride intake, the objective of this study was to determine fluoride content in bottled mineral waters of Serbia. 20 samples of different bottled mineral waters produced in Serbia were analyzed. Fluoride levels were determined electrochemically, using fluoride-selective electrode, after mixing with TISAB buffer in ratio 1:1. In 3 of 20 samples of bottled mineral waters fluoride levels exceeded 1 mg/L - carbonated mineral water 'Vrnjci' (1,34 mg/L), 'Heba' (1,19 mg/L) and 'Knjaz Miloš' (1,15 mg/L). Lower fluoride content was detected in 'Voda Voda' (0,64 mg/L), 'Minaqua' (0,43 mg/L) and 'Mivela' (0,43 mg/L). Other analyzed mineral waters contained very low fluoride concentration, lower than 0,25 mg/l; 'Aqua Gala' (0,23 mg/L), 'Aqua Bella' (0,2 mg/L), 'Life' (0,19 mg/L), 'Aqua viva' (0,14 mg/L), 'Prolom voda' (0,12 mg/L), 'Vujić voda' (0,1 mg/L), 'Vrnjačko vrelo' (0,09 mg/L), 'Aqua Balkanika' (0,07 mg/L), 'Rosa'-carbonated (0,06 mg/L), 'Rosa'-non-carbonated (0,06 mg/L), 'Vrnjci'-non-carbonated (0,06 mg/L), 'Zlatibor'-carbonated (0,04 mg/L) and 'Zlatibor'-non-cabonated (0,04 mg/L). These results show that carbonated mineral water 'Vrnjci', 'Heba' and 'Knjaz Miloš' contain fluoride in concentrations similar to recommended value, so they can induce beneficial effects in reducing dental caries. Most of other analysed bottled waters contain very low fluoride concetrations, indicating that the consumers of those waters need additional fluoride intake via food or fluoride preparations.

Pozitivni efekti fluorida, naročito u suzbijanju karijesa, dobro su poznati (preporučeni sadržaj u pijaćoj vodi iznosi 1 mg/L). Međutim, produženi unos fluorida, u koncentracijama višim od 1,5 mg/L vode može dovesti do neželjenih efekata, koji se ispoljavaju uglavnom na zubima i skeletu. Obzirom da je voda jedan od najznačajnijih izvora unošenja fluorida, cilj ovog rada je bio određivanje sadržaja fluorida u flaširanim mineralnim vodama Srbije. Analizirano je 20 uzoraka flaširanih mineralnih voda proizvedenih u Srbiji. Sadržaj fluorida je određen elektrohemijski, korišćenjem fluoridne jon-selektivne elektrode. Koncentracija fluorida je viša od 1 mg/L u 3 od 20 analiziranih flaširanih mineralnih voda - u gaziranoj mineralnoj vodi 'Vrnjci' (1,34 mg/L), i vodama 'Heba' (1,19 mg/L) i 'Knjaz Miloš' (1,15 mg/L). Niži sadržaj detektovan je u mineralnim vodama 'Voda voda' (0,64 mg/L), 'Minaqua' (0,43 mg/L) i 'Mivela' (0,43 mg/L), a u izuzetno niskim koncentracijama, nižim od 0,25 mg/L, fluoridi se nalaze u mineralnim vodama 'Aqua Gala' (0,23 mg/L), 'Aqua Bella' (0,2 mg/L), 'Life' (0,19 mg/L), 'Aqua viva' (0,14 mg/L), 'Prolom voda' (0,12 mg/L), 'Vujić voda' (0,1 mg/L), 'Vrnjačko vrelo' (0,09 mg/L), 'Aqua Balkanika' (0,07 mg/L), 'Rosa'-gazirana (0,06 mg/L), 'Rosa'-negazirana (0,06 mg/L), 'Vrnjci'-negazirana (0,06 mg/L), 'Zlatibor'-gazirana (0,04 mg/L) i 'Zlatibor'-negazirana (0,04 mg/L). Dobijeni rezultati ukazuju da gazirana mineralna voda 'Vrnjci', 'Heba' i 'Knjaz Miloš' sadrže fluoride u koncentracijama bliskim optimalnim vrednostima, te mogu ispoljiti pozitivan efekat u prevenciji karijesa. Većina ostalih ispitivanih flaširanih voda ima veoma nizak sadržaj fluorida, pa bi osobe koje konzumiraju ovakve vode trebalo da obezbede potreban unos fluorida putem hrane ili preparata fluorida.