Abstract:
Fluoride is one of the priority chemicals being monitored under the sustainable development goal target for drinking water. Excessive ingestion of fluoride in concentrations higher than 1.5 mg/L may cause dental, skeletal and neurological disorders. The study assessed community
awareness of dental fluorosis as a health risk associated with fluoride contamination in groundwater sources in Mangochi district. Water
samples from 82 water points were tested for fluoride and concentrations between 0.2 and 27.2 mg/L were detected, with a mean value
of 3.7 mg/L and a median value of 3.1 mg/L. Nine water points registered fluoride concentrations above 6 mg/L, which is Malawi standard
value for fluoride in boreholes and shallow wells. Prevalence rate for dental fluorosis among children in the study was at 82.7%. However,
100% of the children’s parents displayed low or no awareness of dental fluorosis as a health risk associated with fluoride contamination in
drinking water. The study recommends the use of solar powered reticulated systems, whose water source shall be from a contamination-free
zone, and supply to the affected villages. Human health risk assessment using the US-EPA approach needs to be conducted in the affected
villages to understand the extent of exposure to fluoride-related health risks
