Abstract:

Background: Fluoridation of drinking water, being regarded as one of the top ten public health achievements of the twentieth century. Excessive fluoride intake during infancy and early childhood, causes a number of irreversible structural and functional changes in the CNS leading to memory, learning and intellectual deficits. Aim: The present study was conducted to detect the fluoride, arsenic and cadmium levels in drinking water of six different locations in Egypt (Beheira Governorate), and compare the IQ levels of children aged 4.6-11years of the same locations, with fluoride levels. Materials and Methods: A cross–sectional study was conducted among 1000 children aged 4.6-11 years. From each area sample (1000 cc) of tap water was collected in clean glass. After collection of water samples, they were transmitted to laboratory in National Research Center in Cairo for the estimation of fluoride, cadmium and arsenic. IQ evaluation was done using Draw-A-Person (DAP) test. Results: Highly significant increase fluoride level in the tap water than the WHO and the Egyptian allowed level. Significant decrease in average IQ level in group of children with high fluoride level more than 1.5 mg/dl than the group of children with low fluoride level. Conclusion: Areal relationship between fluoride exposure and intelligence with the average IQ of high fluoride group was lower than those with lower fluoride level.