Fluorides as an Indicator of Physiological Completeness of Mineral Composition of Drinking Waters of Separate Regions of Ukraine

Abstract

More than 80% of human diseases are related to the drinking water quality. In Ukraine, up to 80% of surface water bodies, according to official data, are unsuitable as sources of drinking water. A significant part of groundwater is supplied to consumers with significant deviations from quality standards. The urgency of the work is due to the need to assess the physiological value of the mineral composition of drinking water in some regions of Ukraine, in particular the content of fluoride in surface and groundwater sources. The paper evaluated the level of fluoride balance as a possible factor influencing the health of the population of certain regions of Ukraine. In Ukraine, there are four main geochemical regions in terms of fluoride content in drinking water (from very low concentrations of fluoride to high content). On the example of Odessa and Poltava regions, it was noted that the foci of endemic pathology are usually concentrated in the area of development of adverse natural or man-made processes. Both deficiency and excess of fluorides are important factors in shaping the health of the population, which determines the rationale for fluoridation or fluoridation of drinking water. Depending on the components of the environmental risk of high or low fluoride content, comprehensive caries and fluorosis prevention schemes were also recommended.