Zoning of fluoride concentration in drinking water of Hamadan province using geographic information system (GIS)

Drinking water the primary source of fluoride essential for bodily requirements. Its appropriate concentration health as a preventive measure against caries. Consequently, this study aims to ascertain the spatiotemporal variations in fluoride concentration within the drinking water of Hamadan province through the utilization of a Geographic Information System (GIS).

The present research is a descriptive-analytical investigation conducted across nine cities within Hamadan province in 2019.Data about the fluoride on concentrations in the drinking water of Hamadan province were obtained from the Health Vice-Chancellor of Hamadan University of Medical Sciences. ArcGIS version 10/.8 software was employed to elucidate the spatial and temporal fluctuations in fluoride ion concentration, while SPSS version 16 software was utilized for data. analysis. A significance level of 0.05 was considered across all tests.

The study findings revealed that the highest annual fluoride concentration was observed in Kabudarahang city (0.98 ± 0.38 mg/l), whereas the lowest annual average was recorded in Tuyserkan city (0.58 ± 0.35 mg/l). Overall, the mean fluoride concentration in the latter half of the year (0.77 ± 0.42 mg/liter) was slightly higher than in the first half of the year (0.71 ± 0.43 mg/liter). Nevertheless, this discrepancy did not reach statistical significance (p>0.05). 

The outcomes of this investigation demonstrate that, on the whole, the average fluoride concentration throughout all regions of Hamadan province falls within the optimal range thereby averting potential risks associated with excessive or substandard fluoride levels for consumers.