Risks of Exposure to Contaminant Fluoride among Lactating Mothers and Children (0-24 Months) in Ngarenanyuki Communities in Northern Tanzania
| dc.contributor.author | Memba, Lucia | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-01-30T15:10:13Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2025-07 | |
| dc.description | SDG: 3- Good Health and Well-Being SDG: 6- Clean Water and Sanitation | |
| dc.description.abstract | This study revealed important information on fluoride contamination of agricultural produce, water, cow and human breast milk, and excretion through urine. Risks of exposure to contaminant fluoride among children and lactating mothers were investigated. Structured questionnaires and 24-hour dietary recall was used to estimate dietary intake. Samples were collected and analyzed for fluoride contents. In all samples, fluoride concentration was determined by using a fluoride ion-selective electrode. Univariate logistic regression analysis was used to correlate dietary fluoride exposure and urinary fluoride excretions in children and breast milk fluoride excretion in lactating mothers. Results identified maize (21.7%), African nightshade (18.4%), and East African highland banana (15.2%) as the most consumed food crops among lactating mothers; cow’s milk (2.7%) for children aged 6 months, and maize for children aged 7-24 months (9.2%-22.5%). Fluoride mean concentration levels in maize were (0.03±0.01 mg/kg), nightshade (0.081±0.004 mg/kg), East African highland banana (0.025±0.002 mg/kg), domestic water (4.57±0.21 mg/L), public tap water (4.74±0.6 mg/L), cow’s milk (0.34±0.18 mg/L), and human breast milk (0.077±0.03 mg/L). Both domestic water and human milk fluoride levels exceeded WHO safe standards of 1.5 mg/L and 0.002 mg/L, respectively. Dietary exposure among children was found ranged from 0.7±0.02 to 15.60±6.53 mg/kg bw/day, with food crops contributing 62.16%. Lactating mothers’ exposure ranged from 0.621±0.09 to 88.12±25.2 mg/kg bw/day, with food crops contributing 60.3%. The studied population was exposed to dietary fluoride above the safe levels of 0.01 and 0.05 to 0.07 mg/kg/day by WHO for infants and adults, respectively. Biomarkers of fluoride exposure showed urinary fluoride excretion in children averaged 8.82±1.25 mg/L, with exposure increasing with age (p=0.003), and no significant gender differences (p=0.97). Positive correlations were observed between urinary fluoride excretion and consumption of cow's milk (ρ= 2.3, p<0.0000) and East African highland banana (ρ=-2.5, p<0.0001) in children, and between breast milk fluoride excretion and consumption of cow’s milk (ρ=0.027, p=0.0001), maize (ρ=0.00022, p=0.02), and tap water (ρ=-0.0002, p=0.001) in lactating mothers. The study concludes with recommendations for comprehensive research across seasons, diverse food crops, other exposure routes, and detailed biomarker assessments to fully understand the risks associated with fluoride exposure. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://dspace.nm-aist.ac.tz/handle/123456789/3666 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | NM-AIST | |
| dc.title | Risks of Exposure to Contaminant Fluoride among Lactating Mothers and Children (0-24 Months) in Ngarenanyuki Communities in Northern Tanzania | |
| dc.type | Thesis |