INVESTIGATION OF THE FLUORIDE CONTENT OF EDIBLE SALT AND THE FLUORIDE INTAKE FROM EDIBLE SALT CONSUMPTION IN IRAN

In order to estimate the fluoride ion (F) content of edible salt and the F intake from edible salt consumption in Iran, the F content was measured in 37 brands of edible salt consumed in Iran. The F analysis was made by the standard SPADNS method using a Spectrophotometer DR/5000s (HACH Company, USA). The mean F level of the edible salt was 0.0424 +/- 0.012 mg F/g of salt, with a range of 0.020-0.066 mg F/g salt. Based on an estimated mean salt intake in Iran of 9.9 +/- 2.9 g/day/person, the mean daily F intake from edible salt was calculated to be 0.420 mg F/day, range 0.212-0.696 mg F/day. After considering the daily salt intake and the levels of F in the drinking water in three provinces in Iran, Gilan, Mazandaran, and Ilam, the total daily intake of F from edible salt and drinking water for adults in these provinces was found to have a range of 0.96-1.21 mg F/day.