Similarities in the fingerprints of coal mining activities, high ground water fluoride, and dental fluorosis in Zarand district, Kerman province, Iran

Abstract

In the present study, in Zarand district, Kerman province, Iran, we used a Geological Information System (GIS) to explore the relationship between the situation of coal mines, the drainage patterns, the topographic state of the district, the presence increased fluoride levels in ground water, and the prevalence of dental fluorosis. We found a strong relationship to be present between coal mining activities, high groundwater fluoride, and dental fluorosis with similarities in the spatial distributions, or fingerprints, of these parameters.