Determination of Fluoride and Some Metal Ion Levels in the Drinking Waters in Kayseri Province

Fluorine is one of the most common elements in the Earth’s crust. Fluoride is recognized to be the most effective caries-preventive agent. The main sources of fluoride for people are generally food and drinking water. For this reason, the fluoride and also the metal ion (Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb and Zn) concentrations in the drinking waters collected from the city center of Kayseri and its counties were investigated. In the determination of fluoride and of Na and K, an ion-meter with a combination-fluoride electrode and a flame photometer were used, respectively. The levels of Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Pb in the drinking waters were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) utilizing the method optimized previously, except for the Ca, Mg and Zn contents, which were measured directly by FAAS. According to the results obtained, the metal ion concentrations in the drinking waters in the studied area are within the safe drinking water regulation limits (TS 266) and also the fluoride levels (as mean 0.17 mg L−1) are lower than the permissible limit for fluoride (0.8-1.7 mg L−1).