Text in Afrikaans / Die tydruimtelike variasie in die fluoriedinhoud vannatuurlike drinkwater en in die voorkoms van tandfluorose, die verband tussen hierdie veranderlikes asook hulle kovariasie is op 'n hoe resolusievlak in geselekteerde endemiese gebiede ondersoek. Die drie studiegebiede verskil grootliks van mekaar wat sommige fisies- en menslik-geografiese kenmerke betref, maar ondergrondse water was oral die belangrikste bron van drinkwater. Ioonspesifieke analise en laboratoriumtegnieke is gebruik om die fluoriedinhoud van die drinkwater uit 517 bronne te bepaal. Die tande van 3 068 kinders is klinies en fotografies ondersoek. Die erkende Tooth Fluorosis Index en die indeks van Dean is gebruik om die voorkoms van fluorose te beskryf. Grafiese tegnieke, beskrywende statistieke en nieparametriese analise van variansietoetse is gebruik om die voorkoms en tydruimtelike variasiepatrone van die sleutelveranderlikes in elke studiegebied, asook die verskillende ruimtelike eenhede binne die studiegebiede, te beskryf. Die verband tussen die sleutelveranderlikes asook hul intra- en interareale kovariasie is ontleed. Daar is gevind dat die fluoriedinhoud van die ondergrondse water in die Pilanesberg- en Hammanskraal-studiegebied relatief hoog tot hoog is en die in die Vrystaat-studiegebied relatief laag. Ruimtelike veranderlikheid met groot verskille oor klein afstande kenmerk die fluoriedinhoud van ondergrondse water ongeag die gesteentes waaruit dit onttrek word. Middelwaardes bied ontoereikende beskrywings van die fluoriedgehalte van die drinkwater. Die skep van nuwe drinkwaterbronne veroorsaak langtermynvariasie in die fluoriedinhoud van die beskikbare drinkwater. Fluoroseprevalensie in die studiegebiede bet van 62% tot 87% gewissel, met meer ernstige aantasting in die Pilanesberg- en Hammanskraal-gebied as in die Suid-Vrystaat. Beduidende intra-areale ruimtelike variasie is 'n wesenlike kenmerk van die voorkoms van fluorose in al drie studiegebiede. In alle gevalle het die variasiepatroon in die fluoriedinhoud van die drinkwater die in die voorkoms van fluorose slegs gedeeltelik verklaar. Sporadiese en/of periodieke kortstondige blootstelling aan hoe fluoriedkonsentrasies lei tot emstige aantasting ten spyte van die gereelde gebruik van water met 'n laefluoriedinhoud. Ligte fluorose ontwikkel geredelik in assosiasie met <0,5 mgF-/l en matige fluorose in assossiasie met 0,5-0,7 mgF-/l, die optimum konsentrasieinterval vir fluoridasie in Suid-Afrika. / The spatiotemporal variation in the fluoride content of natural drinking water and the occurrence of dental fluorosis, the relation between these variables as well as their covariation were investigated at a high resolution level in selected endemic areas. Groundwater was the most important source of drinking water in all three study areas, but they differed markedly in respect of some physical and human geographical characteristics. Ion specific analysis and laboratory techniques were used to determine the fluoride content of the water from 517 sources. The teeth of 3 068 children were examined clinically and photographically. The fluorosis was scored according to the Tooth Fluorosis Index and Dean's classification. Graphical techniques, descriptive statistics and nonparametric analysis of variance were used to describe the occurrence and variation patterns of the key variables in the different spatial units is each study area. The relation between the variables as well as their intra and interareal covariation were analysed. The fluoride content of the groundwater in the Pilanesberg and Hammanskraal areas was relatively high to high; in the southern Free State it was relatively low. Spatial variability and significant differences over small distances typify the fluoride content of the groundwater, irrespective of the aquifer. Central statistics inadequately describe the fluoride quality of the natural drinking water. The development of new water sources causes long term variation in the fluoride content of the available drinking water. Fluorosis prevalence varied form 62% to 87%, with more severe fluorosis in Pilanesberg and Hammanskraal than in the southern Free State. Significant intra-areal spatial variation is an attribute of fluorosis in all three study areas. In all cases the variation pattern in the fluoride content of the drinking water partly explained the spatial pattern in the occurrence of fluorosis. Sporadic and/or periodic brief exposure to high fluoride concentrations leads to severe fluorosis despite regul~ usage of water with a low fluoride content. Mild fluorosis readily develops in association with <0,5 mgF-1~ and medium fluorosis in association with 0,5-0,7 mgF-/l, the optimum concentration interval for fluoridation in South Africa. / Geography / D. Phil. (Geografie)

Text in Afrikaans / Die tydruimtelike variasie in die fluoriedinhoud vannatuurlike drinkwater en in die voorkoms van tandfluorose, die verband tussen hierdie veranderlikes asook hulle kovariasie is op 'n hoe resolusievlak in geselekteerde endemiese gebiede ondersoek. Die drie studiegebiede verskil grootliks van mekaar wat sommige fisies- en menslik-geografiese kenmerke betref, maar ondergrondse water was oral die belangrikste bron van drinkwater. Ioonspesifieke analise en laboratoriumtegnieke is gebruik om die fluoriedinhoud van die drinkwater uit 517 bronne te bepaal. Die tande van 3 068 kinders is klinies en fotografies ondersoek. Die erkende Tooth Fluorosis Index en die indeks van Dean is gebruik om die voorkoms van fluorose te beskryf. Grafiese tegnieke, beskrywende statistieke en nieparametriese analise van variansietoetse is gebruik om die voorkoms en tydruimtelike variasiepatrone van die sleutelveranderlikes in elke studiegebied, asook die verskillende ruimtelike eenhede binne die studiegebiede, te beskryf. Die verband tussen die sleutelveranderlikes asook hul intra- en interareale kovariasie is ontleed. Daar is gevind dat die fluoriedinhoud van die ondergrondse water in die Pilanesberg- en Hammanskraal-studiegebied relatief hoog tot hoog is en die in die Vrystaat-studiegebied relatief laag. Ruimtelike veranderlikheid met groot verskille oor klein afstande kenmerk die fluoriedinhoud van ondergrondse water ongeag die gesteentes waaruit dit onttrek word. Middelwaardes bied ontoereikende beskrywings van die fluoriedgehalte van die drinkwater. Die skep van nuwe drinkwaterbronne veroorsaak langtermynvariasie in die fluoriedinhoud van die beskikbare drinkwater. Fluoroseprevalensie in die studiegebiede bet van 62% tot 87% gewissel, met meer ernstige aantasting in die Pilanesberg- en Hammanskraal-gebied as in die Suid-Vrystaat. Beduidende intra-areale ruimtelike variasie is 'n wesenlike kenmerk van die voorkoms van fluorose in al drie studiegebiede. In alle gevalle het die variasiepatroon in die fluoriedinhoud van die drinkwater die in die voorkoms van fluorose slegs gedeeltelik verklaar. Sporadiese en/of periodieke kortstondige blootstelling aan hoe fluoriedkonsentrasies lei tot emstige aantasting ten spyte van die gereelde gebruik van water met 'n laefluoriedinhoud. Ligte fluorose ontwikkel geredelik in assosiasie met <0,5 mgF-/l en matige fluorose in assossiasie met 0,5-0,7 mgF-/l, die optimum konsentrasieinterval vir fluoridasie in Suid-Afrika. / The spatiotemporal variation in the fluoride content of natural drinking water and the occurrence of dental fluorosis, the relation between these variables as well as their covariation were investigated at a high resolution level in selected endemic areas. Groundwater was the most important source of drinking water in all three study areas, but they differed markedly in respect of some physical and human geographical characteristics. Ion specific analysis and laboratory techniques were used to determine the fluoride content of the water from 517 sources. The teeth of 3 068 children were examined clinically and photographically. The fluorosis was scored according to the Tooth Fluorosis Index and Dean's classification. Graphical techniques, descriptive statistics and nonparametric analysis of variance were used to describe the occurrence and variation patterns of the key variables in the different spatial units is each study area. The relation between the variables as well as their intra and interareal covariation were analysed. The fluoride content of the groundwater in the Pilanesberg and Hammanskraal areas was relatively high to high; in the southern Free State it was relatively low. Spatial variability and significant differences over small distances typify the fluoride content of the groundwater, irrespective of the aquifer. Central statistics inadequately describe the fluoride quality of the natural drinking water. The development of new water sources causes long term variation in the fluoride content of the available drinking water. Fluorosis prevalence varied form 62% to 87%, with more severe fluorosis in Pilanesberg and Hammanskraal than in the southern Free State. Significant intra-areal spatial variation is an attribute of fluorosis in all three study areas. In all cases the variation pattern in the fluoride content of the drinking water partly explained the spatial pattern in the occurrence of fluorosis. Sporadic and/or periodic brief exposure to high fluoride concentrations leads to severe fluorosis despite regul~ usage of water with a low fluoride content. Mild fluorosis readily develops in association with <0,5 mgF-1~ and medium fluorosis in association with 0,5-0,7 mgF-/l, the optimum concentration interval for fluoridation in South Africa. / Geography / D. Phil. (Geografie)