Levels of fluoride in bottled soft drinks marketed in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to determine the levels of fluoride in soft drinks (Coca Cola, Pepsi, Mirinda, Fanta and Sprite) marketed and widely consumed in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Three glass-bottled and three plastic-bottled soft drink samples from each brand were purchased randomly from Arat Kilo, Shiromeda and Shola supermarkets, kiosk and tea houses in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Levels of fluoride in the soft drink samples were determined by fluoride ion selective electrode. The method was validated by spiking test which provided percentage recoveries of fluoride in the soft drinks in the range 91-96%. The mean fluoride concentration (mg/L) in the glass-bottled and plastic-bottled soft drink samples, respectively, were: Coca Cola (0.03±0.01, 0.06±0.01), Pepsi (0.23±0.01, 0.10±0.01), Mirinda (0.21±0.02, 0.09±0.01), Fanta (0.03±0.01, 0.05±0.01) and Sprite (0.04±0.01, 0.27±0.01). Pearson correlation showed that the levels of fluoride in the soft drinks were found to correlate positively with each other, which indicates similar source of main component (the water used for dilution). The low levels of fluoride in the soft drinks may not impose health risk in the adults but excessive consumption of soft drinks regularly by the children may result in dental fluorosis.

KEY WORDS: Fluoride, Coca cola, Pepsi, Mirinda, Fanta, Sprite

Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2019, 33(2), 203-213.

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v33i2.2