Abstract
Objective
To investigate the effect of coal-burning endemic fluorosis on children’s physical development and intellectual level so as to provide data support for the protection of children’s healthy growth in fluorosis areas.
Methods
Ninety children with coal-burning endemic fluorosis were selected for the study, which were divided into heavy fluorosis area group, middle fluorosis area group and light disease area group. 30 children in each group. Another 30 children were selected from non-fluorosis areas as normal group. The index of physical development and intellectual level of each group were compared.
Results
Dental fluorosis and urinary fluoride concentration of fluorosis area groups were higher than that of normal group (P<0.05); index of height, weight and vital capacity in normal group children’s was significantly better than that of other 3 groups (P<0.050); intelligence quotient (IQ) index in fluorosis groups was lower than that of normal group (P<0.05).
Conclusion
The coal-burning endemic fluorosis may have a serious impact on children’s physical growth and intellectual level, active preventive measures should be attached to protect children’s health.
Excerpt:
3 Discussion
Along with more thorough research on coal-burning endemic fluorosis, it has been discovered that fluorine not only causes significant damage to hard tissue such as bones and teeth, but it can also cause varying damage on soft tissue such as the central nervous system.
In this article, we first compared the differences in dental fluorosis and urine fluoride concentration between children in different coal-burning endemic fluorosis areas. We found that the severe endemic area group, the moderate endemic area group, and the mild endemic area group all had higher dental fluorosis and urine fluoride concentration compared to the normal group (P<0.05). Also, dental fluorosis and urine fluoride concentration were positively correlated, indicating that the more severe the endemic fluorosis, the higher the dental fluorosis and urine fluoride level was. This is consistent with what is found by most research scholars. In addition, comparing the physical development-related indexes between the children in different groups, we found that the heights, weights, and lung capacities of children in the normal group were significantly better than those in severe endemic areas, moderate endemic areas, and mild endemic areas (P<0.05). The children in the severe endemic area had the lowest heights, weights, and lung capacities (P<0.01). However, the differences between the chest circumferences of the groups were not statistically significant (P>0.05). This indicates that the physical development of children in coal-burning endemic fluorosis areas is severely impaired. Finally, by comparing the intelligence between the children in different groups, we found that the children in the severe endemic area group, the moderate endemic area group, and the mild endemic area group all had lower intelligence quotients compared to the control group (P<0.05), with the children in severe endemic areas having the lowest intelligence quotients (P<0.01). These results reflect the significant damage that coal-burning endemic fluorosis has on the intelligence development of children, and that child intelligence quotient and degree of fluorosis are negatively correlated.
In summary of the above, coal-burning endemic fluorosis can severely affect the physical development and intelligence of children. We should pay close attention to health service and be aggressive in the prevention and treatment of coal-burning endemic fluorosis, which will help further push forward continuous progress in society and the economy.
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