Although fluorinated water has benefited the population, discrepancies exist concerning the allowable concentration. Currently, the Environmental Protection Agency lists the maximum contaminant level goal at 4 mg/L and the secondary maximum contaminant level at 2 mg/L of fluoride in drinking water. It was found that even 2mg/L of fluoride in drinking water could be associated with stage 2 and 3 skeletal fluorosis. Therefore, joint stiffness and arthritis may be experienced. Reversing skeletal fl
A 47-year-old woman was referred for bone pain and abnormal findings on radiography. The patient reported that for the past 17 years, she has habitually consumed a pitcher of tea made from 100 to 150 tea bags daily (estimated fluoride intake, >20 mg per day). She reported a 5-year history of pain in the lower back, arms, legs, and hips. Because of brittleness, all her teeth had been extracted. Radiography of the forearm revealed interosseous membrane calcifications (Panel A, arrows), and radi
I. Pathological basis and X-ray signs of fluorine-associated arthropathy
Long-term uptake of excessive fluorine may cause pathological changes of bone structure and bone periphery; furthermore, animal experiments and epidemiological investigations demonstrate that fluorosis may cause necrosis, degeneration and ulceration of articular cartilage, and also cause necrosis of subchondral bones, leading to hypertrophy of synovium and joint capsule and a series of reparative changes which will resul