Abstract

The results of analyses of the mineral content of drinking water from three Indian villages with endemic fluorosis surveyed for the incidence of thyroid enlargement are reported.

With the possible exception of temporary thyroid enlargement encountered in pubertal subjects (type b), no relation was found between the incidence of endemic goiter and the fluorine in the water supply.

Excerpt:

With regard to the slight and temporary enlargement of the thyroid encountered in the age group 14-17 (type b), detailed scrutiny of the data . . . reveals that with a fall in mean fluorine content of the water from 10.7 mg/l in Kamaguda to 5.4 mg/l in Yellareddyguda, there was a corresponding progressive fall in the incidence of pubertal goiters from 40% in Kamaguda to 9% in Yellareddyguda, However, associated with the fall in fluorine content there was also a rise in mean iodine of the water. The figures can be interpreted to indicate that, so far as type b goiters are concerned, (1) fluorine may be actually goitrogenic, and (2) high concentrations of iodine may have a goiter-preventing effect. Investigations in other areas, where the variations in fluorine content are not associated with variations in iodine content of the type encountered here, may throw light on this particular problem.

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