Abstract

Chronic fluoride intoxication in the form of dental and skeletal fluorosis was surveyed in five villages of the Palamau district, Jharkhand, India. Out of 238 sources of drinking water, mainly from groundwater, the majority had elevated fluoride concentrations capable of causing health risk to the community. In one water source a concentration of 12 mg F/L was observed. Dietary intake of fluoride through food, however, was much less significant compared with drinking water. Among the children, 83% were diagnosed with dental fluorosis, and 47% of adults were afflicted with various stages of skeletal fluorosis. A level of 2.5 mg F/L was found to be a critical threshold for manifestations of crippling skeletal fluorosis. Household defluoridation along with improved nutrition rich in calcium is recommended for amelioration of fluorosis in these villages.

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