Abstract

Fluorosis in China has been known to be induced by two main causes. One is water-dependent fluorosis caused by a long-time consumption of high-fluoride (F) containing water. The other is called “coal-burning type fluorosis”, caused by inhalation of air polluted by coal smoke and/or ingestion of food exposed to coal smoke. We conducted a study on a group of Tibetan residents who regularly consumed brick tea containing high F levels. Many of the adults and children were found to be afflicted by fluorosis. Our results led us to present a third type of fluorosis in China called “brick tea type fluorosis”.

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