Abstract

Cytogenetic analysis was carried out on human lymphocytes of 73 fluorosis-affected men from the endemic fluorosis region in Nalgonda district of Andhra Pradesh, India, who were drinking water with a mean concentration of fluoride (F) of 4.13± 0.55 mg/L, range 1.56–8. 36 mg/L. Eighty healthy men, of a similar age living near the endemic fluorosis area,drinking water with <1 mg F/L were selected as controls. The conventional cytogenetic protocols for detecting chromosomal aberrations (CA) and sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) were performed. More CA were present in the subjects from the endemic fluorosis region, 3.57±0.27%, compared to the controls, 0.68± 0.09% (p<0.01). Similarly, more SCE were present in the subjects from the endemic fluorosis region, mean 8.96±0.68 SCE/cell, compared to the controls, mean 3.58 ± 0. 67 SCE/cell (p<0.001). This indicates that F acts as a mutagen inducing chromosomal
damage in fluorosis-affected men.

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