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Fluoride concentrations in the human placenta and maternal and cord blood
| American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology | Shen YW, Taves DR. | 119(2):205-207.
Placental transfer Age Blood Serum-F Susceptible Populations Tissue F Levels Total Body Burden Human Study

Abstract

Fluoride concentrations in maternal and cord blood were measured for the first time with a method specific for inorganic fluoride. The concentrations averaged 0.88 ?M in blood from 16 mothers and 0.68 ?M in the cord blood, with a correlation of 0.86. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that fluoride diffuses passively across the placenta. The term placenta, as previously reported, can have much higher concentrations (average 50 ?M), but the acid-stable organic fluoride averaged only 4 ?M, which is similar to the valves found in human sera.

• Supported in part by Grant No. 1-P11-GM-15190 from the National Institutes of Health.

• This paper is taken from a thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Master of Science degree. (Y.-W. Shen.)

• Present address: Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois.