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تسجيل

Fluoride

المؤلف:  Sue Jickells , Adam Negrusz (Editors)

المصدر:  Clarkes Analytical Forensic Toxicology

الجزء والصفحة:  112

2026-09-24

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Fluoride

Fluoride is present in variable amounts in the soil and natural water supplies. It is also found in almost all plant and animal food products, and is regarded as an essential trace element. Fluoride salts may also be added to domestic water supplies as a prophylaxis against dental caries, generally at a concentration of 1 mg/L where the ‘natural’ water content is low. Fluoride compounds are available in tablet form to prevent dental decay in infants and children. They are also prescribed in the treatment of osteoporosis and other bone disorders. Inorganic salts of fluoride have widespread use in industry, for example in smelting aluminium, and are also applied as insecticides and rodenticides. Fluoride is an effective enzyme inhibitor that has found extensive use in the preservation of biological specimens. The highly corrosive hydrofluoric acid is also used industrially. Both acute and chronic poisoning caused by the ingestion of fluoride compounds have been well documented. Signs and symptoms of acute fluoride poisoning include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and paraesthesia. Reference ranges for serum, blood and urine vary widely, depending on dietary intake, access to fluoridated water and the use of fluoridated dental products. Reference ranges of 6–42 lg/L in serum, 20–60 lg/L in blood and 0.2–3.2 mg/L in urine have been reported. In fatalities, fluor ide concentrations of 2.6–56 mg/L in blood and 17–320 mg/L in urine have been measured.