Abstract
Fluoride is a naturally occurring trace element whose health effect of essentiality and toxicity in humans still remains controversial. Its compounds are extraordinary high strategic chemicals with unique physico-chemical properties that make them indispensable in recent high technology industries. Thus, fluoride related health problems appear in various situations of our clinical, nutritional, industrial and environmental activities.
In the past 15 years, the author's group analyzed fluoride concentrations of fluid samples obtained from healthy adults, patients undergoing hemodialysis, fluoride-exposed animal models, workers suffered hydrofluoric acid exposure, commercial bottled mineral water and groundwater by means of a fluoride ion selective electrode.
This review article describes urinary fluoride reference value, insufficient fluoride removal during dialysis session, fluoride induced renal toxicity, occupational fluoride exposure, fluoride content in commercial bottled water and endemic dental fluorosis in India including recent work from the first author's laboratory. In addition, the article discusses the potential health risk of fluoride, particularly in industrial workers, young children and elderly people.
