Prediction of Embryotoxicity by Four Kinds of Fluorine Compounds Based on Embryonic Stem Cell Test (EST) Protocol

Abstract

The safety of fluoride use to prevent dental caries has been controversial. To clarify the risk of embryotoxicity of fluoride influencing human fetuses/newborns, we investigated the embryotoxicity levels of 4 fluorides (NaF, KF, SnF₂, and CuF₂) using the EST method, which is an in vitro embryotoxicity screening test developed by Spielmann et al. in 1997. Of the fluorides, NaF and SnF₂ are used to prevent dental caries in Japan. All substances were "non-embryotoxic", but SnF₂ and CuF₂ were close to the borderline of "weak embryotoxic". Since many young people use fluoride to prevent dental caries, further investigation of the embryotoxicity of fluorine is desired.