The effects of replacing dicalcium phosphate with Busumbu rock phosphate on performance and the mechanical properties of bone in growing chicks

Three hundred, day-old broiler chicks, with an average initial weight of 41.8 +/- 1.79 g, were used in a 15-day study (10 birds per battery cage) to characterize their performance and fluorine status when dicalcium phosphate (DCP) was replaced by Busumbu rock phosphate (BRP) as the source of phosphorus in the chicks' ration. The treatments comprised a standard ration with BRP replacing 0, 25%, 50%, 75% or 100% of DCP. Replacing DCP with BRP significantly reduced the final weight of the chicks (p < 0.01), feed intake (p < 0.01), weight gains (p < 0.01) and dry matter digestibility (p < 0.05) but increased (p < 0.05) the feed-to-gain ratio. True phosphorus absorption and the percentage of phosphorus in the tibia were not affected by increasing amounts of BRP in the diet. Increasing levels of BRP in the diet linearly reduced (p < 0.01) the percentage bone ash, calcium, Ca:P ratio, ultimate breaking force, bending moment, stress, and modulus of elasticity. Leg stiffness, lameness, reduced feed intake, and a decline in general health were recorded in 10-40% of the chicks on 75% and 100% BRP, respectively. These results suggest that excessive ingestion of fluorine from the BRP caused the reduction in the chicks' performance.

[Developmental abnormalities of mineralization in populations with varying exposure to fluorine compounds]

The aim of the study was to determine the influence of environmental factors on developmental defects of dental enamel. The examination was carried out in a group of 238 schoolchildren (group I) aged 14 to 15 years, living since birth in a region with elevated levels of chemical compounds (fluorine, ammonia, sulphur) in the atmosphere. The control group (group II) consisted of 240 schoolchildren of the same age, living in regions with normal atmospheric concentrations of these compounds. The Epidemiological Index of Developmental Defects of Dental Enamel (DDE Index), Dean fluorosis index, and DMF index were used in the clinical examination. Additionally, a questionnaire was given to parents of the examined children. It was found that the number of children and teeth with developmental defects of dental enamel was greater in group I. Significant differences between boys and girls were noticed. The most common developmental defect of dental enamel in both groups was white/creamy opacity. The next common defect was hypoplasia. The incidence of diffuse white/creamy mottling and lines was higher in the study group than in controls. This was the basic finding which differentiated the two populations studied. Both groups differed as to the Dean index. Nevertheless, a comparison of Dean and DDE indices led to inconsistent conclusions. The distribution of developmental defects of dental enamel was similar in both groups. The defects were most often found on the buccal surfaces of maxillary premolars and maxillary central incisors. Children with developmental defects of dental enamel had a significantly higher incidence of caries and elevated mean DMF, as compared to children without any abnormalities of mineralization. Similar correlations were not found in the control group. The questionnaire revealed a positive correlation between the education level of parents, standards of living, and of abnormalities mineralization in both groups of children.

[Positive and negative effects of fluorine in the human organism. The source of fluorine in the environment]

In Poland and in other countries around the world, a great number of epidemiological studies have provided evidence that fluorine contributes to decreasing the intensity of dental decay. Nevertheless, the negative effect of its overdose should not be ignored. At present, no data indicating the amount of fluorine uptake is available. A wide diversity of opinions on tolerable limits of fluorine, and its predicted dosage known as optimal, suggests a need to monitor constantly this element throughout the whole country, and not only in selected regions.

[The physiobalneological treatment of the workers in industrial enterprises suffering from osteoarthrosis taking into account their biological rhythms]

Circadian rhythms of joint pains, body temperature, pulse and arterial pressure were studied in patients with osteoarthrosis. Group 1 consisted of industrial workers exposed occupationally to fluorine, group 2 consisted of workers who had no contact with toxic substances. Optimal time for physiobalneotreatment is recommended.

[Hygienic significance of geohydrochemical features of the Moscow region]

The biochemical features of the Moscow artesian pool and the influence of water on the population's health are shown. The paper present information on the sources of the water-supply system in the town of Zelenograd whose population uses river and artesian waters. The drinking water in Zelenograd and in the populated areas of the Moscow Region contains toxic elements, such lithium, born, strontium, fluorine, barium in the quantities greater than the adopted specifications. It is stated that the presents of the above agents in the waters of the Moscow artesian pool suggests regional geochemical anomaly. Mixing artesian and river waters in Zelenograd has a positive effect, by causing a reduction in the incidence of fluorosis.

Risk factors for fractures in the elderly

We report the results of a 5-year prospective cohort study of risk factors for fractures, including drinking fluoridated water, in a cohort of 3,216 men and women aged 65 years and older. We studied risk factors for hip fracture and fractures at other locations separately. We found a higher risk of hip fractures for subjects exposed to fluorine concentrations over 0.11 mg per liter but without a dose-effect relation (odds ratio (OR) = 3.25 for a concentration of 0.11-0.25 mg per liter; OR = 2.43 for > or = 0.25 mg per liter]. For higher thresholds (0.7 and 1 mg per liter), however, the OR was less than 1. We found no association between fluorine and non-hip fractures. Non-hip fractures were associated with polymedication rather than with specific drug use, whereas fracture was associated with polymedication and use of anxiolytic and antidepressive drugs. Subjects drinking spirits every day were more likely to have hip fractures. Tobacco consumption increased the risk for non-hip fractures.

The relationship of fluorosis and brick tea drinking in Chinese Tibetans

Brick tea-drinking fluorosis is an unusual environmental problem. As a result of an investigation of tea-drinking habits, total fluoride intakes, dental fluorosis, and skeletal fluorosis, this disease has been found in the Sichuan Province of China in Tibetans with a long history of drinking brick tea. The dental fluorosis investigation of 375 Tibetan children (213 males, 162 females) and 161 Han children (86 males, 75 females), 8-15 years of age, was carried out in Daofu County, Sichuan Province. According to the standard of the Chinese Health Ministry, a skeletal fluorosis survey of 658 Tibetans (264 males, 394 females) and 41 Hans (20 males, 11 females), all over 16 years old, was performed. The total fluoride intake and fluorosis were determined from a question--calculation method in all participants. The morbidities of dental fluorosis in Tibetan and Han children are 51.2% and 11.05%, respectively, and the indexes of dental fluorosis are 1.33 and 0.17 (chi 2 = 75.7, p < 0.01) respectively. The morbidity of skeletal fluorosis is 32.83% for Tibetan children and zero for the Han children. The fluoride intakes of Tibetan children and adults were 5.49 mg/person/day and 10.43 mg/person/day, respectively, in this area. Of total everyday fluoride intake, 94.2% by children and 94.4% by adults was from brick tea and zanba (r = 0.99).

[Caries prevalence in preschool children in industrial cities]

Caries incidence was analyzed in preschool children attending kindergartens living in two industrial towns differing by the level and specific features of air pollution and by fluorine levels in potable water. Caries incidence was found to be higher in a ferrous metallurgy center with very low (0.1 to 0.3 ml/l) fluorine levels in potable water. Passive smoking factor was found to contribute to development of caries in children, particularly so in girls. Motor car transport effects on caries development in children were not confirmed. Recommendations on reduction of caries development intensity are suggested.

[The effect of fluorine on the developing human brain]

Fifteen therapeutically aborted fetuses at the 5th-8th gestation month from the endemic fluorosis area were compared with those from the non-endemic area. Stereological study of the brains showed that the numerical density of volume of the neurons and the undifferentiated neuroblasts as well as the nucleus-cytoplasm ratio of the neurons were increased. The mean volume of the neurons was reduced. The numerical density of volume, the volume density and the surface density of the mitochondria were significantly reduced. The results showed that chronic fluorosis in the course of intrauterine fetal life may produce certain harmful effects on the developing brain of the fetus.

[Stress fractures during fluoride therapy. Physiopathological value of histomorphometry]

Bone histomorphometry was carried out in 11 women, aged 53 to 80 (mean = 69.6), treated with fluoride for vertebral osteoporosis for more than 6 months and having suffered one or more stress fractures (1 to 4 sites, mean = 1.7 sites) during that time. Classical contraindications were complied with in all cases but 2 patients did not have any combined calcium supplement. In 6 cases, histomorphometry showed no sign (notably hyperosteoidosis) of the effects of fluoride on bone. Bone trabecular volume was markedly below the fracture threshold in 4 patients. This group refractory to fluoride included the two patients who had received no calcium supplement. In 5 cases, histomorphometry showed hyperosteoidosis of normal or low thickness, with a normal mineralisation rate, reflecting the effects of fluoride on bone. However, bone trabecular volume remained below the fracture threshold in all cases. In all 11 cases, bone structure studied in polarised light was lamellar and there was no increase in cortical porosity. These results suggest that the imputability to fluoride of peripheral bone accidents must be viewed very relatively (the persistence of an insufficient bone trabecular volume being the feature usually found) or, at any event, that its possible iatrogenic effect is not linked to bone remoulding abnormalities.

[Pseudofluorosis: psychologic aspects of environmental pollution]

A middle-aged woman who had been living in close surroundings of a fluorine-emitting factory for many years, was examined because she claimed to be suffering from skeletal fluorosis. Radiological, histological and laboratory findings did not give evidence of fluorosis. Fluoride concentrations were normal in samples of blood, bone, pooled urine, nails and hair. Even this proof to the contrary did not shake her conviction of many years that she was suffering from fluorosis. Thus, psychological aspects have to be considered in the assessment of health implications of pollutants.

[Evaluation of the visual system in people having extended contact with fluorine]

Presented are the results of examination of 75 men, workers of the Chemical Works in Police, in whom in the scheme of complex clinical examinations detailed ophthalmological examinations have been carried out. The period of a professional contact with fluor amounted 6-15 years. The examined persons showed a variety of changes; the most important were opacities of the lens capsule, attenuation of the retinal arteries and a pathological record of the ERG.

[Action of the body fluorine of healthy persons and thyroidopathy patients on the function of hypophyseal-thyroid the system]

Altogether 123 persons were examined: 47 healthy persons, 43 patients with thyroid hyperfunction and 33 with thyroid hypofunction. It was established that prolonged consumption of drinking water with a raised fluorine content (122 +/- 5 mumol/l with the normal value of 52 +/- 5 mumol/l) by healthy persons caused tension of function of the pituitary-thyroid system that was expressed in TSH elevated production, a decrease in the T3 concentration and more intense absorption of radioactive iodine by the thyroid as compared to healthy persons who consumed drinking water with the normal fluorine concentration. The results led to a conclusion that excess of fluorine in drinking water was a risk factor of more rapid development of thyroid pathology. Indicators of the fluorine content in daily urine provide most of the information on changes of the fluorine amount in the body.

Fluorine and thyroid gland function: a review of the literature

The increasing use of fluoride for prevention of dental caries poses the problem as to whether this halogen has antagonistic properties towards iodine, whereby it could hamper the success of iodine prophylaxis of endemic goitre. Review of the literature shows that some authors have found an inhibition by fluoride of various steps of thyroid hormone biosynthesis in animal experiments. By and large, the inhibition was only slight and it was elicited only with fluoride doses greatly in excess of those recommended for caries prevention. The inhibition was not consistently present and other authors could not confirm it in comparable experiments. There is no convincing evidence that fluoride produces true goitres with epithelial hyperplasia in experimental animals. There are some reports based on casual observations that fluoride is goitrogenic in man. On the other hand, several good studies with adequate exposed and control populations failed to detect any goitrogenic effect of fluoride in man. It is noteworthy in particular that fluoride does not potentiate the consequences of iodine deficiency in populations with a borderline or low iodine intake. Published data failed to support the view that fluoride, in doses recommended for caries prevention, adversely affects the thyroid.