Effectsoffluorideaerosolinhalationonmice.docVIP

EFFECTS OF FLUORIDE AEROSOL INHALATION ON MICE Xue-Qing Chen,a,b Kazuhiko Machidab and Mitsuru AndoaTsukuba, Japan SUMMARY: The effects of fluoride aerosol inhalation on mice were studied using an inhalation chamber. Five-week-old male ICR mice were exposed to airborne fluoride (13.3 mgF/m3) 4 hr per day for 10, 20 or 30 days. Significant differences in relative lung weight were observed between the exposed groups and the control. No significant changes were found in relative kidney weight and body weight of the exposed mice. Bone fluoride retention and urinary fluoride excretion increased with exposure time. Keywords: Airborne fluoride, Fluoride aerosol, Fluoride-exposed mice, Fluoride inhalation. INTRODUCTION Overexposure to fluoride causes toxicity in animals and humans. Excessive fluoride exposure during the period of tooth development may result in defective tooth formation, and intake of elevated levels of fluoride over prolonged periods of time may result in skeletal fluorosis. Drinking water containing high concentrations of fluoride is the major cause of dental fluorosis and skeletal fluorosis. In some areas of the world, e.g., China and India, there are a large number of people with dental fluorosis and skeletal fluorosis caused by drinking water containing high levels of fluoride.1-4 Fluoride is also found in a wide range of concentrations in coal, a main fuel energy source for industrial and domestic processes in China. In some districts, especially in rural areas, coal containing high concentrations of fluoride is used for cooking and crop drying. Indoor burning of coal for cooking and crop drying with poor ventilation results in indoor air pollution.5-7 In 1997, it was reported that there were 16.5 million people with dental fluorosis and 1.08 million people with skeletal fluorosis in endemic areas of coal burning in China.8 Although effects of occupational fluoride exposure on humans have been reported, there is limited information about the effects