FLUOROSIS AND ARSENICOSIS-AN UPDATE

Fluoride is a component of human and animal tissue developed mostly on bones and teeth. While fluoride in very limited quantities is desirable for the healthy growth of bones and teeth in human beings, it would have toxic effects if present in excess quantities in waters and foods. This toxicity would be reflected as a disease called fluorosis. Ever since Eager, in 1901, reported ‘mottled enamel of teeth’ among the emigrants from Pozzuli, Italy, such reports came from many other parts in the world(viz.USA,China,W.I,Spain,Mexico,some countries in N.Africa and S.America etc.), and this disorder was observed in children drinking high-fluoride water. If fluoride content is around 1.5 mg/l and 2.5 mg/l, mild dental fluorosis/mottling (later renamed as “Dental Fluorosis”) may develop. If the fluoride content of drinking water is more than 2.5 mg/l, a severe type of fluorosis, skeletal-/osteo-fluorosis, may develop, among adults under Indian conditions,affecting bones and joints. The work of several investigators has revealed that fluorosis spreads now among 67 million people, in the entire arid and semi-arid tracts of India. In the present report, an attempt has been made to review the status of fluorosis(dental and skeletal), and solving the problem in a cost-effective way.

Arsenicosis due to drinking of arsenic contaminated groundwater is a major health hazard throughout the world including India. Arsenic contamination in water has been reported from more than 30 countries in the world. It is estimated that arsenicosis spreads over 25 million people in Bangladesh, and 6 million in West Bengal of India. The minimum arsenic concentration in drinking water producing dermatologic disease is found to be 0.0103mg/l. Dermal lesions such as hyperkeratosis and hyperpigmentation over palms and soles are the diagnostic features of chronic arsenicosis. Chronic arsenic toxicity leads to cancers of skin, liver, lungs, kidney and bladder. Geochemical research revealed that arsenic may be released from both reductive dissolution of Fe and Mn hydroxide and microbial oxidation of organic matter.Some remedial measures have been suggested to control and contain the problem of arsenicosis.