Bone and joint pathology in fluoride-exposed workers.
Clinical and radiological investigations were performed for 2,258 aluminum workers exposed to fluoride for an average of 17.6 yr (standard deviation = 7.6). Changes in bone and joints were presented in detail in three groups: (1) exposed up to 5 yr (135 cases), (2) exposed from 6-32 yr (1,463 cases), and (3) retired workers (660 cases). A semiquantitative assessment of early fluorosis was introduced. A 20.2% incidence of fluorosis was found, but, according to Roholm, only 1.05% was in stage I. The disease was mainly in the pre-stages of O and OI. A close relationship between the occurrence of fluorosis and the time and degree of fluoride exposure was found. The difficulties in diagnosing skeletal fluorosis result from the questionable sensitivity of the x-ray techniques and from the nonspecificity of the associated symptoms. A quantitative method to assess osteosclerosis and bone structure alteration is needed.
Czerwinski
E
E
Cracow Academy of Medicine, Department of Orthopedics, Poland.
Nowak
J
J
Dabrowska
D
D
Skolarczyk
A
A
Kita
B
B
Ksiezyk
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000535:Aluminum; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D005458:Fluoride Poisoning / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008669:Metallurgy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D010026:Osteosclerosis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010808:Physical Examination; D011044:Poland; D011859:Radiography
D000535:Aluminum