Air pollution-type fluorosis in the region of Pingxiang, Jiangxi, Peoples' Republic of China.
This paper reports on the epidemiology, environmental factors, geological features, and total amount of fluoride intake by residents of the Pingxiang region in the Peoples' Republic of China where there is a high incidence of endemic fluorosis. The results demonstrate that the type of endemic fluorosis is related to air pollution, the major source of which comes from coal that is burned by the residents in their homes. Air pollution also originates from the small kilns that are used to make bricks and tile. The fluorine content in the coal and mud used to mix the coal is considerably high; the content in the mud used as adobe for tiles exceeds 10,000 mg/kg. During the process of burning coal or baking bricks or tiles, a large amount of nonsoluble fluorine is converted into water-soluble fluoride, which can have major human health effects.
Chen
Y
Y
Jiangxi Institute of Labor Hygiene and Occupational Medicine, Nanchang, Jiangxi, Peoples' Republic of China.
Lin
M
M
He
Z
Z
Xie
X
X
Liu
Y
Y
Xiao
Y
Y
Zhou
J
J
Fan
Y
Y
Xiao
X
X
Xu
F
F
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003031:Coal; D004034:Diet Surveys; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005260:Female; D005458:Fluoride Poisoning / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000652:urine; D005459:Fluorides / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis* / Q000652:urine; D005504:Food Analysis; D006361:Heating / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012307:Risk Factors; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D014881:Water Supply; D014934:Wood
D003031:Coal; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide; D005459:Fluorides