title: Prevalence of skeletal fluorosis in fisherman from Kutch coast, Gujarat, India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In health terms, consuming fluoride is well recognised to be a double-edged sword. Consumption of optimal amounts is beneficial to health, however an excess constitutes a health hazard.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the prevalence of skeletal fluorosis in fishermen from the Kutch coast, Gujarat, India.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted on 653 fishermen from the Kutch District, Gujarat, India, from October 2014 to December 2014. Clinical skeletal fluorosis was assessed using three diagnostic tests. Drinking water fluoride concentrations in different regions of the study area were determined. General information regarding age, gender and adverse habits were also collected. The Chi square test was used for comparisons and the confidence level and critical p-value were set at 95% and 5% respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fluoride concentrations in water from the study area ranged between 3.4-6.9 ppm. The prevalence of skeletal fluorosis was 30.3%, out of which, the majority of the subjects had mild skeletal fluorosis (18.4%). This condition was found to be significantly associated with age and gender along with tobacco and alcohol consumption; depending on the habit's duration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Being a public health problem in the fishermen community, skeletal fluorosis requires a-priori attention. Measures for preventing this disease should be undertaken on a communitywide basis.
authors.affiliation: K.V.G Dental College and Hospital, Sullia, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: John
authors.affiliation: Amrita College of Dental Sciences, Cochin, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Madhu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hariharan
authors.affiliation: Kannur Dental College, Kannur, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Vimal
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Remy
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, University of Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Shaista
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Haleem
authors.affiliation: P.S.M College of Dental Sciences and Research, Akkikavu, Thrissur, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Pathinettam Kandathil
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Thajuraj
authors.affiliation: P.S.M College of Dental Sciences and Research, Akkikavu, Thrissur, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Baby
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Deepak
authors.affiliation: P.S.M College of Dental Sciences and Research, Akkikavu, Thrissur, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Kundaningattu Govindan
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Rajeev
authors.affiliation: College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Darshan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Devang Divakar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000737:chemistry*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000139:chemically induced; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D060766:Drinking Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005398:Fisheries; D005459:Fluorides / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D060766:Drinking Water; D005459:Fluorides