Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Fluoride as a Carcinogen: A Myth or Fact?

  • Living reference work entry
  • First Online:
Handbook of Oxidative Stress in Cancer: Mechanistic Aspects

  • 26 Accesses

Abstract

Fluoride is an naturally occurring element and enters the human body principally through food, water, and respiration. Currently, the largest source of fluoride is water that is fluoridated to eliminate pathogens. Fluoride in concentrations present in beverages and products for dental hygiene is reported to be safe. However, at high concentrations, fluoride can be extremely toxic to myriad tissues. In this regard, the dose, duration, and age of the individual being exposed also is of cardinal importance. Existing data is inconclusive in ascertaining an association between fluoride and carcinogenesis. However, reports based on preclinical and clinical study models do suggest that fluoride triggers oxidative stress by triggering multiple mechanisms. This short review addresses these aspects.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Aardema MJ, Gibson DP, LeBoeuf RA (1989) Sodium fluoride-induced chromosome aberrations in different stages of the cell cycle: a proposed mechanism. Mutat Res 223:191–203

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Aravind A, Dhanya RS, Narayan A, Sam G, Adarsh VJ, Kiran M (2016) Effect of fluoridated water on intelligence in 10–12-year-old school children. J Int Soc Prev Community Dent 6(Suppl 3):S237–S242. https://doi.org/10.4103/2231-0762.197204

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Blaylock RL (2004) Excitotoxicity: a possible central mechanism in fluoride neurotoxicity. Fluoride 37(4):301–314

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Browne D, Whelton H, O’Mullane D (2005) Fluoride metabolism and fluorosis. J Dent Res 33:177–186

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bucher JR, Hejtmancik MR, Toft JD, Persing RL, Eustis SL, Haseman JK (1991) Results and conclusions of the National Toxicology Program’s rodent carcinogenicity studies with sodium fluoride. Int J Cancer 48(5):733–737

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Buzalaf MAR, Whitford GM (2011) Fluoride metabolism. Monogr Oral Sci 22:20–36

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cao J, Chen J, Wang J, Jia R, Xue W, Luo Y et al (2013) Effects of fluoride on liver apoptosis and Bcl-2, Bax protein expression in freshwater teleost, Cyprinus carpio. Chemosphere 91:1203–1212

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carlson CH, Armstrong WD, Singer L (1960) Distribution and excretion of radiofluoride in the human. Proc Soc Exp Biol (NY) 104:235–239

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chlubeka D (2002) Fluoride and oxidative stress. Fluoride 36:217–228

    Google Scholar 

  • Editorial (1969) Fluoride and cancer. Fluoride 2:136–140

    Google Scholar 

  • Grandjean P, Olsen JH (2004) Extended follow up of cancer incidence in fluoride-exposed workers. J Natl Cancer Inst 96:802–803

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grandjean P, Olsen JH, Jensen OM, Juel K (1992) Cancer incidence and mortality in workers exposed to fluoride. J Natl Cancer Inst 84:1903–1909

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Green R, Lanphear B, Hornung R, Flora D, Martinez-Mier EA, Neufeld R et al (2019) Association between maternal fluoride exposure during pregnancy and IQ scores in offspring in Canada. JAMA Pediatr 173(10):940–948

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • IARC (1987) Overall evaluation of carcinogenicity: an updating of IARC monograph, vol 1–42. International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, pp 208–210

    Google Scholar 

  • IPCS (2002) Fluorides. International Programme on chemical safety (Environmental health criteria 227). WHO, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • IPCS task group on environmental health criteria for Fluorine and fluorides (1984) Environmental health criteria for fluorine and fluorides. WHO, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • Jacyszyn K, Marut A (1986) Fluoride in blood and urine in humans administered fluoride and exposed to fluoride-polluted air. Fluoride 19(1):26–32

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kharb S, Sandhu R, Kundu ZS (2012) Fluoride levels and osteosarcoma. South Asian J Cancer 1(2):76–77

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim FM, Hayes C, Williams PL, Whitford GM, Joshipura KJ, Hoover RN et al (2011) An assessment of bone fluoride and osteosarcoma. J Dent Res 90(10):1171–1176

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lu Y, Luo Q, Cui H, Deng H, Kuang P, Liu H et al (2017) Sodium fluoride causes oxidative stress and apoptosis in the mouse liver. Aging 9:1623–1639

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maurer JK, Cheng MC, Boysen BG, Anderson RL (1990) Two-year carcinogenicity study of sodium fluoride in rats. J Natl Cancer Inst 82:1118–1126

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • National Research Council (NRC), Subcommittee on Health Effects of Ingested Fluoride (1993) Carcinogenicity of fluoride. In: Health effects of ingested fluoride. National Academy Press, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Perera T, Ranasinghe S, Waduge R (2018) Effect of fluoride on major organs with the different time of exposure in rats. Environ Health Prev Med 23(1):17. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12199-018-0707-2

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rawlani S, Rawlani S, Rawlani S (2010) Assessment of skeletal and non-skeletal fluorosis in endemic fluoridated areas of Vidharbha Region, India: a survey. Indian J Community Med 35(2):298–301. https://doi.org/10.4103/0970-0218.66868

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Shivarajashankara YM, Shivashankara AR (2012) Neurotoxic effects of fluoride in endemic skeletal fluorosis and experimental chronic fluoride toxicity. J Clin Diagn Res 6:740–744

    Google Scholar 

  • Shivarajashankara YM, Shivashankara AR, Gopalakrishna BP, Rao SH (2001) Oxidative stress in children with endemic skeletal fluorosis. Fluoride 34:103–107

    Google Scholar 

  • Song GH, Huang FB, Gao JP, Liu ML, Pang WB, Li W et al (2015) Effects of fluoride on DNA damage and caspase-mediated apoptosis in the liver of rats. Biol Trace Elem Res 166:173–182

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tsunoda M, Aizawa Y, Nakano K, Liu Y, Horiuchi T, Itai K et al (2005) Changes in fluoride levels in the liver, kidney and brain and in neurotransmitters of mice after subacute administration of fluoride. Fluoride 38(4):284–292

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhan XA, Wang M, Xu ZR, Li WF, Li JX (2006) Evaluation of caspase-dependent apoptosis during fluoride-induced liver lesion in pigs. Arch Toxicol 80:74–80

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, Father Muller Medical College, Mangalore, Karnataka, India

    Arnadi Ramachandrayya Shivashankara

  2. Senior Radiobiologist and Incharge of Research, Mangalore Institute of Oncology, Mangalore, Karnataka, India

    Manjeshwar Shrinath Baliga

Authors
  1. Arnadi Ramachandrayya Shivashankara
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Manjeshwar Shrinath Baliga
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry and Biophysic, University of Kalyani Department of Biochemistry and Biophysic, Kalyani, West Bengal, India

    Sajal Chakraborti

  2. Dept of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Missouri, College Vet, Columbia, MO, USA

    Bimal K Ray

  3. Saroj Gupta Cancer Centre & Research Ins, Kolkata, India

    Sushanta Roychowdhury

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2021 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this entry

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this entry

Shivashankara, A.R., Baliga, M.S. (2021). Fluoride as a Carcinogen: A Myth or Fact?. In: Chakraborti, S., Ray, B.K., Roychowdhury, S. (eds) Handbook of Oxidative Stress in Cancer: Mechanistic Aspects. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-4501-6_32-1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-4501-6_32-1

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-15-4501-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-15-4501-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Biomedicine and Life SciencesReference Module Biomedical and Life Sciences

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation