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Neighbourhood fluorosis in people residing in the vicinity of superphosphate fertilizer plants near Udaipur city of Rajasthan (India)

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Abstract

Chronic industrial fluoride toxicosis in the forms of dental, skeletal and non-skeletal fluorosis was investigated in 162 villagers (94 males and 78 females) above 15 years of age living in the vicinity of superphosphate fertilizer plants located approximately 12 km south of Udaipur city of Rajasthan, India. Out of these villagers, 90 (55.5 %) and 29 (18.0 %) were found to be afflicted with mild to severe dental and skeletal fluorosis, respectively. Dental fluorosis characterized with light to deep-brownish bilaterally striated horizontal lines, pits or patches and fine dots or granules was noted on incisor teeth of villagers. Irregular wearing, excessive corrosions (abrasions), dark-brownish pigmentation of exposed cementum and dentine material, diastem as between teeth, pronounced loss of tooth supporting bone with recession and bulging of gingiva (gum) were also present in subjects of older age group (>55 years). Among 29 (18.0 %) individuals, mild to moderate manifestations of skeletal fluorosis such as crippling, kyphosis, invalidism and genu-varum syndrome were found. In these fluorotic subjects pain/rigidity in major joints viz. neck, back, hip, knee and shoulder was also found. None of the fluorotic subjects showed evidence of genu-valgum syndrome. Other signs of chronic industrial fluoride intoxication in soft tissues (non-skeletal fluorosis) included colic, intermittent diarrhoea or constipation, bloating, polyuria and polydipsia. These findings indicate that surrounding environment of superphosphate fertilizer plants is contaminated with fluoride emission, which in turn is causing diverse ill health effects in humans which are discussed.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the University Grants Commission, New Delhi, India for financial assistance [No.34-466/2008 (SR)]. They also wish to thank Dr. Zulfiya Sheikh, Associate Professor of Zoology, Government Meera Girls College, Udaipur and Pushkar Mali (Project Fellow) for their cooperation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Parasitology and Toxicology Research Laboratory, Post Graduate Department of Zoology, Government Meera Girls College, Udaipur, 313001, Rajasthan, India

    Shanti Lal Choubisa

  2. Department of Prosthodontics, Pacific Dental College and Research Centre, Bhilo Ka Bedla, Pratap Pura, Udaipur, 313001, Rajasthan, India

    Darshana Choubisa

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  1. Shanti Lal Choubisa
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  2. Darshana Choubisa
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Correspondence to Shanti Lal Choubisa.

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Choubisa, S.L., Choubisa, D. Neighbourhood fluorosis in people residing in the vicinity of superphosphate fertilizer plants near Udaipur city of Rajasthan (India). Environ Monit Assess 187, 497 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-015-4723-z

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