In high concentrations, as with almost all substances, fluoride compounds are toxic. 5 grams of full strength sodium fluoride will kill most adult humans; a "certainly lethal dose" is estimated to be 32-64 fluoride mg per kilogram of body mass. Fatalities may occur, however, in some individuals at doses as low as 5 mg/kg. Symptoms of acute toxicity (e.g. gastrointestinal distress) have been reported to occur at doses as low as 0.1 to 0.3 mg/kg. The neutrality of this article is disputed. ... A compound is an area of land that is surrounded by fences, walls, or barbed wire and is used for a particular purpose, especially an area containing buildings and where the entry and exit of people is controlled. ... For a list of biologically injurious substances, including toxins and other materials, as well as their effects, see poison. ... A fluoride ion is the ionic form of fluorine. ...

Poisoning most commonly occurs following ingestion (accidental or intentional) of products that contain fluoride (e.g. pesticides, supplements, etc). For biological toxicity, see toxin and poison. ... Ingestion is the action of consuming something orally, whether it be food, drink, medicine, or other substance. ...

When ingested directly, fluoride compounds are readily absorbed by the intestines; over time, the compound is excreted through the urine, and the half-life for concentration of fluorine compounds is on an order of hours. Fluoride is taken out of circulation by the body and trace amounts bound in bone. Urine tests are a good indication of high exposure to fluoride compounds in the recent past. Excretion is the biological process by which an organism chemically separates waste products from its body. ... Half-Life For a quantity subject to exponential decay, the half-life is the time required for the quantity to fall to half of its initial value. ... General Name, Symbol, Number fluorine, F, 9 Chemical series halogens Group, Period, Block 17, 2, p Appearance pale greenish-yellow gas Atomic mass 18. ... A urinalysis (or UA) is an array of tests performed on urine and one of the most common methods of medical diagnosis. ...

Skin or eye contact with many fluoride compounds (in high concentrations) is dangerous.

The only generally accepted adverse effect of low concentration water fluoridation at this time is dental fluorosis. It is a condition caused by 'excessive' intake of fluorine compounds over an extended period of time during the tooth development (before teeth erupt into the mouth), and can cause yellowing of teeth, hypothyroidism, or brittling of bones and teeth. The definition of 'excessive' in the context of fluorosis falls on the order of parts per million (ppm) and is generally accepted to mean significantly higher than the 0.7 to 1.2 ppm amounts recommended for fluoridated water. Fluoride in small amount is beneficial to teeth see Fluoride therapy. Water fluoridation is the act of adding fluoride ions to water in order to reduce tooth decay in the general population. ... Dental fluorosis occurs during tooth development especially between the ages of 6 months to 5 years, from the overexposure to fluoride. ... Hypothyroidism is the disease state caused by insufficient production of thyroid hormone by the thyroid gland. ... Grays illustration of a human femur, a typically recognized bone. ... Types of teeth Molars are used for grinding up foods Carnassials are used for slicing food. ... Fluoride therapy is a method of dental cleaning using fluoride, which is designed to prevent tooth decay and dental caries which result in cavities. ...

Possible sources

The following is a list of possible sources of poisoning. Some of them have not been proven scientifically as the causes of poisoning, but they are still of interest because some people state they are. Historically, most cases of fluoride poisoning have been caused by accidental ingestion of insecticides or rodenticides. An insecticide is a pesticide whose purpose is to kill or to prevent the multiplication of insects. ... Rat poisons are a category of pest control chemicals intended to kill rats. ...

• Air pollution
• Anesthetics
• Antibiotics
• Automobile wheel-cleaning products
• Contaminated beverages and food products
• Dietary supplements that contain sodium fluoride
• Fluoridated milk
• Fluoridated salt
• Fluoridation of public water supplies
• Fluoride tablets
• Glass-etching or Chrome-cleaning agents like ammonium bifluoride
• Groundwater pollution
• Household products
• Insecticides containing sodium fluoride
• Mattresses emitting fluoride gases
• Scotchgard
• Soy products
• Rodenticides containing sodium fluoride
• Tea
• Teflon
• Toothpaste or other oral dental products containing sodium monofluorophosphate
• Vaccine contamination

This power plant in New Mexico releases sulfur dioxide and particulate matter into the air. ... Anesthesia (AE), also anaesthesia (BE), is the process of blocking the perception of pain and other sensations. ... An antibiotic is a drug that kills or slows the growth of bacteria. ... A prescribed dietary supplement supplies nutrients (usually vitamins or minerals) that are missing or not consumed in sufficient quantity in a persons diet. ... A fluoride ion is the ionic form of fluorine. ... A glass of cows milk Milk most often means the nutrient fluid produced by the mammary glands of female mammals. ... Salt Crystals (http://www. ... The neutrality of this article is disputed. ... Insecticide application by crop spraying An insecticide is a pesticide whose purpose is to kill or to prevent the multiplication of insects. ... A fluoride ion is the ionic form of fluorine. ... A mattress is a piece of bedding typically consisting of multiple layers of foams and fibers, along with an innerspring unit used to provide support to ones back during sleep. ... A 3M solvent-based chemical treatment product that is used to repel dirt and liquids from fabric, furniture, and carpets. ... Binomial name Glycine max Soybeans (US) or soya beans (UK) (Glycine max) are a high-protein legume (Family Fabaceae) grown as food for both humans and livestock. ... Rat poisons are a category of pest control chemicals intended to kill rats. ... A fluoride ion is the ionic form of fluorine. ... Tea leaves in a teacup. ... Teflon is the brand name of a polymer compound discovered by Roy J. Plunkett (1910–1994) of DuPont in 1938 and introduced as a commercial product in 1946. ... Modern toothpaste gel Toothpaste is a paste used to clean teeth, almost always in conjunction with a toothbrush. ... Sodium monofluorophosphate Sodium Monofluorophosphate Asher Hirsch Uses Of The Chemical Sodium monofluorophosphate (MFP) is used in toothpastes to protect tooth enamel from attack by bacteria (cavities). ... A vaccine is an antigenic preparation used to produce active immunity to a disease, in order to prevent or ameliorate the effects of infection by any natural or wild strain of the organism. ...

Symptoms

Fluoride toxicity is characterized by a variety of signs and symptoms. Symptom onset usually occurs within minutes of exposure. Severity of symptoms can depend on the amount of fluoride compounds ingested.

Symptoms of fluoride poisoning point towards some kind of profound metabolic dysfunction, very similar to the symptoms of hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism is the disease state caused by insufficient production of thyroid hormone by the thyroid gland. ...

Gastrointestinal

When poisoned by fluoride, gastrointestinal signs predominate. For the Physics term GUT, please refer to Grand unification theory The gastrointestinal or digestive tract, also referred to as the GI tract or the alimentary canal or the gut, is the system of organs within multicellular animals which takes in food, digests it to extract energy and nutrients, and...

• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea
• Dysphagia
• Hypersalivation
• Mucosal injury
• Nausea
• Vomiting

Abdominal pain can be one of the symptoms associated with transient disorders or serious disease. ... Diarrhea (AmE) or diarrhoea (CwE) is a condition in which the sufferer has frequent and watery/chunky or loose bowel movements (from the ancient Greek word διαρροή = leakage; lit. ... Dysphagia is the technical term for the symptom of the sensation of difficulty in swallowing. ... Nausea (Greek Ναυτεία) is the sensation of unease and discomfort in the stomach with an urge to vomit. ... Vomiting (or emesis) is the forceful expulsion of the contents of ones stomach through the mouth. ...

Electrolyte abnormalities

• Hyperkalemia
• Hypocalcemia
• Hypoglycemia
• Hypomagnesemia

An electrolyte is a substance which dissociates free ions when dissolved (or molten), to produce an electrically conductive medium. ... Hyperkalemia (hyper is high, kalium is the Latin name for potassium) is an elevated blood level (above 5. ... In medicine, hypocalcaemia is the presence of less than a total calcium of 2. ... Hypoglycemia is a medical term referring to a pathologic state produced by a lower than normal amount of sugar (glucose) in the blood. ... Hypomagnesemia is an electrolyte disturbance in which there is an abnormally low level of magnesium in the blood. ...

Neurologic effects

• Headache
• Hyperactive reflexes
• Muscle weakness
• Muscular spasm
• Paresthesia
• Seizures
• Tetanic contractions
• Tremor

Neurology is a branch of medicine dealing with the nervous system and its disorders. ... A headache (medically known as cephalgia) is a condition of mild to severe pain in the head; sometimes upper back or neck pain may also be interpreted as a headache. ... Hyperactivity can be described as a state in which a person is abnormally easily excitable and exuberant. ... A reflex action or reflex is a biological control system linking stimulus to response and mediated by a reflex arc. ... Muscle weakness (or lack of strength) is a general term used during a diagnosis before the etiology can be identified. ... A spasm is a sudden, involuntary contraction of a muscle, a group of muscles, or a hollow organ, or a similarly sudden contraction of an orifice. ... Paresthesia (paraesthesia in British) is a sensation of tingling, pricking, or numbness of the skin with no apparent physical cause, more generally known as the feeling of pins and needles. ... This article is about the medical condition. ... Tetanic contraction occurs when a motor unit has been maximally stimulated by its motor neuron. ... Tremor is the rhythmic, oscillating shaking movement of the whole body or just a certain part of it, caused by problems of the neurons responsible from muscle action. ...

Cardiovascular

• Cardiac arrest
• Shock
• Widening of QRS
• Various arrhythmias

The circulatory system or cardiovascular system is the organ system which circulates blood around the body of most animals. ... In medicine, shock (hypoperfusion) is a life-threatening medical emergency characterized by inability of the body to supply enough oxygen to meet tissue requirements. ... The normal electrical conduction in the heart allows the impulse that is generated by the SA node of the heart to be propagated to (and stimulate) the myocardium (muscle of the heart). ... A cardiac arrhythmia, also called cardiac dysrhythmia, is a disturbance in the regular rhythm of the heartbeat. ...

Method of action

Ingested fluoride initially acts locally on the intestinal mucosa. It can form hydrofluoric acid in the stomach, which leads to gastrointestinal irritation or corrosion. After ingestion, the gastrointestinal tract is the earliest and most commonly affected organ system. For the Physics term GUT, please refer to Grand unification theory The gastrointestinal or digestive tract, also referred to as the GI tract or the alimentary canal or the gut, is the system of organs within multicellular animals which takes in food, digests it to extract energy and nutrients, and...

Treatment

In case of accidental swallowing, give milk, calcium carbonate or milk of magnesia to slow absorption. Eye or skin contact should be treated by removing any contaminated clothing and flushing with water. Calcium carbonate is a chemical compound, with chemical formula CaCO3. ... Milk of magnesia Mg(OH)2 is a saline-type laxative. ...

 == External Sites == 

• eMedicine article about Fluoride Toxicity by Geoffrey Nochimson, MD
• Fluoride Health Effects Database
• Acute fluoride poisoning from a public water system. Gessner BD, Beller M, Middaugh JP, Whitford GM.
• Re-Examination of Acute Toxicity of Fluoride, by Kenji Akiniwa, Tokyo, Japan
• Website of the "Parents of Fluoride poisoned children" foundation
• [1] fluoride may be used reliably to reduce thyroid function. This is therapeutic with hyperthyroidism.
• [2] Since fluorides reduce thyroid function, the full list of conditions associated with hypothyroidism(177 conditions) is also present in fluoride poisoning.

The Fight Against Fluoride