fluorosis

Skeletal Fluorosis is a bone disease exclusively caused by excessive consumption of fluoride. In advanced cases, skeletal fluorosis causes pain and damage to bones and joints. Advanced cases usually involve about ten times the normal amount of fluoride.

CAUSES

Common causes of fluorosis include inhalation of fluoride dusts/fumes by workers in industry, use of coal as an indoor fuel source (a common practice in China), consumption of fluoride from drinking water, and consumption of fluoride from the drinking of tea, particularly brick tea.^[1]

In India, the most common cause of fluorosis is fluoride-laden water derived from deep bore wells.

Skeletal fluorosis phases

Osteosclerotic phase	Ash concentration (mgF/kg)	Symptoms and signs
Normal Bone	500 to 1,000	Normal
Preclinical Phase	3,500 to 5,500	Asymptomatic; slight radiographically-detectable increases in bone mass
Clinical Phase I	6,000 to 7,000	Sporadic pain; stiffness of joints; osteosclerosis of pelvis and vertebral spine
Clinical Phase II	7,500 to 9,000	Chronic joint pain; arthritic symptoms; slight calcification of ligaments' increased osteosclerosis and cancellous bones; with/without osteoporosis of long bones
Phase III: Crippling Fluorosis	8,400	Limitation of joint movement; calcification of ligaments of neck vertebral column; crippling deformities of the spine and major joints; muscle wasting; neurological defects/compression of spinal cord