Fluorine (Symbol= F, From fluorospar the minteral from which fluorine is derived.)- A non-metallic gasieous element. Note: keep in mind that although fluorine is a gas, it can act as a solid if combined with other elements. Fluoride, the binary compound of the element flourine, is incorportated into the structure of teeth and bones, and has a cariostatic effect. Cariostatic is simply the inhibiting of dental caries or "cavities". In reality, fhuorine does not inhibit dental caries, but rather inhibits the bacteria that may cause them. Fluorine is not a guarantee against caries but does help. The problem is that fluorine also has side effects over time. The question is: is the prevention of tooth decay wotth the risks of fluorine accumulation in bones?

Excesses of fluorine cause what we call fluorosis. Fluorosis is characterized by skeletal changes such as osteomalacia (inadequate mineralization of the bones), osteosclerosis (hardening, or abnormal density of the bone) and "mottled" teeth enamel (if exposure occurs during enamal formation). The exposure to sufficient enough amounts of fluortde to cause fluorosis can be achieved by breathing in industrial gases, ingestion of flouride containing compounds (toothpastes, insecticide) and water with large amounts of fluoride.

RDA of

There is no known RDA for fluoride. since it plays no part in human metabolism.

Toxicity of Fluoride

We read about excesses of fluorine and the effects it can have on skeletal tissue. Upper limits in the amounts of fluorine contained in drinking water have been imposed in many countries. The terms used to describe the amounts of a substance in water are PPM, PPB, etc. PPM stands for "parts per million" and refers to the amount of substance contained in one-million parts water. For example, if we divided a sample of water into one-million drops, and one of those drops was pure chlorine, then we would say that the water contained 1 PPM of chlorine. The amount of chlorine can be expressed as 1/1,000,000. Accordingly, if there was one drop of chlorine in one-billion drops of water, then we would have a sample of water with 1 PPB chlorine. Most developed countries have limits of substances allowed in the drinking water. Limits on chlorine, flouride, other minerals, and even microorganisms have been imposed in many countries. Some elements are even added to the drinking water in many countries to render it more safe. For example, by adding fluoride to the public drinking water, many officials are simply trying to help prevent decrease the incidence of dental caries in the population. Adding chlorine also inhibits many microorganisms, so we can understand the strategy. Flouride and chlorine, like some of the other elements also have their risks as well. Therefore, this is the ebb and flow of our never-ending debate and decision as to whether we include them in many of the products we come into contact with on a daily basis, especially the ones that we consume.