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Chemically, fluorine is so reactive that it is found in combination with many minerals/elements like aluminium, iron, calcium, silicates, phosphates etc. and thus is an important constituent of many of the rocks and ores.
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Fluorides are emitted from industries involved in the manufacture of aluminum, steel, phosphate fertilizers, brick kilns, potteries, Ferro-enamel, fused tricalcium phosphate etc.
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The fumes or effluents coming out of the industries may settle on fields, pastures or water reservoirs.
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Similarly, gases or smoke dust coming out of volcanic eruptions also result in contamination of fields, pastures or water, thus fluorine is present in varying concentrations in soil, water, atmosphere and plants.
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Both humans and animals exposed to very low concentrations of fluorine for prolonged periods results in accumulation of fluorides in body particularly bones and teeth without exhibiting any clinical signs in the beginning.
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The signs, however, become apparent after long periods when too much damage has been produced in the target organs.
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Thus, acute fluorine poisoning is not commonly observed except in accidental ingestion/exposure to high quantity of fluorine.
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But chronic fluorine poisoning, also termed as fluorosis is a very serious and important syndrome both in animals and human beings.
Acute fluorine poisoning
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Acute fluorine poisoning generally occurs due to accidental ingesting of large quantities of fluorine containing salts eg. sodium fluoride, sodium fluoroacetate, sodium fluorosilicate or excessively contaminated water, feeds and fodder.
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Sodium fluoride is used as a vermifuge for the control of round worms in pigs and lice in poultry.
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Sodium fluoroacetate is used as a rodenticide.
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Accidental ingestion of the baits containing fluorocetate or the poisoned animals may also be responsible for acute fluorine poisoning.
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Sometimes even excessive licking of phosphate rocks as mineral supplements also results in fluorine poisoning in animals.
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Pigs are most commonly affected.
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Above 4-5 per cent sodium fluoride in feed is lethal for pigs.
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Lethal does of fluorosilicate is 100g for equines and 200g for bovines.
Clinical signs
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Vomition, anorexia, salivation, ruminal stasis, abdominal pain, astroenteritis, diarrhoea, urination, weakness, constant chewing, dyspnoea, excitability, muscular tremors, papillary dilatation, tetany, clonic convulsions, sudden collapse, coma and death due to respiratory and cardiac collapse.
Post-mortem lesions
Diagnosis
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