Ic. Boulton et al., EXPERIMENTAL FLUORIDE ACCUMULATION AND TOXICITY IN THE SHORT-TAILED FIELD VOLE (MICROTUS-AGRESTIS), Journal of zoology, 234, 1994, pp. 409-421
Vegetation established naturally on three industrial sites contaminate
d by either airborne or soilborne fluorides was used to formulate diet
ary feed for a laboratory-reared population of field voles (Microtus a
grestis L.), an herbivorous species indigenous to ail three locations.
Animals exposed to laboratory diets containing 100-300 mg F kg(-1) de
rived from vegetation from around the aluminium smelter and fluorochem
ical works showed reduced live weight gain, between 40 and 100% mortal
ity and developed marked dental lesions. These comprised banding of th
e enamel, loss of colour and erosion of the cutting surfaces of the in
cisors, and dentine cavitation and erosion of the grinding faces of th
e molar teeth. These morphological changes were accompanied by excessi
ve accumulation of fluoride in the teeth. Voles consuming a diet of ve
getation from the mine tailings site with a similar level of fluoride
(100 mg kg(-1)) as for the other industrial locations, showed only sli
ght dental changes and no weight loss or early mortality. This pattern
for laboratory-bred voles is similar to that experienced in populatio
ns of this species in the wild, and the contrast in the severity of th
e dental lesions is ascribed to intersite differences in the chemical
speciation and bioavailability of fluoride.