AIR POLLUTION-TYPE FLUOROSIS IN THE REGION OF PINGXIANG, JIANGXI, PEOPLES-REPUBLIC-OF-CHINA

Citation
Yx. Chen et al., AIR POLLUTION-TYPE FLUOROSIS IN THE REGION OF PINGXIANG, JIANGXI, PEOPLES-REPUBLIC-OF-CHINA, Archives of environmental health, 48(4), 1993, pp. 246-249
Citations number
5
Categorie Soggetti
Public, Environmental & Occupation Heath","Environmental Sciences
ISSN journal
00039896
Volume
48
Issue
4
Year of publication
1993
Pages
246 - 249
Database
ISI
SICI code
0003-9896(1993)48:4<246:APFITR>2.0.ZU;2-4
Abstract
This paper reports on the epidemiology, environmental factors, geologi cal features, and total amount of fluoride intake by residents of the Pingxiang region in the Peoples' Republic of China where there is a hi gh incidence of endemic fluorosis. The results demonstrate that the ty pe of endemic fluorosis is related to air pollution, the major source of which comes from coal that is burned by the residents in their home s. Air pollution also originates from the small kilns that are used to make bricks and tile. The fluorine content in the coal and mud used t o mix the coal is considerably high; the content in the mud used as ad obe for tiles exceeds 10 000 mg/kg. During the process of burning coal or baking bricks or tiles, a large amount of nonsoluble fluorine is c onverted into water-soluble fluoride, which can have major human healt h effects.