Bowenwork
FAQ
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Fluorine
Atomic # 9 Symbol
F Atomic Weight 18.9984032
Density 0.001696g/cm3
Fluorine is
essential for the maintenance of teeth and bones. Very small amounts can be
found in the human body in compounds called fluorides. Traces of fluorine are
beneficial to the body, while excessive amounts can be detrimental and harmful.
Too much fluorine can cause discolored teeth, while continued
overuse can, instead of strengthening bones, cause them to fracture more easily.
More than 2 parts fluorine per million parts of water are to be considered
dangerous. Especially in the form of sodium fluoride. Studies have shown that it
can destroy certain enzymes in our bodies. Namely phosphatase, which is very
important in many functions, but especially so in the metabolism of vitamins and
minerals. Sodium fluoride has also been shown to cause degenerative effects in
the liver, adrenals, and reproductive glands.
|
Function |
Essential to the teeth and bones. Fluoride may help prevent
hearing loss by the elderly by recalcifying the inner ear bone structure
of the ear. |
|
Deficiency can cause |
An increase in dental caries, especially in children from
infancy and during tooth development. |
|
Toxicity symptoms include |
As little as 2 to 8 ppm (parts per million) can cause
mottled teeth, dulling, pitting, and discoloration of teeth. At 8 ppm bone
fluorosis occurs with arthritis-like symptoms. |
|
Food Sources |
Fish, tea, milk, eggs |
|
Herbal Sources |
Unknown |
|
RDA |
No established RDA for fluorine, but estimated safe and
adequate intake is listed below:
Infants
0 - 0.5 years
0.1-0.15mg
0.5 - 1
year
0.2-1.0mg
Children
1 - 3
years
0.5-1.5mg
4 - 6
years
1.0-2.5mg
7+
years
1.5-2.5mg
Adults
1.5-4.0mg |
Comments: Fluoridation of
water is very controversial. Some studies show that added fluoride helps reduce
fractures from osteoporosis, while others showed an increase in hip fractures.
Toxicity at a clinical level is noted as dental fluorosis at fluoride
concentrations of 2-7 ppm and osteosclorosis at 8-20 ppm. Chronic systemic
toxicity appears when the fluoride levels reach 20 to 80 mg per day for years.
In 1990, studies
done by the National Toxicology Program, overseen by the U.S. Public Health
Service, showed an increase in rat precancerous in oral mucus membrane
cells; there was an increase in cancers of the oral mucous membranes (squamous
cell carcinoma); a rare form of osteosarcoma appeared at double the rate in
males as females; and there was an increase in thyroid follicular cell tumors
and liver cancer (hepatocholangiocarcinoma).
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