Crippling skeletal fluorosis

Endemic crippling skeletal fluorosis is confined in temperate climates to individuals exposed continuously over many years to very high levels of fluoride these cases are associated with industrial situations, with unusually high levels of fluoride in drinking water (e.g., 10 mg/L) or the use of high fluoride coal for cooking and drying foodstuffs indoors [6,17,55]. 

Federal regulations require that fluoride not exceed a concentration of 4.0 mg L"1 in drinking water. Chronic exposure to levels above 4.0 mg L-1 may result in some cases of crippling skeletal fluorosis, a serious bone disorder. Fluoride in children s drinking water at levels of approximately 1 mg L-1 reduces the number of dental cavities. Federal law also requires that notification take place when monitoring indicates that the fluoride exceeds 2.0 mg L 1. 

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