US EPA

2069474 

Journal Article 

Industrial fluorosis 

Carnow, BW; Conibear, SA 

1981 

CIS/82/01312 

14 

4 

172-181 

eng 

A cohort of 1,242 apparently healthy and actively employed workers with 3 months seniority at an aluminium (Al) smelting facility, producing 800tons of Al per day and emitting 4-5kg of fluorides per ton of Al into ambient air, was examined for history of musculoskeletal symptoms, incidence of fractures, neck and back surgery, and x-ray findings, by questionnaire survey. A significant relation between exposure to fluoride and the frequency of back and neck surgery, fractures, symptoms of musculoskeletal disease and past history of diseases of bones and joints was established in the absence of typical findings of skeletal fluorosis. Monitoring of exposed workers for early signs of musculoskeletal fluorosis is recommended prior to the development of destructive and degenerativve skeletal changes.