Prevention and control of fluorosis. Vol. I : Health aspects

Fluorosis, a crippling disease known to be prevalent in 150 districts in 15 States of India, is caused by the intake of water contaminated beyond the tolerable limits of 1.5 ppm and above. The Government of India's Sub-Mission, "Control of Fluorosis", is adopting a multidisciplinary approach to dealing with fluorosis involving health, water supply, awareness and nutritional aspects. A campaign against fluorosis will be implemented in villages by grass-roots level functionaries drawn from various disciplines and departments of the Government, voluntary organizations, and local governments. It will involve awareness campaigns, followed by a survey of the prevalence of the disease and the quality of water, and efforts to provide fluoride free water to prevent its further occurrence and spreading. Trainees will be drawn from endemic districts to become grass-root workers. This volume, which is a companion to two other volumes, An Introduction to Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Programmes in India and Water Quality and Defluoridation Techniques, deals in detail with the health aspects of fluorosis. It is to act as a basic reference book from which guidelines can be drawn by the experts and voluntary workers to educate the public about various health aspects of fluorosis. After setting out the framework of the curriculum developed on fluorosis for human resource development, this volume analyses the magnitude and distribution of the problem. Sources of fluoride entry into the body; namely, hydro-fluorosis, food-born fluorosis, drug induced fluorosis, industrial fluorosis and neighbourhood fluorosis, are discussed. Several chapters detail the effects of fluoride on bones, the skeletal system, teeth, and soft issues / organs / systems. Factors influencing the onset of the disease and procedures recommended for detection/diagnosis are discussed. An epidemiological survey is included which aims to identify the causes of fluorosis so that effective prevention programmes can be implemented. Finally, Sub-Mission activities for training and creating awareness about fluorosis are outlined.