Like many elements, fluorine (which generally occurs in nature as fluoride) is beneficial to human health in trace amounts but can be toxic in excess. The links between low intakes of fluoride and dental protection are well known, however, fluoride is a powerful calcium-seeking element and can interfere with the calcified structure of bones and teeth in the human body at higher concentration causing dental or skeletal fluorosis. One of the main exposure routes is via drinking water and the World Health Organisation currently set water quality guidelines for the element. In Central Europe, groundwater resources that exceed the guideline value of 1.5 mg L
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