Genotoxic properties of fluorines (review)

Abstract

Introduction. Consistency of fluoride excess in the human environment and professional contact with fluoride is an actual and underestimated problem. Fluoride ion is able to displace the hydroxyl group in calcium hydroxyapatites, forming stable crystals of mixed form of apatites, inducing bone pathology, fluorosis. Despite the high prevalence of fluorosis, there are only a few studies discussing the ability of fluoride ion to increase the level of genotoxic effects. At the same time, such studies are in high demand in connection with a direct correlation between genetic instability and the risk of carcinogenesis. Material and methods. A literature search was conducted according the following queries: “fluoride, fluoride ion, fluorides, DNA damage, genetic damage, genotoxicity.” The search was conducted on the databases PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase and Google Scholar for various articles (all publications until June 2018). All publications were analyzed and included in this review. Results.The present review examines the results of studies aimed at investigation of the ability of fluoride to induce DNA damage, published since the 50-s of 20th century to the present. The analyse of data about genotoxic and mutagenic properties of fluorine observed in In vitro and In vivo studies is provided. It is summarized that at concentrations of sodium fluoride in drinking water of more than 1 mM, fluoride ion has the ability to induce DNA damage and increase the frequency of clastogenic effects in humans and large monkeys. At the same time, for a significant increase in genotoxic effects in rodents, large concentrations of fluorides are required. The main hypotheses about the mechanisms of the fluoride genotoxic properties are described. Conclusion. Considering results published nowadays, it can be noted that fluoride ion obviously showes a number of genotoxic features and can have mutagenic properties in case of chronic and direct contact with cellular objects. It remains questionable issue about genotoxic risk accompanied human contact with fluoride compounds.