Urine and Milk of Dairy Animals as an Indicator of Hydrofluorosis

Abstract

The SouthWestern region of Punjab is endemic for hydrofluorosis and the livestock consuming fluoride rich water exhibit dental mottling and skeletal fluorosis. The present study was conducted in fluoritic areas of Mansa district of Punjab with an aim to find out the concentration of fluoride in urine and milk of dairy animals in relation to varying levels of fluoride concentration in drinking water of fluorotic areas and non fluoritic areas. For this, eight urine samples and six milk samples were collected from livestock consuming water having fluoride concentration upto 8 ppm. Urinary and milk F level was significantly high in dairy animals from the fluorotic area, ranging from 10 to 30 mg/l and 0.4 to 0.8mg/l respectively as compared to animals from non fluorotic area that varied from 3-4 mg/l F in urine and 0.04 to 0.08mg/l F in milk.

A Brief and Critical Review of Chronic Fluoride Poisoning (Fluorosis) in Domesticated Water Buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) in India: Focus on its Impact on Rural Economy

“…However, in contrast to morbidity and mortality, fl uoride contents in biological samples such as milk, saliva, sweat, urine, blood serum, teeth, bones, hairs, etc. are good bio-markers for chronic fl uoride poisoning [60][61][62][63][64]. To know the current status of endemic fl uorosis, estimation of fl uoride in blood serum and urine is the most authentic way in man and animals [33].…”