Coal-burning power plants produce 82% of the total
fluoride air pollution in the United States.
China is the biggest coal-producer
and coal-consumer in the world. 

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Data On Coal-Burning And Endemic
Fluorosis Throughout China

 106 Fluoride Vol. 36 No. 2 106-112 2003 Research Report

For Correspondence: Prof Wuyi Wang, Institute of

Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources

Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences,

Beijing 100101, China. E-mail:

wangwy@igsnrr.ac.cn

ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIC CHARACTERISTICS

OF COALBURNING ENDEMIC FLUOROSIS AND

THE SAFETY THRESHOLD OF COAL FLUORIDE IN CHINA

Yonghua Li, Wuyi Wang, a Linsheng Yang, Hairong Li

Beijing, China

SUMMARY:
Data on coal-burning endemic fluorosis throughout China and on the exposure-response relationship between concentrations of fluoride determined in coal samples and the prevalence of dental fluorosis reported from 17 representative surveillance stations in Southwest China were used to estimate the safety threshold for coal fluoride. Coal-burning endemic fluorosis occurs mainly in the mountainous areas of this part of China, where the prevalence of the disease is closely linked to geochemical parameters of the local environment. In these regions the incidence of dental fluorosis has a significant positive correlation with the concentration of fluoride in coal. The safety threshold of coal fluoride is estimated to be 190 mg/kg by the criterion of 0% incidence of dental fluorosis.

Keywords: China; Coal fluoride; Endemic fluorosis; Safety threshold.

INTRODUCTION

Fluorine (F), the most electronegative and reactive of the halogens, is a common chemical element in the earth’s crust in combined form. F concentrations in rocks and soils are well documented, but data on the F concentration in coal are relatively limited.

1-4 Swaine reported the total F concentration in coal ranges from 20 to 500 mg/kg.

5 Statistical data indicate that the mean concentration of F in coal worldwide is 80 mg/kg, but in China it is 200 mg/kg.

6 In the mountainous areas of Southwest China, it is even higher— up to 3106 mg/kg in local coal.

7 Fluoride in coal can be released into the ambient environment as atmospheric F, waterborne F, and residue F during mining, handling, and combustion.

6-8 In Southwest China, F

            See also:

Understand the difference ↓

COAL- Steaming & Coking

→  FLUORINE IN CHINESE COALS  ←

Daishe Wu,a,b,c Baoshan Zheng,
a Xiuyi Tang, d Shehong Li, a Binbin Wang,
a Mingshi Wang,a,b
Guiyang, China

 

See also ↓

FLUORINE IN CHINESE COALS – Air Pollution

See also ↓

Bone/joint problems-Fluorosis