Fluoride intoxication in bovines due to industrial pollution

Abstract

Clinical survey conducted in the vicinity of an aluminium smelter revealed occurrence of fluoride intoxication in cattle population. Affected animals exhibited lameness, reluctance to move, thickening of metatarsal, metacarpal rib and mandibular bones with the presence of palpable bony exostoses. Moderate to severe dental lesions were also observed in the majority of animals. Overall incidence of disease was 42.31 %. The highest incidence (58.27%) was within 3 km distance which declined exponentially with the distance from the smelter. Biochemical examination of serum, revealed signiticantly higher levels of alkaline phosphatase (22.08±2.12 KA unit/dt), inorganic phosphorus (5.15±0.24 mg/dl) and creatinine (1.88±0.26 mg/dl) and decreased level of triiodothyronine (0.59±0.14 ng/ml) in the affected animals than normal animals. Fluoride level in urine of affected cattle averaged 26.45±3.28 ppm in the close vicinity of smelter. Contamination of pasture from smelter smoke was considered to be the potential source of the fluoride intoxication.