A Comparison of the Toxicity of Fluorine in the Form of Cryolite Administered in Water and in Food

Abstract

Experiments are reported on twelve pairs of rats designed to measure the relative toxicity of fluorine (as cryolite) when consumed in equal amounts either in food or in water. The feeding experiments were carried out according to the paired-feeding technic, and were supplemented with sixteen fluorine balance trails of 14 days each and analyses of the bones, teeth and soft tissues of all rats at the termination of the feeding period. The fluorine was fed in amounts equivalent to 10 p.p.m. of solid food; 9% of the fluorine intake was contained in the basal diet in unknown forms. The results of the experiment seem to justify the following conclusions, under the experimental conditions above specified: