Prevention and control of brick-tea type fluorosis--a 3-year observation in Dangxiong, Tibet

To evaluate the effects of preventing and controlling brick-tea type fluorosis, we carried out a 3-year field observation and assayed the total daily fluoride intake, urinary and serum fluoride level, and dental fluorosis prevalence and index in a boarding school in Dangxiong, Tibet, in students aged 8-15. We replaced the traditional brick tea with low-fluoride brick tea (LFBT). Reduction in the traditional brick-tea consumption decreased the total daily fluoride intake among the children, which still remained within the level of chronic intoxication but at a safe level. The study suggests that the LFBT is effective in the prevention and control of endemics of brick tea type fluorosis, although further improvement of the LFBT is required.