Fluoride-induced early teeth wearing in Argentinian cattle

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Environmental Science
• Animal Nutrition

Background:

• Early teeth wearing in cattle is a significant issue in some Argentinian farms.
• The potential link to excess fluoride in underground water sources has not been previously investigated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between early teeth wearing in cattle and high fluoride levels in underground water.
• To compare fluoride exposure and its effects on cattle teeth in affected and control farms.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of fluoride levels in well water, bone, and urine of cattle from an affected farm (ETWF) and a control farm (NETWF).
• Monitoring of teeth condition in adult and young cattle transferred between farms over 30 months.
• Exclusion of industrial, volcanic, or geothermal sources of fluoride contamination.

Main Results:

• The ETWF farm exhibited significantly higher bone (5000+ ppm) and well water (10.5 ppm) fluoride levels compared to the NETWF farm (1480 ppm and 3.0 ppm).
• Cattle from ETWF showed higher urinary fluoride levels and continued rapid teeth wearing, while NETWF cattle transferred to ETWF developed damaged teeth.
• Young cattle from ETWF developed normal teeth, whereas young NETWF cattle developed severely damaged permanent teeth.

Conclusions:

• Excess fluoride in underground drinking water is the cause of early teeth wearing in cattle at the ETWF farm.
• The findings suggest this fluoride-induced dental condition can be extrapolated to other similar farming areas in Argentina.