Human fluorosis in Morocco: analytical and clinical investigations

A clinical investigation of human chronic fluorosis, known as "Darmous" in Morocco, was carried out in Youssoufia city and its region. Fluoride concentrations were also measured in soil and water from this area and in urine collected from the surveyed persons; soil and to a lesser extent water were rich in fluoride (948.6 +/- 356.2 micrograms/g and 1.03 +/- 0.19 micrograms/ml, respectively). Fluoride concentrations in urine were heterogenous and varied from 0.17 to 47.5 micrograms/ml. There was a good correlation between these values and the age of the sampled persons. This study revealed that 14% of the urine samples were at or above the maximum fluoride concentration in urine from non-intoxicated individuals (ie 10 micrograms/ml). Dental caries, teeth loss and teeth pigmentation and deviation were the most frequent dental effects in this area. Skeletal effects were mostly joint pain and exostosis. With the exception of dental caries, teeth and bone abnormalities were more frequent and pronounced in people living in the rural area.