English (United Kingdom)

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/featured_content/oa?rat=en

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/highlighted_journal/

Global: Zendy Plus annual

Presents the access of premium content as premium feature

Premium Content

Presents the keyphrase highlighting as premium feature

Keyphrase Highlighting

Presents the summarisation as premium feature

Summarisation

Insights

Presents the pdf analysis as premium feature

PDF Analysis

Presents the zaia usage as premium feature

ZAIA

Global: Zendy Plus monthly

Global: Zendy Tools annual

Global: Zendy Tools monthly

Global: Zendy Free Plan

Tumkur district of Karnataka state in India has reported that 4000 children have lost their vision in Pavagada taluk and it has been attributed to high fluoride contents in the water the taluka. That has given rise to a very serious question on whether high fluoride content in water in Pavagada region could cause blindness in the affected community. The paper examines the biological plausibility and possible reasons and finally concludes with Epidemiological reasoning that fluoridation water does not cause blindness. The said association between fluoridation and blindness could be spurious in nature and explained by confounding effect. However, it is also stressed to investigate every reported adverse effect of fluoridation as there is increasing evidence that fluoridation of water does not help in prevention Caries on the contrary, Flouridation of water poses health risk hence there is need for policy decision on fluoridation of water as public health intervention. Tumkur district of Karnataka state in southern India has reported that 4000 kids have lost vision in Pavagada taluk and it has been attributed to high fluoride contents in the water the taluka [1,2,3]. That has given rise to a very serious question on whether high fluoride content in water in Pavagada region could cause blindness of such high magnitude in the affected community? The said association between fluoridation and blindness could be spurious in nature and could explained by confounding effects of other reasons for blindness. However, perplexing it may sound but we need to answer two basic questions: Does high fluorides have causal association with blindness? & secondly if there is association, can it cause vision impairment on as large-scale magnitude to become a public health problem in a given locality? Literature review on adverse health effects show obvious effects due to dental and skeletal fluorosis. Some literature also reports adverse effects on Thyroid, Kidney and Brain. Some Studies also have shown high levels fluorides as risk factor to lowered IQ, Diabetes and Cancer [4]. No published literature has reported any eye effects. At best, there is a passing reference to blurred vision, which is again explained as sequel effect to neural or hormonal involvement. There is not single paper that links high fluoride levels to complete loss of vision. On the contrary literature show fluorine compounds are used as  preservators  in the field of ophthalmology. Fluorine compounds are routinely used in viteroretinal surgery in which post viterectormy, vitreous gell from eye is aspirated and the empty vitreous cavity is filled with fluorine compound to stabilize retina [5]. Compounds of fluorines are widely used in manufacture of contact lenses. However, alternate biologically plausible explanations linking fluorides to loss of vision is a theoretical possibility as fluorine indirectly affects eyes through different Via medium. Studies have shown that high fluoride level affect thyroid functioning that results in increased Thyroid stimulating Hormone (TSH) which in turn leads to thyroid eye syndrome [6,7]. High fluorine level has been associated with impaired glucose tolerance Test that has been associated with increased risk of Diabetes [8]. Hyperglycemia Correspondence to: Rajan R Patil, Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, SRM University, Potheri Chennai, India, Tel: 9445811610; E-mail: rajanpatil@yahoo.com

Can fluoridation of water ‘cause’ blindness? A validity check