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Comparison of the toxicity of fluoridation compounds in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans
Author(s) -
Rice Julie R.,
Boyd Windy A.,
Chandra Dave,
Smith Marjolein V.,
Besten Pamela K. Den,
Freedman Jonathan H.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
environmental toxicology and chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1552-8618
pISSN - 0730-7268
DOI - 10.1002/etc.2394
Subject(s) - fluoride , toxicity , caenorhabditis elegans , sodium fluoride , chemistry , toxicology , environmental chemistry , environmental toxicology , sodium , biology , biochemistry , inorganic chemistry , organic chemistry , gene
Fluorides are commonly added to drinking water in the United States to decrease the incidence of dental caries. Silicofluorides, such as sodium hexafluorosilicate (Na 2 SiF 6 ) and fluorosilicic acid (H 2 SiF 6 ), are mainly used for fluoridation, although fluoride salts such as sodium fluoride (NaF) are also used. Interestingly, only the toxicity of NaF has been examined and not that of the more often used silicofluorides. In the present study, the toxicities of NaF, Na 2 SiF 6 , and H 2 SiF 6 were compared. The toxicity of these fluorides on the growth, feeding, and reproduction in the alternative toxicological testing organism Caenorhabditis elegans was examined. Exposure to these compounds produced classic concentration–response toxicity profiles. Although the effects of the fluoride compounds varied among the 3 biological endpoints, no differences were found between the 3 compounds, relative to the fluoride ion concentration, in any of the assays. This suggests that silicofluorides have similar toxicity to NaF. Environ Toxicol Chem 2013;33:82–88. © 2013 SETAC