Open AccessEffect of copper-based fungicide (bordeaux mixture) spray on the total copper content of areca nut: Implications in increasing prevalence of oral submucous fibrosis
Author(s) -
P. M. Mathew,
Ravi David Austin,
Soma Susan Varghese,
A K Manojkumar
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of international society of preventive and community dentistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.476
H-Index - 14
eISSN - 2250-1002
pISSN - 2231-0762
DOI - 10.4103/2231-0762.161755
Subject(s) - areca , oral submucous fibrosis , nut , copper , betel , fungicide , catechu , toxicology , horticulture , biology , medicine , chemistry , structural engineering , organic chemistry , engineering
Potentially malignant disorders like oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) often precede oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The rate of transformation of OSMF to OSCC ranges from 3 to 19%. OSMF is etiologically related to chewing of areca nut (betel nut), and the high copper content in areca nut plays an important role in the pathogenesis of the disorder. Even though many studies estimated and confirmed increased copper levels in areca nuts, studies tracing the source of the increased copper content are scarce. Interestingly, on review of agricultural literature, it was found that most of the areca nut plantations in South India commonly use a copper-based fungicide, bordeaux mixture (BM).