Abstract
FLUORINE as the etiological factor in the production of a destructive hypoplasia of human dentition, known as mottled enamel, was established beyond doubt by Smith et al. This resulted in a universal recognition of fluorine toxicosis as a public health problem. Numerous methods whereby the soluble fluorine fraction of natural waters can be reduced to a safe level are encountered in the literature. The majority of these methods, however, are costly and impracticable. Several workers reported the value of tri-calcium phosphate as a defluorinizing agent. The solute fluorides are either absorbed or thrown out of solution as the fluo-apatite. However, the use of various types of tri-calcium phosphate in filter beds in conjunction with waters of high salt content results in a rapid impregnation and inactivation of the active principle. The result is that a continual check on the fluorine content of the effluent water is imperative.
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VAN DER MERWE, P. Removal of Fluorine from Potable Waters. Nature 144, 668 (1939). https://doi.org/10.1038/144668a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/144668a0
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