Sister Chromatid Exchanges: a Study in Fluorotic Individuals of North Gujarat

The purpose of this preliminary investigation was to compare the genotoxic effect of fluoride in human individuals directly exposed to high concentrations of drinking water fluoride (1.95 to 2.2 ppm) with those in individuals exposed to concentrations (0.6 to 1.0 ppm) within the WHO permissible limit. Sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) and cell cycle proliferative index were studied in whole-blood cultures of fluorotic individuals and compared with normal controls of age-matched groups. The results suggest that the SCE rate in persons exposed to fluoride in the endemic (1.95-2.2 ppm) areas of North Gujarat is significantly higher than that of those living in Ahmedabad (0.6-1.0 ppm). There is no significant difference in the cell cycle proliferative index. Further inves tigations are needed to confirm the findings.