Abstract

A special area has been created by the government of India by joining eight districts, namely, Banswara, Chittourgarh, Dungarpur, Pali, Pratapgarh, Rajasamand, Sirohi, and Udaipur out of 33 districts of the state of Rajasthan (India), which is called “scheduled area”. Along with the area being very backward and underdeveloped > 70% of the population of this area is tribals. These people are very poor and backward socio-economically and are financially dependent on agriculture and domestic animals including cattle (Bos taurus), water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis), sheep (Ovis aries), and goats (Capra hircus). In this area, not only the tribals but also their animals are suffering from the dreaded fluorosis disease by drinking fluoride-rich water. In fact, in this tribal area, almost all drinking groundwater and some perennial fresh water sources are contaminated with fluoride (F) in the range of 1.0-21.6ppm and 0.1-3.05ppm, respectively, which is higher than the recommended standard limits, 1.0 or 1.5ppm, in the country. Many industrial processes are also going on in this tribal area which are emitting F into the environment. Chronic F exposure through these sources numbers of domestic animals are suffering with mild to severe F poisoning. However, dental fluorosis is more prevalent and rampant in this area. At 1.5-4.4ppm of F in drinking groundwater, 28.3-70.2% and 25.7-64.1% animals of different species (mainly bovines and flocks) are found to be afflicted with dental and skeletal fluorosis, respectively. Lameness and ankylosis bone deformities are the worst conditions of chronic F intoxication in these animals. >82% bovine calves are also suffering with fluorosis in this area. However, bovine animals are relatively severely afflicted with chronic F poisoning compared to flock animals. In the present communication, various sources of F exposure, different forms of fluorosis, diverse determinants, susceptibility of F toxicity, bio-indicators and biomarkers of chronic F poisoning, impact of endemic fluorosis on tribal economy, and the prevention and control of fluorosis have been considered and briefly and critically reviewed. Along with this, the shortcomings of the research have also been highlighted. The findings of this review may contribute to the formulation and implementation of health plan for mitigation and control of fluorosis in domestic animals of scheduled area of Rajasthan (India).

Keywords:Bio-indicators; Biomarkers; Dental fluorosis; Fluoride; Food-born fluorosis; Groundwater, Hydrofluorosis; Industrial fluorosis; Scheduled area; Skeletal fluorosis; Tribals; Rajasthan; India