Fluoride concentrations in the pineal gland, brain and bone of goosander (Mergus merganser) and its prey in Odra River estuary in Poland

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate fluoride concentrations in bone, brain and pineal gland of goosander Mergus merganser wintering in the Odra estuary (Poland) as well as in fish originating from its digestive tract. The fluoride concentrations were determined with potentiometric method. Medians of concentrations in goosander had the highest and the lowest values in pineal gland and brain ([760 and \190 mg/kg, respectively). Fluoride concentration in the pineal gland was significantly greater than in the bone and the brain of the duck. In fish, the fluoride concentration ranged from 37 to 640 mg/kg and significant correlation was revealed between the fluoride concentration and fish weight and length. Based on own results and data of other authors, a daily fluoride intake by the goosander in the Odra estuary was estimated at 15 mg. So high fluoride concentrations like in the duck have not been found in mammal brains.

Pineal Calcification, Melatonin Production, Aging, Associated Health Consequences and Rejuvenation of the Pineal Gland

“…One of them is fluoride. It was reported that the pineal gland in goosander concentrates fluoride which is a water pollutant [ 290 ]. The level of fluoride in the pineal gland of goosander was 5-fold higher than that it in the brain of the animal.…”

Fluoride and Pineal Gland

“…In the pineal glands taken from the common merganser (Mergus merganser), Kalisińska et al [1] recorded very high fluoride contents (mean > 1000 mg/kg dw), which even exceed the concentrations observed in the bones of these birds. Such a high concentration of fluoride in the gland is explained by the incompleteness of the blood-brain barrier in birds, which facilitates the penetration of various substances into the central nervous system.…”

“…The effect of fluoride on the human body is characterized by a very narrow margin of safety, which means that even relatively low concentrations may cause various adverse or even toxic effects [1][2][3][4][5]. The risk naturally increases with the intensity and duration of the exposure, with long-term exposure resulting in chronic poisoning [6,7].…”

“…One of the most interesting soft tissues able to accumulate fluoride is the pineal gland [1,[52][53][54][55]. However, while knowledge of the calcification of this organ dates back to the 17th century [56], the first reports on its accumulation of fluoride appeared only in the mid-1990s [54].…”

Fluoride Adsorption onto Soil Adsorbents: The Role of pH and Other Solution Parameters

“…Nonetheless, the excessive levels of fluoride in the environment pose major public health challenges in many regions of the world [2]. Dietary fluoride overexposure has been linked to a series of detrimental physiological effects [3] and it is known to lead to serious mottling of teeth enamel and gross skeletal malformations [4]. Continued dependence on fluoride-enriched water by communities in high-fluoride areas is the principal conduit by which people get exposed to undue levels of fluoride from the environment.…”