Effects of high-fluoride on neonatal neurobehavioural development

Objective To research the effects of excessive fluoride intake during pregnancy on neonatal neurobehavioural development and to evaluate the neurodevelopment toxicity of fluoride. Methods Randomly selected 91 normal neonates delivered at the departments of obstetrics and gynecology in the five hospitals of Zhaozhou county Heilongjiang province from Dec 2002 to Jan 2003. They were divided into two groups-high-fluoride group and control group, according to the fluoride content in the drinking water of pregnant women living areas. The fluoride content in the urine of the pregnant women was determined, respectively with fluoride ion selective electrode method, and NBNA(neonatal behavioural neurological assessment) score as an effect indicator. Results The results showed that the urinary fluoride levels of maternal from the high-fluoride group were obviously higher than those of the control group. There were significant differences in NBNA total score and neonatal behavioural score between the endemic area group and the control group. There also were significant differences in nonbiological visual orientation reaction (NBVOR) and biological visual and auditory orientation reaction (BVAOR). Conclusions Fluoride is a neurodevelopment toxic. Excessive fluoride intake during pregnancy can cause adverse effects on neonatal neurobehavioural development.