FLUORIDE 31 (4) 1998 , pp 217-218	International Society for Fluoride Research	Table of Contents

Z Machoy and T Ogonski; Szczecin, Poland
Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry, Pomeranian Medical Academy,
Al. Powstanców Wlkp. 72, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland.

The 8th Fluorine Symposium was held in Szczecin on April 23-24, 1998 under the title "Fluorine and bioelements in biology and medicine". There were over 70 participants from academic centers in Poland. The program comprised six reports and 32 posters which were published in a book edition of 231 pages. Each Polish publication included titles and summaries in English. In his introductory address Professor Z Machoy explained that the program had been expanded to include problems concerning not only fluorine but other bioelements such as heavy metals. That extension allowed for wider discussion and exchange of viewpoints on the share of these elements in common metabolic exchanges.

The first report, by Dr Miklós Bély from the National Institute of Rheumatology, Budapest, Hungary, who is President of the International Society for Fluoride Research, was entitled " The structure and function of bone tissue and articular cartilage in osteofluorosis". Dr Bély had participated in an earlier fluorine symposium in Szczecin in 1988.

The first Polish lecturer was Prof Z Zablocki of the Agricultural Academy in Szczecin, who presented a paper, "Changes in the fluorine content of some components of the environment in the area affected by the ‘Police’ Chemical Works emissions in 1977-1996", which described how emissions from this biggest chemical plant caused fluorine contamination of the natural environment - air, water, soil as well as various species of plants - over the last 20 years.

An interesting report was presented by W Czarnowski, K Stolarska and K Krechniak of Gdansk, entitled "Exposure of hair to hydrogen fluoride in vitro". It dealt with the kinetics of fluorine accumulation in hair and described the degree to which fluorine is built into hair structure. For the study they utilized special equipment for determining fluorine in the hair of people professionally exposed to HF (hydrogen fluorine).

Extensive investigations were reported by a team of stomatologists from Poznan, directed by Prof M Borysewicz-Lewicka, in a paper entitled "Fluoride levels in infants and small children fed on different diets". The authors demonstrated that children fed naturally with mother’s milk had lower levels of urinary fluoride than children fed with unnatural mixtures. However, fluoride supplements to children for stomatological reasons must also contribute.

Workers from the State Veterinary Institute in Pulawy have for some years studied prenatal fluorine toxicology in animals. In her report "Prenatal toxicity of fluorine: summary of results from studies on rodents", Dr Minta described studies conducted on rats and hamsters. At F concentrations higher than 20 mg/L greater teratogenic sensitivity was shown by rats than by hamsters.

The last of the reports, entitled "Effects of sodium fluoride on bone turnover in growing rats", was presented by Dr A Bohatyrewicz from the Orthopedics and Traumatology Clinic in Szczecin. He described the parameters of bone reconstruction in female rats after administering sodium fluoride in drinking water at various concentrations. He reported a beneficial influence during the period of genital maturation of 6 to 12 weeks.

The poster presentations may be divided into subject groups involving problems associated with: fluorine analysis, enzymology, molecular biology, industrial toxicology, cell culture, and dynamics of fluorine cumulation in living organisms. There were 14 studies on humans, 14 on animals, and 4 on plants. Each presentation was followed by discussion. At the closing of the symposium, participants were informed that the next meeting would take place along with the World Conference of the International Society for Fluoride Research on June 11-14 in the year 2000, in Szczecin.

PUBLISHED BY THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR FLUORIDE RESEARCH
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FLUORIDE 31 (4) 1998 , pp 217-218	International Society for Fluoride Research
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