The fluoride content of Finnish honey

Abstract

The content of fluoride was determined with an ion-specific electrode on 59 samples of honey from 47 localities in Finland. The concentrations ranged from 25 to 550/µg/kg and the mean for all the localities was 85.7 µg F-/kg fresh weight honey. The concentrations were lowest in eastern and northern Finland, where the amount of fluoride in the soil is small, and higher on the coast and areas where more fluoride occurs in the groundwater and bedrock. However, the highest levels of fluoride in honey were detected in the vicinity of Helsinki and some other places where the amount in the groundwater is not especially high. The higher levels in some honey may be due to fluorides introduced into the environment by the activity of man. The effects of fluoride on human health are discussed.