RT Report
T1 Fluorine and Fluorides: Environmental Health Criteria 36
A1 United Nations Environment Programme, 
A1 World Health Organization, 
A1 International Labour Organisation, 
K1 chemical
K1 environmental health
K1 fluoride
K1 fluorine
K1 chemical analysis
K1 carcinogen
SN 92 4 154096 6
YR 1984
FD 1984
LK https://wedocs.unep.org/handle/20.500.11822/29338
UL https://wedocs.unep.org/handle/20.500.11822/29338
NO The terms 'fluorine" and 'fluoride' are used interchangeably in the literature as generic terms. In this document, the terminology suggested by US NAS (1971) is followed: "This document, rather than following common usage, uses the term "fluoride" as a general term everywhere, where exact differentiation between ionic and molecular forms or between gaseous and particulate forms is uncertain or unnecessary. The term covers all combined forms of the element, regardless of chemical form, unless there is a specific reason to stress the gaseous elemental form F2, in which case the term "fluorine" is used."  Fluorine and fluorides occur ubiquitously in the environment, and because of their wide and growing use in industrial processes, their environmental importance is increasing. The use of fluorides in dental health care products is also growing. Compounds dealt with in this document, besides fluorine, include hydrogen fluoride, alkali fluorides, fluorspar, cryolite, fluoroapatite, other inorganic fluoride compounds, and certain organic fluorides that release fluoride when metabolized.
DS UN Environment Document Repository
RD Sep 19, 2026