Is there a medical test to determine whether i have been exposed to fluorides, hydrogen fluoride, and fluorine?
Urine and blood samples can be analyzed to find out if you have been exposed to fluorides. The fluoride level in the sample is compared with the level of fluoride usually found in urine or blood. This will show if a person has been exposed recently to higher-than-normal levels of fluorides. However, this test cannot be used to predict any specific health effects that may occur after fluoride exposure. The test must be performed soon after exposure because fluoride that is not stored in the bones leaves the body within a few days. This test can be done at most laboratories that test for chemical exposure. Bone sampling can be done in special cases to measure long-term exposure to fluorides. Because fluorides, hydrogen fluoride, and fluorine all enter the body as fluoride, these tests cannot distinguish among exposure to these different chemicals.
