Fluoride in mandibles and antlers of roe and red deer from different areas of England and Scotland

Abstract

Fluoride concentrations were measured in mandibles of 112 male roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) aged 1–6 years, from 5 localities in England and Scotland; also in bone from sections cut in series from orbit to antler-top of 10 other roe deer. Fluoride concentrations in mandibles were mostly within values expected from unpolluted areas, but approached those expected from moderately polluted areas at the upper end of their range, which extended from 43 to 901 μg g −1. There were large variations in mandibular fluoride content between individual animals within each age group, and an upward trend of fluoride content with increasing age. There were also considerable differences in mandibular fluoride content between localities. No gradient in fluoride concentration was evident between the upper part of the skull and various points along the antler in 9 roe deer. A tenth animal showed an increase of 65% in fluoride concentration between the skull and the top of the antler, with exceptionally high values ranging from 1220 to 2010 μ g −1. For 3 red deer (Cervus elaphus), no significant differences in fluoride concentrations were found between trabecular and cortical antler bone.