Abstract Fluorosis badly endangers the health of the people in the southwest and northwest of China. Fluorine is one of the essential trace elements in human body, but extra amount of fluorine will cause fluorosis: dental fluorosis or crippling fluorosis. This paper summarizes the tragic and stirring history of preparation of fluorine, introduces the special properties of fluorine. Moreover, this paper discusses the dialectic relationship between fluorine and human health,introduces the mechanism and symptom of fluorosis and causes of fluorosis in southwest of China, and put forwards countermeasures to eliminate fluorosis.
