REV.CHIM.(Bucharest)♦69♦No.7♦2018 http://www.revistadechimie.ro 1901 *e-mail:anca.porumb@yahoo.com # Authors with equal contribution Radioactivity - Risk Factor in Oral Health and of Structural Dental Anomalies CODRUTA VICTORIA TIGMEANU 1# , RAMONA AMINA POPOVICI 1 , ANCA PORUMB 2 * # , ANGELA CODRUTA PODARIU 1 , LAVINIA ARDELEAN 1 , IUSTIN OLARIU 3 , ION VIRGIL CORLAN 1 , MIHAELA FLORICA ADOMNICAI 1 , ALEXANDRA ROI 1 1 Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Department I, 2 Eftimie Murgu Sq., 300041, Timisoara, Romania 2 University of Oradea, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Department of Dental Medicine, 10, 1 Decembrie Str., 410068, Oradea, Romania 3 Vasile Goldis West University Arad, Faculty of Dental Medicine, 94 Revoluiei Blvd., 310130Arad, Romania The dentition goes through a complex process of development, a process that can be influenced by internal and external factors. Our study was perfomed on a group of 1673 children from different areas in Bihor county. The uranium mining exploitation in this specific area is very popular, but with an unfortunate consequence: pollution. This factor has had a great impact upon the workers, but also the surrounding areas. The aim of the present epidemiological study is to evaluate the incidence of dental anomalies upon the targeted group and to identify the correlation between the impact of the pollution upon the development of the dentition. All the data was obtained during a clinical examination, documented and afterwards statistically analyzed. Our study concluded that the examined subjects presented with a high percentage of structural dental anomalies, with an average incidence in the polluted areas that can be explained by the interactions that occur and the influence of the radioactive substances upon the development. Keywords: Pollution, uranium, dental anomalies, incidence, radioactivity. When we talk about the development of the dentition we must take into consideration that the development process is a complex one, that can be highly exposed to various internal and external factors. There are important stages during the process of development that can be affected by genetic or environmental or an influence of both can cause important alterations that can lead to dental anomalies of number and structure. In the present study, our focus group in located in Oradea, Bihor county, an area that is largely exposed to uranium. The uranium mining exploitation is very popular in this area, and the fast development of the mining activity has led to an increased pollution factor that had a big impact upon the population from the surrounding places [1]. The concerning in regard to this important aspect stood up as a motivation towards the need to evaluate and asses the risk of the development of dental anomalies among the population. The main activity of exploration, exploitation and proceesing of the uranium has arisen in Bihor county in 1949. The important research work has started in 1950, when the ore at Baita became one of the greatest uranium mining exploitation in the world, from 1950 to 1960 [2]. Although the continuous evolution of the industry was welcomed, it also had a negative impact upon the concerning pollution factor. The progress could be quatified in the development of several cities as ª tei and Nucet, Baita village and Baita-Plai. The positive fact that came along with the growth of the industry influenced the standard of living and civilization in the villages nearby [1]. The elements that could be found were radioactive, with a few chemical, physical characteristics of other elements as well, being mainly responsible for the pollution.The main radioactive substances that could be found and be involved in the pollution process are: genuine uranium (pollution of the air and water), radium 226 and radon 222 (found in maximum concetration) [3,4].The radioactivity can be quatified due to the the presence in air, water, soil, vegetation, animals and especially the human body of certain substances with a radioactive potential. It has been certified that during the last 50 years the natural radioactivity of this specific locations presented significant variations due to an incresed human involvement [4,5]. The contamination involved the occupationally exposed workers, but also the population from all the surrounding area, being mainly possibile due to the fact that all the radioactive elements of the uranium family had a leading role in the pollution factor [6]. A working enviromental that implies radioactive ore extraction can lead to major additional risks and exposures for the workers, the pollution itself can spread and determine the existance of a high risk area, including for the living population nearby [7]. The importance of pollution by radioactive elements derivated from the uranium family can be evaluated according to each environmental factor in particular, being considered that the most affected factor is water [8]. The importance in the use and release of these water in this specific area raised an important concers regarding the health of the population [9]. A continuous evaluation of the water in order to determine the radioactive charge became in the last years a matter of a great interest, especially when its purpose was for domestic use. In almost all areas where the mining industry has developed, it accumulates over time in the leaves or fruits of spontaneous flora or crop plants, heavy metals, and radiocations, depending on the metal content of the mined ores. Prolonged exposure of plants to high concentrations of heavy metals such as radioactive or sterile copper- containing uranium may become a potential hazard to consumers and their health. Accumulation of metals with toxic potential is mainly in the leaves of plants considered