EN
Fluoride content was assayed in 49 samples of marketable black or herb tea, and in 15 samples of full day's food rations collected from three hospital canteens. Fluoride was determined by spectrophotometry with the Belcher's reagent using a microdiffusion procedure and the mixture of concentrated perchloric acid and silver sulfate to release fluoride from the sample. The recovery of the method was 95 to 118% within the concentration range of 1 do 5 g F per sample (1-2 g). Fluoride content of the black tea, the herb tea with the addition of the black tea, and the herb tea alone, was found to range from 30 to 380 ppm, from 16 to 155 ppm, and from zero to 5 ppm, respectively. Based upon these findings a conclusion may be drawn that if fluorine extraction amounting to 40 - 90% from the black tea into tea infusion occurs, a daily intake of three glasses of tea infusion provides for about 40% of a daily adult's demand for this element. Average daily intake of fluoride from the full day's hospital food ration was found to amount to 1.2 mg (ranging from 0.308 to 3.47 mg per person). These results were found to conform nearly with those obtained by other authors.