Studies on Toxicity of Fluoride and Impact of Endemic Fluorosis from Groundwater Resources of Bagalkot District, Karnataka – Geospatial Information System Approach

Abstract

Abstract Fluorine is most electronegative element, never occurs in free state due to its high reactivity. In most of the places of the world drinking water from underground sources is invariably contaminated with fluoride. The concentration of fluoride according to the WHO standard allowed upper limit is 1.5 ppm whereas as per Indian standard, the allowed upper limit is 1.0 mg/litre. Fluoride ion gets contaminated in drinking water due to weathering of the soil and rocks and the groundwater sources of granite belt of Bagalkot district, contain much higher concentration of fluoride (up to 6 or 7 ppm). In this survey it is found that the concentration of fluoride even at 1.34 ppm has caused tooth decay with the permanent brown scales on the teeth.