A review of global outlook on fluoride contamination in groundwater with prominence on the Pakistan current situation

Abstract

Several million people are exposed to fluoride (F) via drinking water in the world. Current review emphasized the elevated level of fluoride concentrations in the groundwater and associated potential health risk globally with a special focus on Pakistan. Millions of people are deeply dependent on groundwater from different countries of the world encompassing with an elevated level of fluoride. The latest estimates suggest that around 200 million people, from among 25 nations the world over, are under the dreadful fate of fluorosis. India and China, the two most populous countries of the world, are the worst affected. In Pakistan, fluoride data of 29 major cities are reviewed and 34% of the cities show fluoride levels with a mean value greater than 1.5 mg/L where Lahore, Quetta and Tehsil Mailsi are having the maximum values of 23.60, 24.48, > 5.5 mg/L, respectively. In recent years, however, other countries have minimized, even eliminated its use due to health issues. High concentration of fluoride for extended time period causes adverse effects of health such as skin lesions, discoloration, cardiovascular disorders, dental fluorosis and crippling skeletal fluorosis. This review deliberates comprehensive strategy of drinking water quality in the global scenario of fluoride contamination, especially in Pakistan with prominence on major pollutants, mitigation technologies, sources of pollution and ensuing health problems. Considering these verities, health authorities urgently need to establish alternative means of water decontamination in order to prevent associated health problems.

Correlation of Water Fluoride with Body Fluids, Dental Fluorosis and FT4, FT3 –TSH Disruption among Children in an Endemic Fluorosis area in Pakistan

“…Currently, fluorosis is endemic in many areas of Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab, affecting millions of people with a remarkable ratio of children [2]. However, the problem of excessive fluoride in ground water is widespread throughout the world and approximately 200 million individuals among 25 countries are under the terrible providence of fluorosis including India, China, Sri Lanka, Spain, Italy, West Indies and America [3][4][5][6][7]. For example in India alone 21 states out of 29 and 65 million people including 6 million children are affected by fluorosis [8][9].…”

“…For example in India alone 21 states out of 29 and 65 million people including 6 million children are affected by fluorosis [8][9]. In Pakistan, out of 29 major cities 34% had water fluoride greater than 1.5 × 10 6 ng/L including Lahore, Quetta and Tehsil Mailsi with maximum values of 23.6 ×10 6 and 24.48 ×10 6 ng/L, respectively [7]. A large number of human activities increase fluoride in the environment, including chemical production plants, waste pools, production of aluminum, steel, glass, enamel, brick, tile, pottery, and cement, manufacture of fluoride containing chemicals, phosphate fertilizers and metal casting, welding, and brazing [10] In 2002, a study reported in India showed fluorosis in 10% of children, even when the concentration of fluoride in water was 1.0 ×10 6 ng/L [11].…”

La sphère orale, cible et marqueur de l’exposition environnementale

“…La fluorose dentaire est, comme la MIH, une pathologie du développement de l'émail, qui, comme cette dernière, provoque des tâches opaques blanchâtres à brunâtres, ce qui peut, dans certains cas, poser des problèmes de diagnostic entre les deux pathologies. La fluorose touche moins de 3 % des enfants en France, mais près de 200 millions de personnes dans le monde, réparties dans 25 pays [32]. La dose de fluor prophylactique est évaluée à 0,05 mg/ kg/j.…”

Variación espacio-temporal de arsénico y flúor en el agua subterránea de la ciudad de Durango, México

“…Sin embargo, también se debe considerar que estos cambios pueden ser respuesta de la gran influencia que tiene la evaporación e infiltración en las concentraciones de F en las regiones áridas de México y en otras partes del mundo (Rasool et al, 2017).…”