Fluorine contamination in groundwater: a major challenge

Abstract

Fluoride in high concentration in groundwater has been reported from many parts of India. However, a systematic study is required to understand the behavior of fluoride in natural water in terms of local hydrogeological setting, climatic conditions, and agricultural practices. The present study is an attempt to assess hydrogeochemistry of groundwater in parts of Palar river basin pertaining to Kancheepuram district Tamil Nadu to understand the fluoride abundance in groundwater and to deduce the chemical parameters responsible for the dissolution activity of fluoride. The study area is geologically occupied by partly sedimentary and partly crystalline formations. A total of 50 dug cum borewell-water samples, representing an area of 2,628.92 km2. The results of the chemical analyses in September 2009 show fluoride abundance in the range of 1 to 3.24 mg/l with 86% of the samples in excess of the permissible limit of 1.5 mg/l. Presence of fluoride-bearing minerals in the host rock, chemical properties like decomposition, dissociation, and dissolution, and their interaction with water are considered to be the main causes for fluoride in groundwater. Chemical weathering with relatively high alkalinity favors high concentration of fluoride in groundwater. Villagers who consume nonpotable high fluoride water may suffer from yellow, cracked teeth; joint pains; and crippled limbs and also age rapidly.

Assessment of Fluoride Concentration in Groundwater in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, India

“…It was found that fluoride concentration ranged from 0.05-1.04 mg/L. In the study conducted by Dar MA et al ( 2009) in kanchipuram showed that fluoride abundance in the range of 1 to 3.24 mg/L [3] . Pradeep kumar et al (2011) showed ground water contamination of fluoride releases from fertilizer plants in Ennore showed fluoride concentration in the range of 0.98 to 1.04 mg/L which is similar to this present study [4].…”

“…The problem of high fluoride concentration in groundwater resources has now become one of the most important toxicological and geoenvironmental issues in kanchipuram [3]. The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of dyeing industrial effluents on the quality of groundwater in and around the Kanchipuram town with reference its fluoride concentration.…”

Principal component analysis of fluoride geochemistry of groundwater in Shanxi and Inner Mongolia, China

“…Therefore, OH − can replace the exchangeable F − from F-bearing minerals and enhance the F − concentration in groundwater (Dar et al, 2011;Guo et al, 2007). Fig.…”

Spatial assessment of groundwater quality in Mamundiyar basin, Tamil Nadu, India

“…The hydrology and geochemistry of waters have been further discussed in the classic works of Stumm and Morgan (1981), Hem (1991), Drever (1988), Domenico and Schwartz (1990a, b), Imran Ahmad Dar et al (2009), Imran Ahmad Dar et al (2010a, b) and Mithas Ahmad Dar et al (2010c). Adverse conditions increase investment in irrigations and health and decrease agricultural production, which, in turn, reduce agrarian economy and retard improvement in living conditions of rural people.…”