Groundwater fluoride contamination in Coimbatore district: a geochemical characterization, multivariate analysis, and human health risk perspective

Abstract

In this paper, fluoride geochemistry and health risk of groundwater in Coimbatore district is studied. The order of dominance of ions were HCO3 > Cl > SO4 > CO3 and Na > Ca > Mg > K. Alkaline groundwater and the dominance of HCO3 and Na is favourable for the fluoride enrichment. Around 46% of the samples, N–NE regions, have F− higher than permissible limit of 1.5 mg/L. Pink granites, charnockite and gneisses in lithology is the possible origin of F−. However, NO3 vs F plot shows positive trend in some samples, indicating anthropogenic inputs of F−. Correlation plots of F− was trending positive with pH, HCO3 and Na and but negative for Ca, indicating the control of these ions in F− mobility. This result is supported by undersaturation of fluorite and supersaturation of carbonates. Four significant principal components were derived, which have explained 87% of the total variation. PC1 has high factor loadings for EC, Ca, Mg Na, Cl, SO4, NO3 indicating both natural and anthropogenic influences. PC2, PC3 and PC4 have higher loading for pH and HCO3, K and HCO3 and F−, respectively, indicating geogenic factors in the F− enrichment. Human health risk assessment (HHRA) by ingestion and dermal pathways were calculated using Hazard Quotient HQ and Hazard Index (HI). 27% of males, 36% of females and 39% of the children have HI > 1, posing noncarcinogenic risks.

Estimation of fluoride content in various drinking water sources available in Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu, South India

“…A similar study by Kumar in 2020 reported that the fluoride concentration in the groundwater in Coimbatore was between 0.47 and 2.03 ppm and the results correlated with the present study. [ 12 ] In another study by Jothivenkatachalam et al .,[ 13 ] the fluoride concentration in groundwater from Madukkarai, (Coimbatore South Zone) was between 0.2 and 1.5 ppm. In our study, the bore well water from Madukkarai had a fluoride concentration of 1.0 ppm, which is in accordance with the previous study.…”

Achieving the One Health Goal: Highlighting Groundwater Quality and Public Health

“…Some examples of these journals include Exposure and Health, Human and Ecological Risk Assessment, and Environmental Geochemistry and Health, presenting many papers reporting on the effects of geoenvironmental factors on human health [26][27][28][29][30]. In addition, some water-and geology-related journals also published a number of papers regarding water quality and public health [31][32][33]. Most recently, Fida et al [34] reviewed the pollution status of water in Pakistan, where many people do not have access to safe and healthy drinking water, and summarized the significant health problems associated with the low-quality drinking water.…”

Groundwater evaluation of northern Jazmourian (south Iran) for drinking, agriculture, and associated health risks of nitrate and fluoride contamination

“…About 80% of all diseases across the world have resulted from the use of poor-quality water (Qasemi et al 2019). Many nations have faced Fand NO 3 contaminated waters, some of them include India Kumar 2021), China (Chen et al 2017;Su et al 2021), Pakistan (Arshad and Imran 2017;Hameed et al 2021), and Sri Lanka (Rajasooriyar et al 2013). Chen et al (2016) studied nitrate pollution and associated health risk in Ningxia, China.…”