Fluoride enrichment in an alluvial aquifer with its subsequent effect on human health in Birbhum district, West Bengal, India.
This research work primarily deals with the geochemistry and genesis of fluoride (F-) in an alluvial aquifer with an emphasis on prevalence of dental and skeletal fluorosis among the endemic population. Hydrogeochemical outcomes reveal that chemical weathering and ion-exchange phenomena are the two dominant processes that make study area groundwater into NaHCO3water type. Presence of intercalated zeolite rich sediments (FTotal412-446 mg/kg) having higher ion-exchange capacity (120-125 meq/100 g) within the aquifer is the source and mobilizing factors of F-in groundwater respectively. Laboratory experiment further justifies higher desorption potential of aquifer sediments at the groundwater pH of 6.5-7.5. Health survey reveals that out of 235 studied population 60% suffer from dental fluorosis while females >30 years of age became exposed early to osteoporosis disease.
Department of Environmental Science, The University of Burdwan, Burdwan, India.
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D
Mondal
Department of Environmental Science, The University of Burdwan, Burdwan, India. Electronic address: srimantagupta@yahoo.co.in.
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S
Gupta
Isotope Hydrology, National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI), Uppal Road, Hyderabad, 500007, India.
D V
DV
Reddy
Department of Environmental Science, The University of Burdwan, Burdwan, India.
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G
Dutta
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005459:Fluorides / Q000032:analysis*; D009050:Fluorosis, Dental / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis*; D060587:Groundwater / Q000737:chemistry*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D055815:Young Adult; D017641:Zeolites
D017641:Zeolites; D005459:Fluorides
Bone mineral density; F(−) geochemistry; TF index; Zeolite