Fluoride

Fluoride Latest News

The Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam confirmed the presence of excessive fluoride in 120 hamlets, affecting nearly 2 lakh people. Some villages recorded fluoride levels of 2 mg/L or more, exceeding the safe limit of 1-1.5 mg/L. 

What is Fluoride?

• Fluoride is a naturally occurring element found in groundwater.
• The national drinking water limit for fluoride is 1.50 mg/L.
• Excessive fluoride consumption can cause skeletal fluorosis, accelerate dental decay, and pose serious health risks, particularly for children.

Other Groundwater Contaminants in India 

• Apart from fluoride, India's groundwater is also contaminated with several other harmful elements:
• Arsenic Contamination: Found in West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, covering 90% of arsenic contamination cases in India.
• Uranium Contamination: Found in 12 states, including Punjab.
• Iron Contamination: Severe in states like Rajasthan, Jharkhand, and Assam.
• Other contaminants, such as antimony, cadmium, copper, and barium, also pose risks, leading to toxicity, hypertension, and liver and kidney damage.

States with High Fluoride Contamination

• Rajasthan has the highest fluoride contamination in India.
• Other affected states include Telangana, western Andhra Pradesh, and eastern Karnataka.
• Fluoride levels spike during the dry, summer pre-monsoon months, with arid regions in western India showing higher contamination than humid areas.

Fluoride FAQs

Q1. What is fluoride?
Ans. Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral found in water, soil, and food, known for preventing tooth decay.

Q2. How does fluoride affect human health?
Ans. In small amounts, it strengthens teeth, but excessive fluoride causes fluorosis, leading to dental and skeletal damage.

Q3. What is the permissible fluoride level in drinking water?
Ans. According to WHO, the safe limit is 1.5 mg/L, while the BIS limit in India is 1.0 mg/L.

Source: IE