Abstract
The Fluoride concentration of water sources from part of Yobe State has been investigated, Fluoride levels in Pond water is between 0.71 and 1.36 mg/l, Dugwells concentration is from 0.00 to 1.5mg/l. The sampled water from tube wells and boreholes have concentrations ranges of 0.65-1.5 mg/l and 0.00- 2.2 mg/l respectively with the level of concentration being a function of depth. Health risk assessment have revealed three classes of risk in terms of Fluoride concentration levels in the water with 16 samples representing 14.3% falling within the Risk class of 1.5≤ R≤ 2.5(risk). Individual consuming such water have the tendency of getting dental fluorosis. Origins of Fluoride in the water are from Fluoride bearing minerals like Micas, Amphiboles, Illites, Apatite, Topaz, and Cryolite which occur in the sandy and clayey layers, anthropogenic sources from agricultural and irrigated land and leachate from dumps are the other possible sources of Fluoride in the tube wells and ponds water respectively. The dissolution, distribution and concentration of Fluoride in groundwater in the area are favoured by the high temperature high evapotranspiration rate and low rainfall situation of the semi-arid climate. Geochemical situation that allowed the leaching of Fluoride into the water are; high Alkaline or soda water environment, anion exchange of OH for F of the aquifer material, water residence time in the aquifer and type of climate. Drab and Sierozem Soil types control and facilitate the mobility and leaching of Fluoride in arid and semi-arid area. Generally the result has shown the area to have medium to average concentration of Fluoride in its waters with the highest value slightly above the 1.5 mg/l of WHO (2011) safe limit for drinking water. Periodic monitoring of Fluoride in the water sources is recommended so as to minimize the chances of people taking in water with high undesirable harmful Fluoride concentration.
Highlights
Fluorine is a member of the Halogen family of group (VII) of the periodic table of elements
Fluoride concentration in groundwater or in an aquifer will solely depend on factors which includes among others, fluoride concentration of the minerals in the surrounding, Mohammad Yerima Kwaya et al.: Appraisal of Fluoride Concentration, Distribution and Geogenic Origin in Ground and Surface Water from Semi-Arid Region, Part of Yobe State North-eastern Nigeria mineral decomposition, dissociation and dissolution rates, resident time of groundwater in the rock or aquifer and the reaction kinetics, these factors will determine the solubility of Fluorite in the water in a given type of aquifer, [6]
The positive benefits of fluorides intake in drinking water is that of prevention of tooth decay and Caries in children, Concentration level of less than 0.5 mg/l in water can lead to the risk of tooth decay
Summary
Fluorine is a member of the Halogen family of group (VII) of the periodic table of elements. Being the most chemically active element among its pairs and a strong oxidant, it does not occur in the free elemental state in nature It account for about 0.3 g/kg of the earth’s crust were it exists as Fluoride in a number of minerals like Fluorspar, Cryolite, Fluoroapatite, Fluorite, Villiaumite, Silicates Micas, Apatite, Amphiboles and Topaz, [1], [2], [3] and [4]. These minerals can occur either as evaporates or detrital grains in sedimentary rocks or as Composition of crystalline rocks in bedrock aquifers, still it is considered a trace or less abundant element on earth because it constitute only 0.06-0.09% of the earth crust, [5]. Negative harmful effects of high Fluoride consumption in water studied, elevated Fluoride intake of 3-6 mg/l can lead to skeletal fluorosis (change in bone structure) and crippling skeletal fluorosis will occur when concentration of 10 mg/l is taken in water [8]
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