Can People Get Fluorosis from Drinking Water from Surface Water Sources? Fluoride Test of Water Mandatory Before its Supply

Abstract

It is true that the groundwater of most areas of the world is almost fluoridated with varying concentrations. There are many countries, including India, whose drinking groundwater contains fluoride more than the parameters set by World Health Organization (WHO) that is 1.5 ppm. Drinking such fluoridated water repeatedly and for a long time causes dangerous fluorosis disease in people. This disease remains life-long in people and there is no permanent cure till now. Thousands of people around the world are suffering from this disease. Generally, the water of surface water sources (puddles, rivers, canals, streams, lakes, ponds, dams, reservoirs, etc.) is considered to be free of fluoride. However, according to WHO, its quantity in the water of different surface water sources has been estimated from 0.01 to 0.3 ppm. But recent studies revealed that in many of these freshwater sources, the amount of fluoride was found to be more than 1.0 ppm or 1.5 ppm. If such water is used for drinking for long time, then the health of the people gets affected and there is a possibility of getting dreaded fluorosis disease. Due to fluorosis, people’s teeth become weak and discoloured (dental fluorosis) and their diverse skeletal bones become porous, weak, and deformed (skeletal fluorosis). People also become hunchbacked (kyphosis) and lame (crippling) for life due to this disease. Many health complaints such as gastrointestinal discomforts, polydipsia, polyuria, repeated abortion, impaired reproduction and endocrines, neurological disorders, etc. are also found in people afflicted with chronic fluoride intoxication. If animals also start drinking this water for a long time, then they also get this dangerous disease. In rural areas, this water is also used for agricultural irrigation which also causes serious anomalies in diverse species of agriculture crop plants and ultimately reduces annual agricultural yield. However, before supplying drinking water to the human population from any of surface water sources, the water of these sources must be tested for evidence of fluoride. From the point of view of health, if the amount of fluoride is found to be more than the prescribed parameters, the water supply of such water sources should not be done as far as possible. The present communication highlights various potential adverse consequences in humans from drinking water from surface water sources containing fluoride above the permissible or acceptable limit or level.