Abstract
Hydrogeochemical investigation has been carried out in the granitic terrain of Siddipet area, Medak district, Telangana State, India with an aim to understand the distribution of fluoride in the groundwater and to understand the relationship of fluoride with other major ions, and also to identify the high fluoride-bearing groundwater zones. 104 groundwater samples were analyzed in the study area for fluoride and other major ions like calcium, magnesium, chloride, carbonate, bicarbonate, sodium, potassium, sulfate, and nitrate in addition to pH and electrical conductivity. The studies revealed that the concentration of fluoride in groundwater is ranging from 0.2 to 2.2 mg L−1 with a mean of 1.1 mg L−1. Nearly 22 % of groundwater has more than the permissible limit of fluoride (1.5 mg L−1), which is responsible for the endemic dental fluorosis in the area concerned. Geochemical classification of groundwater shows that Na–HCO3, Ca–Cl, and Ca–HCO3–Na are the dominant hydrochemical facies. Gibbs diagram shows rock–water interaction dominance and evaporation dominance, which are responsible for the change in the quality of water in the hard rock aquifer of the study area. The groundwater in villages and its environs are affected by fluoride contamination, and consequently majority of the population living in these villages suffer from dental fluorosis. Hence, they are advised to consume drinking water which has less than 1.5 mg L−1 fluoride to avoid further fluorosis risks.
Highlights
Fluorine is the lightest halogen and one of the most reactives of all chemical elements (Kaminsky et al 1990).Fluorine commonly occurs as a negatively charged ion in water, either in trace amounts or as a major ion with high concentrations (Gaciri and Ad Davis 1993; Apambire et al.1997; Fantong et al 2009)
The groundwater in villages and its environs are affected by fluoride contamination, and majority of the population living in these villages suffer from dental fluorosis
The possible sources of nitrates are poultry farms, animal wastages and septic tank leakages, and agricultural activities, which are noticed in the study area. These results suggest that groundwater has an elevated level of nitrate, greater than the drinking water guideline value of mg L-1 (WHO 2011)
Summary
Fluorine commonly occurs as a negatively charged ion in water, either in trace amounts or as a major ion with high concentrations (Gaciri and Ad Davis 1993; Apambire et al.1997; Fantong et al 2009). Fluorosis is a very dangerous and deadly disease affecting millions of people across the world. More than 200 million people from all over the world (among 25 nations) suffer from endemic fluorosis, caused mainly due to excess fluoride in drinking water (Ayoob and Gupta 2006; Hong-jian et al 2013; Moghaddam and Fijani 2008; Oruc 2008; Fordyce et al 2007; Ghosh et al 2013; Mesdaghinia et al 2010). Often above 1.5 mg L-1, constitutes a severe problem over a large part of India.
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