Fluoride Contamination in Groundwater, Around Bhopalpatnam Area, District-Bijapur, Chhattisgarh: Adverse Effect on Human Health

Abstract

In India many cases of fluorosis (dental and skeletal) have been reported in Archaean and Proterozoic granitic and gneissic t errain from Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh. The origin of hazardous fluoride is attributed to geological reasons. A systematic study is required to understand the behavior of fluoride in drinking water particularly in terms of hydrogeological settings, climatic conditions etc. The present study is an effort to assess hydrogeological study of groundwater in parts of Bhopalpatnam area, District-Bijapur, Chhattisgarh. The study is conducted to understand the fluoride contamination in groundwater and to infer the chemical parameters responsible for distribution of fluoride. The study area is underlain partly by crystalline basement and partly by Proterozoic sedimentary rocks (sandstone, shale and limestone). A total 57 water samples have been taken from dug cum bored wells from the study area in June 2015. The results of chemical analysis showed fluoride concentration from 0.12mg/l to 3.58mg/l. The fluoride bearing minerals in host rock interacted with groundwater and through chemical decomposition, dissociation, reactions dissolution fluoride concentration increased in groundwater. Chemical weathering with relatively high alkalinity favors high concentration of fluoride in Groundwater. Villagers have no option to drink high fluoride groundwater as a result they were badly suffered from dental and skeletal fluorosis.