Health risk assessment of fluoride with other parameters in ground water of Sikar city (India)

Abstract

Geochemical processes are identified as controlling factors of groundwater chemistry, including chemical leaching and fluoride contaminations. These geochemical processes are identified using characterization of the major physico-chemical parameters of ground water from northern part of Sikar city. For this purpose, 15 ground water samples have collected and analyzed for different water quality parameters, such as pH, EC, TDS, TH, TA, DO, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, carbonate, bicarbonate, chloride, nitrate, sulfate and fluoride with the help of standard methods recommended by American Public Health Association. The analysis indicated that fluoride concentrations in four samples are at alarming state as compared to the World Health Organization standards for drinking purposes, thereby suggesting the need for treatment and precautionary measures for use of the particular ground water. The increased fluoride level in the ground water of Sikar city is due to the some geological process such as dissolution of fluoride rich mineral (fluorspar) in the favorable environment. To classify the ground water ability for different purposes various graphical plots like Piper tri-linear, Durov, Schoeller, Bar, Scatter diagrams have been drawn. On the basis of physico-chemical, graphical and statistical analysis (Spearman’s Rank correlations), various dimension of improving water quality for drinking purposes have also been suggested.