High levels of fluoride in groundwater from Northern parts of Indo-Gangetic plains reveals detrimental fluorosis health risks

Abstract

Fluoride contamination in groundwater is a worldwide phenomenon. Excess fluoride in drinking water causes serious health risks, and as a result, fluoride contamination of water resources is a global concern. In this study, an attempt has been made to provide the distribution of fluoride and related non-carcinogenic health hazards to local individual groups (males, females, and children separately) in the fluoride endemic region of Patiala, Punjab located in the Northern Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP). The study shows that the dissolved groundwater fluoride concentration ranged between 1.5 and 9.2 mg/L with ∼98% of the sampling locations having fluoride levels higher than the permissible limit. Samples collected from deeper aquifers (>284 m bgl) showed ∼27% more fluoride contamination compared to those collected from <284 m bgl. Maximum incidence of elevated fluoride concentrations was observed in the eastern part of the study area in-sync with groundwater movement. The hazard quotient of fluoride (HQFluoride) calculated to assess the non-carcinogenic health risk was higher than the unitary value in all individual groups suggesting a prevalence of distressful fluorosis and chronic health risk. Results show that the children are the most vulnerable to fluoride toxicity followed by males and females. Our results are consistent with the recent trends in an increase in dental, skeletal fluorosis, and liver functional damage problems reported in children and adults of the studied region. The study area, therefore, needs the urgent attention of policymakers and government agencies to implement proper water management and cost-effective fluoride remedial measures to reduce the current and future chronic health risks associated with high fluoride intake.