Occurrence of fluoride in ground waters of Saudi Arabia

Abdulrahman I Alabdulaaly,Mujahid A Khan,Abdullah I Al-Zarah

doi:10.1007/s13201-013-0105-2

Abdulrahman I Alabdulaaly, Mujahid A Khan + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s13201-013-0105-2

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Abstract

The presence of elevated levels of fluoride in groundwater is considered a global problem. Fluoride in water derives mainly from dissolution of natural minerals in the rocks and soils with which water interacts. The most common fluorine-bearing minerals are fluorite, apatite and micas. Anthropogenic sources of fluoride include agricultural fertilizers and combustion of coal. In the present research, a survey of wells (n = 1,060) was undertaken in all the 13 regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to assess the contained fluoride (F) levels. The results indicated variation in fluoride levels from 0.10 to 5.4 mg/L as F throughout the kingdom. The average fluoride levels in milligrams per liter as F were as follows in descending order: 1.80 (Hadwood Shamalyah), 1.37 (Hail), 1.33 (Eastern Province), 1.16 (Al Jouf), 1.11 (Qassim), 1.01 (Riyadh), 0.90 (Madina Al Munnawara), 0.81 (Tabouk), 0.74 (Makkah Al- Mukaramma), 0.73 (Jizan), 0.66 (Asir), 0.64 (Najran), and 0.60 (Al Baha). The results indicated that fluoride levels exceeded the USEPA maximum contaminant limits for drinking water (4 mg/L) in several wells (n = 7) in different regions of the kingdom and that 13.96 % of the wells exceeded the World Health Organization recommended levels (1.5 mg/L). The results were also compared with the secondary USEPA contaminant standards of 2.0 mg/L for fluorides.

Highlights

Fluoride is an essential element for both humans and animals, and its behavior in drinking water is vital
The results indicated that fluoride levels exceeded the USEPA maximum contaminant limits for drinking water (4 mg/L) in several wells (n = 7) in different regions of the kingdom and that 13.96 % of the wells exceeded the World Health Organization recommended levels (1.5 mg/L)
Groundwater samples were collected from wells (n = 1,060) located in all 13 regions of Saudi Arabia (Fig. 1)

Summary

Introduction

Fluoride is an essential element for both humans and animals, and its behavior in drinking water is vital. The problems associated with high fluoride content in groundwater in the dry zone of Sri Lanka are well known (Lennon et al 2004). In Guadiana Valley, drinking water supply is obtained from underground wells and is characterised by a high content of fluoride. About 28 % of the wells in the region have drinking water with fluoride concentration above the WHO recommended level. Mgalela (1997) reported high fluoride groundwater in some parts of Gokwe district in Zimbabwe. He recommended a thorough mapping of all wells of this area to delineate those with fluoride content above optimum level. Skeletal fluorosis (with adverse changes in bone structure) may be observed when drinking water contains 3–6 mg of fluoride per liter, with high water consumption. Children aged 8 years and younger exposed to excessive amounts of fluoride have an increased chance of developing pits in the tooth enamel, along with a range of cosmetic effects to teeth (USEPA 2012)

Materials and methods

Results and discussion

Conclusions and recommendations