Abstract
Groundwater contamination by fluoride is a typical problem associated with most of the regions in India. Mining of minerals can accelerate the dissolution of fluoride resulting in the further contamination of groundwater resources. The present study was undertaken to determine the concentration of fluoride in groundwater around the Bakhrija sandstone mine located in Haryana state, India. It was observed that the groundwater in immediate vicinity of the mine had relatively higher level of dissolved fluoride. The risk associated with consumption of fluoride contaminated groundwater was also observed to be higher in villages adjacent to the mines. The geochemical investigation suggested that dissolution of carbonate minerals may have resulted in solubilisation of fluoride in groundwater through the process of ion-exchange. The study concluded that fluoride level may rise in the other nearby regions if the intensity of mining increases. It may result in further spread of fluoride to other aquifers located around Bakhrija mine, if suitable environmental management plan is not developed.
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