Assessment of Fluoride Content in the Ground Water of Different Villages of Mangladevi Region

 

S. K. Pagariya¹*, R.F.Pagariya², A. S. Pagariya³

¹Department of Applied Chemistry, Jawaharlal Darda Institute of Engineering and Technology, MIDC, Lohara, Yavatmal-445001 (India).

²Department of Chemistry, R.A.Arts, M.K. Commerce and Shri. S.R. Rathi Science College, Washim-444505 (India).

³Department of Pharmacy, Ishwar Deshmukh Institute of Pharmacy, Digras, Dist: Yavatmal - 445203 (India)

*Corresponding Author E-mail: sushilpagariya@gmail.com

 

Most of the people in rural areas depend on bore wells, open wells and hand pumps for drinking water. The present investigation was undertaken to study the level of fluoride ions in the groundwater of Mangladevi region by collecting 32 samples of the groundwater from 14 different villages during February 2013 to March 2013. The fluoride concentration in the underground water of these villages varied from 0.00 mg/l to 1.98 mg/l. Majority of the water samples were within permissible limits according to  Indian as well as WHO standards except the samples SKP-15, SKP-16, SKP-17 and SKP-18 of north zone of Mangladevi region which are above the permissible limit (>1.5 mg/l).Also dental and skeletal fluorosis was noticed in Dhamak and Kurhegaon village of north zone hence removal of excess fluoride and supply of high-quality groundwater with safe concentration of fluoride is very necessary.

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

Ground water forms a major source of drinking water in urban as well as in rural areas. More than 90% of the rural population uses ground water for domestic purposes. Fluoride is a common constituent of groundwater. It is the most electronegative of all chemical elements and is never encountered in nature in the element form [1]. Fluoride is an ion of the chemical element fluorine which belongs to the halogen group of minerals and is natural constituents of the environment. Fluorine is the 13^th most abundant element of the earth crust. It represents about 0.3 g/kg of earth’s crust [2]. It occurs mainly in the form of chemical compounds such as sodium fluoride or hydrogen fluoride which are present in minerals fluorspar, fluorapatite, topaz and cryolite. High concentrations of fluoride in water are generally found in ground waters. In India the states of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Delhi are affected by fluoride contamination in water. This involves about 9000 villages affecting 30 million people [3].

 

Estimation finds that 65% of India’s villages are exposed to fluoride risk [4].Use of phosphatic fertilizers in agriculture and industrial activities like clays used in ceramic industries or burning of coals also contribute to high fluoride concentrations in groundwater. India is among the 23 nations around the globe where health problems occur due to the consumption of fluoride contaminant water. Fluoride at lower concentration (0.6-1.5) is essential element for the development of teeth and bones in growth, fertility, prevention of anaemia in pregnancy and infancy [5]^.Higher intake of fluoride taken over a long period of time exerts negative effects on the course of metabolic processes and an individual may suffer from skeletal fluorosis, dental fluorosis, non skeletal manifestation or a combination of the above [6-7]. This can cause joint pain, restriction of mobility, bending of vertebral column, deformation of knee joints, bone fracture and even paralysis. In India, 20 million people are severely affected by fluorosis and 40 million people are exposed to risk of endemic fluorosis.

 

Mangladevi is a village having population 6500 and 13 kms away from Amravati-Yavatmal main state highway no-6.It lies between 20⁰33’36”N latitude and 77⁰57’45”E longitude. It is bounded by  villages like Dhamak and Kurhegaon in the north, Dabha in the northeast, Chikhali in the east, Dhanaj and Pimpri in the west , Manikwada in the southwest, Bramhanwada in the south, Asola, Aasegaon, Mangul, Pandhurna in the southeast and Yeoti in the northwest. The climate of this region is characterized by hot summer and general dryness throughout the year except during the south west monsoon season (i.e. June to September). The present study was carried out to assess the fluoride content of underground water in and around Mangladevi village (i.e. Mangladevi region) of Ner tehsil, District Yavatmal, Maharashtra (India).

 

MATERIALS AND METHOD:

The study was carried out in 14 villages of Mangladevi region because the people of this region use ground water for drinking and also for irrigation fields. Total 32 ground water samples from different sources like open well, bore well and hand pump were taken from rural areas of different Gram Panchayats and analyzed for fluoride content. The groundwater samples were collected during the February 2013 to March 2013 between 8 am to 10 am in clean polyethylene plastic bottles of 100 ml capacity and before filling, bottles were rinsed with water under study. They were labeled, coded and brought to the laboratory for fluoride determination on the same day. Fluoride analysis was done at the Department of Applied Chemistry, Jawaharlal Darda Institute of Engineering and Technology, Yavatmal using SPADNS method. The SPADNS reagent, distilled water and Borosil glassware’s were used throughout the work. All the experimental were carried out in triplicate and the results were found reproducible with a ± 3% error limit.

 

General procedure for determination of fluoride in ground water by SPADNS method:

Fluoride concentration was analysed by Sodium-2-parasulphophenylazo-1-8-dihydroxy-3, 8 naphthalene disulphonate (SPADNS) colorimetric method using HANNA Instrument HI-93729-1(APHA 1995) [8] as shown below in Figure 1.

 

Figure 1: Determination of fluoride in groundwater by SPADNS method using HI 93729-1instrument

 

Table1: Fluoride in ground water from different villages of Mangladevi Region in February-March 2013

 

The two dry cuvets (Sample cell) were filled to 1.5 cm below the rim with 10 ml of distilled water and sample water respectively. Accurately measured 2 ml of SPADNS reagent was added to each cuvet and invert several times to mix.

 

When the bright red solution of SPADNS is mixed with colorless zirconyl acid solution, a dark red complex of Zirconyl acid – SPADNS is formed. When Zirconyl acid–SPADNS solution is added to water containing fluoride, the fluoride ions reacts with the complex and forms bonds with zirconium. The concentration of the complex decreases in approximate proportion to the concentration of fluoride in the water and the colour of the reagent-mixture becomes brighter. 

 

The temperature of the distilled water and sample water in both the cuvets was maintained at the same temperature. After a one minute, insert the cuvet with reacted distilled water into the holder and zeroed the instrument which becomes ready for measurement. Insert the other cuvet with reacted sample into the same holder and press the read button. The fluoride concentration was directly displayed on Liqid Crystal Display in mg/l F^- .

 

RESULT AND DISCUSSION:-

The results of fluoride concentrations in ground water from different villages of Mangladevi Region are depicted in the Table 1 and analysed statistically as shown in Figure 2.

 

The study of 14 villages of eastern, south-eastern, southern, south-western, western, north-western, northern and north-eastern zone of Mangladevi region was done for fluoride content because in this region probable source of fluoride in ground water is due to weathering and circulation of water in rocks and soils. Fluoride is leached out and dissolved in ground water. The fluoride concentration in these zones ranged from 0.00 to 1.98 mg/l with highest fluoride level at Dhamak (1.98 mg/l) and lowest at Mangladevi (0.00 mg/l) village. Out of total 32 samples, 87.50% of water samples were found within permissible limit while 12.50% had fluoride beyond permissible limit (> 1.5 mg/l). 84.37 % of water samples are within desirable limit of fluoride concentration and 15.63% samples are above the desirable limit.  It was found that among these different zones north zone was under serious fluoride contamination where fluoride concentration ranged between 1.53 to 1.98 mg/l.Out of total, in 4 samples namely SKP-15, SKP-16, SKP-17 and SKP-18  of village Dhamak and Kurhegaon respectively, the fluoride concentration was found beyond the permissible limit. This paper also investigates the health risks involved with higher concentrations of fluoride in drinking water. Peoples were randomly selected from various homes of this area and taken through a questionnaire.   Deformations of bones in children as well as adults were observed in the study area indicating the consequences of excess fluoride concentration. Prominently skeletal deformation, weakening of joints and knees in adults and teeth molting in inhabitants were observed. It is also interesting to know that dental and skeletal fluorosis was more prevalent in males than in females. Similar finding were observed in ground water of Kurhegaon village.

 

Figure 2: Statistical analysis of fluoride in ground water of Mangladevi Region in Feb-Mar 2013

 

CONCLUSION:

According to World Health Organization WHO 1994 [9] and Indian Standard Drinking Water specification ISI 1991[10] the maximum permissible limit of fluoride in drinking water is 1.5 ppm and highest desirable limit is 1.0 ppm. Fluoride concentrations above 1.5 ppm in drinking water cause dental fluorosis and much higher concentration skeletal fluorosis. It was found that among the different zones north zone of Mangladevi region was under serious fluoride contamination where fluoride concentration in samples SKP-15, SKP-16, SKP-17, and SKP-18 was exceeding the permissible limit. Removal of fluoride from drinking water of Dhamak and Kurhegaon village and supply of clean fluoride free water is urgent necessity. Also the ground water management is suggested.

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

Authors are thankful to Jawaharlal Darda Education Society, Principal, Jawaharlal Darda Institute of Engineering and Technology, Yavatmal , Dr. D. A. Pund, Head Department of Applied Chemistry, Prof. S.A. Aswar for providing laboratory facilities and  extend heartful thanks to Mr. A.R. Ambadekar, Mr. P.M. Deshmukh and Mr. C.G. Ramgirwar (Lab Assistant) for all possible help and cooperation during the course of this work.

 

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Received on 17.06.2013       Modified on 24.06.2013

Accepted on 15.07.2013      © AJRC All right reserved