European journal of molecular biology and biochemistry

FLUORIDE STATUS OF DRINKING WATER IN TRIBAL BELT OF CHHATTISHGARH STATE: AN ANALYTICAL STUDY CARRIED OUT IN THE DISTRICT OF BALARAMPUR

Manish Upadhyay

man_bsp@rediffmail.com

Climate, Dosage, Fluorosis, Permissible Limit, Consumption.

Although fluoride was once considered an essential nutrient, the U.S. National Research Council has since removed this designation due to the lack of studies showing it is essential for human growth, though still considering fluoride a "beneficial element" due to its positive impact on oral health. The U.S. specifies the optimal level of fluoride to range from 0.7 to 1.2 mg/L (milligrams per liter, equivalent to parts per million), depending on the average maximum daily air temperature; the optimal level is lower in warmer climates, where people drink more water, and is higher in cooler climates. High concentrations of fluoride (F-) in drinking water are harmful to human health. This communication reports F- incidence in groundwater and its relation with the prevalence of dental and skeletal fluorosis in Ambikapur, Balarampur Dist. of Sarguja, Chhattisgarh, India. In 1994 a World Health Organization expert committee on fluoride use stated that 1.0 mg/L should be an absolute upper bound, even in cold climates, and that 0.5 mg/L may be an appropriate lower limit A 2007 Australian systematic review recommended a range from 0.6 to 1.1 mg/L Assay of fluoride concentration in ground water samples around Ambikapur district in Sarguja revealed that fluoride content in beyond the permissible limit in a some residential areas. The extent of Fluoride present in different samples was obtained by spectrophotometer. The extent of fluoride was found in village Bargahpara of Lakhanpur block found to be from minimum 1.63 to 1.91 mg/l. But F- ion in Khaspara village of the same Block was 3.62 to 4.09 mg/l. Fluoride value of Chhiropara of Lundra Block was ranging from 3.74 to 4.12 mg/l. In Balarampur Dist. We found the problem to be more serious. A sample from Purvtola village of Balarampur block was found to contain F- from 4.53 to 4.85 mg/lt. The same of samples of Korwapara was found to range from3.72 to 4.13 mg/lt and in Sarpanchpara F- ion concentration in water samples was found to be 3.45 to 3.75. It is further added that extent of fluoride content in water depends on the climatic conditions and increase in summer.