Fluoride Analysis of Groundwater Around Tea-Gardens in Kishanganj Block, Bihar, India: Correlation with Physicochemical Parameters

摘要

The use of pesticides, weedicides and agrochemicals by tea growers and farmers for the growth and to enhance the rate of production, would have generated a lot of concern for public health and environmental pollution. Therefore, assessment and monitoring of drinking water sources located in the tea garden areas were almost necessary. In this paper monitoring of the fluoride content in groundwater was determined near 12 small tea gardens of Kishanganj block of Kishanganj district, Bihar, India. 36 samples were collected from different locations and analyzed for the determination of various physicochemical parameters. Fluoride concentration varied from 0.18-4.20 mg/L. Correlation study revealed that most of the samples were within the permissible limit but fluoride content was found to be positively correlated with pH, conductance, Cl-, SO42- and total alkalinity and negatively correlated with total hardness, Ca2, Mg2+, NO3- and PO43-. During the study, 600 people were examined, of which 325 (54.2%) people were affected by dental fluorosis, whereas 65 (10.83%) people were suffering from skeletal fluorosis. Fluorosis was found to be high in males compared to females. Questionnaire survey also revealed that large numbers of the people living in and around the tea gardens engaged in physical labor were illiterate and unaware of the adverse effects of fluoride contaminated water. Therefore this work will be helpful for students, teachers, scientists, researchers and governmental and non governmental agencies to take correct and appropriate steps by creating awareness among the illiterate people and make them free from fluoride borne diseases.