Monitoring of Fluoride Concentration in Groundwater of Tosham Block, Bhiwani District, NW, India: Correlation with Physico-Chemical Parameters

摘要

Hydrogeochemical investigations were carried out in the eight villages of Tosham Block; district Bhiwani, Haryana to recognize the mechanism and sources of enrichment of fluoride in the groundwater. The results specify that concentrations of fluoride attain up to 1.9 mg/l in groundwater samples. In the soils, the overall fluorine contents vary between 1.1 and 2.7 mg/kg, which could have sufficient potential to released fluorine into the groundwater. In groundwater, the fluoride enrichment is primarily controlled by solubility of fluorite, intensity of evapotranspiration, residence time and the processes of weathering prevailing in Tosham area. Moreover, various other water quality parameters such as pH, electrical conductivity, total hardness, and total alkalinity as well as calcium, magnesium, carbonate, bicarbonate and chloride concentrations were also calculated. A logical calculation of correlation coefficients between different physico-chemical parameters was done. The 67% of groundwater samples do not comply with WHO standards of fluoride for drinking purposes. The excessive fluoride concentration in the groundwater of villages under study causes dental fluorosis among people especially the children. Except few of villages, without any prior treatment, the overall quality of water was found unacceptable for drinking purposes.