Fluoride in water in parts of Raniganj Coalfield, West Bengal.

摘要

Fluoride content in water from all sources (tube wells, mine-water discharges, and open wells) at two sites in the Raniganj Coalfield in West Bengal, India, was determined. Dilution of fluoride content was observed in the post-monsoon water samples from all sources. The pH value of the water also decreased. Fluoride content (pre-monsoon) in the eastern part (study area 2) ranged from 0.63 to 1.03 ppm, whereas that in the western part (study area 1) ranged from 0.81 to 1.22 ppm. Similarly, the post-monsoon fluoride values ranged from 0.27 to 0.52 ppm in the east, and from 0.34 to 0.81 ppm in the west. The high fluoride content in the water samples was found to be associated with relatively high total dissolved solids, HCO₃- and total hardness. Results indicated that water from all sources in the two study sites had fluoride locally higher than the WHO limit of 1.0 ppm.