Fluoride Contamination in Drinking Water and Associated Health Risk
摘要
Fluoride is the ionic form the element fluorine and most widely distributed on earth surface. It is the most electronegative element and never exists in its elemental form and always associated with other element as fluoride. It is normally present in many foods and available as dietary supplements. Approximately 0.06–0.09% fluoride found in earth crust. It is universally present in water, soil, plants and animals. Ground water and surface water is frequently contaminated with fluoride from weathering of fluoride containing rocks, sediments and leaching and considered one of the potent environment pollutants. Many anthropogenic and industrial activities such as mining, semiconductor preparation, brick industry, glass manufacturing, electroplating, iron and aluminium smelters generate fluoride rich effluent. It is an indispensable element presents both in animals and humans body and play crucial role in mineralization of skeleton and development of tooth enamel. Fluoride is a double-edged sword. As per WHO, when it is consumed in inadequate quantity i.e. >0.5 ppm, trigger health issue including dental carries, reduce bone mineralization and reduce dental enamel formation specially in children and young generation. In disparity when it is consumed in excess i.e. <1 ppm cause significant health risk both adult and old and may induce various patho-physiological symptoms and disease in human.