Fluoride, boron and nitrate toxicity in ground water of northwest Rajasthan, India

Abstract

The study was carried out to access the fluoride, boron, and nitrate concentrations in ground water samples of different villages in Indira Gandhi, Bhakra, and Gang canal catchment area of northwest Rajasthan, India. Rural population, in the study site, is using groundwater for drinking and irrigation purposes, without any quality test of water. All water samples (including canal water) were contaminated with fluoride. Fluoride, boron, and nitrate were observed in the ranges of 0.50-8.50, 0.0-7.73, and 0.0-278.68 mg/l, respectively. Most of the water samples were in the categories of fluoride 1.50 mg/l, of boron 2.0-4.0 mg/l, and of nitrate < 45 mg/l. There was no industrial pollution in the study site; hence, availability of these compounds in groundwater was due to natural reasons and by the use of chemical fertilizers.

Contaminated drinking water and rural health perspectives in Rajasthan, India: an overview of recent case studies

“…Recent studies indicate the occurrences of health hazardous chemicals and biological contaminations in potable water sources (Suthar et al 2005(Suthar et al , 2008a(Suthar et al , b, c, 2009Chhimpa et al 2008;Chaudhary et al 2010). Studies have revealed that drinking water quality in this part of the state is relatively poor in respect to public consumption.…”

“…However, in the study area, the Public Health and Engineering Department (Government of Rajasthan) has started to supply extracted groundwater from electrically operated bore wells as drinking water, after mixing with surface canal water into a suitable ratio, but still, this facility is not available in each habitation of the study area. Recently, Chaudhary et al (2010) estimated the fluoride level in canal command areas of northern Rajasthan. She surveyed about 57 different villages and town in the catchment areas of the Indira Gandhi canal, the Bhakra canal, and the Gang canal (Table 3).…”

“…1). Chaudhary et al (2010) reported the nitrate content in groundwater of the catchments of the Indira Gandhi canal, Gang canal, and Bhakra canal command areas of Hanumangarh and Sri Ganganagar districts of northern Rajasthan. They reported a high level of nitrate in groundwater collected from the Indira Gandhi canal catchment areas.…”

“…Fluoride range in groundwater of different villages in a canal-irrigated common area of northern Rajasthan(Chaudhary et al 2010) …”

Health risk assessment of fluoride with other parameters in ground water of Sikar city (India)

“…Various studies have indicated prevalence and severity of fluorosis in many districts including Hanumangarh (Suthar et al 2008), Bhilwara (Hussain et al 2010), Dungarpur (Choubisa andSompura 1996), Sriganganagar (Chaudhary et al 2010). Availability of safe and potable water is still low for a majority of rural population residing in 18 districts, where the main source of drinking water is the groundwater in the form of open wells, tube wells, hand pumps etc.…”