Occurrence of Fluoride in the Groundwater of Kaltungo Area and Environs, North Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

The aim of the study is to assess the occurrence of fluoride in the groundwater of Kaltungo area and environs. Consumption of high fluoride waters clearly manifests in the majority inhabitant of the area in form of dental fluorosis especially in the majority of the populace. Thirty groundwater samples were collected from hand-dug wells and boreholes using standard method and were analyzed to determine the fluoride level. The results revealed that the Fluoride in the waters ranges from 0.8 to 1.94 mg/l with a mean value of 1.65 mg/l. No clear variations in fluoride content have been observed in both the borehole samples and those from the hand-dug wells. Ca-Mg-HCO 3 and Ca-Mg-Cl are the two major water types obtained in the area, which have a good association with fluoride. Negative correlation is observed between fluoride and temperature, fluoride and magnesium, fluoride and potassium and poor correlation is observed between fluoride and chloride, fluoride and nitrate, fluoride and phosphates which rules out the possibility of anthropogenic source of the fluoride in the waters. Positive correlation between fluoride and iron, indicates that the presence of fluoride in the water is as a result of dissolution of biotite within the host rock (Basalt).