Rao, N.S.
(2009)
Fluoride in groundwater, Varaha River Basin,
Visakhapatnam District, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 152.
pp. 47-60.
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Abstract
Excess intake of fluoride through drinking
water causes fluorosis on human beings in many
States of the country (India), including Andhra
Pradesh. Groundwater quality in the Varaha River
Basin located in the Visakhapatnam District of
Andhra Pradesh has been studied, with reference to
fluoride content, for its possible sources for implementing
appropriate management measures, according
to the controlling mechanism of fluoride
concentration in the groundwater. The area occupied
by the river basin is underlain by the Precambrian
Eastern Ghats, over which the Recent sediments
occur. Results of the chemical data of the groundwater
suggest that the considerable number of groundwater
samples show fluoride content greater than that
of the safe limit prescribed for drinking purpose.
Statistical analysis shows that the fluoride has a good
positive relation, with pH and bicarbonate. This
indicates an alkaline environment, as a dominant
controlling mechanism for leaching of fluoride from
the source material. Other supplementary factors
responsible for the occurrence of fluoride in the
groundwater are evapotranspiration, long contact time
of water with the aquifer material, and agricultural
fertilizers. A lack of correlation between fluoride and chloride, and a high positive correlation between
fluoride and bicarbonate indicate recharge of the
aquifer by the river water. However, the higher
concentration of fluoride observed in the groundwater
in some locations indicates insufficient dilution by the
river water. That means the natural dilution did not
perform more effectively. Hence, the study emphasizes
the need for surface water management structures,
with people’s participation, for getting more
effective results.
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