This paper presents the findings of a study conducted by Peoples’ Science Institute (PSI) with Banwasi Seva Ashram (BSA) a local voluntary organisation on the programme of fluoride testing and fluorosis mitigation in Sonebhadra district in Uttar Pradesh in September 2004.
About 62 million people in India suffer from dental, skeletal and or non-skeletal fluorosis. Of these, 6 million are children below the age of 14. Fluorosis is a crippling disease caused by fluoride concentrations above 1.5 mg/L in drinking water. In India about 20 states have been identified with a problem of excess fluoride in groundwater. Rural populations who are mainly dependent on groundwater for drinking purposes, are the worst affected.
Since the late 1980s, government and non-government agencies have launched efforts to control the spread of fluorosis. Despite these efforts, reports continue to appear indicating an increasing spread of fluorosis. This can either be due to identification of an existing problem in a new area, or a fresh incidence striking a hitherto unaffected population due to local environmental changes.
Sonebhadra district lies in the eastern panhandle of Uttar Pradesh. Most of the well-known “Singrauli industrial area” falls in it. Several industries like thermal power plants and Hindalco, situated in this area, are also potential sources of fluorides in water and air. Banwasi Seva Ashram (BSA), a local voluntary organization (VO), has identified many cases of fluorosis in dozens of villages of Chopan and Myorpur blocks. These blocks are dominated by tribal communities. Drinking water quality tests for fluoride content done by BSA in 1999 showed fluoride concentrations between 1.1 – 5.4 mg/L in surface water and 0.5 – 5.9 mg/L in groundwater.
Over 3500 children participated in the dental fluorosis survey carried out in 41 primary, junior and higher secondary schools in the Chopan, Dudhi, Myorpur and Babhani blocks of Sonebhadra district. The study found that parameters like pH, EC, alkalinity, hardness and calcium were found to be within the prescribed limits for most of the water sources. Calcium concentration was low in the water sources of most of the villages monitored. Fluoride concentrations were higher than the prescribed limit of 1.5-mg/l. in drinking water sources in most of the villages.
In addition to high fluoride content in ground water sources, it was also high in the surface water sources of Parwakodwari–Naibasti, Piparhawa, Kathaundhi, Kusmaha, Raspahari, Bhantawari, Rajo and Nemna villages. Varying concentrations of fluoride in drinking water were found to lead to different degrees of fluorosis in Sonebhadra district. The data obtained from the study was shared with the community and a detailed fluorosis mitigation plan was prepared.
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