Author: Ayoob S, Gupta AK.
Source: Environmental Science and Technology
Year: 2006
Comment:
The authors of this review explain, “Hence, in our opinion, the socio-economic aspects of fluorosis insist upon the most urgent attention and gracious concern of the global scientific community for sustainable solutions, as the life of the victims are frustrating, painful and often hopeless as fluorosis makes them physically, culturally and socially ‘crippled.’”
Abstract / Excerpt:
“The latest estimates suggest that around 200 million people, from among 25 nations the world over, are under the dreadful fate of fluorosis. India and China, the two most populous countries of the world, are the worst affected. India is plagued with numerous water quality problems due to prolific contaminants mainly of geogenic origin and fluoride stands first among them. The weathering of primary rocks and leaching of fluoride-containing minerals in soils yield fluoride rich groundwater in India which is generally associated with low calcium content and high bicarbonate ions. The unfettered ground water tapping exacerbates the failure of drinking water sources and accelerates the entry of fluoride into groundwater. Most of the scientific literature substantiates the benefits of low fluoride concentrations in preventing dental decay. However, as a surprising paradox, incidence of dental, skeletal and crippling skeletal fluorosis was reported in India with average fluoride concentrations as low as 0.5, 0.7 and 2.8 ppm respectively.”
Citation:
Ayoob S, Gupta AK. Fluoride in drinking water: a review on the status and stress effects. Environmental Science and Technology. 2006; 36: 433–487.