Why in the news?

  • Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang is facing serious levels of surface water contamination owing to fluoride presence.

Fluoride Contamination

  • What is it?:
    • It is the presence of excessive levels of fluorides in drinking water, leading to health hazards to humans and animals.
  • Approved Safe Limits: A safety limit of 1.0 to 1.5 mg per litre of water is recommended as safe limits of fluoride in drinking water as per WHO and BIS.
  • Sources of Fluoride Pollution:
    • Natural Sources:
      • Weathering of fluoride-bearing rocks (granite, biotite, hornblende, apatite).
      • Leaching into groundwater and surface water (especially in hard rock regions & Himalayan geology).
    • Anthropogenic Sources:
      • Fertilizers (phosphate-based).
      • Industrial effluents (aluminium smelters, brick kilns).
      • Improper disposal of waste near water sources.
  • Regions Affected:
    • Global: Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia), China, Mexico, parts of the Middle East.
    • India: ~20 states (fluoride belt across Rajasthan, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, Bihar, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand).
    • Northeast: Recent findings in Arunachal Pradesh (Tawang) – surface water (rivers, lakes, springs) with fluoride up to 21.8 mg/L (14× WHO limit).
  • Health Impacts:
    • Dental Fluorosis: Discoloration, mottling, brittleness of teeth.
    • Skeletal Fluorosis: Joint stiffness, bone deformities, spinal curvature.
    • Neurological issues: Cognitive impairment in children.
    • Thyroid dysfunction.
    • Reproductive & kidney problems with long-term exposure.
  • Government Initiatives:
    • National Programme for Prevention and Control of Fluorosis (NPPCF): For early detection, awareness and safe water supply.
    • Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM): Ensures safe drinking water through tap connections, including quality monitoring.
    • National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP): Emphasizes quality-affected habitations.
    • National Water Quality Sub-Mission (NWQSM): Targets arsenic & fluoride mitigation in priority districts.
  • Challenges:
    • Remote locations & difficult terrain (esp. Himalayas).
    • Lack of awareness among rural communities.
    • High cost of RO and maintenance issues.
    • Fragmented institutional response—health, water, and rural development departments not fully integrated.
    • Climate change causes water scarcity leading to dependence on contaminated sources.
  • Way Forward:
    • Testing & Mapping: Real-time fluoride monitoring at village level.
    • Technological Innovations: Low-cost defluoridation units, solar-powered RO plants.
    • Community Participation: Panchayat-led water committees, SHGs in awareness campaigns.
    • Integration: Align NPPCF with JJM, Ayushman Bharat, and Swachh Bharat.
    • Alternative Sources: Promote rainwater harvesting & piped supply from safe aquifers.