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Fluoride estimation and its correlation with other physicochemical parameters in drinking water of some areas of Balochistan, Pakistan

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Abstract

The fluoride level in drinking water is an important parameter and has to be controlled in order to prevent dental and skeletal fluorosis. The objective of this study is to assess fluoride content and other water quality parameters in the samples taken from open wells, tube wells, and karezes of Mastung, Mangochar, and Pringabad areas of Balochistan province. A total number of 96 drinking water samples out of 150 were found unfit for human consumption. Area-wise analysis show that the samples from 39 sites from Mastung, 12 from Mangochar, and 13 from Pringabad were found in the risk of dental fluorosis of mild to severe nature. However, 12 sampling sites from Mastung, 8 from Mangochar, and 2 from Pringabad were identified as the risks of mottling and skeletal fluorosis or other bone abnormalities. The highest concentration of F− has been observed as 14 mg L−1 in Mastung. Correlation analysis show that fluoride solubility in drinking water is pH dependent; and the salts of Ca2+, Na+, K+, Cl−, and SO4 2− contribute to attain the favorable pH for dissolution of fluoride compounds in drinking water. Principal component analysis shows that the geochemical composition of the rocks is only responsible for groundwater contamination. On the basis of the results, defloridation of the identified sampling sites and continuous monitoring of drinking water at regular basis is recommended at government level to avoid further fluorosis risks.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geological Survey of Pakistan, Headquarter Office, Quetta, Pakistan

    Tasawar Ali Chandio

  2. Department of Chemistry, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan

    Muhammad Nasiruddin Khan

  3. Fuel Research Centre, Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Karachi, Karachi, 75280, Pakistan

    Anila Sarwar

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  1. Tasawar Ali Chandio
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  2. Muhammad Nasiruddin Khan
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  3. Anila Sarwar
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Correspondence to Muhammad Nasiruddin Khan.

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Chandio, T.A., Khan, M.N. & Sarwar, A. Fluoride estimation and its correlation with other physicochemical parameters in drinking water of some areas of Balochistan, Pakistan. Environ Monit Assess 187, 531 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-015-4753-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-015-4753-6

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