Skip to main content

Sources of Fluoride Contamination in Singrauli with Special Reference to Rihand Reservoir and its Surrounding

Journal of the Geological Society of India volume 91, pages 441–448 (2018)Cite this article

Abstract

The Singrauli region is known for fluoride contamination and its effect on human population. In this work the possible sources of fluoride contamination in Rihand reservoir water is constrained. They include slurry water, fly ash and coal samples of various thermal power plants, coal seams and granites of the region. Petrographic study depicted the presence of fluoride bearing minerals - flour apatite in pink granite. Preliminary scanning electron microscope studies revealed presence of fluorine peak in coal samples. The chemical analysis confirmed the presence of fluoride in fly ash (12.6 mg/kg), drain water (5.34 mg/l), soil (6.1 mg/kg), coal (3.1 mg/kg). They confirmed the source of fluoride from coal of thermal power plant which utilized coal from Singrauli coal seam (1.6 mg/kg). Further the Rihand reservoir water is also enriched by fluoride contaminant (upto 4.7 mg/l). This contaminates groundwater of the area as well. The contaminated water used for drinking and agriculture affects health of inhabitants in the area. It is concluded that the main source of fluoride contamination in the study area is due to coal burnt in thermal power plant and pink granite formation of the area, both anthropogenic and geogenic sources are implied.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

References

  • Aggrawal, P., Mittal, A., Prakash R., Kumar M. and Tripathi, S. K. (2011) Contamination of Drinking Water due to Coal-Based Thermal Power Plants in India. Environ. Forensics, v.12(1), pp.92–97.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alloway, B.J. And Ayres, D.C. (1997) Chemical principles of environmental pollution, In: Wastes and their disposal (2nd Ed.). Blackie Academy. Professional, London, UK, pp.353–357.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ando, M., Tadano, M., Asanuma, S., Tamura, K., Matsushima, S., Watanabe, T., Kondo, T., Sakurai, S., Ji, R., Liang, C. and Cao, S. (1998) Health effects of indoor fluoride pollution from coal burning in China. Environ. Health Perspect, v.106(5), pp.239–244.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Banerji, A. K. (1991) Geology of the Chhotanagpur region. Indian Jour. Geol, v.63(4), pp.275–282.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beg, M., Srivastav, S. and Carranza, J. (2011) High fluoride incidence in groundwater and its potential health effects in parts of Raigarh District, Chhattisgarh. Curr. Sci., v.100(5), pp.750–754.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chakrabarti, S. and Bhattacharya, H.N. (2013) Inferring the Hydro-Geochemistry of Fluoride Contamination in Bankura District, West Bengal: A Case Study. Jour. Geol. Soc. India, v.82, pp.379–391.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chakraborti, D., Das, B., and Murrill, T.M. (2011) Examining India’s Groundwater Quality Management. Environ. Sci. Technol., v.45, pp.27–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Christopher, S., Donald, W.M., Bahadurb, N.P. and Boocock, D.G.B. (2002) A suite of multi-segment fugacity models describing the fate of organic contaminants in aquatic systems: application to the Rihand Reservoir, India. Water Res., v.36, pp.4341–4355.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Churchill, H.V., Rowley, R.J. and Martin, L.N. (1948) Fluorine content of certain vegetation in Western Pennsylvania area. Anal. Chem., v.20(1), pp.69–71.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • CSE (2011) Mercury pollution in Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh and its health impacts. (http://www.cseindia.org/userfiles/singrauli_delhi_ meeting_CB.pdf) Centre for Science and Environment.Tughlakabad Institutional Area, New Delhi–110062

    Google Scholar 

  • Dhar, B.B., Ratan, S. and Jamal, A. (1986) Impact of opencast coal mining on water environment-a case study. Jour. Mines, Metals and Fuels, v.34, pp.596–601.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dubey, C.S., Mishra, B.K., Shukla, D.P., Singh, R.P., Tajbhakh, M. and Sakhare, P. (2012) Anthropogenic arsenic menace in Delhi Yamuna Flood Plains. Environ. Earth Sci., v.65(1), pp.131–139, DOI 10.1007/s12665-011-1072-2 _ Springer-Verlag.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duraiswami, R.A. and Patankar, U. (2011) Occurrence of Fluoride in the Drinking Water Sources from Gad River Basin, Maharashtra Jour. Geol. Soc. India, v.77, pp.167–174

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Edmunds, W.M. and Smedley, P.L. (2005) Fluorine in natural waters-occurrence, controls and health aspects. In: O. Selnius (Ed.), pp.301–329.

    Google Scholar 

  • Finkelman, R.B., Belkin, H.E. and Zheng, B. (1999) Health impacts of domestic coal use in China. Colloquium Paper Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA v.96, pp.3427–3431. Available Online at www.pnas.org. (http://www.pnas.org/content/96/7/3427.full.pdf)

  • Gautam, A. and Tripathi, R.C. (2005) Fluoride testing and fluorosis mitigation in Sonbhadra district. Peoples, Science Institute, Dehradun, pp.1–11. (http://econpapers.repec.org/paper/esswpaper/id_3a1853.htm; accessed on 26th Aug 2016).

    Google Scholar 

  • GSS (2004) Urgent Appeals Programme to Asian Human Rights Commission. Gram Swarajya Samithi (a local human rights organization in Sonbhadra district, UP), pp.1–2; http://www.foodjustice.net/ha/mainfile.php/ha2007/87.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gupta S.K. and Deshpande, R.D. (1998) Depleting Groundwater Levels and Increasing Fluoride Concentration in Villages of Mehsana District, Gujarat, India: Cost to Economy and Health, report sponsored by Habitat International coalition.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hasan, M.A., Ahmed, K.M., Sracek, O., Bhattacharya, P., Von Brömssen, M., Broms, S. Fogelström, J., Mazumder, M.L. and Jacks, G. (2007) Arsenic in shallow groundwater of Bangladesh: investigations from three different physiographic settings. Hydrogeol. Jour., v.15, pp.1507–1522.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hota, R.N., Adhikari, P.C., Mohanty, A. and Maejima, W. (2012) Cyclic Sedimentation of the Barakar Formation, Singrauli Coalfield, India. Statistical Assessment from Borehole Logs. Open Jour. Geol., v.2, pp.1–13. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov: Fluorides, hydrogen fluoride, and fluorine; potential for human exposure. pp. 203–242. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp11-c6.pdf.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hussain (2012) Geography of India. 3rd Ed. Tata Macgraw Hill McGraw-Hill Education India Pvt.Ltd-New Delhi

    Google Scholar 

  • Jha, S.K., Nayak, A.K., Sharma, Y.K., Mishra, V.K. and Sharma, D.K. (2008) Fluoride Accumulation in Soil and Vegetation in the Vicinity of Brick Fields. Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol., v.80, pp.369–373.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keith, L.H. (1991) Environmental Sampling and Guide, Boca Raton, USA. Lewis Publishers, 523p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kumar, A. and Ahmad, T. (2007) Geochemistry of mafic dykes in part of Chotanagpur gneissic complex: Petrogenetic and tectonic implications. Geochem. Jour., v.41, pp.173–186.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Larry, T. (2002) Coal Geology, John Wiley & Sons, 384p.

    Google Scholar 

  • LI, J. and Cao, S. (1994) Recent studies on endemic fluorosis in China. Fluoride, v.27(3), pp.125–128.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu, G., Zheng, L.G., Duzgoren-Aydin Nurdan, S. and Gao, L.F. (2006) Toxic trace elements As, F and Se in Chinese indoor coals combustion and their health implications. Rev. Environ. Contamin. Toxic., v.189, pp.89–106.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu, G., Zheng, L., Qi, Ci. and Zhang, Y. (2007) Environmental geochemistry and health of fluorine in Chinese coals. Environ. Geol., v.52, pp.1307–1313.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mahadevan, T.M. (2002) Geology of Bihar and Jharkhand. Jour. Geol. Soc. India, 563p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mazumdar, S.K. (1988) Crustal evolution of the Chhotanagpur Gneissic Complex and the Mica belt of Bihar. In: D. Mukhopadhyay (Ed.), Precambrian of Eastern Indian shield. Mem. Geol. Soc. India, no.8, pp.49–83.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mishra, B.K., Dubey, C.S., Dericks, P.S., Bhattacharya, P. and Usham, A.L. (2014) Concentration of arsenic by selected vegetables cultivated in the Yamuna flood plains (YFP) of Delhi, India. Environ. Earth Sci., v.72(9), pp.3281–3291. DOI 10.1007/s12665-014-3232-7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mishra, S. and Mishra, M. (2013) Role of Biofertilizers in maintaining nutritional status of soil in Sonbhadra and Mirzapur districts of Eastern U.P., India. IJHSSI, v.2(5), pp.23–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mohan, K., Srivastava, V. and Singh, C.K. (2007) Pattern and genesis of lineament in and across Son-Narmada lineament zone in a part of Central India around Renukoot District Sonbhadra, U.P. Jour. Indian Soc. Remote Sens., v.35(2), pp.193–200.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Muralidharan, D. (2011) Vicious cycle of fluoride in semi-arid India–a health concern. Curr. Sci., v.100 (5), pp.638-640.

    Google Scholar 

  • NIC (2010) National Informatics Centre. 2010 (http://singrauli.nic.in/abtsing.htm)

    Google Scholar 

  • NTPC (1995) Environmental study of Singrauli area (study conducted by Electricit!e de France International). National thermal power corporation, India NTPC, Government of India.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prasad, B. And Mondal, K. K. (2006) Leaching Characteristics of Fluoride from Coal Ash. Asian Jour. Water, Environ. Pollution, v.4(2), pp.17–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Raju, N.J., Dey, S. and Das, K., (2009) Fluoride contamination in groundwater of Sonbhadra District, Uttar Pradesh, India. Curr. Sci., v.96(7), pp.979–985.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rao, N.S., Dinakar, A., Rao, P.S., Rao, P.N., Madhnure, P., Prasad, K.M. and Sudarshan, G. (2016) Geochemical Processes Controlling Fluoride-bearing Groundwater in the Granitic Aquifer of a Semi-arid Region. Jour. Geol. Soc. India, v.88, pp.350–356.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rao, P.N., Rao, A.D., Bhargav, J.S., Sankar, K.S. and Sudarshan, G. (2014) Regional Appraisal of the Fluoride Occurrence in Groundwaters of Andhra Pradesh. Jour. Geol. Soc. India, v.84, pp.483–493.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ren, D.Y., Zhao, F.H., Wang, Y.Q. and Yang, S.J. (1999) Distributions of minor and trace elements in Chinese coals. Int. Jour. Coal Geol., v.40, pp.109–118.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Routroy, S., Harichandan, R.S., Mohanty, J.K. and Panda, C.R. (2013) A Statistical Appraisal to Hydrogeochemistry of Fluoride Contaminated Ground Water in Nayagarh District, Odisha Jour. Geol. Soc. India. v81, pp.350–360.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saha, D., Singh, B., Srivastavai, S.K., Dwivedi, S.N. and Mukherjee, R., (2014) A concept note on geogenic contamination of ground water in India with a special note on nitrate. CGWB report.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schroder, H.F. (1993) Pollutants in drinking water and waste water. Jour. Chromatography, v.643(1-2), pp.583–595

    Google Scholar 

  • Schroder, H. Fr. and Fytianos, K. (1999) Organic Pollutants in Biological Waste Water Treatment. Results of Mass and Tandem Mass Spectrometry of the Flow Injection Mode Compared with Liquid Chromatographic Examinations: Polar Compounds under Positive Ionization. Chromatographia, v.50(9/10), pp.583–595

    Google Scholar 

  • Shukla, D.P., Dubey C.S., Ningthoujam P., Tajbakhsh, M. and Chaudhry, M. (2010) Sources and Controls of Arsenic Contamination in Groundwater of Rajnandgaon and Kanker District, Chattisgarh Central India. Jour. Hydrol., v.395, pp.49–66.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh, B.D. (1995) Lower Gondwana (Permian) coals of Peninsular India: environment of deposition related to organic petrographic types. Proc. Indian National Science. Academy, v.61, (A, No.6), pp.371–394.

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh, C.K. and Srivastava, V. (2011) Morphotectonics of the area around Renukoot, district Sonbhadra, U.P. Using Remote Sensing and GIS Techniques, Jour. Indian Soc. Rem. Sens., v.39(2), pp.235–240.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh, P.K., Singh, M.P., Volkmann, N., Naik, A.S. and Borner, K. (2014) Petrological characteristics of lower Gondwana coal from Singrauli coalfield, Madhya Pradesh, India. Int. Jour. Oil Gas Coal T., v.8(2), pp.194–220.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Srivastava, V. and Srivastava, H.B. (2012) Analysis of folds from the CGGC rocks in Sonbhadra district Uttar Pradesh and their tectonic and geomorphic Implications Journal of Scientific Research Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. v. 56, pp.1–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Srivastava, V. and Gairola, V.K. (1997) Harmonic classification of multilayered folds: example from central India. Jour. Struct. Geol., v.19(1), pp.107–112.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Susheela A.K. (2007) A treatise on fluorosis. 3rd ed. Delhi: FR & RDF

    Google Scholar 

  • Swaine, D.J. (1990) Trace Elements in Coal. Butterworths, London, pp. 109–386.

    Google Scholar 

  • Usham, A.L., Dubey, C.S., Ningthoujam, P.S., Mishra, B.K., Shukla, D.P., Singh, R.P., Naorem S.S., Thoithoi, L. and Singh, N. (2012) Source of Arsenic Contamination in Kakching Area, Manipur. Annual International Conference on Geological &Earth Sciences (GEOS 2012), pp.82–86, DOI:10.5176/2251-3361_GEOS12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watanabe, T., Kondo, T., Asanuma, S., Ando, M., Tamura, K., Sakuragi, S., Rongdi, J. and Chaoke, L. (2000) Skeletal Fluorosis from Indoor Burning of Coal in Southwestern China. Fluoride, v.33(3), pp.135–139.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yan, R., Gautheir, D. and Flamant, G. (1999) Thermodynamic study of the behavior of minor coal elements and their affinities to sulfur during coal combustion. Fuel, v.78, pp.1817–1829.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, Center for Advanced Studies, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110 007, India

    A. L. Usham, C. S. Dubey & G. P. Bhartiya

  2. School of Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, Mandi, 175 001, India

    D. P. Shukla

  3. Department of Mining, AKS University, Satna, 485001, India

    B. K. Mishra

Authors
  1. A. L. Usham
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. C. S. Dubey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. D. P. Shukla
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. B. K. Mishra
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. G. P. Bhartiya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. L. Usham.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Usham, A.L., Dubey, C.S., Shukla, D.P. et al. Sources of Fluoride Contamination in Singrauli with Special Reference to Rihand Reservoir and its Surrounding. J Geol Soc India 91, 441–448 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-018-0877-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-018-0877-y