Excessive levels of fluoride in groundwater are destroying teeth and paralysing villagers in the Indian state of Karnataka.

“More than 6% of the state’s population is afflicted by dental fluorosis. Children don’t have proper teeth formation”, said the head of the Government Dental College and Research Institute Dr S.S. Hiremath. Skeletal fluorosis, which is common in some districts like Tumkur, causes spinal cord diseases. It can paralyse patients even before the cause has been diagnosed.

Groundwater is a major source of drinking water in rural Karnataka. Most districts where drinking water is supplied through borewells have a high concentration of nitrates and fluorides. The main cause for these high concentrations is open sewage disposal and use of nitrogen fertilizers. The sanitation coverage is some districts like Gulbarga, Bijapur, Raichur and Tumkur is below 20%.

High nitrate levels can lead to methemoglobinemia or blue baby syndrome, which is harmful to infants, pregnant women and the elderly.

Related news: Fluoride: mapping of endemic areas and assessment of exposure in Tamil Nadu, India, Source South Asia, 23 Jan 2009

Related web sites:

• Wikipedia – dental fluorosis and skeletal fluorosis
• India Water Portal – Fluorosis and Fluoride mitigation multimedia course

Source: Times of India, 22 Sep 2009

Tags: south asia, water quality, water-related diseases