Fluoride contamination in ground-drinking water and urine from rural population of Uttar Pradesh, India

This study was carried out to assess the fluoride concentration in ground-drinking water, vegetable juice and urine samples of the five villages in Lakhimpur (Kheri) of Uttar Pradesh, India. The experimental site retains a few agro-based industries like sugarcane processing units due to it enriched cultivation by the local farmers. Hence, the availability of fluoride in ground-drinking water is natural, and its excess intake through drinking water over a period caused irreversible serious illness affecting the nervous system and osteo-dental fluorosis. The fluoride level in ground-drinking water found from 0.5 to 4.3 mg L−1 with average of 3.42 mg L−1. Total number of residents involved in the study for analyzing their urine samples were 548 (277 males and 271 females). The absorption of fluoride was high among the youngsters (13–44 yrs). The positive correlation observed between fluoride content in ground drinking water intake and urine.