Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

A study on the status of fluoride ion in groundwater of coastal hard rock aquifers of south India

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Arabian Journal of Geosciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

India has an increasing incidence of fluorosis, dental and skeletal, with nearly about 62 million people at risk. High fluoride groundwaters are present especially in the hard rock areas of the country. This paper analyzes the most extensive database on fluoride and other chemical constituent distribution in the coastal hard rock aquifers of Thoothukudi district. A total of 135 samples were collected and analyzed for major cations and anions to assess the geochemical process. The fluoride concentration in drinking waters varied from BDL to 3.2 mg l−1 in the study area. Majority of the samples do not comply with WHO standards for most of the water quality parameters. The saturation index of fluorite saturation index was used to correlate with F− to identify their relationship to increase of fluoride levels. The correlation between the F− concentration and the water type was also attempted. Spatial distribution of fluoride in groundwater was studied to understand the influencing factors. The relationship of F− with HCO− 3, Na+ and pH concentrations were studied and found that HCO− 3, has good correlation with F− than the other parameters.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aiuppa A, Allard PD, Alessandro W, Michel A, Parello F, Treuil M, Valenza M (2000) Mobility and fluxes of major, minor and trace metals during basalt weathering and groundwater transport at Mt. Etnavolcan (Sieity). Geochem Cosmochim Acta 64:1827–1841

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Apambire WM, Boyle DR, Michel FA (1997) Geochemistry genesis and health implications of fluoriferous groundwaters in the upper regions of Ghana. Environ Geol 35(1):13–24

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barbiéro L, Van Vliet-Lanoe B (1998) The alkaline soils of the middle Niger valley: origins, formation and present evolution. Geoderma 84(4):323–343

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barbiero L, Valles V, Regearg A (1995) Precipitation of fluorite and geochemical control of calcium in alkaline soils of Niger. Consequences for a quantitative estimate of the evolution of geochemical soil. CR Acad Sci Paris 321:1147–1154

    Google Scholar 

  • Bulusu KR, Pathak BN (1990) Discussion on water defluoridation with activated alumina. J Environ Eng Div 106(2):466–469

    Google Scholar 

  • Carrillo-Rivera JJ, Cardona A, Edmunds WM (2002) Use of abstraction regime and knowledge of hydrogeological conditions to control high fluoride concentration in abstracted groundwater: San Luis Potosı́ basin, Mexico. Hydrogeol J 261:24–47

    Google Scholar 

  • CGWB (2009) South Eastern Coastal Region, District groundwater brochure, Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu. Ministry of water resources, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India

  • Chadha DK, Tamta SR (1999) Occurrence and origin of groundwater fluoride in phreatic zone of Unnao district, Uttar Pradesh. J Appl Geochem 1:21–26

    Google Scholar 

  • Chae GT, Yun ST, Kim K, Mayer B (2005) Hydrogeochemistry of sodium-bicarbonate type bedrock groundwater in the Pocheon spa area, South Korea: water–rock interaction and hydrologic mixing. J Hydrol. doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2005.08.006

  • Chae GT, Yun ST, Mayer B, Kim KH, Kim SY, Kwon JS, Kim K, Koh YK (2007) Fluorine geochemistry in bedrock groundwater of South Korea. Sci Total Environ 385:272–283

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chatterjee MK, Mohabey NK (1998) Potential fluorosis problems around Chandidongri, Madhya Pradesh, India. Environ Geochem Heal 20:1–4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chaturvedi AK, Yadava K, Pathak KC, Singh VN (1990) Defluoridation of water by adsorption on fly ash, Water Air Soil Pollut 49:51–61

    Google Scholar 

  • Chidambaram S (2000) Hydrogeochemical studies of groundwater in Periyar district, Tamilnadu, India, Published Ph.D thesis, Department of Geology, Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu, India

  • Chidambaram S, Prasanna MV, Vasu K, Shahul Hameed A, Unnikrishna Warrier C, Srinivasamoorthy K (2007a) Study on the stable isotope signatures in groundwater of Gadilam river basin, Tamilnadu, India. Ind J Geochem 22(2):209–221

    Google Scholar 

  • Chidambaram S, Ramanathan AL, Prasanna MV, Anandhan P, Srinivasamoorthy K, Vasudevan S (2007b) Identification of hydrogeochemically active regimes in groundwaters of Erode district, Tamilnadu-A statistical approach. Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution 5(3):93-102

    Google Scholar 

  • Deepu TR, Shaji E (2011) Fluoride contamination in groundwater resources of Chittur block, Palghat district, Kerala, India—a health risk. Disaster, Risk and Vulnerablity Conference 2011. School of Environmental Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, India in association with the Applied Geoinformatics for Society and Environment, Germany, March 12–14

  • Deutsch WJ (1997) Groundwater geochemistry fundamentals and application to contamination. Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton

    Google Scholar 

  • Deutsch WJ, Jenne EA, Krupka KM (1982) Solubility equilibria in basalt aguifers: the Columbia Plateau, eastern Washington, U.S.A. Chemical Geology 36:15–34

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dissanayake CB (1991) The fluoride problem in the groundwater of Sri Lanka—environmental management and health. Int J Environ Stud 38:137–156

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eaton AD, Clesceri L, Greenberg AE (1995) Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater, 19th edn. American Public Health Association, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Farooqi A, Masuda H, Firdous N (2007) Toxic fluoride and arsenic contaminated groundwater in the Lahore and Kasur districts, Punjab, Pakistan and possible contaminant sources. J Environ Pollut 145:839–849

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freeze AR, Cherry JA (1979) Groundwater. Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, p 604

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaciri SJ, Davies TC (1993) The occurrence and geochemistry of fluoride in some natural waters of Kenya. J Hydrol 143:395–412

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gilpin L, Johnson AH (1980) Fluorine in agricultural soils of Southern Pennsylvania. Soil Sci Soc Am J 44:255–258

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gizaw B (1996) The origin of high bicarbonate and fluoride concentration in waters of the Main Ethiopian Rift Valley, East African Rift system. J Afr Earth Sci 22:391–402

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grimaldo M, Borja-Aburto VH, Ramírez AL, Ponce M, Rosas M, Diaz-Barriga F (1995) Endemic fluorosis in San Luis Potosí, Mexico. Environ Res 68:25–30

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guo Q, Wang Y, Ma T, Ma R (2007) Geochemical processes controlling the elevated fluoride concentration in groundwaters of the Taiyuan Basin, Northern China. J Geochem Explor 93:1–12

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gupta SC, Doshi CS, Paliwal BL (1986) Occurrence and chemistry of high fluoride groundwater in Jalore District of Western Rajasthan. Ann Arid Zone 25(4):255–264

    Google Scholar 

  • Gupta SK, Deshpande RD, Agarwal M, Raval BR (2005) Origin of high fluoride in groundwater in theNorth Gujarat-Cambay region, India. Hydrogeol J 13:596–605

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gupta S, Mahato A, Roy P, Datta JK (2008) Geochemistry of groundwater, Burdwan District, West Bengal, India. Environ Geol 53:1271–1282

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Handa BK (1975) Geochemistry and genesis of fluoride containing groundwater in India. Ground Water 13:275–281

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hem JD (1959) Study and interpretation of the chemical characteristics of natural water: U.S. Geol. Survey Water-Supply Paper 1473: p 269 United states Geological survey, USA

  • Hem JD (1985) Study and interpretation of the chemical characteristics of natural water (3d ed.): U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 2254: p 155-156

  • Jacks G, Rajagopalan K, Alveteg T, Jonsson M (1993) Genesis of high-F groundwaters, southern India. Appl Geochem Suppl Issue No. 2:241–244

  • Jacks G, Bhattacharya P, Choudary V, Singh KP (2005) Controls on the genesis of some high fluoride ground waters in India. Appl Geochem 20:221–228

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jain N, Saxena S, Shrivastava RK (2005) Fluoride pollution in ground water of Jabalpur region part II correlation between alkalinity and fluoride. Pollut Res 24:835–838

    Google Scholar 

  • Kilham P, Heckey RE (1973) Fluoride geochemical and ecological significance in East African waters and sediments. Limnol Oceanogr 16:932–945

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim SY (2001) Hydrogeochemical, geostatistical and thermodynamical studies on deep thermal groundwater, Korea. Unpublished Ph.D thesis, Korea University

  • Kim K, Yun ST (2005) Buffering of sodium concentration by cation exchange in the groundwater system of a sandy aquifer. Geochem J 39:273–284

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim Y, Lee K-S, Koh D-C, Lee D-H, Lee S-G, Park W-B, Koh G-W, Woo N-C (2003) Hydrogeochemical and isotopic evidence of groundwater salinization in a coastal aquifer: a case study in Jeju volcanic island, Korea. J Hydrol 270:282–294

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kundu N, Panigrahi MK, Tripathy S, Munshi S, Powell MA, Hart BR (2001) Geochemical appraisal of fluoride contamination of groundwater in the Nayagarh district of Orissa, India. Environ Geol 41:451–460

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Larsen S, Widdowson AE (1971) Soil fluorine. J Soil Sci 22(2):10–221

    Google Scholar 

  • Lavado PS, Reinaudi N (1979) Fluoride in salt affected soils of La Pampa (Repulic of Argentina). Fluoride 12:28–32

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee JU, Chon HT, John YW (1997) Geochemical characteristics of deep granitic groundwater in Korea. J Kor Soc Groundwater Environ 4:199–211 (in Korean)

    Google Scholar 

  • Li Z, Tainosho Y, Shiraishi K, Owada M (2003) Chemical characteristics of fluorine-bearing biotite of early Paleozoic plutonic rocks from the Sor Rondane Mountains, East Antarctica. Geochem J 37:145–161

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu A, Ming J, Ankumah RO (2005) Nitrate contamination in private wells in rural Alabama, United States. Sci Total Environ 346(1–3):112–120

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Manivannan R, Chidambaram S, Anandhan P, Karmegam U, Sinagaraja C, Johnsonbabu G, Prasanna MV (2011) Study on the significance of temporal ion chemistry in groundwater of Dindigul District, Tamilnadu, India. E-J Chem 8(2):938–944

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meenakshi RC, Maheshwari SK, Jain A, Gupta (2004) Use of membrane technique for potable water production. Desalination 170(2):105–112

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mondal P, Majumder CB, Mohanty B (2008) Effects of adsorbent dose, its particle size and initial arsenic concentration on the removal of arsenic, iron and manganese from simulated ground water by Fe3+ impregnated activated carbon. J Hazard Mater 150:695–702

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mulligan CN, Yong RN, Gibbs BF (2001) Remediation technologies for metal contaminated soils and groundwater: an evaluation. Eng Geol 60(1–4):193–200

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nanyaro JT, Aswathanarayana U, Mungore JS, Lahermo PW (1984) A geochemical model for the abnormal fluoride concentrations in waters in parts of northern Tanzania. J Afr Earth Sci 2:129–140

    Google Scholar 

  • Nordstrom DK, Jenne EA (1977) Fluoride solubility in selected geothermal waters. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 41:175–188

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nordstrom DK, Ball JW, Donahoe RJ, Whittemore D (1989) Groundwater chemistry and water–rock interactions at Stripa. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 53:1727–1740

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paces T (1972) Chemical characteristics and equilibration in natural water-felsic rock-CO2 system. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 36:217–240

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Porter D, Roychoudhury AN, Cowan D (2007) Dissimilatory sulfate reduction in hypersaline coastal pans: activity across a salinity gradient. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 71:5102–5116

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ramanathan S (1956) Ultrabasic rock of salem and Dodkanya and their relationship with Charnocite. Published Ph.D thesis, University of Madras

  • Ramanathan AL (1992) Geochemical studies in the Cauvery river basin. Ph.D thesis, Punjab University, Chandigarh

  • Ramesham V, Rajagopalan K (1985) Fluoride ingestion into the natural waters of hardrock areas, Peninsular India. J Geol Soc India 26:125–132

    Google Scholar 

  • Ramesh R, Anbu M (1996) Chemical methods for environmental analysis- water and sediments, p 161

  • Ramkumar T, Venkatramanan S, Anitha Mary I, Mi T, Ramesh G (2010) Hydrogeochemical quality of groundwater in Vedaraniyam Town, Tamil Nadu, India. Res J Environ Earth Sci 2(1):44–48

    Google Scholar 

  • Rammohana Rao NV, Suryaprakasa Rao K, Schuiling RD (1993) Fluorine distribution in waters of Nalgonda district, Andhra Pradesh, India. Environ Geol 21:84–89

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rao NS, Devadas DJ (2003) Fluoride incidence in groundwater in an area of Peninsular India. Environ Geol 45:243–251

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reddy DV, Nagabhushanam P, Sukhija BS, Reddy AGS, Smedley PL (2010) Fluoride dynamics in the granitic aquifer of the Wailapally watershed, Nalgonda District, India. Chem Geol 269:278–289

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • RGNDW (Rajiv Gandhi National Drinking Water Mission) (1993) Prevention and control of fluorosis in India. Technical Report. Ministry of water resources, New Delhi

    Google Scholar 

  • Ripa LW (1993) A half-century of community water fluoridation in the United States: review and commentary. J Public Health Dent 53:17–44

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sarma DR, Rao SLN (1997) Fluoride concentrations in ground waters of Visakhapatnam, India. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 58:241–247

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saxena VK, Ahmed S (2001) Dissolution of fluoride in groundwater: a water–rock interaction study. Environ Geol 40(8):1084–1087

    Google Scholar 

  • Saxena VK, Ahmed S (2003) Inferring the chemical parameters for the dissolution of fluoride in groundwater. Environ Geol 43:731–736

    Google Scholar 

  • Shaji E, Bindu Viju J, Thambi DS (2007) High fluoride in groundwater of Palghat District, Kerala. Curr Sci 92:240–245

    Google Scholar 

  • Shortt HE, Pandit CG, Raghavachari TNS (1937) Endemic fluorosis in the Nellore District, South India. Indian Med Gaz 72:396

    Google Scholar 

  • Siddiqui AH (1968) Fluorosis in Nalgonda district Hyderabad, India. Fluoride 1–2:76–85

    Google Scholar 

  • Subba Rao (2003) Groundwater quality: focus on fluoride concentration in rural parts of Guntur districts, Andhra Pradesh, India. Hydrol Sci J 48(5):835–847

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sujana MG, Thakur RS, Rao SB (1998) Removal of fluoride from aqueous solution by using alum sludge. J Colloid Interface Sci 206:94–101

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sujatha D (2003) Fluoride levels in the groundwater of the south-eastern part of Ranga Reddy district, Andhra Pradesh, India. Environ Geol 44:587–591

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Teotia SDS, Teotia M, Singh RK (1981) Hydrogeochemical aspects of endemic skeletal fluorosis in India—an epidemiological study. Fluoride 14:69–74

    Google Scholar 

  • Tracy PW, Robbins CW, Lewis GC (1984) Fluorite precipitation in a calcareous soil irrigated with high fluoride water. Soil Sci Soc Am J 48:1013

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trusdell AH, Jones BF (1974) WATEQ, a computer program for calculating chemical equilibria of natural water. J Res US Geol Surv 2:233–274

    Google Scholar 

  • USPHS (1987) Drinking water standards. United States Public Health Services, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Veeraputhiran V, Alagumuthu G (2010) A report on fluoride distribution in drinking water. Int J Environ Sci 1(4):558–566

    Google Scholar 

  • White DE, Hem JD, Warming GA (1963) Chemical composition of subsurface waters. US Geol. Surv. Prof. Pap. 440-F., p 67, United states Geological survey, Washington, D.C

  • WHO (1984a) Guidelines for drinking water quality (vol. II): health criteria and supporting information. World Health Organization, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • WHO (1984b) Guidelines for drinking water quality, vol. 3. Drinking water quality control in small community supplies. WHO, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • Wodeyar BK, Sreenivasan G (1996) Occurrence of fluoride in the groundwaters and its impact in Peddavankahalla Basin, Bellary district, Karnataka, India—a preliminary study. Curr Sci 70:71–74

    Google Scholar 

  • Yun ST, Chae GT, Koh YK, Kim SR, Choi BY, LeeBH KSY (1998a) Hydrogeochemical and environmental isotope study of groundwaters in the Pungki area. J Kor Soc Groundwater Environ 5:177–191

    Google Scholar 

  • Yun ST, Koh YK, Choi HS, Youm SJ, So CS (1998b) Geochemistry of geothermal waters in Korea: environmental isotope and hydrochemical characteristics. II. Jungwon and Munkyeong areas. Econ Environ Geol 31:201–213

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth Sciences, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, 608002, India

    C. Singaraja, S. Chidambaram, P. Anandhan, C. Thivya & R. Thilagavathi

  2. Department of Applied Geology, School of Engineering and Science, Curtin University, CDT 250, 98009, Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia

    M. V. Prasanna

Authors
  1. C. Singaraja
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. Chidambaram
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. P. Anandhan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. M. V. Prasanna
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. C. Thivya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. R. Thilagavathi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to C. Singaraja.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Singaraja, C., Chidambaram, S., Anandhan, P. et al. A study on the status of fluoride ion in groundwater of coastal hard rock aquifers of south India. Arab J Geosci 6, 4167–4177 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-012-0675-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-012-0675-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation