Fluoride enrichment in an alluvial aquifer with its subsequent effect on human health in Birbhum district, West Bengal, India.

This research work primarily deals with the geochemistry and genesis of fluoride (F-) in an alluvial aquifer with an emphasis on prevalence of dental and skeletal fluorosis among the endemic population. Hydrogeochemical outcomes reveal that chemical weathering and ion-exchange phenomena are the two dominant processes that make study area groundwater into NaHCO3 water type. Presence of intercalated zeolite rich sediments (FTotal 412-446 mg/kg) having higher ion-exchange capacity (120-125 meq/100 g) within the aquifer is the source and mobilizing factors of F- in groundwater respectively. Laboratory experiment further justifies higher desorption potential of aquifer sediments at the groundwater pH of 6.5-7.5. Health survey reveals that out of 235 studied population 60% suffer from dental fluorosis while females >30 years of age became exposed early to osteoporosis disease.