Salient Features of Excess Fluoride Invasion into Human Health in Fluoride Affected Villages of Birbhum District (West Bengal, India)

Abstract

The prime source of fluoride is geological strata, but human being gets fluoride from different sub-sources, e.g., underground water, soil, crops, air etc which are connected directly or indirectly with the geological strata. The source through which mostly the fluoride enters the human body is underground water.Fluoride compound (F ¯) is necessary for a certain content to eradicate the dental caries and to strengthen the bones. Fluoride remains in a certain amount in water. According to World Health Organization (WHO, 2002) the permissible limit of fluoride in underground water is 1.5 mg/L andaccording to Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS, 2009) the permissible limitof fluoride in underground water is 1 mg/L.Crossing this limit (1.5 mg/L) fluoride contaminates the water. If the same water is used mainly for drinking purpose then health hazard may occur. This health hazard is known as fluorosis. Person once attacked by this is never cured fully from this. Patients lost their ability to do work.This paper gains its importance to elaborate the physical and social causes of fluoride incursion into human health and negative effect of excessive fluoride consumption in five fluoride affected sample villages in Birbhum district. Physical causes are related with the invasion of fluoride mainly through fluoride contaminated water sources. On the other hand, social causes are associated with the personal behaviour and several constraints present in the respect villages. At last, impact has been elaborated briefly on the basis of clearly defined drinking water sources.