Context
Rajasthan, India’s largest state, is facing a severe crisis of fluoride contamination in its groundwater resources. Among the affected regions, Jaisalmer district stands out as the worst-hit area in the country, with alarmingly high levels of fluoride in the drinking water supply.
Health Consequences of Fluorosis
- Fluoride in its excessive concentrations in water leads to the disabling ailment referred to as fluorosis. In the light of these descriptions, it is clear that this disease is chronic and ultimately crippling irrespective of the age, status-quantity, location or power of the people involved. The most common manifestations of fluorosis include:
- Dental fluorosis: Some of the widely known conditions include discoloration and mottling of teeth.
- Skeletal fluorosis: Bones or joints become rigid, bones and joints may become painful, and the individual’s legs may bow out at the knees (Knee-knock syndrome).
- Neurological disorders: This is because the nerves get compressed and the limbs become weakened as a result of long term usage.
- Disabled people are more common in village Devpura and Moondwara of Sambhar block where 880 per thousand were affected with disability compared to national average of 500 per thousand. This high incidence of disability has a direct correlation with high concentration of fluoride in the drinking water.
Factors Contributing to Fluoride Contamination
- The occurrence of fluoride in the drinking water is mainly due to natural reasons which include natural dissolution of the rocks and soil minerals containing the said ion. However, human interference such as the over use of water from the aquifer has increased the problem in the recent past.
- Because of the diesel pump sets farmers have been able to drill deeper into the ground in order to get water that is dirty by fluoride. The problem arises as the water table drops even further more water sources are being affected by higher fluoride levels.
- Also, predominant arid and semi-arid zones arise from Rajasthan state whereby the mean annual temperature is significantly high and this influences fluorosis in the region. Besides, the variation in degree and frequency of fluorosis is also dependent on factors such as water chemical quality, demographical and nutritive status of the community.
Efforts to Address the Problem
The Government of Rajasthan with the help of different NGOs and agencies like UNICEF has adopted various measures to tackle the problem of Fluoride. These efforts include:
- Artificial recharge of groundwater: Measures that need to be in place to help in the replenishment of the loss of groundwater resources
- Rejuvenation of traditional water harvesting structures: The baoris and kunds were traditional means of rainwater harvesting prevalent in Rajasthan.
- Rainwater harvesting: On how to extend the use of rainwater collected for household use
- Defluoridation of drinking water: Using different methods in order to filter out the fluoride from the water at home
- Awareness campaigns: Camps are to be arranged for the awareness of the hazardous effects of fluoride and necessity of safe drinking water.
However, the position is still rather dire, and a bigger and more coordinated effort is still required in order to alleviate the situation. These high concentrations of fluoride in the water catchment areas have also impacted on agricultural production since the use of such water leads to lowered yields.
Way Forward
Fluoride contamination problem in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, is a disastrous situation which is threatening the environment as well as human health. Fluoride in drinking water sources has been confirmed to contain high concentrations and this has caused great cases of fluorosis that hasádverse health impacts on the people. This problem has to be solved with the help of multi-dimensional strategies that involve the government, non-governmental organisations, and local residents. This should include measures such as:
- Strict regulation and monitoring of groundwater extraction: Preservation of groundwater source so as to avoid its continued depletion and pollution
- Promotion of alternative water sources: Increasing the awareness of people on use of surface water, rain water harvesting, desalination and reducing the reliance on the water sources which contain high levels of fluoride.
- Scaling up of defluoridation technologies: The availability of cheap and effective defluoridation systems in households and communities so that they can access them.
- Strengthening of health services: Early diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of the affected persons through the medical and paramedical agencies.
- Continuous research and innovation: The problem of fluoride contamination can be solved by thinking of new approaches and applying the use of latest tools and instruments.
Source: The Indian Express