FLUORIDE CONCENTRATION IN GROUNDWATER IN THE NORTH

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subdivisions and 22 blocks, with an area of 4094 sq km and population of 9.0 ... One hundred and sixty (160) samples of groundwater were collected randomly.
160 Research report

Fluoride 43(2)160–164 April-June 2010

Fluoride concentration in groundwater in the North 24-Paraganas district of West Bengal, India Kundu, Mandal

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FLUORIDE CONCENTRATION IN GROUNDWATER IN THE NORTH 24-PARAGANAS DISTRICT OF WEST BENGAL, INDIA MC Kundu, Biswapati Mandala Kalyani, India

SUMMARY: One hundred and sixty samples of ground source drinking water were collected at different depths in the 24-Paraganas District of West Bengal and analysed for pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and fluoride (F). Nearly all the samples had pH ~ 7.0, low salinity (EC < 1.0 ds/m), and low F (0.01–1.18 mg/L). While exhibiting little dependence on location or depth of sampling, only 2.5% of the samples contained more than 1.0 mg F/L that might pose a potential threat of endemic fluorosis. On the other hand, the F content in the water had a significant positive correlation (r = 0.16, p