Source : The Hindu Date : 10.06.2009
Caution against high concentration of fluoride in drinking water
Staff Reporter
| Workshop blames it on mismanagement of surface and groundwater resources |
— Photo: R.Shivaji Rao 
NOTE OF CAUTION: MAWS Department secretary Niranjan Mardi releases a handbook on fluoride and its impact on health at a workshop organised by TWAD Board in Chennai on Tuesday. (From left) Executive director of FR and RDF A.K.Susheela, TWAD Board’s joint Managing Director Supriya Sahu and Chief of UNICEF office (TN and Kerala) Satish Kumar are in the picture.
CHENNAI: Mismanagement of surface and groundwater resources has led to high concentration of fluoride in drinking water. Convergence of efforts of the various stakeholders was essential to mitigate its serious impact on public health, speakers stressed at a workshop in the city on Tuesday.
Inaugurating the two-day workshop on ‘Fluoride in drinking water and its impact on public health’ organised by Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board (TWAD), Secretary to Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department Niranjan Mardi said that 10 districts in the State, particularly Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri districts, were fluoride-endemic.
“High fluoride content would have debilitating effect not only on bones and dental structure but also on the entire body. Continued effort of people from inter-related fields such as water analysts and doctors is necessary to tackle the issue apart from involvement of the society,” he said.
On the Hogenakkal water supply scheme, Mr. Mardi said bids were being evaluated. Cost-effective solutions such as installation of filters to remove fluoride in schools and villages have been proposed for fluorosis mitigation as part of the project.
He also released a handbook on fluoride and its impact on health during the occasion.
TWAD Board’s joint managing director and project director Supriya Sahu said students and teachers in the affected areas would be educated on fluoride contamination in water and intake of nutritious diet to combat fluorosis.
In a bid to address the problem with a multi-disciplinary approach, the workshop intended to train TWAD Board engineers, hydro geologists about identifying the symptoms of fluoride contamination and its health hazards. This would help them design new water supply projects according to the needs of specific area.
Chief of the UNICEF office (Tamil Nadu and Kerala) Satish Kumar said that only a small percentage of the groundwater resource was being used for drinking water purposes. With overexploitation of available resources, more places in the State would face water crisis as extraction far exceeds replenishment.
Though fluorisis was not a fatal disease, there is no cure for the ailment as of now. Early diagnosis and awareness about diet rich in calcium and vitamins would help in preventing it.
Executive Director of Fluorosis Research and Rural Development Foundation, Delhi, A. K. Susheela, said the training would impart fundamental information about the disease and how to face the challenges.
On Wednesday, nearly 50 doctors would participate in the deliberations.