• Jitendra Kumar
• Amit Pal

Fluoride is found in all natural waters at some concentration. In ground waters, however, low or high concentrations of fluoride can occur, depending on the nature of the rocks and the occurrence of fluoride-bearing minerals. High fluoride concentrations may therefore be expected in ground waters from calcium-poor aquifers and in areas where fluoride-bearing minerals are common. Fluoride has beneficial effects on teeth at low concentrations in drinking-water, but excessive exposure to fluoride in drinking-water, or in combination with exposure to fluoride from other sources, can give rise to a number of adverse effects. These range from mild dental fluorosis to crippling skeletal fluorosis as the level and period of exposure increases. Occurrence of fluoride at excessive levels in drinking-water in developing countries is a serious problem. Its detection demands analytical grade chemicals and laboratory equipment and skills. The prevention of fluorosis through management of drinking-water is a difficult task, which requires favourable conditions combining knowledge, motivation, prioritization, discipline and technical and organizational support. Defluoridation of drinking-water is technically feasible at point-of-use (at the tap), for small communities of users (e.g. wellhead application) and for large drinking-water supplies. Activated alumina and reverse osmosis are the most common technologies. Activated alumina can concurrently remove other anions, such as arsenate. Reverse osmosis achieves significant removal of virtually all dissolved contaminants. The National Environment Engineering Research Institute in Nagpur, India has evolved an economical and simple method of defluoridation, which is referred to as the Nalgonda technique. This technique has been repeatedly proven to be an economical and effective household defluoridation technique.

Fluoride, fluorosis, dental fluorosis, skeletal fluorosis, defluoridation

"Fluoride problems and Remediation process for drinking water: A Review", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.5, Issue 5, page no.381-390, May-2018, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1805486.pdf

"Fluoride problems and Remediation process for drinking water: A Review", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.5, Issue 5, page no. pp381-390, May-2018, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1805486.pdf