FLUORIDE IN DRINKING WATER

If you have ever travelled in rural India, there is a very high chance you might have come across very young children with stained teeth and adults in their mid-40s and 50s with bent shoulders complaining of extreme pain and being bed ridden for years.

With these health issues being pervasive and spanning throughout the country, you might think there has to be a common denominator causing it. And you are right about that. The discovery of high consumption of fluoride being harmful for humans was made in India in 1937  and since then, there has been a long history of observation of fluorosis in many parts of India and across the world.

Excess consumption of fluoride present in surface water can cause serious cases of fluorosis, especially in young children who get affected by dental stains of fluorosis. Even a small amount as 1 to 1.5 mg per litre of fluoride in water can be harmful.

Dental and skeletal fluorosis

There are two main types of fluorosis, namely dental and skeletal fluorosis. Dental fluorosis is caused by continuous exposures to high concentrations of fluoride during tooth development, leading to enamel with low mineral content and increased porosity. The critical period for risk to dental fluorosis is between 1 and 4 years of age. After the age of 8 when permanent teeth have established, there is lesser risk to dental fluorosis.

Harmful levels of fluoride and their effect on the body

In 20 states of India, more than 100 districts across the country and probably more than 60 million people are consuming drinking water which has fluoride greater than 1 mg/l. Since local food can also get irrigated by the same water, food also contains fluoride in these places. This makes the total daily consumption of fluoride more than 10 mg/day which is always harmful for adults and more so for children.

What can be done to deal with the problem

Several technologies/chemicals are available at our disposal to tackle high fluoride problems in drinking water, but none as effective and convenient as ion exchange technology. Unlike the chemicals used for precipitation of Fluoride from water, Ion Exchange resins are generally NSF and FDA approved which is a must for any potable water treatment.

With the norms to treat drinking water becoming ever so stringent by the day, it is of paramount importance to use solutions which help companies meet outlet parameters and are easily accessible in the market. Ion exchange resins prove be the best option for customers due to its ease of use and choices available in the market.

Get in touch with us at info@purewaterent.net, to know more about our offerings in Ion exchange resins!