Defluoridation of Drinking Water : Efficacy and Need
Abstract Fluorine is the 13 th most abundant naturally occurring element in the Earth’s crust and is the lightest member of the halogens. It is the most electronegative and reactive of all the elements and as a result, elemental fluorine does not occur in nature but found as a fluoride mineralcomplexes. Exposure to fluoride beyond the recommended level for longer duration causes fluorosis. Several physical and chemical defluoridation methods have been designed to treat high fluoride concentration in ground water. There is need to develop such methods for defluoridation which would be cost effective and biodegradable. Water is frequently referred to as a universal solvent, because it has the ability to dissolve almost all substance; that comes in its contact. Some elements are essential in trace amount for human being while higher concentration of the same can cause toxic effects. Fluoride is one of them. Due to rapid urbanization and growth of modern industries ...