| Summary: | Fluoride is an undesirable chemical in drinking water that can have dreadful concerns on health. The objective of this study is to establish the concentration profile of fluoride in groundwater used as drinking water in 31 rural habitats in Mahabubnagar district, Telangana State, India. Drinking water samples from bore wells/hand pumps were collected from different locations in the study area and analyzed for fluoride levels using a spectrophotometer. The fluoride levels range from 0.6 to 1.8 mg/L, with an average value of 1.31 mg/L. Overall, 32% of groundwater samples found to be exceeded the prescribed limits of fluoride in the study area, as prescribed by the World Health Organization (WHO). Besides, the optimal amounts of fluoride in drinking water have to meet in the range of 0.5 mg/L and 1.5 mg/L, as this range is the permissible limit for drinking. Fluoride is an essential micronutrient for normal mineralization of teeth and bones as well as for the formation of dental enamel in the human body. This study suggested that prolonged intake of drinking water with fluoride concentrations higher than acceptable limits can trigger dental and skeletal fluorosis in the general community of the study region. The fluoride data compared with the permissible levels recommended for drinking purposes by various regulatory agencies across the world.
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