Over 71,000 Indian Students Affected By Fluorosis : Report

New Delhi, Sept 8, IRNA - Of 1,86,907 school students who were examined by medical teams over the last three months, 71,842 students were affected with fluorosis diseases in the Dharmapuri district of India’s Tamil Nadu state, Collector R.Lilly said Friday in Dharmapuri. She was speaking after releasing awareness pamphlets sponsored by Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board (TWAD) under Flurosis Mitigation Scheme at a government boys higher secondary school. Government had launched the Hogenakkal Drinking Water and Fluorosis Mitigation scheme to provide potable drinking water and protect the public from fluorosis diseases, a pti report said quoting Lilly as saying. She urged villagers to consume water which is being supplied through local administration. Tamil Nadu government has allotted rs 28.44 crore for Fluorosis control both in Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts. Both Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri Districts are drought prone areas. The drinking water supply as well as its management poses problems during summer and drought periods. Hence a permanent solution is necessary to mitigate Fluorosis problem in the water starved Districts for providing sustainable and reliable water supply. Hogenakkal Drinking Water and Fluorosis Mitigation scheme is aimed at providing potable Water Supply to Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri Districts’s present population of 29.80 lakh people. The water quality analysis reports exhibit concentration of fluoride in ground water in many parts of these districts ranging from 1.5 mg/l to 12.4 mg/l which is in excess to the permissible limit of 1.5 mg/l as specified in Central Public Health and Environmental Engineering Organization (CPHEEO) Manual. Due to the consumption of fluoride contaminated water over a prolonged period, people in the above two districts are suffering from Skeletal Fluorosis, dental Fluorosis, non-skeletal manifestation or combination of the above. Fluorosis is a crippling and painful disease caused by intake of fluoride. Fluoride can enter the body through drinking water, food, toothpaste, mouth rinses and other dental products; drugs, and fluoride dust and fumes from industries using fluoride containing salt and or hydrofluoric acid. Ingestion of excess fluoride, most commonly in drinking-water, can cause fluorosis which affects the teeth and bones. Moderate amounts lead to dental effects, but long-term ingestion of large amounts can lead to potentially severe skeletal problems./end