S. MALAR AND S. KARUPPANNAN
Abstract
The distribution of minerals in underground water was determined in 15 villages of Uthangarai Taluk, Krishnagiri District, Tamil Nadu, (India). Here the ground water is the only source of drinking water. Fluoride is determined by Ion-e selective electrode method. Various other water quality parameter such as pH, Electrical conductivity, Total dissolved salts, Total alkalinity as well as Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Potassium, Chloride and Sulfates were also measured. A systematic calculation of correction coefficients among different physico-chemical parameters was performed. The analytical results indicated considerable variations among the analyzed samples with respect to their chemical compositions. The fluoride concentration in the underground water of these villages varied from 1.5 to 5.0 ppm causing dental fluorosis, among people especially children of these villages 78% of these children were affected by dental fluorosis, while Skeletal fluorosis mostly affected in adults.