Fluoride contamination and its optimum upper limit in groundwater from Sukulu Hills, Tororo District, Uganda
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Date
2020
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Publisher
Scientific African
Abstract
This study was carried out to assess fluoride (F −) concentration and to determine its up- per permissible limit in groundwater from Sukulu Hills, a phosphate mining area in Tororo District, Uganda, where groundwater is the main source of drinking water. Water sam- ples were collected from boreholes and protected springs within a three-kilometer radius from the foot of the Hills. The physico-chemical parameters and F −concentration were analysed using potentiometric methods. The water samples collected had a pH range of 6.0–7.2, electrical conductivity of 148–750 μS/cm, and TDS values of 75–378 mg/L; and these parameters were within the WHO normal range for drinking water. F −concentration in groundwater from boreholes ranged from 0.4 to 3 mg/L, whereas in springs it was from 0.2–2.4 mg/L. High F −levels corresponded with higher TDS values at near-neutral pH. The WHO and Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) guideline value of 1.5 mg/L F −was exceeded by groundwater from spring S3 and boreholes B3 and B7 (14% of samples) in the study. Given the five-year average weather conditions of Tororo, a modified Galagan equation was applied to calculate the recommended F −level in drinking water for the area, and was found to be 0.4 mg/L. All water sources studied contained average F −levels higher than 0.4 mg/L. These findings imply a possible risk to the local population which depends on this water being exposed to dangers of high F −intake.
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Keywords
Fluoride, Groundwater, Sukulu Hills, Tororo
Citation
Egor, M., & Birungi, G. (2020). Fluoride contamination and its optimum upper limit in groundwater from Sukulu Hills, Tororo District, Uganda. Scientific African, 7, e00241. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2019.e00241