Fluoride Testing and Fluorisis Mitigation in Sonebhadra District

Fluorosis is a crippling disease caused by high fluoride concentrations in drinking water. In India about 20 states have been identified with a problem of excess fluoride in groundwater. Rural populations who are mainly dependent on groundwater for drinking purposes, are the worst affected. About 62 million people in India suffer from dental, skeletal and or non-skeletal fluorosis. Of these, 6 million are children below the age of 14.With the help of the Banawasi Seva Ashram, Peoples’ Science Institute (PSI) began a programme of fluoride testing and fluorosis mitigation in Sonebhadra district in September 2004. This paper presents the findings of the water quality tests and the accompanying health surveys. It also describes in a summary fashion the community-based activities for fluorosis mitigation planning.