Endemic Fluorosis in Rural Villages of Northeastern India: Development of a Robust Water Treatment Technology, Field Implementation, and its Health Effects
Some 200 million people drink ground water containing levels of fluoride beyond the WHO guidelines. High fluoride levels in drinking water cause fluorosis, which deforms bones and damages teeth. Our goal is to develop and deploy a simple and robust technology to remove fluoride from drinking water at impoverished villagers in India. Our hypothesis is that a hydroxyapatite-based filter is the simplest and most appropriate method of removing fluoride in this setting. Hydroxyapatite can be synthesized inexpensively from locally available materials. Performance optimization of such filters will be an important aspect of this study. After completing the laboratory studies, we will install devices in two villages of approximately 200 people that are severely afflicted with fluorosis, approaching 100% of the population.
Fluorosis is incurable; once fluoride deforms bones or teeth they remain deformed for life. Therefore, by monitoring the fluorosis incidence as a function of age, we can track new fluorosis cases in order to establish the success of our effort within just a few years. Within a few years, we hope to have a convincing case that we designed a technology and strategy with measurable health improvements in these two villages. This project can serve as an important role model for building bridges between the engineering and health sectors.
