Fighting against POLLUTION to Save Environment

  • Fighting against POLLUTION to Save Environment

Fighting against POLLUTION to Save Environment

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List of Publications of Dr. Dilip Boralkar

A review of fluoride pollution effects studies in India:

ENCOLOGY, 9(4): 1-5, 1994.

D. B. BORALKAR
D. B. Boralkar Senior Scientific Officer, Air Pollution Control Laboratory, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board.
CIDCO Bhavan, 5th Floor, South Wing, CBD Belapur, New Bombay - 400 614

Table 5 : Fluoride concentration in the urine samples of cows from control (C) and fluoride contaminated (F) areas.

No. of cows examined Age group of cows (yr.) Fluoride concentration (ppm, w/v)
Range Mean
15 3–5 C : 1.2–2.0 1.60
F : 11.8–23.0 14.03
12 5–7 C : 1.0–2.2 1.95
F : 13.5–38.0 25.60
25 Above 7 C : 1.7–2.0 1.85
F : 22.6–36.0 29.87

Table 6 : Occurrence of dental lesion in cattle foraging around the aluminium factory

Animal type No. of animals examined Dental score Animals with normal teeth Animals with fluorotic teeth
0 1 2 3 No. % No. %
Cow 84 12 26 14 32 12 14.3 72 85.7
Bullock 11 2 1 3 5 2 18.2 9 81.8
Buffalo 18 6 2 10 - 6 33.3 12 66.7
Total 113 20 29 27 37 20 21.9 93 78.1

Table 7 : Important findings of the Central Board – A.I.I.M.S. project on fluoride effects on human health

Atmospheric fluoride level was in the range of 54 to 135 micrograms per cubic meter of air (8-hourly average, one-week study).
Fluoride in blood and urine of test persons was found higher than the normal ones in both pot room and non-pot room workers.
Deforestation was seen around the aluminium factory.

Table 8 : Predicted values of fluoride concentrations in air for three reported safe levels of foliar F-accumulations

Exposure period Measure of levels in air Predicted avg. air F-concentration (± C.L.)a for 3 safe levels of foliar F - accumulations.
20 ppm 35 ppm 40 ppm
1 year µg F / dm² / 7 days 13.11 ± 9.45 23.48 ± 10.06 27.3 ± 9.76
µg F / dm² / 30 days 55.91 ± 40.26 100.03 ± 43.42 114.72 ± 42.11
µg F / m³ 0.43 ± 0.31 0.77 ± 0.33 0.89 ± 0.32
2 year µg F / dm² / 7 days 8.84 ± 5.49 14.02 ± 5.18 15.85 ± 5.49
µg F / dm² / 30 days 37.44 ± 23.68 60.17 ± 22.37 67.74 ± 23.68
µg F / m³ 0.29 ± 0.18 0.46 ± 0.17 0.52 ± 0.18

a C.L. = Confidence limits at 95% level.

AIR QUALITY STANDARDS & PREDICTED SAFE LEVELS FOR PLANTS AND ANIMALS

The criteria of human, plant and animal health have been used to setup air quality standards for fluoride emissions. The ultimate objective of setting up any air quality standards is to define levels of fluorides in the air which should produce any injury to the healthy plants, animals and humans, directly or indirectly. The plants are the primary accumulators of fluorides under polluted conditions and are consumed by animals and humans. As a result the levels of F-accumulation in plants, as a consequence of exposure to F-polluted air, should be an important criterior for setting up air quality standards. The ambient air concentrations of fluoride and its effects on plant life vary with the kind of industry, levels and range of emissions, climatic conditions and physiographic factors. The ultimate factor which is an indicator of potential damage to plant, animals and human health is the accumulation levels of fluoride in vegetation.

In Canada and U.S.A. fluoride accumulation of 35 ppm to 40 ppm (dry weight basis) in vegetation have been recommended as safe levels for consumption by cattle. However, Israel recommended 20 ppm F level in vegetation which corresponds to the safe level of 10 ppm in urine of cattle.

Based on studies on evergreen plants Sidhu presented predicted levels of F-air concentrations (in Canada) in relation to three levels (20 ppm, 35 ppm and 40 ppm) of F-accumulations in foliage (Table 8).

CONCLUSIONS

The studies carried out in India, though limited, have showed that F-accumulation in vegetation exceeded the safe levels of 35 ppm to 40 ppm as recommended in U.S.A. and Canada. Fluoride in cattle's urine was also high and cattle showed symptoms of fluorosis.

The data available in India needs to be updated systematically for prescribing the air quality standard for fluoride and prediction of safe levels for vegetation and animals.

REFERENCES
  • Proc. 74th Annual Meeting of A.P.C.A., Phil. (Penn), June 1981, pp. 81.44.4.
  • Fluoride Emissions. 1982. Academic Press Australia, pp. 177–189.
  • Plant & Soil, 49: 653–656 (1978).
  • Environ. Physiol. Ecol. Plants, pp. 399–406 (1978). B.S.M.P. Singh Publishers, Dehradun (India).
  • J. Occup. Med., 19: 49–78 (1977).
  • Proc. IV Internat. Clean Air Congress, Tokyo, pp. 116–119 (1977).
  • Fluoride, 5: 18–21 (1972).
  • J. Environ. Biol. 4(3): 99–102 (1983).
  • Indian J. Air Pollut. Control, 3(1): 23–26 (1980).
  • Symp. Environ. Options for Developing Countries, The Institute of Science, Bombay. Abstract No. 95, pp. 65.
  • Res. J. Plant & Environment, 5(2): 11–14 (1989).
  • Symp. Environ. Options for Developing Countries, The Institute of Science, Bombay. Abstract No. 94, pp. 64.
  • Environment Canada. Canadian Forest Service. ISS No. 704–760. Information Report N-X-203.
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