International Journal of Clean Coal and Energy, 2016, 5, 1-12
Published Online February 2016 in SciRes. http://www.scirp.org/journal/ijcce
http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ijcce.2016.51001
Exposure of Fluoride in Coal Basin
Khageshwar Singh Patel1*, Ankit Yadav1, Keshaw Prakash Rajhans1, Shobhana Ramteke1,
Reetu Sharma1, Irena Wysocka2, Irena Jaron2
1
2
School of Studies in Chemistry/Environmental Science, Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur, India
Polish Geological Institute, Rakowiecka, Warsaw, Poland
Received 12 November 2015; accepted 16 February 2016; published 19 February 2016
Copyright © 2016 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc.
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY).
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Abstract
Coal is a dirty fuel contaminated with F− and other elements. Several million tons of coal are burnt
in Korba basin, central India to generate electricity with pouring fluorine and other elements into
the environment. The water is contaminated with F− and other chemicals beyond the permissible
limits. The contaminated water is consumed by the human and animals by excreting the balanced
toxicants through the stool and urine. Several folds higher concentration of F− in urine (44 mg/L)
and stool (266 mg/kg) samples of the cattle are observed. The prevalence of fluorosis diseases in
cattle of the Korba basin is reported.
Keywords
Coal, Fluoride, Contamination, Toxicity
1. Introduction
Coal is a dirty fuel contaminated with toxic elements at the traces [1] [2]. The fluoride content in the coals is
ranged from 20 - 500 mg/kg [3]. The environments in coal burning areas were severely contaminated with F−
and other toxicants [4]-[9]. The human and other animals living in the coal burning areas were affected by
chronic endemic fluorosis diseases due to the excessive intake of F− from air, water and food [10]-[12]. Several
states of the country are suffered with fluorosis diseases due to intake of contaminated groundwater [13]-[20].
In the present work, the contamination of ground and surface water of the largest coal basin of India with F−
and other elements is described. The exposure assessment of the F− toxicity in the domestic animals is described.
*
Corresponding author.
How to cite this paper: Patel, K.S., Yadav, A., Rajhans, K.P., Ramteke, S., Sharma, R., Wysocka, I. and Jaron, I. (2016) Exposure of Fluoride in Coal Basin. International Journal of Clean Coal and Energy, 5, 1-12.
http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ijcce.2016.51001
K. S. Patel et al.
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Study Area
Korba basin, CG, India (22˚21'0"N and 82˚40'48"E) has rich deposit of coal over ≈ 1.0 × 104 km2 area. It is a
power capital of Chhattisgarh state, India. The basin is composed of four blocks: Kartala, Katghora, Korba and
Pali with population of ≈ 1 million distributed over 710 cities, towns and villages. A huge amount of coal >
10000 MT/Yr has been consumed by various units of thermal power plants for generation of ≈ 40000 KW electricity. At least 12 open and underground coal mines are in operation with annual production of ≈3 BT coal by
discharging > 100 BT/Yr liquid effluents in the environment. In addition, the Asia biggest Aluminum Plant
(BALCO) is running in the Korba basin.
2.2. Sample Collection
The main river flowing through Korba basin is the Hasdeo River. The Bango dam has been constructed across
this river through which water flows into canals. Several pit lakes are found to exist in the Korba basin due to
mining out of the coal. The ground and surface water samples were collected from 30 and 6 locations of the basin in month of January, 2013 [21] (Figure 1). A 1-L cleaned narrow mouth polyethylene bottle was used for the
collection. The container was rinsed three times with the sample water and filled with the water up to the mouth.
The physical parameters i.e. temperature (T), pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), reduction potential (RP) and electrical conductivity (EC) of the water were measured at the spot by using HANNA sensors.
The first morning stool (1 kg) of the domestic animals (n = 20) was collected manually. The stool sample was
stored in the polyethylene bottle and dried in oven at 60˚C till the dryness. They were crushed and sieved out the
particles of mesh sizes ≤0.1 mm. A 5.0 g stool sample was extracted out with 25 mL hot deionized water (50˚C)
for 6 hr to measure the F− and pH values.
The first morning urine sample (100 mL) was collected in a plastic bottle containing 0.2 g EDTA. Total 20 (4
× 5) urine samples of domestic animals (i.e. cattle, buffalo, sheep and goat) were collected in January, 2013. The
samples was shipped to the laboratory in insulated container at about 4˚C and stored at −20˚C until use.
2.3. Analysis
The Metrohm ion meter-781 was used for the measurement of F− by using TISAB-III buffer in 1:1 ratio. The
Figure 1. Representation of sampling locations in Korba basin.
2
K. S. Patel et al.
buffer was prepared by dissolving 300 g sodium citrate, 22 g 1,2-cyclohexanediamine-N,N,N,N-tetraaceticacid
and 60 g NaCl in a volume of 1-L with the de-ionized water with subsequent adjustment of pH value to 5.0 5.5). The Dionex ion chromatography-1100 was used for monitoring of ions i.e. Cl−, NO3− , SO 24 − , Na+, K+,
Mg2+ and Ca2+. The Thermos ICP-OES and ICP-MS (Polish Geological Institute, NRI, Central Chemical Laboratory, Warsaw) were employed for analysis of the elements.
3. Results and Discussion
3.1. Geology and Hydrology
The rock of the studied area was formed in the Archaean to Cenozoic ages. They consist of granite gneiss and
granitoids covering with medium to coarse grained arkosic sandstone, a few pebble beds, conglomerate and
shale of coal. The ground water occurs under phreatic, semi-confined and con-fined conditions control of the inter granular pore spaces in the shallow weathered zones and joints, fractures and caverns in deeper horizons. The
water level depth is varied from 3.4 - 11.6 mbgl (meter below ground level) during the post-monsoon period in
the aquifers.
3.2. Physico-Chemical Characteristics of Groundwater
The physico-chemical parameters of the groundwater are presented in Tables 1-3. The age and depth of 30 tube
wells was ranged from 4.0 - 130 Yr and 4 - 18 m with mean value of 7 ± 1 Yr and 11 ± 1 m, respectively. A
slight variation in temperature of the groundwater was recorded, ranging from 29.5 - 31.2˚C with mean value of
30.6 ± 0.1˚C. The pH value of the water was varied from 5.9 - 8.2 with mean value of 7.1 ± 0.2. The groundwater was found to be acidic in few locations (i.e. Surabahar, Sutara, Turali, Lalmatiya, Jenara, Dhelawdih, Banki
Mongara, Dipka, Kusmunda, Bhilai, Hardibazar and Rumgara) due to the existence of higher content of the acids. The EC,TDS, DO and RP value of the groundwater was varied from 296 - 964 μS/cm, 414 - 990 mg/L, 5.6 6.7 mg/L and 199 - 241 mV with mean value of 497 ± 56 μS/cm, 628 ± 61 mg/L, 6.0 ± 0.1 mg/L and 218 ± 5
mV, respectively. The value of DO, EC and TDS was found moderately higher to the recommended value of 4.0
mg/L, 300 μS/cm and 500 mg/L, respectively [22] [23]. However, the RP value was observed to be at least
3-times less than the recommended value of 600 mV.
The concentration of F −, Cl−, NO3− , SO 24 − , Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Al, SiO2, Fe, Mn and Zn was ranged from
2.1 - 12, 11 - 92, 10 - 90, 10 - 72, 10 - 70, 0.6 - 8.7, 3.0 - 44, 8.0 - 78, 7.2 - 45, 9.0 - 70, 0.4 - 8.2, 0.2 - 1.5 and
1.0 - 2.4 mg/L with mean value of 5.5 ± 0.9, 34 ± 7, 28 ± 7, 21 ± 5, 24 ± 6, 3.7 ± 0.8, 11 ± 3, 31 ± 6, 16 ± 3, 31 ±
6, 2.2 ± 0.6, 0.5 ± 0.1 and 1.5 ± 0.1 mg/L, respectively. Similarly, concentration of other metals: Li, Be, Rb, Co,
Ni, Cu, Sn, Sb, Mo, Cd, La, Ce, Pb and U was observed in microgram levels, ranging from 4.7 - 36, 1.1 - 6.7,
1.4 - 38, 1.1 - 7.7, 2.4 - 27, 2.3 - 22, 1.2 - 11, 0.9 - 9.8, 0.1 - 5.0, 0.11 - 0.33, 0.1 - 2.1, 0.1 - 0.8, 1.1 - 29 and 1.0
-12 µg/L with mean value of 16 ± 3, 2.1 ± 0.5, 16 ± 5, 3.3 ± 0.8, 9.2 ± 2.4, 8.0 ± 2.1, 3.0 ± 1.0, 3.2 ± 0.8, 1.0 ±
0.4, 0.19 ± 0.02, 0.4 ± 0.2, 0.4 ± 0.1, 7.0 ± 2.4 and 2.5 ± 1.0 µg/L, respectively. Among them, the highest content of Cl− was observed, may be due to leaching from the coal. The occurrence trend of 27 elements in the water was found in following decreasing order: Cl− > Ca ≈ SiO2 < NO3− < Na+ > SO 24 − > Al > Mg > K+ > F− >
Fe > Zn > Mn >> Li ≈ Rb > Ni > Cu > Pb > Sb ≈ Co > Sn > U > Be < Mo > La ≈ Ce > Cd. The concentration of
F− in the groundwater of the studied area was found to be comparable to F− contents reported in the water of
other locations of the country [5]-[18].
Factor analysis was used for 17 variables of the water. Four factors were extracted which explain 83.27% of
the total variance. A 58.49% of the total variance was explained by Factor-1, showing strong positive loadings
on EC, TDS, F−, Cl−, SO 24 − , Na+, Mg2+, Fe, Mn, Zn, Be, Rb, Co, Ni, Cu, Cd, Pb, La, Ce and Ca2+. They were
related to the mineralization of the groundwater which involved also weathering of gypsum and fluoride bearing
minerals such as CaF2. They were correlated well in the water as shown in Table 4, Table 5. A 10.93% of the
total variance was accounted by factor-2, pyrite with strong positive loadings on NO3− and K+, related to coal
burning and mining activities. A 7.78% of the total variance was explained by factor-3, describing a strong
loading on SiO2. A 6.06% of total variance was explained by factor-4 related to the age factor of tube wells.
3.3. Physico-Chemical Characteristics of Surface Water
The physico-chemical characteristic of the surface water is shown in Tables 6-8. The value of T, pH, DO, RP,
3
K. S. Patel et al.
Table 1. Physical characteristics of groundwater in Korba basin, January 2013.
S. No.
Location
pH
EC, µS/cm
TDS, mg/L
DO, mg/L
RP, mV
1
Pauli
7.4
296
745
5.9
199
2
Surabahar
6.6
527
627
5.8
228
3
Sutara
5.9
398
563
5.8
241
4
Katghora
7.8
388
509
5.9
202
5
Konkona
7.3
514
589
5.7
221
6
Turali
6.6
964
813
6.2
230
7
Lalmatiya
6.4
312
588
6.1
237
8
Jenara
6.8
464
574
5.6
199
9
Lakhanpur
7.1
633
611
5.8
215
10
Dhelawdih
6.7
515
628
6.1
212
11
Churri
7.2
629
738
6.7
201
12
Gopalpur
7.7
519
922
5.9
241
13
Darri
7.2
523
650
5.8
202
14
Banki Mongara
6.8
634
722
5.8
221
15
Dipka
6.9
511
441
5.9
230
16
Ghordeva
7.2
534
487
5.7
199
17
Balgi
7.0
713
933
6.2
228
18
Kuchana
7.3
391
633
6.1
241
19
Kusmunda
6.7
704
926
5.6
202
20
Bhilai
6.8
362
455
5.8
221
21
Dadar
7.0
322
464
6.1
230
22
Hardibazar
6.9
367
434
6.7
237
23
NTPC
7.4
380
471
5.7
199
24
Barpali
7.6
342
414
6.1
215
25
Manikpur
7.2
650
821
6.2
212
26
Korba
7.3
756
990
6.1
201
27
Balco
7.1
410
497
5.6
221
28
Rumgara
6.9
390
449
5.8
230
29
Urga
8.2
418
680
6.1
237
30
Bilaikhund
7.8
347
462
6.3
199
4
K. S. Patel et al.
Table 2. Concentration of major elements in groundwater during January 2013, mg/L.
S. No.
F−
Cl−
NO3−
SO 24−
Na+
K+
Mg2+
Ca2+
Al
SiO2
Fe
Mn
Zn
1
2.8
32
28
14
11
6
16
52
17
64
3.7
0.51
1.4
2
4.5
18
11
12
17
2
12
36
15
11
1.2
0.31
2.4
3
3.7
39
17
12
12
5
6
18
14
23
2.0
0.55
2.2
4
5.8
53
14
15
14
2
7
22
15
19
1.1
0.33
1.3
5
10
39
35
14
22
2
9
30
9.1
23
1.0
0.17
2.0
6
4.6
92
23
72
17
5
6
17
10
18
4.1
0.69
1.6
7
3.5
32
21
24
23
6
16
51
7.2
9
1.1
0.38
1.7
8
3.8
39
21
44
17
2
8
22
18
12
2.8
0.68
1.2
9
3.8
39
30
22
28
2
9
24
16
26
1.1
0.93
2.0
10
4.5
50
31
10
16
3
11
36
11
35
0.4
0.22
1.3
11
6.0
67
31
26
18
3
11
36
11
35
0.4
0.22
1.3
12
4.8
39
25
30
24
1.6
22
66
19
70
4.2
0.48
1.2
13
3.6
11
10
13
18
1.3
5
22
17
12
1.4
0.29
2.0
14
8.4
39
15
16
60
2.7
18
36
16
25
2.3
0.52
1.8
15
11
18
13
10
16
1.5
5
32
17
21
1.2
0.31
1.1
16
4.6
28
31
15
10
5.9
8
22
10
25
1.1
0.16
1.7
17
5.8
67
90
40
38
3.3
14
48
45
20
4.7
0.65
1.3
18
3.7
11
19
13
15
4.8
6
18
7.5
10
1.2
0.36
1.4
19
7.9
43
19
20
53
1.3
26
78
21
68
3.2
0.64
1.0
20
6.2
14
27
14
18
8.5
3
10
18
29
1.3
0.88
1.7
21
2.9
14
28
14
17
3.9
4
18
12
39
0.5
0.21
1.1
22
2.9
14
28
14
17
3.9
4
8
12
39
0.5
0.21
1.1
23
2.1
21
13
16
10
1.7
8
10
30
42
1.4
0.35
1.3
24
3.5
14
15
12
14
3.3
4
14
26
29
1.7
0.35
1.1
25
12
38
83
50
65
3.9
44
60
18
55
8.2
1.53
1.8
26
7.3
70
78
40
58
3.9
16
50
11
58
5.9
0.86
1.2
27
7.7
28
31
15
10
5.9
8
22
10
25
1.3
0.16
1.7
28
3.5
14
18
16
11
6.7
6
24
7.6
40
1.7
0.27
1.0
29
9.2
18
17
10
70
0.6
12
36
27
23
1.8
0.32
1.8
30
3.9
18
19
15
10
8.7
5
16
24
31
2.1
0.35
1.0
5
K. S. Patel et al.
Table 3. Concentration of trace elements in groundwater during January 2013, µg/mL.
S. No.
Li
Be
Rb
Co
Ni
Cu
Sn
Sb
Mo
Cd
La
Ce
Pb
U
1
18
2.4
3.8
1.9
7.4
6.5
1.6
2.3
0.66
0.25
0.24
0.51
4.7
2.8
2
20
2.4
37
2.9
13.3
4.8
3.4
4.7
1.76
0.13
0.22
0.23
2.7
1.6
3
18
2.5
3.2
2.2
10.6
3.0
2.7
3.4
2.08
0.22
0.15
0.20
1.2
1.4
4
17
1.5
4.9
1.7
5.1
8.6
1.7
2.8
2.05
0.14
0.52
0.71
5.6
1.4
5
12
1.5
25.5
5.0
3.9
8.8
2.0
6.0
0.28
0.17
0.27
0.08
9.0
1.3
6
11
1.5
8.3
4.2
10.0
4.1
2.6
4.6
2.10
0.13
0.24
0.31
1.9
1.6
7
9
1.5
21.1
3.0
9.8
4.7
2.2
3.3
1.11
0.20
0.56
0.67
7.3
1.6
8
19
1.8
2.2
1.4
2.9
2.9
1.5
1.0
0.65
0.19
0.20
0.13
4.3
3.8
9
36
2.2
33
7.6
11.4
6.0
2.9
9.8
1.20
0.20
0.41
0.70
3.6
1.4
10
11
5.2
38
7.7
26.6
18
11
1.7
0.06
0.33
2.11
0.80
9.6
1.6
11
11
5.2
28
7.7
23.8
18
10
1.9
0.08
0.33
1.11
0.60
9.1
1.6
12
16
1.7
3.4
1.6
6.1
5.1
1.3
2.1
0.56
0.21
0.19
0.44
4.3
2.1
13
18
1.7
34
2.4
11
3.8
2.8
4.2
1.49
0.11
0.17
0.2
2.5
1.2
14
16
1.8
2.9
1.8
8.8
2.4
2.2
3.1
1.76
0.19
0.12
0.17
1.1
1.1
15
15
1.1
4.4
1.4
4.2
6.8
1.4
2.5
1.74
0.12
0.41
0.61
5.1
1.1
16
11
1.1
23
4.2
3.2
6.9
1.6
5.4
0.24
0.14
0.21
0.07
8.3
1.0
17
10
1.1
7.5
3.5
8.3
3.2
2.1
4.1
1.78
0.11
0.19
0.27
1.7
1.2
18
8.6
1.1
19
2.5
8.1
3.7
1.8
3.0
0.94
0.17
0.44
0.58
6.7
1.2
19
17
1.3
2
1.2
2.4
2.3
1.2
0.9
0.55
0.16
0.16
0.11
3.9
2.9
20
33
1.6
30
6.3
9.4
4.7
2.4
8.8
1.02
0.17
0.32
0.61
3.3
1.1
21
10
3.7
35
6.4
22
14
9.1
1.5
0.05
0.28
1.66
0.69
27
1.2
22
10
3.7
35
6.4
23
14
9.1
1.5
0.05
0.28
1.66
0.69
29
1.2
23
29
1.9
1.4
1.2
2.4
2.3
1.6
1.1
0.87
0.19
0.14
0.22
2.6
10
24
13
1.5
28
1.9
7.7
18
1.7
1.2
0.24
0.25
0.19
0.31
20
1.1
25
21
1.3
1.5
1.6
5.5
9.0
1.8
1.1
0.55
0.17
0.11
0.17
4.9
4.1
26
25
6.7
13
1.3
2.7
5.7
1.7
1.2
4.95
0.11
0.12
0.23
5.2
9.0
27
6.1
1.1
23
4.2
3.2
6.9
1.6
5.4
0.24
0.19
0.21
0.27
8.3
1.0
28
4.7
1.1
1.5
2.9
10
22
2.4
3.2
1.23
0.16
0.14
0.25
6.8
12
29
20
1.2
7.3
1.1
7.3
21
1.2
1.2
0.22
0.31
0.31
0.58
8.4
1.2
30
9.2
1.1
1.4
1.1
5.4
3.8
1.5
1.9
0.55
0.16
0.13
0.19
1.5
1.2
6
K. S. Patel et al.
Table 4. Correlation matrix of elements in groundwater.
F−
F−
NO3−
SO 24−
Na+
0.18
1
−
3
0.36
0.47
1
2−
4
0.13
0.72
0.52
1
0.64
0.24
0.46
0.28
1
NO
K+
Mg2+
+
Na
−0.26
−0.12
0.09
0.01
−0.36
1
2+
0.51
0.27
0.52
0.39
0.68
−0.20
1
2+
0.42
0.34
0.40
0.25
0.59
−0.28
0.83
+
K
Mg
Ca2+
Al
SiO2
Fe
Mn
Zn
1
Cl−
SO
Cl−
Ca
1
Al
0.04
0.01
0.26
0.07
0.26
−0.25
0.13
0.13
1
SiO2
0.10
0.12
0.30
0.10
0.29
−0.01
0.54
0.56
0.09
1
Fe
0.37
0.44
0.69
0.70
0.57
0.01
0.74
0.58
0.29
0.48
1
Mn
0.32
0.32
0.56
0.61
0.54
0.05
0.63
0.35
0.21
0.29
0.78
1
Zn
0.16
−0.02
−0.06
−0.06
0.12
−0.10
0.09
−0.06
−0.16
−0.44
−0.05
0.14
Mo
Cd
La
Ce
1
Table 5. Correlation matrix of trace elements in groundwater.
Li
Be
Rb
Co
Ni
Cu
Sn
Sb
Pb
Li
1
Be
0.11
1
Rb
0.00
0.38
1
Co
−0.04
0.42
0.75
1
Ni
−0.22
0.57
0.63
0.74
1
Cu
−0.31
0.28
0.29
0.35
0.51
1
Sn
−0.24
0.68
0.61
0.76
0.95
0.51
1
Sb
0.32
−0.25
0.39
0.48
−0.05
−0.25
−0.15
1
Mo
0.30
0.27
−0.25
−0.33
−0.29
−0.39
−0.32
0.07
1
Cd
−0.12
0.41
0.30
0.44
0.65
0.64
0.66
−0.31
−0.60
1
La
−0.26
0.58
0.58
0.69
0.86
0.50
0.93
−0.19
−0.37
0.67
1
Ce
0.04
0.30
0.39
0.49
0.59
0.39
0.53
0.05
−0.17
0.52
0.69
Pb
−0.34
0.31
0.51
0.41
0.52
0.59
0.59
−0.27
−0.44
0.55
0.67
0.40
1
U
0.16
0.18
−0.38
−0.29
−0.24
0.12
−0.16
−0.28
0.34
−0.18
−0.23
−0.28
−0.15
U
1
1
Table 6. Physical parameter of surface water during January 2013.
S. No.
Location
pH
EC, µS/cm
TDS, mg/L
DO, mg/L
RP, mV
1
Churri
6.7
220
430
7.8
182
2
Rumgara
7.2
331
409
6.7
202
3
Kusmunda
7.5
493
413
5.8
210
4
Balco
7.3
172
391
5.9
208
5
Manikpur
7.4
210
494
8.1
176
6
Krishi Nagar
6.8
304
437
7.8
182
7
K. S. Patel et al.
Table 7. Chemical parameter of surface water during January 2013.
S. No.
F−
Cl−
NO3−
SO 24−
Na+
K+
Mg2+
Ca2+
Al
SiO2
Fe
Mn
Zn
1
2.3
21
38
20
11
8.3
8.1
20
1.0
7.7
0.9
0.4
0.28
2
1.8
11
17
10
46
15
5.2
16
1.2
7.7
0.4
0.4
0.39
3
2.4
14
13
16
47
13
6.0
16
1.3
3.1
0.6
0.3
0.45
4
2.2
18
17
30
16
7.1
5.1
18
1.4
9.2
1.3
0.7
0.29
5
3.1
27
25
40
20
6.0
6.2
20
1.6
7.7
1.4
1.1
0.31
6
2.6
14
30
20
18
9.2
9.1
28
1.3
6.1
1.5
1.2
0.42
Table 8. Concentration of trace elements in surface water during January 2013.
S. No.
Li
Rb
Cr
Co
Ni
Cu
Sb
Pb
U
1
16
13
5.1
2.7
5.2
6.6
3.8
7.4
0.92
2
22
25
4.2
3.2
5.8
9.6
3.4
6.3
0.74
3
23
18
4.6
3.9
4.8
7.5
3.4
5.7
0.89
4
15
19
4.4
4.2
6.4
7.9
4.4
6.2
0.97
5
14
14
4.8
2.5
4.0
6.4
2.4
4.5
0.68
6
18
16
8.1
5.9
7.9
14
1.4
2.8
0.32
EC and TDS of water (n = 6) in the post monsoon period was ranged from 20.8˚C - 22.2˚C, 6.7 - 7.5, 5.8 - 8.1
mg/L, 176 - 210 mV, 172 - 493 µS/cm and 391 - 494 mg/L with mean value of 21.6˚C ± 0.4˚C, 7.3 ± 0.3, 7.0 ±
0.8 mg/L, 193 ± 12 mV, 429 ± 29 µS/cm and 429 ± 29 mg/L, respectively. The concentration of F−, Cl−, NO3− ,
SO 24 − , Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Al, SiO2, Fe, Mn and Zn was ranged from 1.8 - 3.1, 11 - 27, 13 - 38, 10 - 40, 11 - 47,
6.0 - 15, 5.0 - 9.0, 16 - 28, 3.1 - 9.2, 0.06 - 0.26, 0.4 - 1.5, 0.3 - 1.2 and 0.3 - 0.5 mg/L with mean value of 2.4 ±
0.3, 18 ± 4.7, 23 ± 8, 23 ± 9, 26 ± 13, 10 ± 3, 6.5 ± 1.3, 20 ± 4, 1.3 ± 0.2, 6.9 ± 1.7, 1.0 ± 0.4, 0.7 ± 0.3 and 0.4 ±
0.1 mg/L, respectively. Similarly, concentration of other metals: Li, Rb, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Sb, Pb and U was observed at microgram levels, ranging from 14 - 23, 13 - 25, 4.2 - 8.1, 2.5 - 5.9, 4.0 - 7.9, 6.4 - 14, 1.4 - 4.4, 2.8 7.4 and 0.3 - 1.0 µg/L with mean value of 18 ± 3, 18 ± 4, 5.2 ± 1.2, 3.7 ± 0.9, 5.7 ± 1.1, 8.7 ± 2.3, 3.1 ± 0.9, 5.5
± 1.3 and 0.8 ± 0.2 µg/L, respectively. They were found to occur in following decreasing order: NO3− > Ca >
Na+ > Cl− > SO 24 − > K+ > Mg > F− > Al > Fe > Mn > Zn > Li > Rb > Cu > Pb > Ni > Cr > Co > Sb > U. The
concentration of F− in the surface water of the studied basin was found to be higher than other locations of the
country [19] [20].
The factor analysis was applied and four factors were extracted. Factor-1 was accounted for 48.70% of the
total variance, related to anions, Ca2+ and Mg2+. It could be correlated to complex processes such as weathering
of fluoride bearing minerals (AlF3, CaF2, MgF2), gypsum, carbonate minerals and anthropogenic activities i.e.
coal burning and leaching, aluminum plant effluents, etc. Factor-2 was accounted for 22.15% of the total variance, related to EC, TDS and Na+ which determined the mineralization of pond water. Factor-3 was accounted
for 16.23% of the total variance having strong loadings of Fe and Mn, related to the speciation of Fe and Mn in
the water. Factor-4 was accounted for 9.23% of the total variance, negatively loaded with the pH values. This
factor was in the inverse relationship with the other factors.
3.4. Water Quality
The concentration of F−, Al, Mn and Fe was found to be several folds higher than recommended value of 1.0,
0.03, 0.10 and 0.30 mg/L, respectively. The higher values of EC, TDS, RP, F−, Cl−, NO3− , Mg2+, Ca2+, SiO2, Al,
Fe, Ni, Zn, Sb, Pb and U in the groundwater than the surface water was observed, may be due to leaching from
the coal (Figure 2, Figure 3). The main sources of the contaminants in the water of the studied area expected are
8
K. S. Patel et al.
8
mg/L
6
4
2
0
pH
FF−
DO
Parameter
SW
GW
mg/L
(a)
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
RP
EC
TDS
Parameter
SW
GW
mg/L
(b)
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Al
Mg2+
Mg2+
Cl
Cl-−
SiO2
SiO2
2+
Ca
Ca2+
NO3−
NO3-
2−
SO 4
SO42-
Na+
Na+
Element
SW
GW
(c)
Figure 2. Distribution of pH and elements in ground and surface water in the post
monsoon period, January, 2013.
coal mine leachates and the Aluminum and Thermal power plant effluents discharged into the environment.
3.5. Exposure Assessment
The toxic elements i.e. F−, Al, Mn, Fe, Cu, Cd, Pb and U are exposed to human and animals through the contaminated water. Among them, the concentration of F− is dominated in ground and surface water. The stool and
urine samples were reported as good indicator for the exposure assessment. In this study, the F− content was
analyzed in stool and urine samples of domestic animals i.e. cattle, buffalo, sheep and goat (Table 9). The F−
concentration in the urine and stool samples (5 × 4 × 2 = 40) was ranged from 32 - 63 mg/L and 186 - 356
mg/kg with mean value of 44 mg/L and 266 mg/kg (dried mass), respectively. The highest F− concentration was
observed in the goat clinical samples, which might be due to higher intake of the contaminated biomass and water (Figure 4). Several cases of fluorosis diseases in the domestic animals of the basin was observed and shown
in Figure 5.
4. Conclusion
The water of the Korba basin is contaminated with elements (i.e. F−, Al, Fe and Mn) by multiple sources (i.e. coal
9
K. S. Patel et al.
A
12
SW
GW
10
mg/L
8
6
4
2
0
Mn
+
K
K+
Fe
Metal
(a)
20
SW
GW
µ g/L
15
10
5
0
Ni
Cu
Li
Rb
Metal
µ g/L
(b)
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
SW
GW
U
Sb
Pb
Element
(c)
Figure 3. Distribution trace elementsin ground and surface water in the post monsoon
period, January, 2013.
700
600
mg/L
500
400
300
200
100
0
Cattle
Buffalo
Sheep
Sample
Urine
−
Stool
Ash
Figure 4. Comparison of F concentration in clinical samples.
10
Goat
K. S. Patel et al.
(a)
(b)
Figure 5. Dental (a) and hair (b) fluorosis in buffalo.
Table 9. Concentration of F− in clinical samples during January 2013.
S. No.
Sample
Cattle
Buffalo
Sheep
Goat
1
Urine
32
38
42
63
2
Stool
186
233
287
356
3
Ash
324
516
567
602
burning, Aluminum plant effluent, mine leachate, etc.). Fluoride is enriched and several folds higher in the animal urines than recommended limit of 4 mg/L with higher prevalence of fluorosis diseases. The domestic animals are severely affected with fluorosis diseases due to higher consumption of the contaminated food and water.
Acknowledgements
We are thankful to the UGC, New Delhi for award of the Rajiv Gandhi Research Fellowship to KPR and SR.
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