A baseline study on the distribution of fluoride in drinking water and its health risk assessment in Industrial areas of Sivakasi, India

Sivakasi, popularly known as "Little Japan," is a town in the southern region of Tamil Nadu. The study area has a semi-arid tropical monsoon climate. The inhabitants depend heavily on groundwater, which is used extensively for irrigation, drinking, and domestic. The present research aimed to evaluate groundwater quality in Sivakasi, focusing on fluoride levels and major ions, providing essential information on the non-carcinogenic risks posed to residents, particularly adults, and the suitability of water for both drinking and agriculture. Fluoride concentration and the most important cations and anions were analyzed in 32 groundwater samples. The major cations and anions present in field samples are in the order of abundance: Cl> SO4> HCO3> Na > Mg >Ca> K. For drinking purposes, groundwater quality varies from moderate to poor, and over 70% of groundwater tests are out of condition for agricultural water supply. Fluoride levels in the samples from the study area ranged from 0.00 to 2.60 mg/l, with an average value of 1.60 mg/l. The hazardous Quotient (HQ) value for infants ranged from 0.00 E+00 to 1.69 E+00, children from 0.00 E+00 to 1.80 E+00, and for adults from 0.00E+00 to 1.88E+00. Additionally, the adults were more susceptible to non-carcinogenic threats than infants and children. This study on groundwater quality in Sivakasi highlights risks to health from excessive fluoride levels, particularly for adults, making it important for disaster mitigation. Understanding the non-carcinogenic hazards of contaminated water can drive disaster preparedness actions and resource allocation, emphasizing the need for secure water sources and resilient water management methods in the semiarid region.