Assessment of Fluoride Content in the Drinking Water of Al-Musaymir District, Lahij Governorate, Yemen

Abstract

The problem of the study was that there is deterioration in the characteristics of drinking water in Al-Musaymir district, Lahij Governorate, also, appearance of dental fluorosis and osteoporosis in Children. The present study aimed to investigate the concentration of fluoride and some physical properties of drinking water in the study area and to compare it with the standards of the World Health Organization (WHO). Seventeen drinking water samples were collected from surface water. Temperature and pH were measured directly in situ using a graduated thermometer and pH meter (HQ40D multi/HACH), while turbidity and fluoride content were analyzed in the laboratory. Samples were taken from the wells that were examined in coordination with Aden Water Supply Local and Sanitation Corporation (AWSLC). A HACH Spectrophotometer (DR 900 model) and a  HACH UV- Spectrophoto meter (DR 5000 model) were used for measuring turbidity and Fluoride (F-), respectively. The results showed that the concentration of fluoride in most of the studied samples exceeded the permissible limit for WHO. The study recommended that the government institutions and organizations conduct a study of the soil and rocks, in addition to knowing the reasons for increasing fluoride concentration in water, and then finding solutions.