STATISTICAL APPRAISAL OF FLUORIDE ENRICHMENT IN AREAS OF MALDA AND SOUTH DINAJPUR DISTRICT, WEST BENGAL, INDIA

Abstract

The present study was conducted in some randomly selected area of Malda and South Dinajpur district of West Bengal to find out the level of fluoride in groundwater and its association with other inorganic constituents through statistical modeling and chemical indices. Results revealed that the considerable variation of different parameters, among them 7.90 % sample showed F- levels beyond the WHO recommended value. Moreover, F- shows positive correlation with Na+ (p< 0.467*) and negative correlation with Ca2+ (p< -0.289) which is again well supported by factor analysis study. From the results of Multiple linear regression model and piper diagram revealed the significant relationship of F- with Na+, alkaline pH and Ca2+ and dominancy of F- due to high Na-HCO3 enrichment respectively. The higher level of F- in groundwater is the consequence of fluoride containing sedimentary rock weathering.