We have learned about the existence of many types of toxic chemicals in water, such as heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants. You are asked to select a toxic chemical of interest as your...

Micropollutant Fluoride
Micro-pollutant Fluoride
Micro pollutant Fluoride
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Contents
MICROPOLLUTANT FLUORIDE    2
1.    INTRODUCTION    2
1.1 JUSTIFICATION OF CONSIDERING FLUORIDE TOXIC CHEMICAL FOR INVESTIGATION    2
2.    IMPACT STUDY ON FLUORIDE TOXIC CHEMICAL    4
3.    TREATMENT METHODS    5
3.1 CONVENTIONAL TREATMENT METHODS FOR REMOVAL OF FLUORIDE    5
3.2    ADVANCED TREATMENT METHODS FOR REMOVAL OF FLUORIDE:    9
4.    CONCLUSIONS AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVE:    12
REFERENCES    13
MICROPOLLUTANT FLUORIDE
1. INTRODUCTION
Due to the expansion of water pollution, the nature of water for drinking purpose is the main task in this new era. Micropollutant fluoride basically is a life-threatening form of pollutants, especially to humans. Fluoride in reasonable amount has advantage as it gives bone mineralization and caries prevention. The reason for the higher intake results in enamel decay, called fluorosis. These types of micropollutants enter the environment through the weathering of minerals rich in fluoride and through human intervention, such as industrial drainage. The problem of fluoride in water is serious for tropical countries such as are seen in India, also in Kenya, and in Tanzania. The only way to get rid of this problem is to remove fluorine. Fluoride can be removed from the water using various methods such as precipitation-condensation, membrane-based methods, like ion exchange process and also by using adsorption processes. Precipitation - coagulation process produces large amounts of sludge, which may include leaching of unwanted components. Adsorption procedures have their own specific points of interest, which include, ease of handling or it can be minimal water treatment.
1.1 JUSTIFICATION OF CONSIDERING FLUORIDE TOXIC CHEMICAL FOR INVESTIGATION
In the past few decades, emerging micro-pollutants have caused great concern. These micro-contaminants are present in natural water and treated water due to the low removal efficiency and continuous production and use of conventional wastewater treatment processes. For these problems, the establishment of sophisticated and more sensitive environmental toxicology methods can provide solutions in the field of detection and provide early warning of the secondary adverse effects of micro-pollutants on ecosystems and human health at environmentally relevant concentrations.
Fluoride is present in groundwater from natural sources such as weathering and volcanic processes, or from wastewater from fertilizers, glass, ceramics, bricks, ironworks and electroplating. Fluoride has good as well as bad effects on health of humans based upon its level of intake. In the beneficial or advantageous effect of fluoride in the human body, bone strengthening and prevention of tooth decay are significant. Beyond this limit, fluoride can cause various diseases such as bones and dental fluorosis, bone fragility, cancer, Infertility, brain damage, Alzheimer's disease and thyroid disease.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) estimates that approximately Ten millions of people are affected by fluorosis in 25 countries in both developed and developing countries. Some cases have been found in Pakistan, some of whom have harmful diseases. In July 2000, the Manga Mandi area (near Lahore, Punjab) reported a tragic situation in which level of fluoride in drinking water is as high as 20 mg/l, causing local bone and tooth deformities.
Techniques that can be used to remove fluorine include coagulation-precipitation, membrane processes, ion exchange, and adsorption processes. Although coagulation-precipitation (also known as Nalgonda technology) is an effective and inexpensive method, its main disadvantage is the generation of hazardous waste. The membrane process is primarily reverse osmosis, but it requires high maintenance costs due to fouling, fouling, and degradation of the membrane. Similarly, the ion exchange process is very expensive. Due to its simplicity, effectiveness and economic viability, adsorption methods are considered to be more suitable for defluorination.
Important adsorbents that have been tested to remove fluoride include activated alumina, activated carbon, zeolites, biosorbents, and nanosorbents. Activated carbon is considered a universal adsorbent due to its application and viability. Tembhurkar and Dongre studied the use of activated carbon to remove fluoride. Activated alumina is also a great adsorbent for fluoride removal from potable water, but acquires has limited regenerability and slow adsorption rates.
Several studies have been conducted to increase the efficiency of activated alumina for fluorine removal. In one study, the use of alum-impregnated activated alumina is used for fluoride removal from potable water resulting in efficiency of removal being 99% at pH 6.5. Similarly, another study reported the equilibrium of adsorption and kinetics related to fluoride removal using an absorbent which is a sol-gel derivative of activated alumina. In this study, calcium and manganese oxide coatings were performed on sol-gel to increase fluoride removal efficiency.
The main challenge encountered during the study period was the separation of the adsorbent from the water sample after use. Typically, filtration is used to separate the powdered adsorbent. The purpose of this study was to prepare an immobilized adsorbent in the form of particles that can be easily separated from water without undergoing filtration and centrifugation. For this purpose, immobilized activated alumina having uniform surface properties is prepared by a sol-gel method. The immobilized activated alumina is further modified by adding alum to enhance its adsorption capacity. Modified immobilized activated alumina (MIAA) was tested for the treatment of water in the Manga Mandi area (near Lahore, Pakistan) which were affected by fluoride concentration.
Since fluoride contamination is a big problem, investigations must be considered, as described above. I also mentioned some ways to get rid of this problem.
Worldwide spread potable water contaminated with fluoride concentration:
Contamination in water with fluoride ion is a global problem resulting in health hazards like teeth and fluorosis related to a skeleton (Carpenter & Helbling, 2018). Most researches are limited to regional scope. Because the problem has serious socio-economic impacts, a global perspective is needed. Therefore, we are here to review the global research on fluoride pollution in water for nearly a century. We investigated the distribution, source, mobilization, and linkage of fluoride impurity in water. Mainly these findings are observed:
(1) Abnormal concentrations of fluoride element in groundwater are mainly observed or seen in arid and semi-arid regions of Asia as well as North Africa.
(2) The geological fluoride sources in water are mostly minerals containing fluoride in rocks and sediments, while the sources of fluoride which are anthropogenic in water are commonly pesticides and some industrial waste.
(3) Fluoride movement from geological sources is basically controlled by alkalinity as well as temperature.
(4) Water containing fluoride is related to sodium, arsenic chloride, and bicarbonate. Fluoride in water has little correlation with calcium and magnesium.
Key issues for arsenic-contaminated drinking water:
• Drinking water fluoride pollution affects millions of people,
• The impact is global,
• The affected population may increase.
2. IMPACT STUDY ON FLUORIDE TOXICCHEMICAL
Severe health problems/concerns due to fluoride contamination:
Fluoride as micropollutant is a highly poisonous substance. For example, consider that the US Food and Drug Administration now needs all toothpaste containing fluoride sold in the United States or about ten millions of people in China and India, who are now suffering from bone related diseases due to elevated levels of fluoride in potable water.
Fluoride is more poisonous as compared to lead in terms of toxicity (i.e., a dosage that may cause direct toxic effects), but is a little less toxic than the arsenic element. That’s why fluoride has also being used as an insecticide to destroy pests such asrats and insects. This is why mishaps involving extreme intake of fluorinated dental related products (including fluoride gels or fluoride supplements and water containing fluoride in high concentration) can result in serious events, which could be death also.
The increasing use of fluoride to prevent dental caries causes problems with whether such halogens have antagonistic properties to iodine. It is known that excessive fluoride can affect our thyroid functioning. And as we know thyroid is the most delicate tissue in our body with F-high fluoride concentrations (approximately 100 to 200 ppm).Long-term use of high F-water may inhibit the function of the thyroid gland. Thyroid changes Hormone levels lead to imbalances in the oxidant/antioxidant system, resulting in reduced learning and memory.
Fluoride is generally more toxic for patients suffering from diabetes. Most researchers study have shown that humans have insulin resistance to long-term vulnerability through fluoride in potable water. According to the National Research Council of the United States...