Crippling flurosis in Assam

During 1995 UNICEF reported:
"In India the number of people affected by fluorosis which causes dental problem, gastroentrerities and crippling estimated at an appalling 25 million."

Further, the Fluorosis Research and Rural Development Foundation, Delhi, writes in July, 1999 that in India.

" An estimated 62 million people are adversely affected due to consuming fluoride contaminated water of which 6 million are children below age of 14 years".

The report published by the Rajiv Gandhi National Drinking Water Mission, 1994, reported 14 states and the Union Territory Delhi as endemic for fluorosis. In the same report it was mentioned that in West Bengal and the seven northestern hill states "disease not detected yet". However, in 1998 Birbhum district of West Bengal was found to be fluoride affected, and patients were identified who are suffering for more than a decade (Report School of Environmental Studies, Jadavpur University, Calcutta).

For more than last 20 years the people of Karbi-Anglong and Nagaon districts in Assam are suffering from a crippling disease caused by drinking fluoride contaminated groundwater. And although one of the public water supply schemes in Karbi-Anglong is supplying water containing fluoride as high as 15 mg/l, the Rajiv Gandhi National Drinking Water Mission reports that disease has not been detected in any of the seven northeastern hill states. Out of the 29 countries known to have excess fluoride in drinking water (Figure-1) the numbe of people suffering from fluorosis in India is the highest in the world, and, with time, the number is increasing rapidly.
	Photograph shows the dental fluorosis; fluoride in drinking water, 8.02 mg/l; village Bagpani of Bagpani area, Karbi-Anglong district, Assam
During 1995 UNICEF reported: "In India the number of people affected by fluorosis which causes dental problem, gastroentrerities and crippling estimated at an appalling 25 million." Further, the Fluorosis Research and Rural Development Foundation, Delhi, writes in July, 1999 that in India. " An estimated 62 million people are adversely affected due to consuming fluoride contaminated water of which 6 million are children below age of 14 years".
	Invalid mother. The girl can not go to the school but looks after the family. All members are fluoride affected.
The report published by the Rajiv Gandhi National Drinking Water Mission, 1994, reported 14 states and the Union Territory Delhi as endemic for fluorosis. In the same report it was mentioned that in West Bengal and the seven northestern hill states "disease not detected yet". However, in 1998 Birbhum district of West Bengal was found to be fluoride affected, and patients were identified who are suffering for more than a decade (Report School of Environmental Studies, Jadavpur University, Calcutta).
	Skeletal fluorosis; fluoride in drinking water, 14.36 mg/l; village Nopak-Killing of Bagpani areas, Karbi-Anglong district, Assam