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Fluoride in water, health implications and plant-based remediation strategies

  • Justin K. Maghanga , Veronica A. Okello EMAIL logo , Justine A. Michira , Loice Ojwang , Bancy Mati and Fred K. Segor
Published/Copyright: October 31, 2022
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Physical Sciences Reviews
From the journal Physical Sciences Reviews Volume 9 Issue 2

Abstract

The high prevalence of dental fluorosis and bone mineralization deficiency as a result of exposure to fluorides has increased in Kenya over the years due to consumption of water with elevated levels of fluoride. The World Health Organization (WHO) provides a guideline of 1.5 mg/L level of fluoride in drinking water. However, majority of studies carried out in Kenya over the last 40 plus years have indicated very high levels of fluoride in drinking water in various regions, with a prevalence in dental fluorosis observed in children and adults living in Rift valley and central regions due to basaltic and volcanic rocks. Unfortunately, this trend of fluoride-induced enamel changes has been observed in other regions such as Nairobi and Machakos which were originally presumed to contain low fluoride levels. This study sought to analyse the applicability of Maerua subcordata root powder (MSRP) in the removal of fluorides in borehole drinking water. Fresh Maerua subcordata roots were peeled to obtain the white flesh, chopped into small pieces, dried and ground into powder. The process parameters varied were; fluoride ion concentration [F−] (0–12 mg/L), adsorbent dosage (0–200 g/L) and equilibration time (30–240 min) [F−] were hence analysed before and after treatment using ion selective electrode (ISE) fluoride meter. Results indicated that MSRP is a viable plant in fluoride treatment with approximately 68% fluoride ion removal efficiency. An MSRP dosage of 200 g/L was found optimal in [F−] reduction while a 2 mg/L [F−] concentration recorded the highest reduction of [F−]. The optimal equilibration time was found to be 30 min. The results can be used to develop a low-cost column for treatment of high fluoride waters in rural areas using MSRP. Borehole samples were treated with MSRP using the optimized conditions; however their reduction levels were lower than the [F−] standards used. It is envisaged that with further modification and/or doping with zero-valent iron nanoparticles, it’s efficiency will be improved.

Keywords: adsorption; drinking water; fluoride; Maerua subcordata ; plant-based remediation
Corresponding author: Veronica A. Okello, Machakos University, P.O Box 136-90100 Machakos, Kenya, E-mail:

Funding source: The Upper Tana Nairobi Water Fund-Jkuat Research Component in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy (TNC)

  1. Author contributions: All the authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this submitted manuscript and approved submission.

  2. Research funding: None declared.

  3. Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding this article.

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Received: 2022-05-29
Accepted: 2022-08-31
Published Online: 2022-10-31

© 2022 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. Reviews
  3. Topology and applications of 2D Dirac and semi-Dirac materials
  4. Landscape ecological modeling to identify ecologically significant regions in Tumkur district, Karnataka
  5. Surfactants-surface active agents behind sustainable living
  6. Ecological footprint of poultry production and effect of environment on poultry genes
  7. Fluoride in water, health implications and plant-based remediation strategies
  8. Poultry nutrition
  9. Synthesis of N-containing heterocycles in water
  10. Inorganic nanoparticles promoted synthesis of heterocycles
  11. The role of analytical chemistry in poultry science
  12. Antibiotics in avian care and husbandry-status and alternative antimicrobials
  13. Removal of heavy metals from wastewater using synthetic chelating agents
  14. Azadirachtin in the aquatic environment: Fate and effects on non-target fauna
  15. Intensification of bioprocesses with filamentous microorganisms
  16. The science of genetically modified poultry
  17. Emerging in ovo technologies in poultry production and the re-discovered chicken model in preclinical research
  18. The Cambridge structural database (CSD): important resources for teaching concepts in structural chemistry and intermolecular interactions
  19. Microbial production of lactic acid using organic wastes as low-cost substrates
  20. Oxalic acid: recent developments for cost-effective microbial production
  21. Immobilization of α-amylase from Aspergillus fumigatus using adsorption method onto zeolite
  22. A comparative assessment of potentially harmful metals in the Lagos Lagoon and Ogun river catchment
  23. Formulation of a herbal topical cream against Tinea capitis using flavonoids glycosides from Dicerocaryum senecioides and Diospyros mespiliformis
  24. Biodegradable polymers – research and applications
  25. Adsorption of trichloroacetic acid from drinking water using polyethylene terephthalate waste carbon and periwinkle shells–based chitosan
  26. The vital use of isocyanide-based multicomponent reactions (MCR) in chemical synthesis
  27. Pine bark crosslinked to cyclodextrin for the adsorption of 2-nitrophenol from an aqueous solution
  28. Computational study of propene selectivity and yield in the dehydrogenation of propane via process simulation approach
  29. A mini review on the prospects of Fagara zanthoxyloides extract based composites: a remedy for COVID-19 and associated replica?
  30. Physicochemical assessment and insilico studies on the interaction of 5-HT2c receptor with herbal medication bioactive compounds used in the treatment of premature ejaculation
  31. Horse chestnut thermoplastic starch nanocomposite films reinforced with nanocellulose
  32. Rice thermoplastic starch nanocomposite films reinforced with nanocellulose
https://doi.org/10.1515/psr-2022-0123
Keywords for this article
adsorption; drinking water; fluoride; Maerua subcordata; plant-based remediation

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. Reviews
  3. Topology and applications of 2D Dirac and semi-Dirac materials
  4. Landscape ecological modeling to identify ecologically significant regions in Tumkur district, Karnataka
  5. Surfactants-surface active agents behind sustainable living
  6. Ecological footprint of poultry production and effect of environment on poultry genes
  7. Fluoride in water, health implications and plant-based remediation strategies
  8. Poultry nutrition
  9. Synthesis of N-containing heterocycles in water
  10. Inorganic nanoparticles promoted synthesis of heterocycles
  11. The role of analytical chemistry in poultry science
  12. Antibiotics in avian care and husbandry-status and alternative antimicrobials
  13. Removal of heavy metals from wastewater using synthetic chelating agents
  14. Azadirachtin in the aquatic environment: Fate and effects on non-target fauna
  15. Intensification of bioprocesses with filamentous microorganisms
  16. The science of genetically modified poultry
  17. Emerging in ovo technologies in poultry production and the re-discovered chicken model in preclinical research
  18. The Cambridge structural database (CSD): important resources for teaching concepts in structural chemistry and intermolecular interactions
  19. Microbial production of lactic acid using organic wastes as low-cost substrates
  20. Oxalic acid: recent developments for cost-effective microbial production
  21. Immobilization of α-amylase from Aspergillus fumigatus using adsorption method onto zeolite
  22. A comparative assessment of potentially harmful metals in the Lagos Lagoon and Ogun river catchment
  23. Formulation of a herbal topical cream against Tinea capitis using flavonoids glycosides from Dicerocaryum senecioides and Diospyros mespiliformis
  24. Biodegradable polymers – research and applications
  25. Adsorption of trichloroacetic acid from drinking water using polyethylene terephthalate waste carbon and periwinkle shells–based chitosan
  26. The vital use of isocyanide-based multicomponent reactions (MCR) in chemical synthesis
  27. Pine bark crosslinked to cyclodextrin for the adsorption of 2-nitrophenol from an aqueous solution
  28. Computational study of propene selectivity and yield in the dehydrogenation of propane via process simulation approach
  29. A mini review on the prospects of Fagara zanthoxyloides extract based composites: a remedy for COVID-19 and associated replica?
  30. Physicochemical assessment and insilico studies on the interaction of 5-HT2c receptor with herbal medication bioactive compounds used in the treatment of premature ejaculation
  31. Horse chestnut thermoplastic starch nanocomposite films reinforced with nanocellulose
  32. Rice thermoplastic starch nanocomposite films reinforced with nanocellulose
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