Fluoride contamination in groundwater: A global review of the status, processes, challenges, and remedial measures

Groundwater pollution by fluoride is one of the prime concerns of the world population due to its toxicity, which results in adverse health impacts. In this paper, we review the current scenario of the fluoride contamination of groundwater in various countries across the globe and its impact on human health. During the last decade, several newly affected regions have been reported all over the world, with more than 100 countries affected by fluoride contamination in groundwater (concentration exceeding the acceptable limit of 1.5 mg/L defined by the World Health Organization). Fluoride poisoning is mainly due to the unsupervised ingestion of products for dental and oral hygiene and over-fluoridated drinking…