The Impacts of Fluoride Contamination in Groundwater on Public Health in India: Evidence from Skeletal Diseases and Dental Diseases

Abstract

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to examine the potential effects of fluoride exposure by analyzing the influence of fluoride contamination in drinking water on health outcomes across various districts of India. The paper will mainly highlight two health outcomes- dental diseases and skeletal diseases. This study also examine the health impacts associated with fluoride contaminated water across the different considered samples with the inclusion of additional demographic and socio-economic characteristics. We exploit the data from Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), Ministry of Water Resources 2010, and Health rounds of National Sample Survey (NSS), 2014. Following results has been estimated using Logistic Regression Framework and Propensity Score Matching (PSM) method. Estimated results clearly indicate that people living in the fluoride affected areas are more likely to get affected by dental diseases and skeletal diseases. It further demonstrates that consumption of comparatively large amount of fluoride leads to potential severe skeletal diseases than dental diseases. However, the analysis also shows that the dental disease and skeletal disease is more prevalent in the case of children and old age. The findings also show that age, education, household socio-economic conditions, and geographical area of residence have significant association with the risks of dental diseases and skeletal diseases in India. Thereby we conclude that switching to safe source of water is more beneficial in the fluoride affected regions, controlling for other demographic and socio-economic characteristics.

Keywords: Fluoride Contaminated Water, Dental Diseases, Skeletal Diseases, Logistic Regression, Propensity Score Matching, Socio-economic Determinants

Cite this Article

Nadeem Ahmad, Khushboo Aggarwal. The Impacts of Fluoride Contamination in Groundwater on Public Health in India: Evidence from Skeletal Diseases and Dental Diseases. Journal of Water Pollution & Purification Research. 2016; 3(2): 43–60p.