Fluorosis grips Orissa village, residents blame official apathy
Daily India - February 11, 2007
Ghikundi (Orissa), Feb 11 (ANI): Villagers in Orissa's Sonapur District suffering from prolonged health problems related to fluorosis complain of official apathy for their present hardships.
The excessive concentration of fluorides in the drinking water that changes colour of rice-water to black, while being cooked, is not new for the residents of Ghikundi village.
Villagers get water for cooking from the only tube-well in the area, which happens to have high fluoride content in its water. For fetching clean water they have to trek two-three kilometers and that too at the risk of being shunned by the high-caste people.
The villagers' say their repeated complains to the officials have fallen on deaf ears.
"From block development officer to village head, we took the matter to all of them. Even the doctor advised us to stop drinking water of this tube-well as it can trigger diseases.
We were assured of a new tube-well, but nothing has happened. We get water after travelling two to three kilometers. Rest of the tube-wells have all dried up.
When we cook rice using this water it turns black and our teeth are also becoming black," said Hrishikesh Suna, a villager.
The medical officer of the area substantiates the claims of the villagers and believes that they are in for more trouble if they continue to drink the same water.
"The fluoride content in the water of the tube-well is more. That fluoride water is causing discolouration of the teeth.
People using this water are suffering from other diseases. In future, if they continue to drink that water their bones and joints will be affected," said Prasanna Mishra, the medical officer.
Fluorosis is a condition caused due to excessive intake of fluoride. Skeletal Fluorosis and Dental Fluorosis are it two types.
Fluoride affects the body by getting accumulated in the bones and its overexposure to teeth causes their discolouration. Doctors say surgery is the only solution for fluorosis and that too after the fluoride content has been brought down. (ANI)
SOURCE:
http://www.dailyindia.com/show/113346.p ... ial-apathy