Sensitive assessment of groundwater-associated, multi-exposure health hazards in a fluoride-enriched region of West Bengal, India.

摘要: Ninety groundwater samples were collected from Khayrasole and Rajnagar blocks of Birbhum district, West Bengal, India, during pre-monsoon post-monsoon in 2016 to assess the hazards fluoride groundwater. Fluoride concentration fluctuated 0.3 to 17.6 mg/L, with 70% reported beyond modified regional optimal level (0.7 mg/L) a statistically significant p   Mg2+ > Na+ > K+ HCO3− > Cl− > SO42− > NO3− > F−, respectively. Notably, quality 50% places ranged poor unfit for drinking purposes terms water index. The mean total hazard index (THI) was 1.1 adults 1.9 children, signifying greater chance non-carcinogenic threats both age groups. In calculating THI, ingestion dermal pathways accounted approximately 96% 3% health hazards, Monte Carlo simulation sensitivity analysis identified that diurnal rate, exposure duration, sensitive variables triggered most groundwater-associated issues, more risks among children. Further, dental surveys (N = 746), following Dean’s norms classification based on level, designated borderline grade community hazard. subsequent hydrogeochemical characterization directed dissolution fluoride-bearing minerals water–rock interaction, such as halite calcite–dolomite precipitation, governing factors F− enrichment This study will serve baseline data delineating fluoride-induced other through spatial GIS platform zonation effective management.