NON-INVASIVE HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY ESTIMATION USING MICROGRAVITY-CASE STUDY

W is highly vital for each and every form of life in earth. However, about 80% of the diseases in world are due to poor quality of drinking water. Furthermore, the prevalence of fluorosis is mainly due to the consumption of more fluoride through drinking water. The safe limit of fluoride in drinking water is 1.5 mg/l. All over the world, several millions of people from 22 countries are affected by various forms of fluorosis. In India, around 20 millions of people are severely affected by fluorosis and about 40 millions are expected to its risk. Hence, it is necessary to estimate the quantitative contribution of water on the prevalence of fluorosis and daily fluoride intake through drinking water and water used for processing food and beverages. Moreover, it is essential to find suitable practices to reduce daily fluoride intake level and fluorosis risk. A suitable methodology was adopted for the estimation of daily fluoride intake through drinking water and water used for food processing. The estimated daily fluoride intake ranges for the different age groups of people from various fluoride endemic areas are compared with the safe intake level of fluoride ranged between 0.05 mg/kg/day to 0.07 mg/kg/day. The rate of prevalence of fluorosis and daily fluoride intake levels significantly increases with increase of water fluoride level. More than 60% of the total fluoride intake per day is derived from water. Hence, the people residing in the fluoride endemic areas are advised to take serious concern about the fluoride level in water used for drinking and food processing.