Spectrophotometric Determination of Flouride in Some Local Government Areas of Gombe State

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1 Spectrophotometric Determination of Flouride in Some Local Government Areas of Gombe State By Danbature, Wilson Lamayi; Fai, Frederick Yirankinyuki; Ayim, Patrick and Hamma, Zainab Chemistry Department, Gombe State University, PMB 127 Gombe, Nigeria Correspondence author ABSTRACT Fluoride concentrations in borehole water of some parts of Billiri, Gombe, Kaltungo and Shongom Local government Areas of Gombe of Gombe State were determined. A total number of fifteen (15) samples were collected (three from each location) with sample from Gombe State University as control. The samples were analysed using UV Spectrophotometer (model 5400/5405).The results ranged from 1.40 ±0.01 to 1.84 ±0.01mg/L with the highest concentration found in sample collected from Billiri local Government Area. Therefore, it can be concluded that fluoride is one of the major chemicals that causes dental fluorosis, diminishes bond strength and osteosarcoma. Keywords Dental fluorosis Fluoride Osteosarcoma Spectrophotometry INTRODUCTION Water is life. And all living things most especially humans require water to survive. However, this water is sometime found contaminated with chemical elements.fluoride as one of this contaminant in water causes dental fluorosis, diminished in bone strength and osteosarcoma. Water is very important to both plant and animals. It is a major life supporting substance that is required for the physiological functioning of the body. However, each of these sources has its source of contamination which could either be natural or induced artificially by man. The World Health Organisation (WHO) [1] estimated that, 80% ill health problems in developing countries are largely associated with poor quality drinking water and sanitation. A significant number of the Nigeria s population is also faced with the challenge of unsafe drinking water due to the presence of contaminations. Fluoride is one of these chemical contaminants in drinking water [2]. Even though, it was known as an essential chemical component in water due to its beneficial effect at a very low concentration. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO)[1], dental cavity was a worldwide epidemic, and in its effort to solve the problem recommended the addition of fluoride in drinking water in places where naturally dissolved fluoride levels were below minimum levels. Brunnel and Carlos [3] reported that water fluoridation in low fluoride containing water supplies for consumption could help to maintain optimal dental issue, development and dental enamel resistance against caries problem for life. Contrary to this view, in recent times the consumption of fluoride has been topical and controversial because fluoride at low concentration in drinking water prevents dental caries and was used in the treatment of Osteoporosis for two decades [4]. However, at high concentration, it causes adverse effects like dental fluorosis, crippling skeletal fluorosis among others [5]. According to a research conducted at Eritrea, mottling of the teeth was observed in children from eight village around Keren [6].This situation led to a serious investigation of the fluoride concentration in drinking water serving the affected communities.after this study, it was found that with the exception of a village(wasdenba) with fluoride level of 1.2mg/l, all other sources had higher fluoride levels greater than 1.5mg/l(ranging from mg/l).Epidemiological studies have also revealed a correlation between increase in the concentration of fluoride in drinking water and low IQ in humans, risk of bone fracture, severe forms of skeletal fluorosis and dental enamel. In another related issue [7], the occurrence of dental

2 European International Journal of Science and Humanities ISSN: X fluorosis was found in Langtang town, Jos, Nigeria. Water sample were collected from these affected areas and analysed for fluoride level. The results ranged between mg/l with the highest concentration in stream water sources. Recently a research in Kaltungo, Nigeria, revealed the occurrence of dental fluorosis and bond fracture; these situations were all associated with high fluoride levels in drinking water. Analysis of water sample from these affected communities found high levels of fluoride with the highest concentrations in borehole water than the corresponding well water samples[8]. In other to also relate the negative effect of fluoride on bones; a follow up survey was conducted and found a clear relationship between high fluoride level in drinking water and cases of bone fracture resulting from accidents. This study confirmed that high level of fluoride in drinking water increases the percentage of teeth mottling as well as cases of accident with fracture within the area [8]. The researchers deemed it necessary to conduct this research in the affected areas due to the adverse effect of fluoride in drinking water and to ascertain fluoride level in their ground water. This is because the selected communities have been observed with degraded teeth which are suspected to be either dental caries or fluorosis. Therefore, this research work is very paramount as to establish the real causes of the dental deformation. MATERIALS AND METHODS Spectrophotometric method of water analysis was employed in this research. The model used for this analysis was UV- Spectrophotometer (Model 5400/5405) adopted from standards for the examination of drinking and waste waters. SAMPLING TECHNIQUES Borehole water valve was opened, water was allowed to flow to the ground for some time and then a clean sample bottle was uncovered and placed directly to the pipe for sample collection. When bottle got filled with the water, the sampling bottle was immediately covered with the cap and the sample bottles were given codes for easy identification. S/No Local Ward Location Sampling Point Codes Government 1 Billiri Bare Kalkulum Borehole BHW/1001/BB 2 Billiri Bare Larka Borehole BHW/1002/BB 3 Billiri Bare Kalkulum B.K Borehole BHW/1003/BB 4 Gombe H/Gana L.Kasuwa Borehole BHW/1001/GM 5 Gombe H/Gana L.D Kano Borehole BHW/1002/GM 6 Gombe H/Gana M.Ungwan Borehole BHW/1003/GM 7 Kaltungo Poshereng Danrom Borehole BHW/1001/KT 8 Kaltungo Poshereng Kwaya Borehole BHW/1002/KT 9 Kaltungo Poshereng Miyera Borehole BHW/1003/KT 10 Shongum Lapan Lanteneh Borehole BHW/1001/SH 11 Shongum Lapan Kaljoro Borehole BHW/1002/SH 12 Shongum Lapan Shoblon Borehole BHW/1003/SH 13 Gombe T/wada K/mata Borehole BHW/1001/TW 14 Gombe T/wada J/kuna Borehole BHW/1002/TW 15 Gombe T/wada M/Inna Borehole BHW/1OO3/TW

3 REAGENTS SPADNS (sodium2-(parasulfophenylazo)-1,8-dihydroxy-3,6-naphthalene disulfonate)reagent for fluoride test, and distilled water. Preparation of Standard for Fluoride Determination Standard Sodium-Fluoride(NaF) 0.221g of anhydrous sodium Fluoride (NaF) was weighed and dissolved in distilled water in a one (1litre) volumetric flask and was made up to the mark with distilled water. In preparing various concentrations, 2ml of the stock solution was pipetted and placed in to 50ml volumetric flask and made up to the mark and then 1ml of the SPADNS reagent was added. SAMPLE PREPARATION 2ml of the pretreated sample was pipetted and placed into 50ml volumetric flask, 1ml of SPADNS reagent solution was added and agitated, then made up to the mark with distilled water. Some portion of the sample solution was then poured into cuvette and the sample placed into Spectrophometer (model 6400/6405) at wavelength of 570nm and the concentration of fluoride was read. The procedure was repeated for other samples. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The experimental results obtained from the analysis are presented in the table below; Table 1 :Fluoride Concentration in Borehole water. s/no Local Govt Ward Location Concentration of F - (mg/l) Area 1 Billiri Bare Kalkulum 1.60 ± Billiri Bare Larka 1.84 ± Billiri Bare Kalkulum B/Kasuwa 1.75 ± Gombe Herwagana Layin Kasuwa 1.55 ± Gombe Herwagana Layin Dan Kano 1.72 ± Gombe Herwagana Mai Unguwa 1.55 ± Kaltungo Poshereng Domrom 1.45 ± Kaltungo Poshereng Kwaya 1.50 ± Kaltungo Poshereng Miyera 1.55± Shongum Lapan Lanteneh 1.40 ± Shongum Lapan Kaljoro 1.60 ± Shongum Lapan Shoblon 1.60 ± Gombe Tudun Wada Kasuwan Mata 0.39 ± Gombe Tudun Wada Jauro Kuna 0.37± Gombe Tudun Wada Mallam Inna 0.39±0.01

4 European International Journal of Science and Humanities ISSN: X The experimental result presented in the Table (1) above shows the fluoride concentrations in samples collected from the following wards: Bare, Herwagana, Poshereng and Lapan. The concentrations vary from each other within the same ward but different locations and streets. The fluoride levels ranged from 1.4 ± 0.01(mg/l) which is the lowest to 1.84 ± 0.01 (mg/l) as the highest concentration. However, the WHO recommended standard of fluoride in drinking water is 1.5 mg/l [4]. But from the result obtained it could be seen that the fluoride concentrations in the water samples are generally high above the tolerable limit for consumption. Epidemiological studies and recent research have shown that mild to severe form of Dental fluorosis is usually associated with high fluoride concentrations in drinking water. Therefore, high fluoride levels are the main cause of dental fluorosis in these communities. This is true because about 90% of the total samples analysed have high fluoride levels with some even greater than 1.8 mg/l. It is also expedient to note that these high levels of fluoride is consumed only via drinking water, apart from other possible sources of intake probably from vegetable, tubers and other fluoridated dental products like toothpastes. Unfortunately Dean in his research [9] found that fluoride concentrations in drinking water as low as mg/l is capable of giving rise to mild dental fluorosis with prevalence rate of about 12 13%. Also, in one of the most recent research and survey carried out in Nigeria by Danbature et al [8] on fluoride levels in drinking water revealed high concentrations ranging from 0.60 ± 0.01 to 1.53 ± 0.01 mg/l. In the same vein, the follow up survey x-rayed 60 families using questionnaire for mottled teeth and fracture from accident in these areas showed 30.96% % as percentage of people with mottled teeth, while, percentage of accident with fracture ranged from % %.The research found that high fluoride concentration is the cause of dental fluorosis and diminished bone strength. FINDINGS The research has revealed high fluoride levels in Boreholes water in some wards of Billiri, Gombe, Kaltungo and Shongom Local Government areas. From the results obtained, about 90% are all above the WHO permissible limit of 1.5mg/l for safe drinking water standard. However, since the samples were collected from borehole sources, the high fluoride concentration could possibly be associated with the solubility of the fluoride ions which increases with increasing depth [10]. This was also confirmed by Danbature et al [8] in a recent research. It can therefore be said that these high fluoride levels could be the main cause of dental fluorosis (teeth mottling) in these areas. In conclusion, the study actually confirmed that high concentration of fluoride in drinking water (borehole) increase the percentage of teeth mottling as well as high prevalence of dental decay in some parts of Billiri, Gombe, Kaltungo and Shongom Local Government areas of Gombe State.

5 REFERENCES 1. WHO (2000) Recommended Standard for Drinking water, WHO Geneva, Switzerland. 2. Wikipedia Encyclopedia (2009) 3. Brunelle, J.A. and J.P. Carlos, Recent Trends in Dental Caries in US Children and the effect of water fluoridation, National Institution of Dental Research, National Institutes of Health,Journal of Dental Research, Vol. 69, pp Smith F.A. (1983) Overview of Fluorides in Everyday life. Shup J.L. Peterson H.B. and Leone H.C. (Eds)Fluorides. Effects of vegetation, animals and human paragon press inc., Salt Lake city, Utah: Fawell J, Bailey K, Chilton J, Dahi E, Fewtrell L, Magara Y (2006) Environmental Occurrence, geochemistry and exposure (PDF). Fluoride in Drinking- Water. World Health Organization PP ISBN on SirKanth, R., Viswanathan, K.S..,Kahsia,F.,Fisahatsion,A and Asmellash,M. (2002) Fluoride in ground water in selected villages in Eritrea (North East Africa) Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 72(2), Wongdem, J.G., Aderinokun, G.A. Sridhgar, M.K. and Selkur, S. (2001) Prevalence and distribution pattern of enamel fluorosis in Langtang town, Nigeria. African Journal of Medicine and Medical Science30, Danbature, W.L; Fai F.Y and Ayim, P, Determination of Fluoride and some Effects on the Drinking Waters of Some Wards in Katungo Local Government Area of Gombe State, Nigeria. Chemistry Department, Gombe State University. Asian Journal of Science and Technology, Vol.5, Issue 2, pp Dean HT Epidermiological Studies in the United State. In Moulton FR, ed. Fluoride and Dental Health. Washington D.C. American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS publication No. 19). 10. National Research Council (2006). Fluoride in Drinking Water. National Academic Press PP ISBN X