Abstract

IMPACT ON SOCIO-ECONOMICS OF FLUORIDE DISTRIBUTION IN DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTAL SEGMENTS AT NALCO, ANGUL, ODISHA, (INDIA)

Hitesh Pradhan* and Bishnu Charan Pradhan

Abstract

Fluoride is a major pollutant originating from aluminium smelting polluting the air, water and soil. An Aluminium smelter has been operating at Nalco, Angul in central Odisha since 1981 producing primary aluminium by Horizontal stud KA cell Technology. Starting with a capacity of 68.25 Lakhs T of aluminium per annum in 1981 it has increased its capacity in 2007. A detailed investigation undertaken during 2013 - 2014 on fluoride status of Angul (Nalco) environment reveals that the fluoride content varied from a minimum of 0.5 to a maximum of 0.65 (ppm) in pond water, 0.4 - 0.62 mg/L in ground water, 88.35 - 191.20 in soil, 23.78 - 65.96 in paddy straw, 15.55 – 70.37 in grass and 10.00 - 44.60 in leaf tissue. The level of bioconcentration of fluoride in relation to surface water ranged from 79.32 in vegetation to 304.23 in leaf tissues which has great impact on socioeconomics.

Keywords: Flouride, water, soil, vegetation, bioconcentration, Nalco, socioeconomics.