Fluoride in groundwater: global map shows all risk areas for the first time
Not every pollutant in man-made. Some occur naturally in rock and thus also in groundwater. For example fluoride, which has a toxic effect when ingested in large quantities and causes bones and joints to degenerate. Besides geology, climate is a decisive factor for fluoride accumulation in groundwater. Concentrations are particularly high in hot, dry regions: On the one hand, because higher temperatures favour weathering and thus the dissolution of fluoride from the rock, and on the other hand, because the fluoride remains in the groundwater for a longer period of time, as this is renewed only very slowly due to the low amounts of precipitation. The assumption is obvious that with climate change and the advancing desertification in many parts of the earth, the fluoride problem could also become more acute.
To make matters worse, fluoride often goes undetected because it is odourless and invisible. Only water analyses provide information about excessive concentrations. In many countries of the global south, however, groundwater is hardly tested, and quite a few people get their water directly from a groundwater pump. The risk areas are therefore not widely known, and there are many gaps,” says Joel Podgorski, who is doing research on water resources and drinking water at Eawag. “We wanted to fill these gaps with our work to create a basis for better groundwater monitoring.”
Machine-Learning closes gaps in knowledge
Joel Podgorski and his colleague Michael Berg have developed a model based on machine learning. Based on certain soil properties as well as topographical, geological and climatic factors, this model calculates the probability of the fluoride content being above the health-relevant threshold limits of 1.5 milligrams per litre. A prerequisite for the model to function is sufficient measurement data to train the computer algorithm. “Our first trial a few years ago failed because we had too little measurement data for a reliable model,” says Podgorski.. In the meantime, however, more and more countries are making their data publicly accessible. That is why the two researchers were able to create a database of 400,000 fluoride measurements in groundwater - the largest global dataset to date.
The result is a map that shows, with a high resolution of 250 metres, where there is a risk of fluoride limits being exceeded. “We see that the concentrations are likely to be too high in southern America, Central Asia, China and Mongolia, for example. In countries where groundwater has hardly been tested so far”, says Podgorski. The risk is low in Switzerland and Europe. “Our results thus provide new information for researchers and authorities on-site and give an important impetus to take a closer look at groundwater in the affected regions in the future and to take measures, such as campaigns to sensitise the population or defluoridate drinking water.” Podgorski was surprised that the model also predicts high fluoride concentrations for areas in north-eastern Brazil. “This doesn’t fit the usual pattern of dry areas having high fluoride levels in groundwater.” This is an interesting result, which encourages a more detailed investigation of the situation in this region in a future study – as Podgorski and other researchers have already done recently for Ghana and Pakistan.
Many people affected, many open questions
In addition to the risk areas, the two researchers also calculated how many people worldwide are at risk from fluoride exposure. To do this, they not only used population figures, but also took into account data on water consumption. Because whether fluoride is problematic ultimately depends on where people get their drinking water from, whether it comes treated from a tap or directly from a groundwater pump. The calculation showed that potentially around 180 million people worldwide are exposed to fluoride contaminated groundwater. And almost exclusively in Asia and Africa.
