BARC develops special tool to detect fluoride

The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) has developed a visual detection tool to detect fluoride contents in groundwater and has decided to transfer the technology to private sector companies across the country.

The fluorosis detection tool can be used by anybody to analyse toxic levels. The colour of water changes when the reagent is added to groundwater. The reagent can be used even by a layman.

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The colour develops almost instantaneously and the distinction can be made with the naked eye. Water sample can be immediately categorised as being safe, marginal or unsafe for drinking from fluoride point of view. While the safe level of fluoride in drinking water is one mg per litre, in 200 districts spread over Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Kerala, Karnataka, Haryana, Odisha, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, fluoride is found to be at the dangerous level of 50 mg per litre. Consumption of high fluoride causes deadly diseases especially of the bones.