Taluk Animal Husbandry Department Assistant Director Dr N Jagadeesh Kumar had sent water samples of tanks, open well, borewell, river, canal and other sources of water supplied, from 140 villages in the taluk, to the Indian Food and Life Sciences Research Institute.
The proportion of fluoride accepted in water sources is 0.5 parts per million (ppm) per litre. 1ppm level of fluoride may not cause any problems, however there is a possibility of development of fluorosis. However, if the level is more than 3 ppm it leads to many problems. The fluoride in Siddanahalli is 3 per cent, in Hosuru 2.5 per cent, in Balamande 2.3 per cent, Bayaluru 2.17 per cent.
The people are at the risk of dental fluorosis, fall in the bone density and also be exposed to other diseases. Animals will also suffer from the same diseases.
There is a need for the local administration to come up with an alternative water supply scheme so as to check the use of fluoride containing water by the people.