GUWAHATI – Sixty four students of the Dikharumukh Primary School in Nagaon district were found to have alarming levels of fluoride in their bodies. This came to light while their urine samples were examined recently at the initiative of the Kampur-based environment group Environment Conservation Centre.

The environment group said in a statement here that urine samples of sixty four students of the school were sent for examination to the laboratory of the State Health Department. Of the samples, 33 have shown fluoride contents above 15 parts per million (ppm), 13 samples – above 30 ppm and in one sample the highest fluoride content of 59 ppm was found. The safe limit of fluoride content in urine is 0.01 ppm.

It is regrettable that the school authorities sunk a tube well on the school compound last month despite a ring well existing in the same compound.

In the Sankaradeva Bidya Niketan of the area, urine samples of four students were found to have fluoride content above 15 ppm.

However, external symptoms of fluorosis among these students are yet to be seen, said the environment group and demanded immediate steps from the State Government to provide these children medical treatment so as to save them from the grip of fluorosis.

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