Can Coal-Fired Thermal Power Plants in India Cause Industrial Fluorosis in Domestic Animals? Livestock Owners are Unaware

Abstract

Shanti Lal Choubisa

Fluorosis usually develops in domestic animals that are continuously exposed to a potential source of fluoride over a long period of time. In India, thousands of domestic animals of different species, such as cattle (Bos taurus), water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis), sheep (Ovis aries), goats (Capra hircus), camels (Camelus dromedarius), horses (Equus caballus), and donkeys (E. asinus) suffer from fluorosis due to drinking fluoridated water. But in these species, industrial fluorosis can also develop due to exposure to industrial fluoride emissions or pollution. In the country, there are more than 300 coal-based thermal power plants (TPPs) for power generation. These require coal to operate. Burning of coal in these thermal power projects releases various types of poisonous gases, including fluoride-containing gases like HF, SiF4 , and CF4 , which spread in the surrounding environment and contaminate freshwater reservoirs, forest vegetation, agricultural crops, soil, grasslands, air, etc. The fly ash and fly ash pond of TPP also contain fluoride, up to 12.6 mg/kg and 9.94 ppm, respectively, which causes fluoride contamination of freshwater and groundwater in the surrounding areas. If animals drink such fluoride contaminated water, they also develop hydrofluorosis. Due to fluorosis (hydro and industrial fluoroses), teeth and bones of animals get severely damaged. Many animals also become severely weak and lame due to this. This also affects the productivity of animals, which has a deep impact on the economy of livestock farmers. But livestock farmers around TPPs do not know that TPPs can also cause fluorosis disease in their domesticated animals. However, there is a need for detailed research on industrial fluorosis due to TPPs in the country. In the present communication, the current status of TPPs in India and the fluoride contamination and industrial fluorosis in domestic animals caused by them are briefly reviewed and the research gaps are also highlighted. This review will be useful in planning health policy to protect animals from chronic fluoride poisoning caused by fluoride emissions from TPPs in the country.

PDF