Pregnancy Loss In Fluoride Impacted Regions of India: A Comprehensive Study On Nature -Based Solutions
- Anita Sharma
- Jan 28
- 2 min read
Updated: Feb 1
Authors:
Anita Sharma: Project Manager
Smita Tiwari: Assistant Professor
Praveena Sridhar: India Country Manager
Jon Shepherd: Head of Programmes and Funding
Centre for Business and Entrepreneurial Development (CBED), Dehradun,
Uttarakhand, India
![Fig. 1. Stillborn babies in the world. Source: UN Inter-Agency Report 2020 [8].](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/9fba61_4634fad114cb47048eeabd6dc29d5d5a~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_551,h_374,al_c,q_85,enc_avif,quality_auto/9fba61_4634fad114cb47048eeabd6dc29d5d5a~mv2.png)
Abstract: Geogenic fluoride contamination in drinking water is a global health concern affecting more than 200 million people from different countries. The highest among these are the people from the countries in Africa, Asia, and Europe. In India, fluoride contamination exceeds the WHO limit of 1.5 mg/l in 200 districts across 19 states, impacting more than 25 million people. Established studies have linked exposure to elevated fluoride levels with reduced fertility and increased instances of pregnancy loss in animals and humans. This linkage raises significant concerns for India as its pregnancy loss rates rose from 9.8% to 11.1% between 2015 and 2021. The widespread fluoride contamination and the pregnancy loss trend necessitates a thorough investigation into the causes and viable solutions to address this critical health concern. This study examines pregnancy loss prevalence in 19 severely affected Indian states from 2015 to 2021 by using the National Family Health Survey data, and secondary literature. It also explores the impact of fluoride-safe drinking water access on pregnancy outcomes in selected areas of fluoride-impacted Dhar district in Madhya Pradesh state, India. The research revealed higher pregnancy loss rates in states highly affected by fluoride contamination. However, in the pilot areas where fluoride-safe water was accessible, there was a significant overall reduction of 58% in pregnancy losses. The findings highlight the need for extensive studies to comprehend fluoride's impact on pregnancy outcomes not only in India but also in global fluoride hotspots. Ensuring access to fluoride-safe drinking water emerges as a pivotal preventive measure.
Keywords: Fluoride-impacted, Pregnancy loss, Geogenic, Contamination, Water