As per BIS 10500:2012, the PERMISSIBLE limit (in the absence of an alternate water source) for fluoride in drinking water in India is:

• A 0.6 mg/L
• B 1.5 mg/L ✓
• C 1.0 mg/L
• D 2.0 mg/L

Explanation

BIS 10500:2012 sets a desirable limit of 1.0 mg/L and a permissible limit of 1.5 mg/L for fluoride in drinking water when no alternative source is available. Fluoride <0.5 mg/L promotes dental caries; 1.0–1.5 mg/L prevents caries with minimal fluorosis risk; >1.5 mg/L causes dental fluorosis; >3 mg/L causes skeletal fluorosis. India's endemic fluorosis belt spans >20 states affecting an estimated 66 million people.

Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.