Determination of Fluoride Concentration in Drinking Water Sources in Adamawa State, North East Nigeria

Fluoride is an essential trace element when present within acceptable limits in drinking water, but concentrations above 1.5 milligrams per litre cause dental and skeletal fluorosis, a public health concern documented in several Nigerian states. This study determines fluoride concentrations in drinking water from boreholes, hand-dug wells, and surface water sources across six communities in three local government areas of Adamawa State, North East Nigeria. Water samples are collected in triplicate during both dry and wet seasons and analysed using the SPADNS colorimetric method with a UV-visible spectrophotometer. Seasonal variation analysis employs paired t-tests while spatial distribution is visualised using GPS-referenced contamination maps. The study also assesses correlations between fluoride concentration and other physicochemical parameters including pH, calcium hardness, and total dissolved solids. Community health data on dental mottling prevalence among children aged six to twelve are documented through collaboration with local primary health care centres to contextualise geochemical exposure. Results are expected to reveal fluoride concentrations in some geological zones exceeding the World Health Organization guideline value of 1.5 milligrams per litre, consistent with the volcanic bedrock geology of parts of Adamawa. Findings will guide defluoridation intervention strategies and inform state-level water safety planning. Keywords: fluoride, drinking water, Adamawa, dental fluorosis, groundwater geochemistry