Influence of stone quarries on groundwater quality and health in Fatehpur Sikri, India

Stone quarries significantly degrade groundwater quality and pose health risks in Fatehpur Sikri, India. Research reveals elevated fluoride levels (1.7–3.8 mg/l in shallow aquifers) near quarries, linked to dental and skeletal fluorosis. While deep aquifers are more saline overall, shallow ones exhibit higher concentrations of hazardous chemicals like Na+, K+, Cl−, and F−. The study, based on water samples collected in 2012–2013, demonstrates that quarrying activities directly and indirectly contaminate groundwater, exacerbating salinity and fluoride levels—especially near active quarries. This finding underscores the environmental and public health consequences of unregulated quarrying in UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Misra, A. K. (2013). Influence of stone quarries on groundwater quality and health in Fatehpur Sikri, India. International Journal of Sustainable Built Environment, 2(1), 73–88. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsbe.2013.11.002