Fluoride accumulation in soil and vegetation in the vicinity of brick fields.

ABSTRACT

Fluoride in the soil and vegetation in the vicinity of brick field in the suburb of Lucknow, India was estimated. The water soluble fluoride (11) in the surface soil ranged from 0.59 ppm to 2.74 ppm where as CaCl(2) extractable fluoride ranged from 0.69 ppm to 3.18 ppm. The mean total fluoride concentration in surface soil varied from 322 microg g(-1) to 456 microg g(-1). The local vegetations grown in the area found to accumulate air borne fluoride from the brick field. The fluoride accumulation in the vegetation followed the order Mentha arvensis > Spinacea oleracea > Luffa cylindrical.