Fluoride accumulation and growth of plants exposed to particulate cryolite in the atmosphere

Journal Article · · Contrib. Boyce Thompson Inst.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6587359

McCune, D C; Hitchcock, A E; Jacobson, J S; Weinstein, L H

The effects of air-borne particulate cryolite on the fluoride accumulation and growth of gladiolus, Milo maize, corn, tomato, and alfalfa were studied in a series of experiments using exposure periods of 9 to 49 days and atmospheric fluoride concentrations of 1.2 to 15 ..mu..g. F/m/sup 3/. Exposure to cryolite resulted in 2- to 50-fold increases in the fluoride level of foliage depending upon the duration of exposure, the atmospheric fluoride level, and the species or variety of plant. Except for a small increase in tip burn over plants exposed to ambient air in gladiolus, exposure to cryolite produced no visible injury and there was no effect of cryolite on growth or yield. A comparision of the effects of an Alconox-EDTA wash and position in the leaf on tissue fluoride levels in gladiolus exposed to HF and cryolite indicates that the relative inactivity of cryolite results from an inability of the accumulated fluoride to penetrate the leaf in a form that is physiologically effective.

• OSTI ID: 6587359
• Journal Information: Contrib. Boyce Thompson Inst.; (United States), Journal Name: Contrib. Boyce Thompson Inst.; (United States) Vol. 23:1; ISSN CBTIA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
560303* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Plants-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AIR POLLUTION
ALFALFA
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BUILDUP
CEREALS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FLUORIDES
FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
FOOD
GRAMINEAE
GRASS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
LEGUMINOSAE
MAIZE
MASS TRANSFER
PLANTS
POLLUTION
TOMATOES
VEGETABLES