Fluoride distribution in different environmental segments at Hirakud Orissa (India)

Abstract

Fluoride is a major pollutant originating from aluminium smelting polluting the air, water and soil. An Aluminium smelter has been operating at Hirakud in western Orissa since 1958 producing primary aluminium by Horizontal stud Soderberg Technology. Starting with a capacity of 10,000 T of aluminium per annum in 1959 it has increased its capacity to 1,00,000 T in 2007. A detailed investigation undertaken during 2005 - 2006 on fluoride status of Hirakud environment reveals that the fluoride content varied from a minimum of 0.5 to a maximum of 0.65 (ppm) in pond water, 0.4 - 0.60 mg/L in ground water, 88.30 - 191.20 in soil, 23.75 - 65.96 in paddy straw, 15.60 - 70.36 in grass and 10.00 - 44.60 in leaf tissue. The level of bioconcentration of fluoride in relation to surface water ranged from 79.30 in vegetation to 304.21 in leaf tissues.

Key words: Flouride, water, soil, vegetation, bioconcentration.