Status of fluoride contamination in soil, water and vegetation at Kadipani fluorspar mine

Abstract

The current research reported fluoride content in soil and water samples collected from various sites of fluorspar mines at Ambadungar, Dist Vadodara. This site geologically contains large reserves of hydrothermal fluoride deposits that are associated with carbonatites. Because of fluoride containing minerals in these host rocks it was hypothesized that fluoride might have accumulated in water, soil and vegetation of the area. The results of fluoride in water samples collected from 6 different villages varied from 0.8 to 3.28 mg/l. with minimum concentration of fluoride in the village Manavant (0.80 mg/l) and the highest in the village Raisingpur II (3.28 mg/l). The total fluoride content of soil samples ranged from 1.3 to 9.2µg/g. The water soluble fluoride content of soil samples ranged from 0.275 to 1.75mg/l. Among four different plant species i.e. Cassia tora, Eriophorum comosum, Holoptelia integrifolia and Pupalia lappacea; P. lappacea was found to accumulate highest concentration of fluoride in its roots.