Assessment of Fluoride Contamination and its Relationship with Chemical Properties of Soil

Abstract

The present study deals with surveying and analyzing the Fluoride concentration in the Reddiyarchatram block of Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu and establishing a correlation coefficient with the other soil chemical properties. The result indicated that water soluble fluoride content forms a negative correlation with soil pH, signifying that soil pH plays a prominent role in the solubility of fluoride. Water-soluble fluoride content has a positive relationship with soil available nitrogen, potassium and sodium indicating that presence of F in the soil increase their availability and vice versa. Soil phosphorus forms a significant positive correlation with fluoride. It says that increase in P content increases soil F. Also, a soil organic carbon and calcium presence affects the water soluble fluoride content as they form a significant negative correlation. Water-soluble fluoride forms a negative relationship with soil electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, available potassium and sodium, suggesting these factors play a major role in F availability in soils. Results concluded from the present study show soils with low pH, low organic matter content, high phosphorus, and low calcium plays a prominent role in F solubility from the fluoride-bearing minerals which directly increase the concentration of the water soluble fluoride in the upper layers of the soil.