Fluoride Distribution in Soil, Water and Plant in the Vicinity of NALCO Smelter Plant at Angul in Orissa

摘要

A study was conducted around National Aluminum Company (NALCO) smelter plant, Angul in Orissa to determine the fluoride content of water, soil and pant samples. A total of 24 surface soil samples (0-15 cm), 44 water samples and 52 leaf samples were collected and analyzed for fluoride. The fluoride content of soil, water and leaf samples varied from 0.52 to 5.52 (water soluble fluoride), 0.2 to 3.245 and 25 to 390 ppm and similar samples collected from places around Bhubaneswar (180 km away from Angul) showed fluoride content in the rang of 0.36 to 0.44 ppm (water soluble fluoride), 0.10 to 0.19 ppm and 10 to 30 ppm, respectively. The fluoride content of soil, water and leaf samples decreased with increasing in distance, except Santiri and Purukia village which might have contaminated due to inflow of effluent water NALCO. The pot culture experiment conducted with different fluoride levels under limed and unlimed condition to study its effect on the yield and uptake of fluoride by oat fodder oat indicated that application of lime reduced significantly the fluoride uptake. Liming increased the fodder yield significantly.