The effects of fluoride on animals and plants in the south Safi zone

Fluoride pollution caused by the factories processing natural phosphates 10 km south of Safi affects animals and plants. Fluoride concentrations are 4-10 times higher in contaminated plants than in plants from the non-polluted areas. Fluoride levels of 700 ppm, 280 ppm, 75 ppm, 25 ppm, and 1.6 ppm were found in grass, forage, straw, barley caryopses and drinking water, respectively. The ingestion of polluted plants and the inhalation of fluoride (as gases and dusts) induce a high daily intake in animals which show important signs and lesions of dental fluorosis. Serious toxicity signs were also observed in plants.