The Effects of Fluoride Pollutants On Agriculture in West Central Florida

Abstract

For the past few decades, environmentalists have concentrated their air pollution studies on the formation and dispersal of sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxides and ozone. Since the mid 1950's, environmentalists have become increasingly aware of the present and potential dangers of air-borne fluorides in west central Florida, due to the mining and processing of phosphate. The damage to various agricultural pursuits was first observed in cattle in the form of fluorosis which resulted from the foraging on pasture grasses. Damage to citrus and certain flowering plants was also found. Since 1960, many studies have been published which indicated specific effects of fluorides upon the plants and animals of the area. In addition, these studies established that this regions was one of the prime areas of fluoride pollution in the United States.