Fluorine distribution, health risk, and geological and anthropogenic controlling factors in central Guizhou Province, Southwest China

ABSTRACT: Fluorine (F)-enriched soils, resulting from geogenic processes or superimposed by anthropogenic activities, have raised significant concerns due to their phytotoxicity and potential threats to human health. Soils in central Guizhou Province exhibit F enrichment, with a mean F concentration...

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Main Authors: Xiu-jin Liu, Li Zhang, Zhi-zhuo Liu, Ya-long Zhou, Shi-qi Tang, Fei Liu, Min Peng, Hang-xin Cheng, Yan-fei Qi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. 2025-07-01
Series:China Geology
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2096519225000965
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author Xiu-jin Liu
Li Zhang
Zhi-zhuo Liu
Ya-long Zhou
Shi-qi Tang
Fei Liu
Min Peng
Hang-xin Cheng
Yan-fei Qi
author_facet Xiu-jin Liu
Li Zhang
Zhi-zhuo Liu
Ya-long Zhou
Shi-qi Tang
Fei Liu
Min Peng
Hang-xin Cheng
Yan-fei Qi
author_sort Xiu-jin Liu
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT: Fluorine (F)-enriched soils, resulting from geogenic processes or superimposed by anthropogenic activities, have raised significant concerns due to their phytotoxicity and potential threats to human health. Soils in central Guizhou Province exhibit F enrichment, with a mean F concentration of 1067 mg/kg. However, the associated human health risks and geochemical mechanisms driving F enrichment in these soils remain insufficiently understood. In areas with a natural geological background, the average concentrations of F in rice, vegetables, drinking water, and ambient air are 1.54 mg/kg, 0.54 mg/kg, 0.16 mg/L, and 0.29 μg/m3, respectively. In contrast, samples collected near phosphorous chemical plants demonstrate elevated F concentrations: 1.78 mg/kg in rice, 1.53 mg/kg in vegetables, 0.20 mg/L in drinking water, and 11.98 μg/m3 in ambient air. Fluorine in soils was immobilized by apatite and clay minerals, and hardly transferred into water and crops. The fixation of F- by Ca2+ in water and by Fe/Al hydroxides and clay minerals in bottom sediment further reduces F concentrations in water. As a result, hazard quotient (HQ) values below 1.0 indicate negligible fluorine-related health risk in geological background regions. However, ambient air near phosphorous chemical plant exhibited a 41.3-fold increase in F concentration compared to geological background regions. Fluorine-laden emissions can be directly inhaled or deposited on vegetable leaves and orally ingested into human bodies. Improvement of F-rich waste gas disposal and restricted leafy vegetable cultivation are effective measures to reduce F health risks in phosphorous chemical plant regions.
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spelling doaj-art-2eb53a0785cd4d9da29f6c8765fd40042025-08-20T03:57:31ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.China Geology2589-94302025-07-018358659710.1016/S2096-5192(25)00096-5Fluorine distribution, health risk, and geological and anthropogenic controlling factors in central Guizhou Province, Southwest ChinaXiu-jin Liu0Li Zhang1Zhi-zhuo Liu2Ya-long Zhou3Shi-qi Tang4Fei Liu5Min Peng6Hang-xin Cheng7Yan-fei Qi8Key Laboratory of Geochemical Cycling of Carbon and Mercury in the Earth’s Critical Zone, Institute of Geophysical and Geochemical Exploration, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, China Geological Survey, Ministry of Natural Resources, Tianjin 300309, China; Research Center of Geochemical Survey and Assessment on Land Quality, China Geological Survey, Ministry of Natural Resources, Tianjin 300309, China; Corresponding author: (Xiu-jin Liu).Key Laboratory of Geochemical Cycling of Carbon and Mercury in the Earth’s Critical Zone, Institute of Geophysical and Geochemical Exploration, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, China Geological Survey, Ministry of Natural Resources, Tianjin 300309, China; Research Center of Geochemical Survey and Assessment on Land Quality, China Geological Survey, Ministry of Natural Resources, Tianjin 300309, ChinaKey Laboratory of Geochemical Cycling of Carbon and Mercury in the Earth’s Critical Zone, Institute of Geophysical and Geochemical Exploration, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, China Geological Survey, Ministry of Natural Resources, Tianjin 300309, China; Research Center of Geochemical Survey and Assessment on Land Quality, China Geological Survey, Ministry of Natural Resources, Tianjin 300309, ChinaKey Laboratory of Geochemical Cycling of Carbon and Mercury in the Earth’s Critical Zone, Institute of Geophysical and Geochemical Exploration, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, China Geological Survey, Ministry of Natural Resources, Tianjin 300309, China; Research Center of Geochemical Survey and Assessment on Land Quality, China Geological Survey, Ministry of Natural Resources, Tianjin 300309, ChinaKey Laboratory of Geochemical Cycling of Carbon and Mercury in the Earth’s Critical Zone, Institute of Geophysical and Geochemical Exploration, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, China Geological Survey, Ministry of Natural Resources, Tianjin 300309, China; Research Center of Geochemical Survey and Assessment on Land Quality, China Geological Survey, Ministry of Natural Resources, Tianjin 300309, ChinaKey Laboratory of Geochemical Cycling of Carbon and Mercury in the Earth’s Critical Zone, Institute of Geophysical and Geochemical Exploration, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, China Geological Survey, Ministry of Natural Resources, Tianjin 300309, China; Research Center of Geochemical Survey and Assessment on Land Quality, China Geological Survey, Ministry of Natural Resources, Tianjin 300309, ChinaKey Laboratory of Geochemical Cycling of Carbon and Mercury in the Earth’s Critical Zone, Institute of Geophysical and Geochemical Exploration, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, China Geological Survey, Ministry of Natural Resources, Tianjin 300309, China; Research Center of Geochemical Survey and Assessment on Land Quality, China Geological Survey, Ministry of Natural Resources, Tianjin 300309, ChinaKey Laboratory of Geochemical Cycling of Carbon and Mercury in the Earth’s Critical Zone, Institute of Geophysical and Geochemical Exploration, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, China Geological Survey, Ministry of Natural Resources, Tianjin 300309, China; Research Center of Geochemical Survey and Assessment on Land Quality, China Geological Survey, Ministry of Natural Resources, Tianjin 300309, China; Corresponding author: (Hang-xin Cheng).SINO Geophysical CO., LTD, Beijing 100107, ChinaABSTRACT: Fluorine (F)-enriched soils, resulting from geogenic processes or superimposed by anthropogenic activities, have raised significant concerns due to their phytotoxicity and potential threats to human health. Soils in central Guizhou Province exhibit F enrichment, with a mean F concentration of 1067 mg/kg. However, the associated human health risks and geochemical mechanisms driving F enrichment in these soils remain insufficiently understood. In areas with a natural geological background, the average concentrations of F in rice, vegetables, drinking water, and ambient air are 1.54 mg/kg, 0.54 mg/kg, 0.16 mg/L, and 0.29 μg/m3, respectively. In contrast, samples collected near phosphorous chemical plants demonstrate elevated F concentrations: 1.78 mg/kg in rice, 1.53 mg/kg in vegetables, 0.20 mg/L in drinking water, and 11.98 μg/m3 in ambient air. Fluorine in soils was immobilized by apatite and clay minerals, and hardly transferred into water and crops. The fixation of F- by Ca2+ in water and by Fe/Al hydroxides and clay minerals in bottom sediment further reduces F concentrations in water. As a result, hazard quotient (HQ) values below 1.0 indicate negligible fluorine-related health risk in geological background regions. However, ambient air near phosphorous chemical plant exhibited a 41.3-fold increase in F concentration compared to geological background regions. Fluorine-laden emissions can be directly inhaled or deposited on vegetable leaves and orally ingested into human bodies. Improvement of F-rich waste gas disposal and restricted leafy vegetable cultivation are effective measures to reduce F health risks in phosphorous chemical plant regions.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2096519225000965Soil fluorineDrinking water fluorineAmbient air fluorineRice fluorineVegetable fluorineHealth risk
spellingShingle Xiu-jin Liu
Li Zhang
Zhi-zhuo Liu
Ya-long Zhou
Shi-qi Tang
Fei Liu
Min Peng
Hang-xin Cheng
Yan-fei Qi
Fluorine distribution, health risk, and geological and anthropogenic controlling factors in central Guizhou Province, Southwest China
China Geology
Soil fluorine
Drinking water fluorine
Ambient air fluorine
Rice fluorine
Vegetable fluorine
Health risk
title Fluorine distribution, health risk, and geological and anthropogenic controlling factors in central Guizhou Province, Southwest China
title_full Fluorine distribution, health risk, and geological and anthropogenic controlling factors in central Guizhou Province, Southwest China
title_fullStr Fluorine distribution, health risk, and geological and anthropogenic controlling factors in central Guizhou Province, Southwest China
title_full_unstemmed Fluorine distribution, health risk, and geological and anthropogenic controlling factors in central Guizhou Province, Southwest China
title_short Fluorine distribution, health risk, and geological and anthropogenic controlling factors in central Guizhou Province, Southwest China
title_sort fluorine distribution health risk and geological and anthropogenic controlling factors in central guizhou province southwest china
topic Soil fluorine
Drinking water fluorine
Ambient air fluorine
Rice fluorine
Vegetable fluorine
Health risk
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2096519225000965
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