Role of Fluoride on Soil, Plant and Human Health: A Review on Its Sources, Toxicity and Mitigation Strategies

Abstract

In recent scenario, fluorosis is now going to be a severe problem throughout the globe due to toxic effects of fluoride (F) on both plants, animals and humans. Natural geological sources and increased industrialization have contributed greatly to the increasing incidence of F-induced human and animal health issues. The toxic effects of high doses of F may adversely affect human health by causing skeletal fluorosis, dental fluorosis, bone fractures, the formation of kidney stones, decreased birth rates, weakening of thyroid functionality and impair intelligence, particularly in children. High concentrations of F in soil may seriously threaten the life of plants, devastate soil microbial activity, disrupt the soil ecology and causes soil and water pollution. Hydrogen fluorides (HF) in gaseous form accumulated in the leaves of sensitive plants against a concentration gradient and HF mainly damages the plant by entering into its body in the form of gas and affects a variety of plant physiological processes. In this review we discuss about the effect of fluoride toxicity on plant, human and soil health and its mitigation strategies.