Acute and Chronic Toxicity of Fluoride and Aluminum on Plant and Animal Models

Abstract

Ecotoxicological studies revealed aluminum (Al₂SO₄. 24 H₂O) to be more toxic than fluoride (NaF) on a battery of test organisms (EC/LC₅₀ of Al = 0.308–1.46 ppm; F = 116.6–232.8 ppm). During chronic exposure (Al = 3 ppm, F = 10 ppm for 60–90 days), there was reduction in growth parameters of organisms at different trophic levels in a food chain such as producers {dry weights (6.7–29.0) and chlorophyll contents (23.0–46.8%) of Ceratophyllum demersum L, counts of phytoplankton (Summer: 48.7–51.3%, winter: 62.4–79.6%) and periphytic algae (F = 40–63%; Al = 53–68%)} and consumers (zooplankton counts: F = 93%; Al = 40–92%) in the 15 L-sized artificial microcosms, especially in winter. Fish tissue biochemistry (ACP, ALP) was also altered and their RBC counts decreased (Winter: 10–49%, Summer: 18–26%).