Environmental pollution by fluorides in Flathead National Forest and Glacier National Park.

Author: Carlson CE, Dewey JE.

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service

Year: 1971

Comment:

Abstract / Excerpt:

Vegetation samples were collected in June and Oct. 1970 at varying distances from the Anaconda Aluminium Co. plant at Columbia Falls, Montana. Determinations were of foliar F concn., injury index II (an estimate of gross amount of visible injury or ‘burn’ for foliage of a given year), insect pest populations, and F concn. in insects collected within 0.5 mile of the Al reduction plant. Vegetation in control areas contained <10 p.p.m. F. II was shown to be a conservative parameter of pollution since many samples with high F concn. did not show injury. F concn. in vegetation samples was used as the basis of pollution mapping, whereby the pollution index in ‘isopols’ is equal to the local F conc. (with 10 as the background value). Visible injury occurred above 30 isopols (on a total area of 69 000 acres) in susceptible species, viz. pines (Pinus albicaulis, P. contorta, P. monticola and P. ponderosa) and Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii); the herb Smilacina stellata was a particularly sensitive indicator of F pollution. Nearly all vegetation was injured moderately at 100-300 isopols and (except grasses) severely at 300-600 isopols. Characteristics symptoms of F injury in conifers included enlarged cell nuclei and hypertrophy of resin-canal epithelium and vascular parenchyma.

Citation: Carlson CE, Dewey JE. Environmental pollution by fluorides in Flathead National Forest and Glacier National Park. Missoula, Montana: U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service; 1971.