Abstract

Industrialization is more important for running and strengthening the economic system of any country. But there are many industries that also emit fluoride along with other toxic gases, causing fluoride pollution. Due to this, not only air, soil, and water but also herbage, vegetation and agricultural crops get contaminated with fluoride. Among these industries, coal-burning power stations and brick kilns and the manufacture or production plants of steel, iron, aluminum, zinc, phosphorus, chemical fertilizers, glass, plastics, cement, oil refineries, etc. are the most common sources of fluoride pollution. Fluoride is released from these sources into the surrounding environment in both gaseous and particulate or dust forms. Studies have revealed that chronic exposure to this industrial fluoride is unsafe or harmful to agricultural crops and produces a variety of toxic effects. In fact, industrial fluoride enters crop plants mainly through the stomata of the leaves. However, it can also enter through the root in fluoride-contaminated soil. The bioaccumulation of fluoride in plants disturbs their morphological, physiological, and biochemical parameters. The persistence of fluoride bioaccumulation in crop plants adversely affects their photosynthesis, respiration, mineral nutrition, fertilization, germination, growth and development, bio-chemical processes, and agricultural productivity. The most common visible pathognomonic symptoms of industrial fluoride poisoning in crop plants have been found to be stunted growth (dwarfism), chlorosis, necrosis, abscission of leaves, flowers, and fruits, and decreased seed production. Once plants develop necrotic spots on their leaves, the damage cannot be reversed by any treatment. But most of the farmers are not aware of these side effects on crops or the economic loss caused by industrial fluoride emissions. The current communication focuses on whether industrial fluoride pollution is harmful for the health of agricultural crops. Simultaneously, research gaps are also highlighted for further research work on industrial fluoride toxicity in diverse agricultural crops.

Keywords:Abscission; Chlorosis; Crops; Dwarfism; Industrial fluoride pollution; Necrosis; Photosynthesis; Phytotoxicosis; Productivity; Respiration; Toxic effects