Aluminium-smelters and fluoride pollution of soil and soil solution in Norway

Fluorine pollution of soils was investigated in the vicinity of aluminium smelters in Norway. Soil was sampled at different distances from three aluminium smelters, and soil solution was sampled at different distances from one of the smelters. Fluorine pollution of soil and soil solution can be traced for more than 30 km from one of the pollution sources. In surface water, however, effects of pollution can only be seen 3–5 km from the source. Except for locations very near the emission points, soils around the aluminium smelters appear to be less polluted than observed around aluminium smelters in several other countries. Studies of soil solution and on sorption and desorption of F−, show that F− is increasingly sorbed in the soil with increasing soil depth. The upper, organic rich horizon has less sorption capacity than the mineral soil. Increased concentrations of F− in the soil solution could indicate that plants in areas exposed to F−-pollution may take up F− from the soil.