Fluorine contents in crops and water and its health risks assessment in Liaohe River Basin, China

Fluorine levels of soil, crops, drinking water and soil water soluble fluorine contents were investigated to understand the fluorine levels in the environment medias in the Liaohe Basin, China, and the possible health risks of fluorine to human were assessed using the model recommended by the EPA. Fluorine contents varied from 0.70 to 4.51 mg/L in the drinking water. In vegetable edible parts and corn, fluorine contents varied from 0.51 to 2.96 mg/kg in Chinese cabbage; from 0.34 to 0.50 mg/kg in radish; and from 0.88 to 1.04mg/kg in corn; respectively. Fluorine contents in vegetables were correlated with total and soil water soluble fluorine in soil. Fluorine contents in corn were slightly affected by the soil water soluble fluorine. The health risk assessment showed the carcinogenic risks of fluorine through drinking water and eating food were 1.920×10^-9/a and 1.960×10^-8/a, lower than 5×10^-5/a, which is the maximum allowance levels recommended by ICPR.