Measurement of Atmospheric Fluorine. Analyses of Rain Waters and Spanish Moss Exposures.

Abstract

Rainfall collections at six points were analyzed to measure the periodic washdowns of fluorine from the atmosphere in relation to the locations of operations that emit fluoric effluents, and charges of Spanish moss were exposed to measure progressive intake of fluorine from the atmosphere. Longer intervals between rainfall caused higher concentrations of fluorine at the several locations. Proximities of samplings to sources of emissions were reflected by higher concentrations of fluorine in rain waters. Exposures of Spanish moss acquired substantial progressive enhancements in fluorine uptake at points near those where fluoric emissions occurred. The findings demonstrate that these two feasible and economical procedures can be implemented in parallel to establish whether a particular locale is subject to atmospheric pollution and the degree of pollution. Through integration with meteorological records, the determined occurrences of fluorine in the rain waters might indicate the origins of the contaminative effluents.