Heating minerals, roctks, clays and soils in aluminum and iron smelters, and in ceramic, glass, and fertilizer industries release gaseous forms of fluorine into the atmosphere. In an area grown with two varieties of sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum L.) in Cordeirópolis, SP (Brazil) toxicity symptoms and abnormally low yields were observed in areas nearby as compared with those far from a ceramic industry. For the SP80 1816 sugarcane variety the leaf contents of F varied from 56 mg kg-1 of F in the dry matter of leaves collected according to recommended diagnostic techniques near the ceramic industry to 3 mg kg-1 F in samples obtained 13.000 m away. Fluorine content in the RB83 5089 variety was 26 mg kg-1 in samples collected about 80 m from the ceramic industry. These values are higher than the 10 mg kg-1 F (or less) that is considered normal for plants grown in areas not affected by atmospheric F emissions. Average sugar cane yields of the first cut of the plant cycle were 54 Mg ha-1 for both varieties in the area close to the ceramic industry. Average yields of the second cut (first ratoon) were 50 Mg ha-1 for the SP 80 1816 variety (more sensitive to F) and 60 Mg ha-1 for the RB 83 5089 variety (less sensitive to F). In the area about 13.000 m from the industry, where no foliar symptoms of toxicity were observed, yields reached 82 Mg ha-1 in the first cut and 100 Mg ha-1 in the ratoon. Fluorine released by the ceramic industry without adequate gas emission filters seems to limit sugar cane yields as shown by visual symptoms, F concentration in leaves, and yield reduction in the vicinity of the source of F. The sugar cane varieties evaluated showed to be sensitive to the effects of excess F accumulation.
ceramic industry; toxicity; productivity
