Abstract
Fluoride is the most phytotoxic atmospheric pollutant. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of fluoride emissions by an aluminum smelter on three plant species endemics to Brazil, located at Parque Estadual do Itacolomi (PEI). The monitored species were Byrsonima variabilis (Malpighiaceae), Myrceugenia alpigena (Myrtaceae), and Eremanthus erythropappus (Asteraceae), which were monitored during 9 months using passive biomonitoring at five different locations with different distances from the smelter. The monitored species did not show macroscopic phytotoxicity damage to fluoride; however, they did show microscopic damage. The species closer to the smelter presented more severe anatomic damages, such as rupture of cell walls, protoplast retraction, and trichome alterations. Damaged stomatal ledges, flaking epicuticular wax, and damages to trichomes were observed. M. alpigena showed a higher accumulation of fluoride than the other species at all monitored sites. The test for cell death with Evans Blue was positive for the three studied species. Through biomonitoring in the PEI, we concluded that the emissions from the aluminum smelter affect the native vegetation and that due to the greater accumulation of fluoride and the diversity of microscopic damage in M. alpigena, the use of this species in the monitoring of environments polluted by fluoride is enhanced.
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Data availability
The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
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Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank CAPES (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior) - Finance code 001 for the scholarship granted to Thamires Fernanda Gomes. L. C. Silva thanks the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) for the Research Productivity Scholarship 309308/2018-6. We also thank the direction of the Parque Estadual do Itacolomi – MG, for the free access granted to us, “Laboratório de Anatomia Vegetal” and “Núcleo de Microscopia e Microanálise” of “Universidade Federal de Viçosa”.
Funding
Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES - Finance code 001) granted a scholarship to Thamires Fernanda Gomes during the research development. Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) granted the Research Productivity Scholarship 309308/2018-6.
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- Thamires Fernanda Gomes participated in the research planning, field data and material collection, laboratory analysis and interpretation of the data obtained, and writing of the manuscript.
- Ademir Martins Lima participated in the data interpretation, writing, and revision of the manuscript.
- Ana Paula Pires Marques participated in the laboratory analysis and interpretation of the data obtained and writing of the manuscript.
- Luzimar Campos da Silva, research’s advisor, oriented the research planning and the field data and material collection, supported the laboratory analysis and interpretation of the data obtained, and participated in the writing and revision of the manuscript.
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Gomes, T.F., Lima, A.M., Marques, A.P.P. et al. Effects of fluoride emission on the morphoanatomy of three plant species endemics to Brazil using passive biomonitoring. Environ Sci Pollut Res 28, 33083–33095 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-13017-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-13017-2