Fluorine in surface and subsoil waters in the Middle Klyaz’ma Basin

Abstract

Data on fluorine concentration in water in the Middle Klyaz’ma Basin during summer low-water period have been obtained. Fluorine background concentration has been determined in streams (Klyaz’ma R., small rivers, and creeks), water bodies (drainage ditches, lakes), and subsoil waters. Anthropogenic fluorine hydrochemical anomalies have been determined and localized with respect to urbanized industrial areas. An assumption has been made and experimentally substantiated, according to which fluorine concentration in subsoil water is governed by the processes of its distribution between water and host rocks. It has been established that the interaction of soils with snowmelt water and alluvial deposits with river water in neutral and acid media is accompanied by fluorine removal from solution, while in a weakly alkaline medium, fluorine passes from solid phase into solution. The effect of dissolved organic matter on the process of fluorine leaching from rock minerals also depends, primarily, on the equilibrium pH value: in weakly alkaline media, the presence of organic acids contributes to fluorine mobilization, while in weakly acid media, it reduces mobilization rate.