What question did this study set out to answer?

The study aims to generate quantitative soil ecotoxicity data for fluoride using specific soil organisms.

April 26, 2026Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management0 citations

Reassessing soil ecotoxicity of fluoride: Integrating species sensitivity distribution and organic matter correction with an expanded toxicity data set

SNSun‐Hwa NamKonkuk University YSYubeen SongKonkuk University DKDokyung KimKonkuk University

Key Points

The study aims to generate quantitative soil ecotoxicity data for fluoride using specific soil organisms.
Generated ecotoxicological data for fluoride using the soil alga Chlorococcum infusionum and springtail Folsomia candida.
Compared species sensitivity distributions with and without the inclusion of these organisms.
Calculated toxicity values based on exposure outcomes over set durations.
Fluoride exposure reduced algal photosynthetic pigments with 6d-EC50 values of 919.7 mg/kg for Chl-a, 943.7 mg/kg for Chl-b, and 988.3 mg/kg for carotenoid.
Springtail survival was affected with a 14d-LC50 of 539.3 mg/kg.
SSD-derived HC5 value was determined to be 55 mg/kg based on 3.4% organic matter.

Abstract

Abstract With the increasing complexity and diversity of environmentally hazardous chemicals, the availability of quantitative ecotoxicity data has become essential for soil risk management. Fluoride is widely used, and its aquatic toxicity is well understood, but quantitative soil ecotoxicity data remain scarce, limiting the establishment of soil protection values. To address this data gap, this study generated acute ecotoxicological data for fluoride using the soil alga Chlorococcum infusionum (primary producer) and the springtail Folsomia candida (decomposer), and compared species sensitivity distributions (SSD) with and without soil alga and springtail. Fluoride exposure reduced algal photosynthetic pigment concentrations for 6 days and survival of springtail for 14 days. Fluoride exposure significantly reduced algal photosynthetic pigments (6d-EC50 919.7 mg/kg for Chl-a, 943.7 mg/kg for Chl-b, and 988.3 mg/kg for carotenoid), and springtail survival (14d-LC50 539.3 mg/kg), with SSD-derived HC5 value 55 mg/kg (based on an organic matter content of 3.4%) considering four taxonomic groups. This finding indicates that the newly generated toxicity data for soil algae and springtail facilitates the establishment of a reliable SSD model. The results provide scientific evidence to support the development of soil health indicators and regulatory benchmarks for managing fluoride contamination in terrestrial ecosystems.

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