Microfungal communities in soil polluted with fluoride

There have been identified three zones according to the degree of soil pollution with fluoride in the impact area of air emissions of the Kandalaksha Aluminium Smelter (Russia): zone of maximum pollution up to 2.5 km from the emission source with the content of fluoride from 5000 to 1200 mg/kg, zone of strong pollution up to 13 km from the plant with the content of fluoride between 1200-400 mg/kg and zone of moderate pollution up to 20 km from the source with content of fluoride between 400-200 mg/kg. Emissions of the aluminium plant have reduced the number and the diversity of fungi and have caused an increase in fungal communities that are potentially pathogenic fungi. The biomass of fungi has decreased in the organic horizon of the maximum polluted soil from 5.4 to 3.6 mg/g. As a whole, emissions from the aluminium plant in the Murmansk region are less toxic for the environment, than emissions of copper-nickel enterprises.