Hygienic assessment of the fluorine content in the soil of territories to be serviced by the Federal medical and biological agency

Introduction. The main purpose of preventive medicine is to protect public health from the harmful effects of the human environment. In industrial areas of large industrial countries, the problem of sanitary protection of soils is put forward as one of the most acute. Fluorine is one of those trace elements that receives a lot of attention due to its harmful effects on the environment, human and animal health. The main sources of industrial soil contamination with fluorinated compounds are enterprises producing aluminum and steel, ceramics, phosphorous fertilizers, glass, cement and brick factories.

The purpose of the study. To conduct a hygienic assessment of the fluoride content in the soil of territories serviced by the FMBA of Russia and identify possible potential sources of its entry into the soil using the example of Obninsk, the Kaluga Region, and Peresvet, the Moscow Region.

Materials and methods. Literature sources on the effects of fluorine on the environment and public health were studied, and the following databases were used in the search: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, MedLine, Global Health, RSCI. Field studies of fluorine content in soil for various purposes were conducted in Obninsk, the Kaluga region and in Peresvet, the Moscow region.

Results. Based on the results of field studies, it was found that there were five soil samples in Obninsk, the Kaluga region and Peresvet, the Moscow region (three points in Peresvet, the Moscow region, two points in Obninsk, the Kaluga region), did not meet the hygienic standard for the content of fluorine (water-soluble form) and exceeded the maximum permissible concentration by 1.2–1.5 times. The conducted analytical search for data on the types of enterprises, which included production features, chemical composition of emissions, location (proximity of enterprises to the points where the maximum permissible concentration of fluorine in the soil was detected) allowed creating a list of potential sources of soil contamination with fluorine.

Limitation. Due to the fact that the studies were conducted on soils selected in territories with a similar soil type, excess fluorine was detected once during the study, which requires further observations.

Conclusion. A screening study of the soils of the territories serviced by the FMBA of Russia on the principle of “samples of unknown composition” revealed the points where the excess of the maximum permissible concentration of fluorine (water-soluble form) in the soil exceeds the established standards. Monitoring the levels of fluoride in the soil, only in the area of exposure to large industries, such as aluminum production holdings, is insufficient. As we can see, in cities where even small enterprises are located, which can be sources of fluoride entering the environment, it is necessary to monitor not only atmospheric emissions, but also the fluorine content in the soil, at least once a year.

Compliance with ethical standards. The study does not require submission to a biomedical ethics committee or other documents.

Contribution: Evseeva I.S. – concept and design of research, collection of material and data processing, text writing, editing; Ushakova O.V. – concept and design of the study, writing, editing;  Zhernov Yu.V. – research concept, editing. All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Funding. The study was carried out within the framework of a state assignment.

Received: October 14, 2025 / Accepted: November 3, 2025 / Published: December 19, 2025

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