Fluoride in air, grass, and cattle.

Grass can absorb and retain gaseous fluoride from ambient air. This fluoride then is absorbed by cattle eating the grass. The accumulation of this fluoride in their teeth and bones can damage their health and productivity. Critical concentrations of fluoride in grass have been defined. New data describing the relationship between amount of fluoride in air and fluoride in leaves of grass have been assembled and expressed by a regression equation. This equation can be used to predict fluoride accumulation in grass near a planned industrial project, and the likelihood of effect or damage in grazing cattle can be judged.