Data from a multimedia survey on fluoride contamination in the vicinity of an aluminum plant are presented and applied along with multimedia-based simulation modeling techniques in order to investigate the long term response of fluoride in soils and seasonal trends of accumulation by olive trees. Results from the modeling analysis are in fair agreement with observed data. Soils show elevated fluoride concentrations that decrease with distance from the source and depth below the surface. Fluoride is largely retained in the upper 5 cm of soil. Sensitivity analyses showed that accumulation of fluoride is dominated by atmospheric loading. The strong retention of fluoride in the calcareous soils of the area with high organic 1309
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