Fluoride accumulation by plants grown in acid soils amended with flue gas desulphurisation gypsum

► Use of FGD gypsum as an acid soil ameliorant. ► FGD gypsum application reduces F accumulation in plant aerial parts. ► F in feed and derived health risks are lessened by using FGD gypsum. ► Soluble Ca supplied by FGD gypsum limits F translocation to plant aerial parts. The application of flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) gypsum as an acid soil ameliorant was studied in order to establish the possible detrimental effects on plants and animals feeding on them caused by the high fluoride content in this by-product. A greenhouse experiment was conducted under controlled conditions to determine the F accumulation by two plant species (alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) and ryegrass ( Lolium perenne L.)) grown in acid soils amended with different FGD gypsum doses (0–10%). The F concentrations in plant aerial parts were comprised in the range 22–65 mg kg −1, and those in plant roots varied from 49 to 135 mg kg −1. The F contents in the above-ground plant tissues showed to decrease with the FGD gypsum application rate, whereas an inverse trend was manifested by plant roots. The increase in the soil content of soluble Ca as a result of the FGD gypsum addition seemed to play an important role in limiting the translocation of F to plant aerial parts.