Fluoride accumulation and the relative fluoride loading of different body parts in the wild mulberry silkworm (Bombyx mandarina M.), mulberry geometrid (Pathonandria atrineata B.) and mulberry silkworm (Bombyx mori L.) near fluoride pollution sources in the main sericultural region of China were studied. The results showed that the insects had an increased fluoride accumulation if compared to their feed, and that there were wide differences between the different insect species with the same feed and within the same polluted site. The digestive tract of the insect retained much higher fluoride content than other body parts. Moreover, a highly significant correlation was found between fluoride content in the studied insects and that of the mulberry leaves on which they were collected. Of the three insects studied, the mulberry geometrid appears to be most adapted to environmental fluoride, while the domestic silkworm is the least able to tolerate high fluoride levels, experiencing high mortalities at 94.3 mg/kg.

Mulberry (Morus spp.) was found to be the most sensitive plant to air-borne fluoride pollution among six plants studied in polluted areas, and could be a useful bioindicator to monitor environmental pollution. The highest fluoride content was found in the oldest leaves, and in plants growing closest to and downwind from the pollution source.