Journal of Environmental Health Sciences (한국환경보건학회지)

Korean Society of Environmental Health (한국환경보건학회)
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Defining Area of Damage of 2012 Hydrofluoric Acid Spill Accident in Gumi, Korea

구미 불산 누출사고로 인한 주변지역 환경영향권 설정에 관한 연구

  • Koh, Dohyun (Institute for Environmental Safety and Health) ;
  • Kim, Jeongsoo (Institute for Environmental Safety and Health) ;
  • Choi, Kyungho (Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Seoul National University)
  • 고도현 ((협)환경안전건강연구소) ;
  • 김정수 ((협)환경안전건강연구소) ;
  • 최경호 (서울대 보건대학원 환경보건학과)
  • Received : 2014.02.03
  • Accepted : 2014.02.27
  • Published : 2014.02.28
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Abstract

Objectives: On September 27, 2012, leakage of anhydrous hydrofluoric acid occurred in a chemical plant in the Gumi National Industrial Complex. Following the accident, local factory workers and residents complained of abnormal health conditions. In addition, visual discolorations were widely observed in crops and trees in surrounding areas. The main objectives of the present study were to identify the area that was affected by the spill using data obtained from plants, soil, and water samples after the accident. Methods: Fluoride concentrations were analyzed in pine tree needles, soil, nearby streams, ponds and reservoirs collected from an area within a radius of three kilometers from the plant where the leak occurred. Fluoride concentrations in the air at the time of leakage were then estimated from fluoride concentrations that were measured in the pine tree needles. A Kriged map was developed to describe the spatial distribution of hydrofluoric acid at the time of the leakage and was compared with the area designated as a Special Disaster Zone by the government. Results: The Special Disaster Zone did not include all the affected area that was estimated by the Kriged map. Analytical results of the environmental samples also supported this discrepancy. Conclusion: Using plants, atmospheric concentrations of fluoride at the time of the leakage could be estimated. For the area that was identified as affected, further public health risk assessment and environmental risk assessment should be considered. Also, in the absence of air monitoring at the time of leakage, studies employing plants may be conducted in order to better understand the spatial extent and severity of the contamination.

Keywords

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  1. Estimation of the Concentration of HF in the Atmosphere Using Plant Leaves Exposed to HF in the Site of the HF Spill vol.32, pp.3, 2016, https://doi.org/10.5572/KOSAE.2016.32.3.248