Adverse Effects on Crops and Soils Following an Accidental Release of Hydrogen Fluoride and Hydrofluoric Acid

A number of accidents relating to highly toxic hydrogen fluoride (HF) or hydrofluoric acid (HA) release have occurred over fast few decades in Korea. Thus, this study was conducted to investigate the fluoride (F) concentrations in paddy soil and brown rice from 2 different areas where the soils were exposed to HF and HA. In the first case, the HF leakage accident that occurred in 2012 affected the surrounding soils and crops and consequently, crops (rice) affected by HF were unavailable for forage even though F did not accumulate in the soil. For example, at the time of accident, F concentrations in brown rice samples were $33.0-1,395mg\;kg^{-1}$, while F concentrations in soil samples were $155-295mg\;kg^{-1}$ which were less than the Korean standard guideline values of $400mg\;kg^{-1}$. However, after a year, F concentrations in brown rice were observed below the detection limit ($1mg\;kg^{-1}$), although F concentrations in soils were similar with those in 2012. Also, large amounts of wastewater discharges containing HA occurred in 2013 and some agricultural soils exceeded the Korean standard guideline values for F ($400mg\;kg^{-1}$), but soil-plant F transfer was not observed. In conclusion, it was observed that soil to plant transfer of F is unlikely although HF and HA as gas or liquid form can cause direct damage to plants.