• 대한임상독성학회지
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.106-113
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to verify the influence of a massive hydrofluoric acid spill on community health through patients who claimed to have been exposed. Methods: We analyzed 2459 patients who visited our emergency department with the claim of exposure to hydrofluoric acid, and retrospective analyses were performed. We analyzed changes in numbers of visitors per day from the day of the accidental hydrofluoric acid spill, symptoms presented by the 1924 patients, and general characteristics. Comparisons of symptoms and hematologic characteristics were made between the initially set evacuation zone(1.3 km radius parameters from the spill) and the outer zone. Results: A total of 2,459 patients who claimed exposure visited our ED from 27 September 2012 to 23 October 2012, and there was a significant increase in the number of visiting patients from day 8 of the hydrofluoric acid spill. The most common complaints were a sore throat, 729(37.9%) and no specific symptom with health concern, 547 (28.4%). Statistically significant findings were pulmonary symptoms (p=0.001), nasal symptoms (p=0.001), diarrhea (p=0.023), and skin symptoms (p=0.007). In hematologic study, a statistically significant difference was observed in white blood cell count (p=0.018), creatine phosphokinase (p<0.001), erythrocyte sediment rate (p=0.013), and phosphorus (p<0.001). Conclusion: A significant increase in the number of patients was observed one week after the accidental spill of hydrofluoric acid. The most frequent symptoms were sore throat, headache, cough, and sputum. Statistically significant increase in creatine phosphokinase level and decrease in phosphorus level were noted in patients within the evacuation zone.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제40권1호
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• pp.27-37
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• 2014

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.

• 한국지하수토양환경학회지:지하수토양환경
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.23-29
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• 2018

This study explored secondary effects of the residual hydrofluoric acid (HF) after a hypothetical acid spill accident by investigating the long-term dissolution of minerals and leaching of pre-existing arsenic (As) from two soil samples (i.e., KBS and KBM) through batch and column experiments. An increase in the HF concentration in both soil samples resulted in a dramatic increase in the release of major cations, especially Si. However, the amounts of mineral dissolved were dependent on the soil type and mineral characteristics. Compared to the KBM soil, relatively more Ca, Mg and Si were dissolved from the KBS soil. The column experiment showed that the long-term dissolution rates of the minerals are closely associated with the acid buffering capacity of the two soils. The KBM soil had relatively higher effluent pH values compared to the KBS soil. Also, more As was leached from the KBM soil, with a more amorphous hydrous oxide-bound As fraction. These results suggest that the potential of heavy metal leaching by the residual acid after an acid spill will be influenced by heavy metal speciation and mineral structure in the affected soil.

• 한국지하수토양환경학회지:지하수토양환경
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• 제19권6호
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• pp.6-12
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• 2014

We reviewed literature focusing on the amounts of domestic production, distribution, and consumption of strong acids and their spill cases. In particular, we investigated the chemistry and toxicity of four strong acids classified as "accident preparedness substances," including hydrochloric, nitric, sulfuric, and hydrofluoric acid. We recommend sulfuric and hydrofluoric acid as the chemicals of priority control based on the amounts used and toxicity. An advanced prevention/response system needs to be established along with an improved human and social infrastructure to prevent and efficiently respond to chemical accidents. Understanding the behavior and transport of spilled strong acids in the soil and groundwater environments requires a multi-disciplinary approach since they go through a variety of chemical and biogeochemical reactions with complex geomedia. However, no such research has been done in this area in Korea to the best of our knowledge. We expect the results of this study to contribute as basic data to future research.

• 한국언론정보학보
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• 제70권
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• pp.246-276
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• 2015

전통적인 위험은 자연재해, 재난처럼 위험 발생 원인과 관련하여 위험 주체의 책임성이 불분명한 위험이며 기술적인 위험은 유해 화학물질 사고처럼 발생 주체에게 책임성이 있는 경우다. 이 연구는 책임성 여부에 따른 위험 상황에서 각각 공중이 어떻게 위험 정보를 처리하고 탐색하는지 알아보고자 했다. 책임성 여부에 따른 위험 정보 탐색과 처리 과정을 비교하는 이유는 위험의 책임성에 따라 공중이 느끼는 감정과 행동이 달라지기 때문에 관련 조직의 책임성이 있는 위험과 책임성이 없는 위험의 정보 탐색 및 처리 과정의 차이를 통해 공중에게 위험을 커뮤니케이션하는 캠페인 전략이나 정책을 다르게 적용할 수 있기 때문이다. 따라서 이 연구는 공중이 위험 정보를 탐색하고 처리하는 과정을 연구하는 모델인 위험 정보 탐색 처리 모델(Risk Information Seeking and Processing, RISP)을 통해 책임성 여부에 따른 두 가지 국내 위험 상황에서 공중의 위험 정보 탐색과 처리 과정을 비교했으며, 모델 변수의 인과성 차이를 검증했다. 연구 결과, 위험 커뮤니케이션에서 책임성 여부에 따라 공중이 위험 정보를 탐색하고 처리하는 과정에 차이가 있었으며, 두 가지 유형의 위험 비교를 통해 위험 유형에 따라 각기 다른 커뮤니케이션 전략을 세워야 한다는 것을 밝혔다. 또한 위험 정보 탐색 처리가 그동안 환경 위험, 건강 관련 위험과 같이 책임성이 불분명한 위험에서 다루어져 왔기 때문에, 책임성이 있는 불산 유출과 같은 위험의 경우 관련 기관에 대한 불신이 위험 자체가 아닌 기관에 대한 부정적 감정을 형성하여 일반적인 위험 정보 탐색 처리 모델과 같은 흐름으로 정보를 탐색하거나 처리하지 않는 것을 밝혀냈다. 이러한 연구 결과를 바탕으로 이론적인 함의를 논의했다.

• 한국화재소방학회논문지
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• 제29권5호
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• pp.73-78
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• 2015

2012년 구미 불산 누출사고 이후 화학사고의 심각성이 대두되고 있으나, 계속적으로 화학사고가 발생함에도 불구하고 임시방편적 대응 혹은 화학 사고에 대한 실질적 대응방안 마련을 위한 국가적 시스템 정비는 미비한 실정이다. 이제 일련의 화학사고가 단순히 기업이나 공장의 화학물질 사고를 넘어 전(全) 국가 및 사회 전반에 엄청난 파급효과를 일으키고 있다. 본 연구는 계속적으로 발생하고 있는 화학 사고에 있어 국가재난관리체계 확립방향의 길을 조금이나마 제시하기 위한 목적으로 연구되었으며, 이러한 연구의 목적을 도달하기 위해 현재 재난관리체계의 문제점, 화학 사고에 대한 재난관리 실패의 구조적 원인 및 사고 대응의 문제점 도출을 통해 화학사고 대응체계에 대한 개선방안을 제시하였다.