title: Fluorine distribution in soil in the vicinity of an accidental spillage of hydrofluoric acid in Korea.
abstract: This study assessed the status of fluorine (F) in soil in the vicinity of a spillage of anhydrous hydrofluoric acid in Korea. Gaseous hydrogen fluoride dispersed was suspected to have contaminated the surrounding soil environment. Total and water soluble F concentrations in soil within a 1 km radius of the spillage were determined. Total F concentrations (mean=222±70.1 mg kg(-1)) were lower than the Korean limit value (i.e., 400 mg kg(-1)) and several reported measurements of background F concentrations in soils except for a single outlying case. Soluble F concentrations ranged from 0.111 to 6.40 mg kg(-1) (mean=2.20±1.80 mg kg(-1)). A negative correlation between the soluble F concentration of soil and distance from the spillage was observed. This indicates that the soluble F concentration has a crucial role in fractionating the F concentration arising from a 'non natural input' i.e., the spillage. The F content of rice samples seemed to be significantly influenced by the soluble F concentrations of soils. Rice samples collected from the control and affected areas contained 41 mg kg(-1) and 578 mg kg(-1) of total F, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 151-742, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jinsung
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: An
authors.affiliation: Seoul Center, Korea Basic Science Institute, 74 Inchon-ro, Sungbuk-gu, Seoul 136-713, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Seoul Center, Korea Basic Science Institute, 74 Inchon-ro, Sungbuk-gu, Seoul 136-713, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Junseok
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Seoul Center, Korea Basic Science Institute, 74 Inchon-ro, Sungbuk-gu, Seoul 136-713, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: dunee@kbsi.re.kr.
authors.forename: Hye-On
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Yoon
mesh_terms: D055884:Chemical Hazard Release; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005461:Fluorine / Q000032:analysis*; D006858:Hydrofluoric Acid / Q000032:analysis*; D012275:Oryza / Q000737:chemistry; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D012995:Solubility
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D005461:Fluorine; D006858:Hydrofluoric Acid
keywords: Fluorine; Hydrofluoric acid; Hydrogen fluoride; Industrial accident; Soil