We obtained the following results from investigation on vegetation damage from 5 to 6 August, 2013, about one year
after an accident that hydrofluoric acid leaked from a chemical maker, Hube Globe in Gumi. Pinus densiflora and
Pinus strobus showed very severe damage. Ginko biloba, Quercus acutissima, Pinus rigida, Salix glandulosa, Hibiscus
syriacus, and Lagerstroemia indica showed severe damage. Quercus variabilis, Lespedeza cyrtobotrya, and
Miscanthus sinensis showed moderate damage. Quercus aliena, Smilax china, Arundidinella hirta, Ailanthus altissima,
Robinia pseudoacacia, and Paulowinia coreana showed slight damage. We did not find any plants without leaf
damage around there. This result means that fluoride damage still persists in this area as was known that fluoride
remains for a long time in air, soil and water and exerts negative effects at all levels of an ecosystem. In addition,
fluoride content contained in plant leaf depended on the distance from a fertilizer producing factory and vegetation
damage tended to proportionate to the concentration in the Yeocheon industrial complex. In these respects, a measure
for removal or detoxification of the remaining fluoride is urgently required around the hydrofluoric acid leak spot.
Fertilizing of dolomite containing Ca and Mg, which can trap fluoride, was prepared as one of the restoration plans.
In addition, phosphate fertilizing was added in order to enhance soil ameliorating effects. Furthermore, we
recommend the introduction of tolerant plants as the second measure to mitigate fluoride damage. As the tolerant
plants to make a new forest by replacing trees died due to hydrofluoric acid gas damage, we recommended Q. aliena
and S. china, A. hirta, etc. were recommended as plant species to add mantle vegetation to the forest margin to ensure
stable interior environment of the forest.