• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.37-49
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• 2021

There is domestic Soil Contamination Warning Standard (SCWS) as remediation standard concentration of contaminated soils. No risk should be observed at soil concentration less than SCWS. Therefore, SCWS was evaluated to confirm the risk assessment. Background Concentration of Soil (BGC) and target remediation concentration were also assessed. The results show that Excess Cancer Risk (ECR) of SCWS was the highest in the groundwater intake pathway (Adult: 6.27E-04, Child: 2.81E-04). Total Cancer Risk (TCR) was 7.76E-04 and 4.30E-04 for adult and child, exceeding reference value (10^-6). Hazard Quotient (Non-Carcinogenic Risk, HQ) was the highest in the indoor air inhalation pathway (Adult: 3.64E+03, Child: 8.74E+02). Hazard Index (Total Non-Carcinogenic Risk, HI) exceeded reference value 1. ECR of the BGC was the highest in the groundwater intake pathway (Adult: 1.71E-04, Child: 7.67E-05). TCR was 2.12E-04 for adults and 1.17E-04 for children, exceeding the reference value (10^-6). HQ was the highest in groundwater intake pathway (Adult: 4.10E-01, Child: 1.84E-01). HI was lower than reference value 1 (Adult: 4.78E-01, Child: 2.50E-01). The heavy metal affecting ECR was Arsenic (As). The remediation-concentration of As was 7.14 mg/kg which is higher than BGC (6.83 mg/kg). TCR of As should be less than reference value (10^-6), but it was higher for all of SCWS, BGC and target remediation concentration. Therefore, it is suggested that risk assessment factors should be re-evaluated to fit domestic environmental settings and SCWS should be induced to satisfy the risk assessment.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.255-263
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• 2023

The standards for heavy metal levels in crustaceans are 0.5 mg/kg and 1.0 mg/kg or lower for lead and cadmium, respectively. Further, the contamination levels of arsenic, mercury, methyl mercury, and tin are being continuously investigated, considering their current exposure levels. Shrimps are potentially exposed to heavy metals because they inhabit areas with abundant organic matter, such as sandy or muddy shores, places with a lot of seaweed, and estuaries. This study measured the monetary value of reducing consumer anxiety and increasing consumer confidence if the government prohibits the sale of shrimp species that exceed the threshold for specific heavy metals and of the top shrimp species for which no threshold for heavy metals is specified. We derived consumer willingness-to-pay (WTP). Combining the estimated WTP with the number of households in the country, the total value of benefits was estimated to be 363.9 billion won. The results of this study will provide an important empirical finding, showing to what extent specific policies regarding heavy metals in seafood can alleviate consumer anxiety and provide psychological reassurance.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.201-209
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• 2009

Four heavy metals (Pb, Cd, As, and Hg) in 38 species (total 325 samples) of oriental animality medicines were monitored by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and automatic mercury analyzer (AMA). The detected concentration range of Pb, Cd, As was presented as $0.02{\mu}gkg^{-1}$ $(D.L){\sim}11.29mgkg^{-1}$, $0.01{\mu}gkg^{-1}$ $(D.L){\sim}2.50 mgkg^{-1}$, $0.12{\mu}gkg^{-1}$ $(D.L){\sim}5.27mgkg^{-1}$, respectively. In case of Hg, it the concentration range was $0.01{\sim}77.11mgkg^{-1}$ except one sample which exceeded detection limit. In all samples of Amydae Carapax and Gallnut, it was not detected over the maximum residue limits of metals. Pb is in charge of the greatest portion of contamination in 22 species of animality medicines, and in case of Hg, 54.46% of total samples were over the maximum residue limits. Therefore, environmental levels of Pb and Hg are needed to continue the researches and the studies for tracking pollution source are required.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.215-224
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• 2017

Arsenic (As) is known to be the most toxic element and frequently detected in groundwater environment. Inorganic As exists as arsenite [As(III)] and arsenate [As(V)] in reduced and oxidized environments, respectively. It has been reported that the toxicity of arsenite is much higher than that of arsenate and furthermore arsenite shows relatively higher mobility in aqueous environments. For this reason, there have been numerous researches on the process for oxidation of arsenite to arsenate to reduce the toxicity of arsenic. In particular, photooxidation has been considered to be simple, economical, and efficient to attain such goal. This study was conducted to evaluate the applicability of naturally-occurring goethite as a photocatalyst to substitute for $TiO_2$ which has been mostly used in the photooxidation processes so far. In addition, the effects of several factors on the overall performance of arsenite photocatalytic oxidation process were evaluated. The results show that the efficiency of the process was affected by total concentration of dissolved cations rather than by the kind of those cations and also the relatively higher pH conditions seemed to be more favorable to the process. In the case of coexistence of arsenite and arsenate, the removal tendency by adsorption onto goethite appeared to be different between arsenite and arsenate due to their different affinities with goethite, but any effect on the photocatalytic oxidation of arsenite was not observed. In terms of effect of humic acid on the process, it is likely that the higher concentration of humic acid reduced the overall performance of the arsenite photocatalytic oxidation as a result of competing interaction of activated oxygen species, such as hydroxyl and superoxide radicals, with arsenite and humic acid. In addition, it is revealed that the injection of oxygen gas improved the process because oxygen contributes to arsenite oxidation as an electron acceptor. Based on the results of the study, consequently, the photocatalytic oxidation of aqueous arsenite using goethite seems to be greatly feasible with the optimization of process.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.211-217
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• 2016

There have been found mine tailings, wastes, and mining drainage scattered in the area of Nakdong River due to the improper maintenance of the abandoned mines. These contaminants can flow into rivers during the heavy rain periods in summer. Along the study area beginning Seokpo-myeon, Bonghwa-gun of Gyeongsangbuk-do untill Dosan-myeon, Andong-si, there are one hundred five mines including sixty metalliferous mines and forty-five nonmetal mines, which can adversely affect the adjacent rivers. To verify the contamination, we collected sediments, seepage water and surface water for a year both in rainy season and dry season. This study found that sediments, containing high concentrations of heavy metals caused by mining activities, are dispersed throughout the entire river basin (68 sample points with pollution index, based on the concentration of trace element, (PI) >10 among the total of 101 samples). The results of river water analysis indicated the increased concentrations of arsenic and cadmium at branches from Seungbu, Sambo, Okbang and Janggun mine, which concerns that the river water may be contaminated by mining drainage and tailing sediments. However, it is difficult to sort out the exact sources of contamination in sediments and waters only by using the chemical compositions. Thus the control of mining pollution is challenging. To prevent water from being contaminated by mining activities, we should be able to divide inflow rates from each origin of the mines. Therefore, there should be a continued study about how to trace the source of contaminants from mining activities by analyzing stable isotopes.

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
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• 2005.12a
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• pp.87-94
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• 2005

Results from previous studies revealed that metal level in the body is related to certain types of diseases. For example. serum copper level with chronic heart failure, iron and transferrin in the blood serum with acute cerebral vascular diseases, Zn in the CNS, lead with neurotoxicity, hypertension, genetic damage, arsenic with cancer skin lesion, Al with neurobehavioral function (cognitive impairment and memory disorder), and etc. The rate of stroke has increased in recent years and several metals were found to be responsible for causing stroke. This study compared several blood metal concentrations between stroke and non-stroke patients. Patients with stroke (116 samples) and non-stroke (111 samples including lowback pain and others) participated in this study. Total of 227 blood samples were collected and participants completed questionnaires regarding age, gender, occupation, residence, alcohol, smoking, and etc. To be qualified into the stroke group, patients have never experienced stroke previously. Subjects only included ischemic stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage patients diagnosed by brain CT and brain MRI. Patients with high risk of metal exposure such as herbal intake and job related exposure were excluded. 10ml of blood samples were analyzed by ICP-MS method at the Center of Nature and Science at Sangji University. Metal geometric mean (SD) concentrations in blood of study subjects showed higher values, 2.64-36.12%, than WHO reference values in Mn, Ni, Hg, Se, and As. Metal concentration in blood of stroke patients non-adjusted for potential confounders was higher except for Hg and also higher except for Ni in adjusted for potential confounders. Co was significantly higher in stroke patients (p=0.002) than non-stroke patients adjusted for potential confounders. Regression coefficient values of stroke patients was 0.17-8.25 in each metals. Odd ratio of stroke patients had 0.96 (Ni)-2.68 (Co) compared to non-stroke cases. This result means that Co increase of 1 raises the risk ratio of stroke by 2.86 times. Based on the results, metal concentration in blood seems to affect incidence of stroke.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.28-39
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• 2011

This review investigated theoretical principals and practical application examples on recirculation system of soil washing-wastewater treatment-treated water recycling. As for technologies which have attempted to remediating metals-contaminated soil in and around country, there are reactive barriers, encapsulation, solidification/stabilization, soil washing, and phytoremediation. Among those, in particular, this review covers soil washing technology which physicochemically removes contaminants from soils. The major drawbacks of this technology are to generate a large amount of wastewater which contains contaminants complexed with ligands of washing solution and needs additional treatment process. To solve these problems, many chemical treatment methods have been developed as follows: precipitation/coprecipitation, membrane filtration, adsorption treatment, ion exchange, and electrokinetic treatment. In the last part of the review, recent research and field application cases on soil washing wastewater treatment and recycling were introduced. Based on these integrated technologies, it could be achieved to solve the problem of soil washing wastewater and to enhance cost effective process by reducing total water resources use in soil washing process.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.220-226
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• 2007

For the analysis of hazard factors and the development of GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) Ginseng, 10 ginseng cultural farms wished certified GAP were selected at Geumsan-gun area, a representative site of ginseng cultivation in Korea. In order to verify the safety of GAP ginseng, possible contamination of pesticide and heavy metal residues, and microbial hazard were analyzed. Soil and water around ginseng cultivation field, and ginseng were investigated. Eighty-one pesticides including carbendazim were used as typical pesticide against plant pathogens and insect pests of ginseng plant and general crops. There was no excess the maximum residue limit (MRL) in residue figure of the soil. Including the residue figure of the arsenic (0.81 ml/kg) and 7 other heavy metals was also suitable to cultivate the ginseng plant. The irrigation water and dilution water for pesticide application were also safety level for GAP. Fresh ginsengs from the farms were sampled and investigated pesticide residues and contaminations of bacteria. Among 23 pesticides tested, we didn't detect any kinds of pesticide residues, but tolclofos-methyl was frequently found in the other ginseng field. On the investigation of microorganism hazards, 2 gram negative bacteria and 1 gram positive bacterium were found in the fresh ginseng. Number of total bacteria was $1.5{\times}10^3$ cfu/ml, which was less than the other agriculture products. At these results, 10 selected ginseng farms were good cultural places for GAP ginseng production and the ginseng cultured from Geumsan-gun area were a good safe far human.

• Journal of Korea Soil Environment Society
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.55-65
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• 1996

Soil quality of most of Soil Network area was estimated healthy by employing Soil Pollution Indices (Soil Pollution Score and Soil Pollution Class). However, 1.5∼3.7% of the total Soil Network area was determined Soil Pollution Class (SPC) 4 which may need cleanup process due to slight or heavy pollution with arsenics and heavy metals. Numbers of the SPC 4 sites were 9, 47, 19, 17, and 17 in 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993, and 1994, respectively During 1987 and 1994, all of SPC 4 sites were identified agricultural land except one in 1994. Soil Pollution Scores (SPSs) was determined high around smelters, metalliferous mines, and industrial sites among the 16 major soil pollution sources of the Soil Network. Also, most area of SPC 4 sites were densely populated in these area of the Soil Network. SPSs of Inchon and Taegu were high among the other major cities and provinces in Korea. Numbers of SPC 4 were high in the province of Kangwon, Kyongbuk, Kyongnam amongst. Cumulative numbers of SPC 4 multiplied by a weighting value 0.3 during 1987 and 1994 of the Soil Network were regressed to develop a model equation for prospecting the soil quality. The model equation was Y= 1.16+0.23x, where as Y is the number of Class 4 and x is the year. Resulting the area of SPC 4 were 4.8%, 6.0%, 6.6% of the Soil Network in the year of 2001, 2006, 2011, respectively Based on this results, the area of SPC 4 would increase 5, 7, and 10 times comparing the area polluted with heavy metals in 1987.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.282-287
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• 2015

BACKGROUND: The current study was carried out to investigate Cd, Hg, Pb and As contaminations in 222 commercial medicinal plants and to estimate the potential health risk through dietary intake of commercial medicinal plants in Korea.METHODS AND RESULTS: The Cd, Hg, Pb, and As in medicinal plants were analyzed by ICP/MS and mercury analyzer.The potential health risk was estimated using risk assessment tools. Total amount of Cd in medicinal plants with 29% samples exceeded the standard limit legislated in 'Pharmaceutical Affairs Act' while all plant samples were lower than the standard limit value for As, Hg, and Pb. However, when applying the standard limit for root vegetable (fresh weight) in the Food Sanitation Act, four samples exceeded the standard limit of Pb. For health risk assessment, the values of cancer risk probability were 0.3~5.9×10^-7which were less than the acceptable cancer risk of 10^-6~10^-4for regulatory purpose. Also, Hazard quotientvalues were lower than 1.0.CONCLUSION: Therefore, these results demonstrated that human exposure to Cd, Hg, Pb, and As through dietary intake of commercial medicinal plants might notcause adverse health effects although some medicinal plants were higher than the standard limit values for Cd and Pb.