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2022 Vol.32, Issue 4

Research Article

Risk Assessment of Arsenic-Contaminated Groundwater in Multiple Scenarios in a Rural Area of Gyeongnam Province, Korea

경남 농촌 지역 비소 오염 지하수의 시나리오별 위해성 평가

Serim Oh1
,
Jin-Yong Lee2*
,
Sang-Ho Moon3
,
Jiwook Jang4
,
Eunju Jeong4
오 세림1
,
이 진용2*
,
문 상호3
,
장 지욱4
,
정 은주4
1Master Course, Department of Geology, Kangwon National University
2Professor, Department of Geology, Kangwon National University
3Principal Researcher, Groundwater Environment Research Center, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources
4Ph.D. Student, Department of Geology, Kangwon National University
1강원대학교 지질학과 석사과정
2강원대학교 지질학과 교수
3한국지질자원연구원 지하수환경연구센터 책임연구원
4강원대학교 지질학과 박사과정
*Corresponding Author
31 December 2022. pp. 437-448
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Abstract

This work aims to assess the threat to human health of hazardous materials in groundwater that is used domestically and for drinking. Two distinct sub-assessments are considered: cancer and non-cancer risk. The studied groundwater is in an agricultural area of Gyeongnam Province, Korea, and is contaminated by arsenic at a mean level of 16.27 µg/L, far greater than the WHO guideline (10 µg/L for drinking water). We collected groundwater data from the National Groundwater Information Center (gims.go.kr) and assessed the risk to human health following the methodology of the United States Environmental Protection Agency. We considered three exposure scenarios: domestic use (scenario 1) and drinking use with different doses (scenarios 2 and 3). Scenario 1 had a median hazard quotient (HQ) of 0.77 and a cancer risk (CR) of 0.013. Scenario 2 had a median HQ of 0.08 and a CR of 3.69 × 10-5, and the values for scenario 3 were 0.11 and 4.82 × 10-5, respectively. Scenario 1 is likely the most hazardous to human health. Further study of the origin of arsenic in groundwater in the study area is required, as are remedial measures to mitigate its health effects.

Keywords
risk assessment
groundwater
arsenic contamination
hazard quotient
cancer risk

위해성 평가란 위험 물질에 대해 인체 건강에 대한 위협을 계산하는 것으로 발암성 평가와 비발암성 평가로 나뉜다. 본 연구는 경남 한 농촌 지역의 비소 오염 지하수를 생활용수, 음용수로 사용할 경우 인체에 미치는 영향을 평가하였다. 연구를 위해 국가지하수정보센터의 지하수 수질 자료를 이용하였다. 자료에 따르면 연구지역인 농촌 지역의 지하수는 평균 비소 농도가 16.27 µg/L로 세계보건기구가 제시한 비소 농도(10 µg/L)보다 높게 나타난다. 이에 따라 건강 위해가 있을 것이라고 판단하여 미국환경청에서 제시한 방법을 이용하여 위해성 평가를 수행하였다. 세 가지 노출 시나리오(생활용으로 이용하는 시나리오 1과 음용으로 이용하지만 사용량이 다른 시나리오 2와 3)를 작성하여 비소 노출에 대한 경우를 통해 위해성을 계산하였다. 시나리오 1에서의 HQ의 중앙값은 0.77, CR의 중앙값은 0.013을 보이며 시나리오 2에서는 HQ의 중앙값은 0.08, CR의 중앙값은 3.69 × 10-5로 나타났다. 시나리오 3은 HQ의 중앙값은 0.11, CR은 4.82 × 10-5였다. 인체에 잠재적 위험성이 가장 높게 나타난 것은 시나리오 1로 나타났다. 지하수 내의 비소 기원을 자세히 밝힐 필요가 있으며 지하수 이용 시 정화할 수 있는 대책 마련이 필요하다.

키워드
위해성평가
지하수
비소 오염
위해 지수
발암성
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Information
  • Publisher :Korean Society of Engineering Geology
  • Publisher(Ko) :대한지질공학회
  • Journal Title :The Journal of Engineering Geology
  • Journal Title(Ko) :지질공학
  • Volume : 32
  • No :4
  • Pages :437-448
  • Received Date : 2022-10-04
  • Accepted Date : 2022-10-25
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.9720/kseg.2022.4.437
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