All Issue

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
PDF XML Citation
Abstract

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

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
References
1
Ahn, J.S., Ko, K.S., Chon, C.M., 2007, Arsenic occurrence in groundwater of Korea, Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment, 12(5), 64-72 (in Korean with English abstract).
2
Ahn, J.S., Ko, K.S., Lee, J.S., Kim, J.Y., 2005, Characteristics of natural arsenic contamination in groundwater and its occurrences, Economic and Environmental Geology, 38, 547-561 (in Korean with English abstract).
3
Ali, S., Fakhri, Y., Golbini, M., Thakur, S.K., Alinejad, A., Parseh, I., Shekhar, S., Bhattacharya, P., 2019, Concentration of fluoride in groundwater of India: A systematic review, meta-analysis and risk assessment, Groundwater for Sustainable Development, 9, 100224. 10.1016/j.gsd.2019.100224
4
Bang, S., Viet, P.H., Kim, K.W., 2009, Contamination of groundwater and risk assessment for arsenic exposure in Ha Nam province, Vietnam, Environment International, 35(3), 466-472. 10.1016/j.envint.2008.07.01418809211
5
Berg, M., Tran, H.C., Nguyen, T.C., Pham, H.V., Schertenleib, R., Giger, W., 2001, Arsenic contamination of groundwater and drinking water in Vietnam: A human health threat, Environmental Science and Technology, 35(13), 2621-2626. 10.1021/es010027y11452583
6
Cha, S.Y., Seo, Y.G., 2020, Groundwater quality in gyeongnam region using groundwater quality monitoring data: Characteristics according to depth and geological features by background water quality exclusive monitoring network, Clean Technology, 26(1), 39-54 (in Korean with English abstract).
7
Chang, K.H., 1975, Cretaceous stratigraphy of southeast Korea, Journal of the Geological Society of Korea, 11(1), 1-23 (in Korean with English abstract).
8
Chang, K.H., Lee, Y.D., Lee, Y.G., Seo, S.J., Oh, K.Y., Lee, C.H., 1984, Unconformity at the base of the Late Cretaceous Yucheon Group, Journal of the Geological Society of Korea, 20, 41-50 (in Korean with English abstract).
9
Fatta, D., Naoum, D., Loizidou, M., 2002, Integrated environmental monitoring and simulation system for use as a management decision support tool in urban areas, Journal of Environmental Management, 64, 333-343. 10.1006/jema.2001.048512141154
10
Gang, S.H., Kim, K.T., 2021, Water quality monitoring and risk assessment for groundwater at Hoengseong, Gangwon province, Journal of Environmental Health Sciences, 47, 356-365 (in Korean with English abstract).
11
Gleick, P.H., 1993, Water and conflict: Fresh water resources and international security, International Security, 18(1), 79-112. 10.2307/2539033
12
Kim, Y.S., Seo, I.S., Heo, N.Y., Lee, J.H., Kim, B.T., 2001, Engineering characteristics of shale due to the angle of bedding planes, Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society, 17(1), 5-13 (in Korean with English abstract).
13
Kwon, J.C., Jung, M.C., Kang, M.H., 2013, Contents and seasonal variations of arsenic in paddy soils and rice crops around the abandoned metal mines, Economic and Environmental Geology, 46(4), 329-338 (in Korean with English abstract). 10.9719/EEG.2013.46.4.329
14
Lee, J.S., Chon, H.T., 2005, Risk assessment of arsenic by human exposure of contaminated soil, groundwater and rice grain, Economic and Environmental Geology, 38(5), 535-545 (in Korean with English abstract).
15
Lee, J.Y., Moon, S.H., Yun, S.T., 2010, Contamination of groundwater by arsenic and other constituents in an industrial complex, Environmental Earth Sciences, 60(1), 65-79. 10.1007/s12665-009-0170-x
16
MOE (Ministry of Environment) and KIGAM (Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resource), 2018, Report for basic research of groundwater of Haman area, 11-15.
17
MOE (Ministry of Environment) and K-water, 2021, Groundwater annual report, MOE and K-water, 413p.
18
MOE (Ministry of Environment), 2005, Detailed survey for soil and water contamination in abandoned metal mines in Korea, MOE, Seoul.
19
Mondal, D., Banerjee, M., Kundu, M., Banerjee, N., Bhattacharya, U., Giri, A.K., Ganguli, B., Roy, S.S., Polya, D.A., 2010, Comparison of drinking water, raw rice and cooking of rice as arsenic exposure routes in three contrasting areas of West Bengal, India, Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 32(6), 463-477. 10.1007/s10653-010-9319-520505983
20
NGIC (National Groundwater Information Center), 2021, Groundwater annual report, 413p.
21
Nriagu, D.G., Bhattacharya, P., Mukherjee, A.B., Bundschuh, J., Zevenhoven, R., Loeppert, R.H., 2007, Arsenic in soil and groundwater: An overview, 9, 3-60. 10.1016/S0927-5215(06)09001-1
22
Phan, K., Sthiannopkao, S., Kim, K.W., Wong, M.H., Sao, V., Hashim, J.H., Yasin, M.S.M., Aljunid, S.M., 2010, Health risk assessment of inorganic arsenic intake of Cambodia residents through groundwater drinking pathway, Water Research, 44(19), 5777-5788. 10.1016/j.watres.2010.06.02120598732
23
Piper, A.M., 1944, A graphic procedure in the geochemical interpretation of water-analyses, Eos, Transactions American Geophysical Union, 25(6), 914-928. 10.1029/TR025i006p00914
24
Podgorski, J., Berg, M., 2020, Global threat of arsenic in groundwater, Science, 368(6493), 845-850. 10.1126/science.aba151032439786
25
Ravindra, K., Mor, S., 2019, Distribution and health risk assessment of arsenic and selected heavy metals in Groundwater of Chandigarh, India, Environmental Pollution, 250, 820-830. 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.03.08031048111
26
Redwan, M., Moneim, A.A.A., Mohammed, N.E., Masoud, A.M., 2020, Sources and health risk assessments of nitrate in groundwater, West of Tahta area, Sohag, Egypt, Episodes Journal of International Geoscience, 43(2), 751-760. 10.18814/epiiugs/2020/020048
27
Saidi, S., Bouri, S., Dhia, H.B., Anselme, B., 2011, Assessment of groundwater risk using intrinsic vulnerability and hazard mapping: Application to Souassi aquifer, Tunisian Sahel, Agricultural Water Management, 98(10), 1671-1682. 10.1016/j.agwat.2011.06.005
28
Sang, W.K., Sang, K.H., Yoon, J.L., Jae, Y.L., In, S.K., 1998, Petrology of the Cretaceous volcanic rocks in northern Yucheon Minor Basin, Korea, The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea, 7(1), 27-36 (in Korean with English abstract).
29
Shiklomanov, I.A., 1991, The world’s water resources, Proceedings of the International Symposium to Commemorate 25 Years of the IHP, UNESCO/IHP, Paris, 93-126.
30
Smedley, P.L., Kinniburgh, D.G., 2002, A review of the source, behaviour and distribution of arsenic in natural waters, Applied Geochemistry, 17, 517-568. 10.1016/S0883-2927(02)00018-5
31
Smith, A.H., Lingas, E.O., Rahman, M., 2000, Contamination of drinking-water by arsenic in Bangladesh: A public health emergency, Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 78(9), 1093-1103.
32
USEPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency), 1997, Exposure factors handbook, EPA/600/P95/002Fa (Update to Exposure Factors Handbook, EPA/600/8-89/043), Environmental Protection Agency Region I, Washington DC, USA.
33
USEPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency), 2004, Risk Assessment guidance for superfund, Washington DC, USA.
34
USEPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency), 2022, Conducting a human health risk assessment, Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/risk/conducting-human-health-risk-assessment .
35
Voudouris, K., Kazakis, N., Polemio, M., Kareklas, K., 2010, Assessment of intrinsic vulnerability using DRASTIC model and GIS in Kiti aquifer, Cyprus, European Water, 30, 13-24.
36
Wagner, J.M., Shamir, U., Nemati, H.R., 1992, Groundwater quality management under uncertainty: Stochastic programming approaches and the value of information, Water Resources Research, 28(5), 1233-1246. 10.1029/92WR00038
37
Waqas, H., Shan, A., Khan, Y.G., Nawaz, R., Rizwan, M., Rehman, M.S.U., Ahmed, W., Jabeen, M., 2017, Human health risk assessment of arsenic in groundwater aquifers of Lahore, Pakistan, Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal, 23(4), 836-850. 10.1080/10807039.2017.1288561
38
Zhang, Y., Xu, B., Guo, Z., Han, J., Li, H., Jin, L., Chen, F., Xiong, Y., 2019, Human health risk assessment of groundwater arsenic contamination in Jinghui irrigation district, China, Journal of Environmental Management, 237, 163-169. 10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.02.06730784864
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
Journal Informaiton The Journal of Engineering Geology The Journal of Engineering Geology
Online Submission
  • NRF
  • KOFST
  • KISTI Current Status
  • KISTI Cited-by
  • crosscheck
  • orcid
  • open access
  • ccl
Journal Informaiton Journal Informaiton - close