Journal of Environmental Health Sciences (한국환경보건학회지)

Korean Society of Environmental Health (한국환경보건학회)
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Health Risk Related to Waste Incineration

폐기물 소각시설에 의한 주민 건강 영향

  • Choi, Young-Sook (Division of Infectious Disease Policy Coordination, Korea Diease Control and Prevention Agency) ;
  • Ochirpurev, Bolormaa (Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University) ;
  • Chae, Hee-Yun (Department of Neurology, Chungbuk National University Hospital) ;
  • Eom, Sang-Yong (Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University) ;
  • Kim, Yong-Dae (Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University) ;
  • Kim, Heon (Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University)
  • 최영숙 (질병관리청 감염병정책총괄과) ;
  • 버룰마 (충북대학교 의과대학 예방의학교실) ;
  • 채희윤 (충북대학교병원 신경과) ;
  • 엄상용 (충북대학교 의과대학 예방의학교실) ;
  • 김용대 (충북대학교 의과대학 예방의학교실) ;
  • 김헌 (충북대학교 의과대학 예방의학교실)
  • Received : 2021.01.04
  • Accepted : 2021.01.25
  • Published : 2021.02.28
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Abstract

Objectives: Waste treatment by incineration is gradually increasing as the emission of harmful substances has decreased owing to developments in incineration technology. However, residents living near incinerators continue to express anxiety regarding the effects on their health. Therefore, we attempted to summarize the health impact of incinerators by comprehensively reviewing the recently reported literature. Methods: Sixty-two epidemiological research papers related to incineration and health effects were selected from the Google Scholar database and analyzed (from between January 2001 and December 2019). Results: When compared to older incinerators, newer incinerators established after 2000 are considered relatively safe in terms of health effects. Nevertheless, there have been some studies that have linked them to various diseases, such as malignant tumors including soft tissue cancer and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, reproductive disorders, respiratory diseases, and more. In addition, incinerator workers and local residents are considered to be exposed to dioxins and some heavy metals from the incinerator. Since most studies included subjects exposed to older incinerators, it is difficult to apply these results to the health impact assessment of new incinerators. However, it is not appropriate to conclude that new incinerators made with state-of-the-art technology are safe, as chronic environmental diseases caused by hazardous substances tend to appear only after prolonged exposure. Conclusions: In terms of environmental health, it is necessary to continuously monitor the health effects of incinerators. Also, there is a need to develop a research methodology that can minimize various confounders in incineration-related epidemiological study.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

이 논문은 충북대학교 국립대학육성사업(2019)지원을 받아 작성되었음.

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