• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
• /
• v.59 no.2
• /
• pp.181-187
• /
• 2014

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a group of ubiquitous hazardous pollutants derived from fossil fuel, various combustion sources and pyrolysis of a wide range of plastics. Because PAHs can be uptake into crop plants, the inhibitory effects on rice and soybean plants were examined in greenhouse and growth chamber experiment. Soil-applied PAHs (phenanthrene of 0, 10, 30, 100 ppm) slightly reduced the plant height and dry weight both in transplanted rice and soybean plant. The inhibitory effect on growth was greater in soybean than rice. Plant height of soybean plants treated by 100 ppm was 58.9 cm and this value was 87.2% of untreated plant. In rice plant, the plant height was less inhibited (96.0% of untreated plant) by 100 ppm at 80 days after treatment (DAT). However, leaf chlorophyll content and chlorophyll fluorescence were less inhibited by PAHs at late growth stage (after heading) although the photosynthesis-related parameters were slightly inhibited from 20 DAT to 70 DAT. In agar medium experiment with infant seedlings, inhibition of seedling length and fresh weight by phenanthrene at 100 ppm were greater as compared to the experiment with adult plant in pot. Seedling length and fresh weight were reduced by 54.2% and 33.3% for rice and 27.9% and 13.2% for soybean, respectively. The results reflected that PAHs were more inhibitory during juvenile stage than adult stage and more inhibitory to rice plant than soybean for juvenile stage.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.133-142
• /
• 2008

Five intensive measurements of particulate PAHs were made at a roadside in Seoul from May 2005 to June 2006. The average concentration of particulate PAHs was $15.1{\pm}10.6ng\;m^{-3}$. The high concentrations of particulate fluoranthene and pyrene were observed in November 2005 due to the influence of the lower ambient temperature. Compared to the previous results at tunnel and ambient sites in Seoul, larger fraction of the high molecular PAH compounds which consist with five or six benzene rings, was observed at a roadside. This might indicate high influence of vehicle emission at a roadside. The distribution of diagnostic ratios for specific PAH compounds indicated that the influence of vehicular emission, especially diesel vehicular emission seems to be high at a roadside.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.286-297
• /
• 2020

This research studied human health risk assessment of PAHs (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons) in road dust sediments collected from 6 sites in four different cities in Korea. PAHs are well known to be human carcinogens and toxic compounds that are commonly generated from incomplete combustion of fuels and energy products. Such compounds which is absorbed by atmospheric suspended dust can be emitted into air in gaseous form and often deposited on road dust sediments. The PAHs which is deposited on sediment particles can also be re-dispersed by vehicles or winds on the road surface. It can be harmful for humans when exposed via breathing, ingestion and dermal contact. This study examined human health risk assessment of PAHs in deposited road dust sediments. Results showed that the excess cancer risk estimates were above 1.0×10-6 at main traffic roads and resident area in Ulsan city. According to the result of deterministic risk assessment, dermal-contact was the major pathway, while the contribution of the risk from inhalation was less than 1%. The probabilistic risk assessment showed similar levels of cancer risk derived from the deterministic risk assessment. The result of sensitivity analysis reveal that exposure time is the most contributing factor (69%). Since the values of carcinogenic risk assessment were higher than 1.0 × 10^-6, further detailed monitoring and refined risk assessment for PAHs may be required to identify more reliable and potential cancer risks for those who live in the study locations in Ulsan city.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.273-279
• /
• 2005

The degradation of o-chlorophenol(o-CP) in the presence of NaOH and the byproducts formed were investigated in a supercritical water(SCW) destruction process. The conversion of o-CP in the absence of NaOH was less than 20%, however it showed 100% conversion in the presence of NaOH(mole ratio[NaOH]/[o-CP] over than 2) with a residence time of less than 1 second. The formation of PAHs and the phenolic compounds formed were decreased in the presence of NaOH. The results revealed that the formation of byproducts during the destruction of o-CP in SCW was effected by the addition of NaOH. Phenol, cresols, chlorinated phenols, PAHs, p,p'-dihydroxybiphenyl and oxygenated polyaromatic compounds such as 1-indanone, dibenzofuran and dibenzo-p-dioxin were detected in both conditions(presence and absence of NaOH). At the same time, in the presence of NaOH, 2-ethylphenol, o-hydroxyacetophenone, hydroquinone, 4-allylphenol, 3-phenoxyphenol and 4,4'-oxybisphenol were also detected. The observed results suggest that the destruction of o-CP in SCW with NaOH occurs through a number of complicated reaction pathways. Dibenzofuran and dibenzo-p-dioxin were also detected during destruction of o-CP by SCW. The above observation suggests that there may be a common relationship between the thermal incineration process and SCW decomposition process.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.43 no.3
• /
• pp.211-216
• /
• 2010

On 7 December 2007, about 12,547 kL of crude oil spilled from the Hong Kong registered tanker Hebei Spirit along the west coast of the Republic of Korea, including Taean-gun, Chungcheongnamdo Province. This study evaluated the safety of seafood collected from the coastal area polluted by the crude oil. The range of total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (${\sum}PAHs$) at 22 stations was 3.9-37.1 ng/g. The concentration of ${\sum}PAHs$ was higher in oysters, Crassoatrea gias, than that in short-necked clams, Ruditapes philippinarum. Benzo(a)pyrene, a highly toxic PAH, ranged from 0.07-1.47 ng/g, which did not exceed the European Union regulatory limit for benzo(a)pyrene. The toxicity equivalent of benzo(a)pyrene in oysters and short-necked clams was 0.49-1.70 and 0.09-1.01 ng/g, respectively. The estimated life time cancer risk was very low, i.e., $1.31{\times}10^{-8}$ for the oysters and $6.9{\times}10^{-9}$ for the short-necked clams. The body burden of PAHs in bivalves originated mostly from petroleum contamination, but the levels was not sufficiently high to harm human health.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.37 no.6
• /
• pp.866-872
• /
• 2005

Cocentrations of PAHs [benzo(a)anthracene, chrysene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, benzo(a)pyrene, dibenzo(a,h)anthracene, benzo(g,h.i)perylene, indeno(1,2,3-c,d)pyrene] in fish (n=120), shellfish(n=50) and their products (n=35) were estimated by saponification and extraction with n-hexane, clean-up on Sep-Pak Florisil Cartridges and HPLC/FLD. Overall recoveries for eight PAHs spiked into samples ranged from 90 to 106%. Mean level of benzo(a)anthracene, chrysene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, benzo(a)pyrene, dibenzo(a,h)anthracene, benzo(g,h,i)perylene and indeno(1,2,3-c,d)pyrene were not detected, 0.01, 0.04, 0.07, 0.05, 0.004, 0.0008 and 0.06ng/g, respectively, similar to those reported by other countries.

• Journal of Environmental Analysis, Health and Toxicology
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.252-263
• /
• 2018

Distributions of 15 PAHs and 82 PCBs were investigated in sediment and fish samples collected from the Suyoung Estuary of Busan, one of the most urbanized and newly contaminated areas in Busan. The concentrations of $S_{15}PAH$ in sediments ranged from 17.9 to 777 ng/g-dry and were mainly originated from combustion processes. The concentrations of $S_{82}PCB$ in sediments ranged from 0.55 to 12.5 ng/g-dry and were significantly correlated with those of 12 dioxin-like PCBs and 6 non-dioxin like PCBs. Higher concentrations of PAHs and PCBs were found in the upper river and the inner Suyoung Bay than in marina and the outer Suyoung Bay. No sites exceeded the ecotoxicological values of PAHs and PCBs in marine sediments. Benzo[a]-pyrene was not detected in fish samples and the concentrations of $S_4PAH$ (0.15~0.45 ng/g-wet) were lower than the maximum level set by EU. The levels of PCBs in fish samples were at less than 1% of the Korean maximum level and 2% of the EU maximum level. The concentrations of dioxin-like PCBs were $0.01{\sim}0.32pg-TEQ_{WHO-2005}/g-wet$, and the highest concentration was found in eels, which were at less than 5% of the EU maximum level. Dietary intakes of PAHs and PCBs through fish consumption were estimated, and their lifetime cancer risk and non-cancer risk were much lower.

• Analytical Science and Technology
• /
• v.19 no.5
• /
• pp.415-421
• /
• 2006

The following concentrations of some PAHs were investigated; [benzo(a)anthracene, chrysene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, benzo(a)pyrene, dibenzo(a,h)anthracene, benzo(g,h,i)perylene, indeno (1,2,3-c,d)pyrene] in vegetables(n=160) and fruits(n=50). The food samples were purchased at the local markets in Seoul, Chuncheon, Daejeon, Kwangju and Pusan. The samples were radish, onion, bean sprouts, welsh onion, chinese cabbage, spinach, young pumpkin, garlic, cucumber, carrot, lettuce, sesame leaf, tangerine, persimmon, apple, pear and banana. The methodology involved ultrasonic extraction with dichloromethane, clean-up on Sep-Pak florisil cartridges and determination by HPLC/FLD (High Performance Liquid Chromatography/Fluorescence Detector). Overall method recoveries for 8 PAHs spiked into these products ranged from 95 to 102%. The mean level of the following PAHs were determined; benzo(a)anthracene, chrysene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, benzo(a)pyrene, dibenzo(a,h)anthracene, benzo(g,h,i)perylene and indeno(1,2,3-c,d)pyrene in vegetables and fruits was N.D., 0.014 ng/g, 0.031 ng/g, 0.016 ng/g, 0.019 ng/g, 0.091 ng/g, 0.016 ng/g and N.D., respectively.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Developmental Biology Conference
• /
• 2001.02a
• /
• pp.14-18
• /
• 2001

현대의 우리들의 생활환경 중에는 약 10만 종류 이상의 아주 많은 화학물질이 존재하고 있으며 매년 약 1000종류의 새로운 화합물이 상품화되고 있다고 알려져 있다. 이들 중 일부는 우리의 일상생활에 편리한 기능을 가져다 주는 역할을 하고 있으나 최근 생태계 및 인체에 유해한 영향을 미치는 물질로 판명되는 사례가 증가하고 있다. 그들 중에는, 성호르몬과 유사한 구조를 가지기 때문에 호르몬 수용체에 잘못 결합하여 호르몬 활성을 異常히 높이는 등의 영향을 미치는 것이 알려져 있으며, 또, 약물대사 효소의 유도나 효소활성의 저해 등에 의한 물질대사의 교란, 면역계통의 저해, 발암작용 등의 영향에도 미치는 것이 알려져 있다. 이러한 일군의 물질은 내분비계 장애물질(Endocrine disruptors; 환경 호르몬)로 불리며, 최근의 여성에 있어서 유방암의 발생율의 상승이나 남성의 정자수의 감소, 혹은 어떤 종의 야생 생물에 있어서 생식기능 장해(악어 수컷 생식기의 퇴화, 수컷 잉어등의 암컷화, 일부 권패류의 임포섹스 등)는 이러한 내분비계 장애물질에 의하여 유발되고 있다고 하는 가능성이 지적되고 있다. 그렇지만, 이러한 내분비계 장애물질의 환경 중에서의 분포나 다양한 생물에의 영향에 관한 연구는 세계적으로도 아직 부족하고 내분비계 장애물질의 실태나 그 메카니즘 및 그것이 가지는 의미에 대하여는 아직 명확하게 규명되어 있지 않고 있어, 그것에 의한 생체영향의 평가를 총합적으로 검토하기까지에는 이르지 않고 있다. 이러한 물질에 관한 연구는 최근 선진국을 중심으로 활발한 연구가 수행되고 있으나, 우리 나라에 있어서의 연구는 지금까지는 아직 미미한 수준에 머물고 있다. 따라서, 이러한 내분비계 장애물질을 빠른 시기에 발견하여 그것들에 의한 영향을 평가하고, 그 영향을 미연에 방지하는 데에 필요한 대책을 강구하기 위한 많은 연구가 필요 불가결하다. 본고에서는 이러한 환경호르몬 물질 중 본 연구실에서 수행한 내용을 중심으로 유해화학물질 오염 및 대책에 대하여 간단히 발표하고자 한다. 발표내용은, 남해안을 중심으로 조사한 유기주석화합물 오염, 광양만에서의 PAHs(다환방향족탄화수소류) 및 Bisphenol A 오염에 관한 연구결과와 이러한 유해화학물질 오염을 평가하고 관리하는 하나의 유용한 방법으로서 위해성 평가에 대하여 실례를 중심으로 간단히 소개하고자 한다.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.31 no.11
• /
• pp.947-956
• /
• 2009

Residual petroleum hydrocarbons after an oil spill may accumulate in the marine benthic ecosystem due to their high hydrophobicity. A lot of monitoring data are required for the estimation of ecosystem exposure to residual petrochemicals in an ecological risk assessment in the affected region. To save time and cost, the environmental exposure to them in the affected ecosystem can also be assessed using a simple food-web bioaccumulation model. In this study, we evaluated residual concentrations of four selected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (phenanthrene, anthracene, pyrene, and benzo[a]pyrene) in a hypothetic benthic ecosystem composed of six species under two exposure scenarios. Body-residue concentration ranged 5~250 mg/kg body depending on trophic positions in an extreme scenario in which the aqueous concentrations of PAHs were assumed to be one-tenth of their aqueous solubility. In addition, bioconcentration factors (BCFs) and bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) were evaluated for model species. The logarithm of bioconcentration factor (log BCF) linearly increased with increasing the logarithm of 1-octanol-water partition coefficient (log $K_{OW}$) until log $K_{OW}$ of 7.0, followed by a gradual decrease with further increase in log $K_{OW}$ without metabolic degradation. Biomagnification became significant when log $K_{OW}$ of a pollutant exceeded 5.0 in the model ecosystem, indicating that investigation of food-web structure should be critical to predict biomagnifications in the affected ecosystem because log $K_{OW}$ values of many petrochemicals are higher than 5.0. Although further research is required for better site-specific evaluation of exposure, the model simulation can be used to estimate the level of the ecosystem exposure to residual oil contaminants at the screening level.