• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.65-72
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• 2004

Environmental risk assessment of cadmium compounds was conducted using national monitoring data of aquatic and terrestrial compartments of local area. Aquatic and terrestrial toxicities of cadmium compounds on algae, daphnid, fish, earthworm, springtails and other species were evaluated. The toxicity data evaluated in this study were mainly from ECOTOX database provided by US EPA. Assessment factors were determined according to the EU technical guidance document and/or OECD proposal. Predicted no effect concentration (PNEC) values of aquatic and terrestrial toxicity were 25$\mu\textrm{g}$/L and 0.2 mg/kg, respectively and they were compared with cadmium exposure data of several local areas, which were used as Predicted exposure concentration(PEC) values. Most of the local area were found to be not risky. However, the risk values (PEC/NEC) of some metropolitan areas were greater than 1 when the most conservative PNEC value was applied.

• 한국환경과학회지
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• 제20권11호
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• pp.1373-1382
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• 2011

This research had been conducted from May to October 2007, studying 110 residents of G, Y, H industrial area in Jun-nam province. It is designed to understand the difference in levels of indoor, outdoor and personal exposure to VOCs(benzene, toluene, Ethylbenzene) and a health risk assessment was conducted to see if there was any fatal cause from carcinogenic or non - carcinogenic elements from a case group and a control group in all areas as well as each different area. In the case of benzene in the air, the geometric levels for the case group are indoor, outdoor and personal exposure; a higher than for the control group. As a results of the Monte - Carlo study about benzene, it shows that the case group's carcinogenicity is higher than that of the control group and it also shows that, on the CTE, RME condition and Monte - Carlo analysis, all subjects are seen to exceed the carcinogenicity tolerance $10^{-6}$ of US EPA. In the case of toluene, ethylbenzene on the CTE, RME condition and Monte - Carlo analysis, these do not exceed the non - carcinogenic standard of 1, but toluene in RME condition for both groups' personal exposure and the indoor and personal exposure of ethylbenzene in Monte - Carlo show that these seem to exceed the standard.

• 보건행정학회지
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• 제30권4호
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• pp.505-512
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• 2020

Background: In monitoring exposure to environmental smoke (ETS), biomarkers can overcome the subjectivity and inaccuracy of self-reporting measurements, and have the advantage of reflecting ETS exposure in all places. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of ETS exposure measurement using biomarkers such as urine cotinine. Methods: This study used the Korea National Health and Nutrition Survey data from 2009 to 2018. A total of 28,574 non-smokers with urine cotinine data were selected for the study. The cotinine concentration and ETS exposure rate using urine cotinine was estimated and then compared with the self-reporting measurements. The degree of agreement among measurements of ETS exposure was confirmed. Results: As a result of measuring ETS exposure with urine cotinine, 23,594 (83.8%) out of 28,574 subjects were classified as to exposure groups. This estimate differs significantly from measurements made by self-reporting. In addition, the average concentration of cotinine in non-smokers has decreased to a 10th level over the past 10 years. Based on the biomarker, the sensitivity of the self-reporting was 8.5%-29.0%, the specificity was 16.4%-19.5%, and the kappa value was 2.0%-5.8%. Conclusion: The findings of our study show that self-reporting measurement does not well reflect the extent to which non-smoker's exposure to smoking materials. Whereas cotinine concentration has decreased significantly over the past 10 years, the ETS exposure rate has not reduced. It strongly suggests the need for intervention in the group of non-smokers exposed to low concentrations of smoke. Therefore, an assessment using biomarkers such as cotinine-based measurement should be made in the Health Plan 2030.

• 대한예방의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한예방의학회 1994년도 교수 연수회(환경)
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• pp.450-468
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• 1994

Scientists have long used conventional toxicological methods to establish 'safe levels of exposure' for chemicals presumed to have threshold health effects or doses below which significant effects are unlikely to occur. These same methods cannot be used to establish safe levels of exposure for non-threshold pollutants. such as carcinogens. Therefore. Federal regulatory agencies in the United States are using risk assessment methods to provide information for public health policy decisions concerning increases in risk associated with increases in exposure to carcinogenic and other non-threshold pollutants. Acceptable exposure/risk levels are decided by policymakers who consider descriptions and estimates of risks together with social and economic benefits from the uses of the chemical. 1bis paper focuses on the development of quantitative risk assessment approaches by Federal regulatory agencies in the United States, and identifies the mathematical models currently being used for risk extrapolation. including their inherent uncertainties. The uncertainties and limitations of these methods have led some scientists to question the utility of quantitative risk extrapolation. The experience of the; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). as summarized in this paper. can provide a realistic basis for evaluating the pros and cons. Finally. shortcomings in current risk assessment methods and their use in policy decisions are explored. and areas for possible improvement. given current scientific knowledge. are identified.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제43권3호
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• pp.194-201
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• 2017

Objectives: Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are widely used in various commercial products, but they are exposed to the environment and can induce toxicity. In this study, we investigated the environmental fate and bioaccumulation of ZnO NPs in a microcosm. Methods: The microcosm was composed of water, soil (Lufa Soil 2.2) and organisms (Oryzias latipes, Neocaridina denticulata, Semisulcospira libertina). Point five and 5 mg/L of ZnO NPs were exposed in the microcosm for 14 days. Total Zn concentrations were measured using an Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS) and intracellular NPs were observed using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Results: In the initial stages of exposure, the Zn concentrations in water increased in all exposure groups and then decreased, while the Zn concentration in soil increased after three hours for the 5 mg/L solution. Zn concentrations also showed increasing trends in N. denticulata and S. libertina at 0.5 and 5 mg/L, and in O. latipes at 5 mg/L. Accumulation of NPs was found in the livers of O. latipes and hepatopancreas of N. denticulata and S. libertina. Conclusions: In the early stages of exposure, ZnO NPs remained in the water, and then were transported to the soil and test species. Unlike other species, total Zn concentrations in N. denticulata and S. libertina increased for both 0.5 mg/L and 5 mg/L. Therefore, ZnO NPs were more easily accumulated in zoobenthos than in fish.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.53-60
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• 2011

Nanotechnology is now applied to many industries, resulting in wide range of nanomaterial-containing products, such as electronic components, cosmetic, medicines, vehicles, and home appliances. Nanoparticles can be released throughout the life cycle of nanoproducts, including the manufacture, consumer use, and disposal, thereby involving workers, consumers, and the environment in potential exposure. However, there is no current consensus on the best sampling method for characterizing manufactured-nanoparticle exposure. Therefore, this report aims to provide a standard method for assessing nanoparticle exposure, including the identification of nanoparticle emission, the assessment of worker exposure, and the evaluation of exposure mitigation actions in nanomaterial-handling workplaces or research institutes.

• 환경영향평가
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• 제19권3호
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• pp.259-270
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• 2010

We conducted human risk assessment for exposure to inhalation of chemical substances emitted from the storage tanks of petroleum refineries. To assess human risk, this study calculated chemical emissions from the external floating roofs on storage tank at petroleum refineries, as well as concentrations thereof in the ambient air using the K-SCREEN model, and then determined risk in accordance with the Reference Concentration (RfC) values and Inhalation Unit Risk criteria developed by the US Environmental Protection Agency. The results indicated that non-carcinogenic chemicals have a hazard quotient of less than 1, meaning they have an insignificant effect on human health for residential areas near the storage tanks. Among the known carcinogens, the hazard risk for benzene slightly exceeded $10^{-6}$, indicating the need for corrective reduction measures. The methodology for health impact assessment devised herein provides findings useful in decision making for policy makers and the general public with respect to construction of industrial complexes. However, the methodology proposed herein does have limitations, including discrepancy in results induced by use of U.S. data (due to the lack of usable domestic data). More systematic studies from related researchers will be needed to address these issues and produce more reliable outcomes.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• 제22권3호
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• pp.235-245
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• 2007

Toxicity of nonlyphenol (NP) one of EDCs was studied with focus on reproduction of the crucian carp, Carassius auratus. Fishes were cultured under control and nonylphnol exposure conditions for 32 weeks. Experimental group was composed of total of 4 groups, 1 control condition and 3 nonylphenol exposure condition ($18\;{\mu}g\;NP\;L^{-1},\;37\;{\mu}g\;NP\;L^{-1}\;and\;83\;{\mu}g\;NP\;L^{-1}$). Survival rate was found to be similar in control and $18\;{\mu};NP\;L^{-1}$. However, it is lower In the $37\;{\mu};NP\;L^{-1}$ and $83\;{\mu};NP\;L^{-1}$ in comparison to the control group. Deformation of gonads was the highest in the exposure condition of $18{\mu};NP\;L^{-1}$ with the female illustrating higher ratio than the male. GSI was not much different in the male but in the female, NP exposure group illustrated lower value compared to the control group. HSI and GI did not illustrate any clear differences between the control and exposure group for both male and female. Intersex was 0% in the wild group, 4.16% in the laboratory control group, and 25.67% in the NP exposure condition with female illustrating higher compared to male. Concentration of blood vitellogenin in female illustrated no clear differences between the control and NP exposure group. However, in the male, it was higher in the NP exposure group in comparison to the control group, and illustrated higher values of vitellogenin compared to the figures found in the female of same con-centration condition.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제45권4호
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• pp.358-369
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• 2019

Objective: This study aimed to introduce cases of exposure to humidifier disinfectant (HD) in hospitals and to present their exposure characteristics. Methods: We used data from 4,393 subjects who participated in the fourth assessment survey of environmental exposure to HD conducted by the Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute. In this study, we selected 301 subjects who reported their place of use of HD as a hospital. Then, we classified cases as 'Hospital-provided'. 'Probably hospital-provided', 'Individual purchased', and 'Unknown' according to the supply sources of HD. Also, we introduced detailed exposure characteristics for the selected cases. Results: Of the 4,393 subjects, 301 (6.9%) reported the use of HD in 392 hospitals (including duplicate answers for the use in ${\geq}2$ hospitals). The 301 hospital-user subjects included 139 survivors and 162 non-survivors. When we classified the 392 cases by supply sources, 'Hospital-provided' was 12.2% (48 cases), 'Probably hospital-provided' was 25.5% (100 cases), 'Individual purchased' was 59.7% (234 cases), and 'Unknown' was 2.6% (10 cases). Among the 'Hospital-provided' cases, we selected six cases and provided a detailed description of the HD use in this study. Additionally, we reported details for six cases that had purchased HD upon a doctor or nurse's recommendation and for three cases that had purchased it at hospital stores. Conclusion: This study presents various cases of HD exposure in hospitals. Because there may be a considerable burden of HD exposure in public spaces, including hospitals, further studies are necessary to assess HD exposure in hospitals and public places.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제43권3호
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• pp.223-232
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• 2017

Objectives: In response to increased interest in the safety of children's products, a risk management system is being prepared through exposure assessment of hazardous chemicals. To estimate exposure levels, risk assessors are using deterministic and probabilistic approaches to statistical methodology and a commercialized Monte Carlo simulation based on tools (MCTool) to efficiently support calculation of the probability density functions. This study was conducted to analyze and discuss the usage patterns and problems associated with the results of these two approaches and MCTools used in the case of probabilistic approaches by reviewing research reports related to exposure assessment for children's products. Methods: We collected six research reports on exposure and risk assessment of children's products and summarized the deterministic results and corresponding underlying distributions for exposure dose and concentration results estimated through deterministic and probabilistic approaches. We focused on mechanisms and differences in the MCTools used for decision making with probabilistic distributions to validate the simulation adequacy in detail. Results: The estimation results of exposure dose and concentration from the deterministic approaches were 0.19-3.98 times higher than the results from the probabilistic approach. For the probabilistic approach, the use of lognormal, Student's T, and Weibull distributions had the highest frequency as underlying distributions of the input parameters. However, we could not examine the reasons for the selection of each distribution because of the absence of test-statistics. In addition, there were some cases estimating the discrete probability distribution model as the underlying distribution for continuous variables, such as weight. To find the cause of abnormal simulations, we applied two MCTools used for all reports and described the improper usage routes of MCTools. Conclusions: For transparent and realistic exposure assessment, it is necessary to 1) establish standardized guidelines for the proper use of the two statistical approaches, including notes by MCTool and 2) consider the development of a new software tool with proper configurations and features specialized for risk assessment. Such guidelines and software will make exposure assessment more user-friendly, consistent, and rapid in the future.