• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.261-270
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• 2009

To make measurable regulatory decisions of chemicals, it is necessary to consider their effect on the human health and ecosystem. In principle, this is based on relevant toxicity studies conducted by accepted guidelines. However, current regulatory programs in various countries confront challenges related to risk assessment of large numbers of chemicals within the restricted resources and time. Therefore there is a need for more efficient approach to limit the number of tests to be conducted. This promotes the development of powerful nontesting methods (e.g. (Q)SARs) and permits to use the predicted data for regulatory purpose. In this article, current status of non-testing methods in various chemical regulatory programs was reviewed in terms of their application and research activity on them. Finally, their usefulness associated with development of domestic regulatory program was suggested.

• 한국대기환경학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국대기환경학회 2006년도 춘계학술대회 논문집
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• pp.463-464
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• 2006

• Toxicological Research
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• 제29권1호
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• pp.69-79
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to investigate the current status of metal pollution in the sediment from rivers, lakes, and streams in active gold mining districts in Ghana. Two hundred and fifty surface sediment samples from 99 locations were collected and analyzed for concentrations of As, Hg, Cr, Co, Cu, Fe, Zn, Pb, Cd, Ni, and Mn using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS). Metal concentrations were then used to assess the human health risks to resident children and adults in central tendency exposure (CTE) and reasonable maximum exposure (RME) scenarios. The concentrations of Pb, Cd, and As were almost twice the threshold values established by the Hong Kong Interim Sediment Quality Guidelines (ISQG). Hg, Cu, and Cr concentrations in sediment were 14, 20, and 26 times higher than the Canadian Freshwater Sediment Guidelines for these elements. Also, the concentrations of Pb, Cu, Cr, and Hg were 3, 11, 12, and 16 times more than the Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC) sediment guideline values. The results of the human health risk assessment indicate that for ingestion of sediment under the central tendency exposure (CTE) scenario, the cancer risks for child and adult residents from exposure to As were $4.18{\times}10^{-6}$ and $1.84{\times}10^{-7}$, respectively. This suggests that up to 4 children out of one million equally exposed children would contract cancer if exposed continuously to As over 70 years (the assumed lifetime). The hazard index for child residents following exposure to Cr(VI) in the RME scenario was 4.2. This is greater than the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) threshold of 1, indicating that adverse health effects to children from exposure to Cr(VI) are possible. This study demonstrates the urgent need to control industrial emissions and the severe heavy metal pollution in gold mining environments.

• 청정기술
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• 제13권3호
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• pp.161-172
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• 2007

청정기술의 발전을 위하여 나노기술이 융합된 새로운 기술의 도입이 필요하다. 최근 개발된 나노입자, 나노튜브 등은 이미 많은 소비재의 원료로 사용되고 있으며, 인체 및 환경에 쉽게 노출될 수 있다. 이러한 나노입자는 작은 크기와 넓은 비표면적 특성으로 인해 기존물질에 비하여 반응성이 높고 인체나 환경에 독성을 나타낼 커다란 잠재성을 가지고 있으며, 이미 많은 연구결과에서 이러한 나노물질이 인체 및 환경 유해성을 유발하는 원인과 결과에 대하여 보고하고 있다. 본 논고에서는 나노기술 기반 청정기술 발전의 방향을 제시하기 위하여 나노물질의 인체 및 환경 유해성에 관한 위험성평가 방안을 검토하고, 나노물질의 잠재적인 위해성을 살펴보고자 한다.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• 제26권
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• pp.2.1-2.7
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• 2011

Objectives: N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) is classified as a probable human carcinogen by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) and is formed during the chlorination of municipal drinking water. In this study, selected nitrosamines were measured in chlorinated drinking water collected from Chuncheon, Kangwon-do, Republic of Korea, and a risk assessment for NDMA was conducted. Methods: Twelve water samples were collected from 2 treatment plants and 10 household taps. Samples were analyzed for 6 nitrosamines via solid-phase extraction cleanup followed by conversion to dansyl derivatives and high-performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD). Considering the dietary patterns of Korean people and the concentration change of NDMA by boiling, a carcinogenic risk assessment from ingestion exposure was conducted following the US EPA guidelines. Results: NDMA concentrations ranged between 26.1 and 112.0 ng/L. NDMA in water was found to be thermally stable, and thus its concentration at the end of boiling was greater than before thermal treatment owing to the decrease in water volume. The estimated excess lifetime carcinogenic risk exceeded the regulatory baseline risk of $10^{-5}$. Conclusions: This result suggests that more extensive studies need to be conducted on nitrosamine concentration distributions over the country and the source of relatively high nitrosamine concentrations.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.79-86
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• 2001

본 연구는 지하수로부터 방출되는 라돈에 의한 실내오염시 정량적인 인체노출량을 평가하였다. 실내에 존재하는 라돈은 대부분 건물의 지하층에 존재하는 토양층으로부터 발생하는 것으로 알려져 왔다. 그러나, 최근 지하수내에 존재하는 라돈은 물사용으로 인해 실내공기로 휘발하여 실내오염을 야기하고 호흡에 의한 인체위해를 증가시키는 것으로 밝혀졌다. 본 연구는 주택내의 라돈의 이동 및 분포를 정량적으로 평가하기 위해 수학적 모델을 개발하였다. 그리고, 실내에서 예상되는 인체노출패턴과 이런 수학적 모델을 사용하여 성인의 경우, 실내 라돈오염에 의한 호흡노출을 통한 인체축적량을 계산하였다. 이러한 연구의 결과는 지하수로부터의 발생되는 라돈의 실내오염시 인체노출에 의한 위해도 평가시 도움을 주리라고 판단된다.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.285-293
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• 2015

Objectives: This study was conducted in order to ascertain the important factors for SMEs in managing the risks of chemicals and to suggest a government role in strengthening the responsibility of small and medium enterprises(SMEs) as employers. Methods: About 100 enterprises were surveyed in Incheon. A questionnaire for employers and walk-through surveys by occupational hygienists were performed at each enterprise. Results: The results showed that most employers thought chemicals were not hazardous but chemical management was needed. When employers determine how to manage chemicals, they rely heavily on personal experience and rather less on information from the government or experts. However, if employers think the chemicals are hazardous, they do more to manage the chemicals. Conclusions: When employers think chemicals are hazardous, risk assessment would be an effective tool to control chemical hazards in SMEs. Employers' position on chemical hazards is very important. Since the government is the initiator, it is the government who develops messages for SMEs, such as "Chemicals are hazardous and management can reduce the risk of chemicals." Governmental messages can play an invaluable role in strengthening the responsibility of SME employers to manage chemical hazards.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• 제45권4호
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• pp.237-254
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• 2021

Background: Some of the introduced alien species introduced settle, multiply, and spread to become invasive alien species (IAS) that threaten biodiversity. To prevent this, Korea and other countries legally designate and manage alien species that pose a risk to the environment. Moreover, 2160 alien species have been introduced in South Korea, of which 1826 animals and 334 plants are designated. The inflow of IAS can have negative effects such as ecosystem disturbance, habitat destruction, economic damage, and health damage to humans. To prevent damage caused by the inflow of IAS in advance, species that could potentially pose a risk to the environment if introduced in South Korea were designated as alert alien species (AAS). Results: The designation criteria were in accordance with the "Act on the Conservation and Use of Biological Diversity" and the "Regulations on the Ecological Risk Assessment of AAS and IAS" by the National Institute of Ecology. The analysis result of risk and damage cases indicated that mammals affect predation, competition, human economic activity, virus infection, and parasite infection. Birds have been demonstrated to affect predation, competition, human economic activity, and health. It was indicated that plants intrude on the ecosystem by competing with native species with their high-population density and capacity to multiply and cause allergic inducement. Interestingly, 300 species, including 25 mammals, 7 birds, 84 fishes, 28 amphibians, 22 reptiles, 1 insect, 32 spiders, 1 mollusk, 1 arthropod, and 99 plants, are included in the list of AAS. Conclusions: AAS designation plays a role in preventing the reduction of biodiversity by IAS in South Korea and preserving native species. Moreover, it is determined to provide considerable economic benefits by preventing socio-economic losses and ecological damage.

• 한국환경농학회지
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• 제33권2호
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• pp.111-120
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• 2014

인천시내에 유통되는 오렌지, 키위 등 215건의 과일에 대하여 분석대상 농약 259종에 대한 잔류농약 모니터링을 실시하였다. 전체 수거 과일의 56.3%에서 기준이내 농약이 검출되었으며, 이중 수입과일은 60.8%, 국내산 과일은 45.1%의 검출률을 나타내었으나 농약잔류허용기준을 초과한 품목은 없었다. 그 중 감귤류의 농약 검출률은 83.9%로 상당히 높은 수준으로 나타났다. 농약성분별 검출빈도는 carbendazim(13.1%), imazalil(11.7%), thiabendazole(10.7%), fludioxonil(9.8%) 순으로, 검출된 농약의 위해성 평가결과 해당 농산물섭취에 따른 인체 유입 농약의 일일섭취추정량 ADI%는 0.00011~0.98795% 수준으로 위해성은 낮은 것으로 추정된다. 또한, 감귤류와 같은 과피를 제거 하고 섭취하는 과일은 과피 제거로 91.6%의 잔류농약 경감 효과를 나타내었으며, 세척 후 섭취하는 형태인 포도나 체리 등은 수돗물 침지 후 세척법에 의해서 평균 43.1%의 잔류농약 감소를 보여, 과일섭취에 따른 위해성 역시 상당부분 감소할 것으로 보인다.

• 환경영향평가
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.152-168
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• 2019

비소는 암 등의 질병 치료 및 생활용품 등의 원료로 사용되는 등 산업 활동 전반에 걸쳐 다양한 용도로 사용되어 온 원소이다. 그러나 토양 매립 폐기물 처리, 금속 제조 및 화석 연료의 사용 등으로 인해 환경 생태계를 오염시킬 수 있다. 특히 비소는 토양 및 미생물에 의한 자연적 요인과 산업활동과 같은 인위적 요인으로 발생 할 수 있어 환경매체 중에 광범위하게 존재하기 때문에 다른 원소에 비해 인체에 노출될 가능성이 크다. 따라서 본 연구는 기존의 단순농도 평가 및 단일 매체 중심의 오염원 관리의 단점을 극복하기 위해 다경로(흡입, 경구, 접촉 등)/다매체(대기, 수질, 토양 등) 거동 특성을 반영하여 인체 위해성 평가를 수행하였다. 결과적으로 노출경로별 비소가 인체에 가장 많이 노출되는 경로는 경구에 의한 기여도로 57~96 %를 차지했다. 상대적으로 다른 연령군에 비해 영유아에서 높은 노출량을 보였다. 이는 성인에 비해 체중이 적고 체표면적이 커서 유해물질에 더 많이 노출 될 수 있기 때문이다. 기존 연구에서 보고된 바와 같이, 비소는 경구 경로 중 먹는물의 기여도가 대부분의 연령층에서 주요 노출 경로를 보였다. 최종적으로 노출량 평가 결과에 근거하여 발암위해도 및 비발암위해도를 산정하였다. 산정결과 CTE 및 RME에 대한 발암위해도는 2.3E-05~6.7E-05의 범위로 모든 연령 군의 전체 시나리오에서 발암확률 1.0E-04을 초과하지 않았으므로, 발암위해를 무시할만한 수준으로 판단된다. 반면 RME에 대한 발암위해도는 6.4E-05~1.8E-04의 범위로써 영유아 및 미취학아동 군에서 1.3E-04~1.8E-04의 범위로 초과발암확률 1.0E-04을 초과하였다. CTE 및 RME에 대한 비발암위해도 결과는 위해지수가 각각 5.4E-02~1.9E-01, 1.5E-01~6.8E-01의 범위로 모든 연령 군의 전체 시나리오에서 위해지수 1을 초과하지 않았으므로, 비발암 위해성은 낮은 것으로 판단된다.