• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.8 no.4
• /
• pp.247-256
• /
• 1992

Airborne suspended particulates were collected at Shinchon by a high volume cascade impactor from Sep. 1990 to Aug. 1991. Organic matter was extracted from particulates and fractionated by liquid-liquid extraction and thin layer chromatography. Substances in the PAHs and nitroarenes'subfraction of neutral fraction were determined by capillary gas chromatography. Based on unit risk estimates by multi-stage model of benzo[a]pyrene and the results of exposure estimates, cancer risk was assessed. The annual average concentration of total suspended particulates was 201.77g/$m^3$. The percentage of fine particulates was 57.40. The concentration of total suspended particulates showed seasonal variations and was high in winter and spring. The average concentration of extractable organic matter was 8.12g/$m^3$. In all, 21 PAHs were identified and quantified. The annual concentration of fluoranthene was 2.38ng/$m^3$, and that was the highest value of all PAHs. A carcinogenic compound, benzo[a]pyrene, was at a concentration of 1.84ng/$m^3$. All the 10 nitroarenes were also identified and quantified. The major nitroarene in the Shinchon area was 2,7-dinitrofluorene. The annual concentration of 1-nitropyrene was 1.56ng/$m^3$. Concentrations of PAHs and nitroarenes were high in winter and low in summer. The life time excess risk estimates of benzo[a]pyrene was calculated as 0.96 persons/a million population in this experiment. In the rank of relative potenties, carcinogenic effects of the other PAHs were calculated as 0.004-0.108 persons/a million population.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.32-41
• /
• 2011

By using a newly developed Korean risk-based corrective action (K-RBCA) software (K-RBCA) and the RBCA Tool Kit, risk assessment was performed on a site that was contaminated with aromatic hydrocarbons and heavy metals. Eight chemicals including benzene, ethylbenzene, xylenes, naphthalene, benz(a) anthracene, benzo(b) fluoranthene, benzo(a) pyrene, and arsenic that exceeded the US EPA Soil Screening Level were chosen as the target pollutants. A conceptual site model was constructed based on the site-specific effective exposure pathways. According to the RBCA Tool Kit the carcinogenic risk of arsenic was larger than $10^{-6}$, which is the generally acceptable carcinogenic risk level. The K-RBCA estimated the same level of carcinogenic risk for arsenic. With the RBCA Tool Kit, the carcinogenic risk of benzo(a) pyrene was estimated to be about $1.3{\times}10^{-6}$. However, with the K-RBCA benzo(a) pyrene did not exhibit any risk. The inconsistency between the softwares was attributed to the different fundamental settings (i.e., medium division) between the two softwares. While the K-RBCA divides medium into surface soil, subsurface soil, and groundwater, the RBCA Tool Kit divides medium into only soil and groundwater. These differences lead to the different exposure pathways used by the two softwares. The K-RBCA considers the exposure pathways in surface soil and subsurface soil separately to estimate risk, however, the RBCA Tool Kit considers the surface soil and subsurface soil as one and uses the integrated exposure pathways to estimate risk. Thus the resulting risk is higher when the RBCA Tool Kit is used than when the K-RBCA is used. The results from this study show that there is no significant difference in the risks estimated by the two softwares, thus, it is reasonable to use the K-RBCA we developed in risk assessment of soil and groundwater. In addition, the present study demonstrates that the assessor should be familiar with the characteristics of a contaminated site and the assumptions used by a risk assessment software when carrying out risk assessment.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.12 no.11
• /
• pp.1145-1157
• /
• 2003

The surface sediments inside Hallim Harbor, one of the major harbors of Jeju Island, were sampled three times (June, September and December, 2001) and analyzed for 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), recommended by US-EPA as priority pollutants, to assess their distribution levels and to suggest their possible origins. The concentrations of PAHs ranged from 19 to 496 ng/g on a dry weight basis with a mean value of 245 ng/g, and the levels were low to moderate in comparison with other areas in the world. Based on comparisons of individual and total PAH concentrations with effects-based and equilibrium partitioning-based on sediment quality guidelines, the potential for the biological effects were expected to be low. The sedimentary PAHs may be correlated with organic carbon and mud contents to some extent. From the examinations of the four PAH origin indices, such as LMW/HMW (low molecular weight 2-3 ring PAHs over high molecular weight 4-6 ring PAHs), phenanthrene/anthracene ratio, fluoranthene/pyrene ratio, chrysene/benzo〔a〕anthracene ratio, it can be concluded that the sediment PAH contaminations were ascribed to both pyrolytic and petrogenic origins.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.22 no.5
• /
• pp.574-589
• /
• 2006

Although concentrations of hazardous air pollutants(HAPs) are very low in the atmosphere, a growing attention has been paid on such compounds due to their high toxicity and bioaccumulation potentials into human body. In order to control and manage the amount of these materials in ambient air, it is necessary to construct monitoring system of them and to know the current concentration level of HAPs above all. In this work, a wide range of HAPs has been measured in metropolitan area to recognize the present state of HAPs in this area. The measured concentration of VOCs was higher in order of Jeonnongdong, Jeongdong, and Yangsuri. The regional difference of VOCs concentration was also highest in spring. Its total VOCs was ranged from $15.17{\sim}41.45$ ppb. Benzene $0.43{\sim}2.32$ ppb showed similar concentration level with the result of previous researches in Seoul. This value is a little higher than the average concentration 0.92 ppb for national ambient air quality standards in Japan. The concentration of aldehydes in this study was lower than those of other researches. Previous works in Seoul metropolitan area showed that the concentration of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde were higher than 5 ppb. The concentration of gaseous and particulate PAHs was high in order of winter, spring, and summer More than 90% of PAHs with low molecular weight such as 2-rings and 3-rings PAHs existed in gas phase. On the other hands, PAHs with high molecular weight more than 5-rings PAHs almost existed in particulate. In spring, the concentration of gaseous PAHs was 24.38 $ng/m^3$ in Jeongdong. Among the particulate PAHs, the concentrations of Naphthalene, Benzo(b)fluoranthene, and Benzo(g, h, i)perylene were higher than others. Especially, the concentration of Benzo(a)pyrene, a important carcinogenic pollutant, was highest in winter 0.5 $ng/m^3$ and ranged from 0.03 to 0.3 $ng/m^3$ in spring and summer, which is lower than the monitoring result in 90's. These components were mainly originated from the vehicle exhaust or heating equipment use.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.1-10
• /
• 1990

Total suspended particulate (TSP) in the atmosphere was collected and size-fractionated by Andersen high volume air sampler for the past two years (Mar. 1987-Feb. 1989) in Seoul. The concentrations of several polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heavy metals were determined to investigate the atmospheric concentrations, seasonal variations and its relationship with the size distribution of suspended particulate matter. The arithmetic mean concentration of total suspended particulate was $229.48\;{\mu}g/m^3$. The concentrations of heavy metals were $2971.94\;ng/m^3$ for Fe, $767.75\;ng/m^3$ for Zn, $765.80\;ng/m^3$ for Pb, $218.40\;ng/m^3$ for Cu, $129.91\;ng/m^3$ for Mn, respectively. And the concentration of PAHs were $3.23\;ng/m^3$ for benzo(a)pyrene, $2.71\;ng/m^3$ for benzo(k)fluoranthene, $4.53\;ng/m^3$ for benzo(ghi)perylene, respectively. The mass-size distribution of TSP was lowest in the particle size range $1.1-3.3\;{\mu}m$ increased as the particle size increased or decreased. But PAHs, Pb and Zn abounded in particles below $2.0\;{\mu}m$, while Fe and Mn abouned in particles above $2.0\;{\mu}m$. TSP and its chemical compositions showed the seasonal variations. The concentrations of anthrophogenic origin like TSP, PAH and heavy metals in the fine particles were highest in winter and lowest in summer. PAH and Ph analyzed showed significant correlations with each other and with TSP concentration in fine particles, indicating that the particles in which they are contained have a similar behavior in the atmosphere.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.57-65
• /
• 2005

Effects of five polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) constituents (naphthalene, fluorine, fluoranthene, benzo(a)pyrene, pyrene) on fertilization and early development of sea urchin egg, sperm and fertilized egg were investigated. The eggs, sperm and fertilized eggs were exposed to several concentrations of PAHs (1, 10, 100, 1000 and 10000㎍/L). The rate of fertilization and hatching decreased when the eggs and sperm were exposed to aqueous solution of PAHs. Also, Exposure of fertilized eggs with each PAHs did decrease survival and hatching rate. Concentration-dependent toxic effects on the rate of fertilization, hatching, survival and abnormality in A. crassispina were observed following exposure to PAHs (1, 10, 100, 1000 and 10000㎍/L). These data show that PAHs exposure decreased in fertilization success of sea urchin egg and sperm and producted abnormal embryo. It is plausible to suggest that PAHs had the potential to significantly reduce coastal recruitment of sea urchin.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Environmental Toocicology Conference
• /
• 2003.10a
• /
• pp.159-159
• /
• 2003

Comet assay is a potential monitoring tool because DNA strand breakage may be produced by a wide range of agents. The comet assay, also called the single-cell gell electrophoresis (SCGE) assay, is rapid and sensitive method for the detection of DNA damage in cells. This study was performed for the identification of DNA damage in the cells from flounders and clams exposed to PAHs. As a control experiments, flounder and clam cells were exposed to $H_2O$$_2$. The cells exposed to $H_2O$$_2$ were displayed a typical nuclei movement DNA damage of cells were significantly increased when the isolated cells from the blood of flounders and the tissue of clams were in vitro exposed to the different concentrations (5, 10, 50, 100 ppb) of five kinds of PAHs (benzo[a]pyrene, pyrene, fluoranthene, anthrancene, and phenanthrene). For the in vivo test, flounders and clams were exposed to the different concentrations of BaP for 4 days. The results showed that DNA strand breakage was effected by the concentration of BaP and the duration of exposure. In high concentration of BaP, the mean tail lengths of nuclei was longer than it In low concentration, while the mean size of head DNA decreased. In this research, both in vitro and in vivo genotoxicity of PAHs could be biomonitored by the comet assay. Especially, clams and flounders seem to be useful as materials for monitoring genotoxic damage by comet assay.

• Analytical Science and Technology
• /
• v.16 no.5
• /
• pp.339-348
• /
• 2003

Determination of some PAHs in used engine oils have been carried out by extraction of the components into acetonitrile followed by GC/FID and synchronous spectrofluorimetric technique. 7 PAHs, such as acenaphthene (Ace), anthracene (Anth), benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), chrysene (Chry), phenanthrene (Phen), fluoranthene (Ft), and perlyrene (Per) in used engine oil sample were able to determine separately by synchronous spectrofluorimetry. Calibration curves for those components were linear for the concentration range of 0.4~166 ppb PAHs with the corelation factor of 0.9985~0.9999. The peak areas produced by GC/FID split ratio program were used for the calibration curves of the other 8 PAHs. Detection sensitivity of the synchronous spectrofluorimetry seems to be 100 times more sensitive than GC/FID method. The total amount of PAHs in the used engine oil were 5.5 ng/g for LNG (bus), 10.5 ng/g for LPG(taxi), 92.2 ng/g for gasoline-passenger car, and 130 ng/g for diesel trailer, respectively.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.105-119
• /
• 2005

The surface sediments inside Songsanpo and Seogwipo Harbors, major harbors of Jeju Island, were collected three times (June, September and December, 2001) and analyzed for 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) recommended by US-EPA as priority pollutants to assess their distribution levels and their biological effects on the marine organisms, and to suggest their possible origins. The concentrations of total PAHs inside Songsanpo and Seogwipo Harbors ranged from 41 to 288 ng/g on a dry weight basis with a mean value of 121 ng/g and from 14 to 268 ng/g with a mean value of 119 ng/g, respectively, and the levels were low as compared with those in other areas of the world. The sedimentary PAHs may be correlated with organic carbon and mud content to some extent. Based on comparisons of individual and total concentrations with effects-based sediment quality guidelines, the potential for the biological effects on the marine organisms were expected to be very low. From the examinations of the four PAH origin indices, such as LMW /HMW (low molecular weight 2-3 ring PAHs over high molecular weight 4-6 ring PAHs), phenanthrene/anthracene ratio, fluoranthene/pyrene ratio, chrysene/benzo[a]anthracene ratio, it can be concluded that the sediment PAH contaminations were ascribed to both of pyrolytic and petrogenic origins.

• Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.43 no.4
• /
• pp.319-324
• /
• 2005

Estuarine sediments are frequently polluted with hydrocarbons from fuel spills and industrial wastes. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are components of these contaminants that tend to accumulate in the sediment due to their low aqueous solubility, low volatility, and high affinity for particulate matter. The toxic, recalcitrant, mutagenic, and carcinogenic nature of these compounds may require aggressive treatment to remediate polluted sites effectively. In petroleum-contaminated sediments near a petrochemical industry in Gwangyang Bay, Korea, in situ PAH concentrations ranged from 10 to 2,900 ${\mu}g/kg$ dry sediment. To enhance the biodegradation rate of PAHs under anaerobic conditions, sediment samples were amended with biostimulating agents alone or in combination: nitrogen and phosphorus in the form of slow-release fertilizer (SRF), lactate, yeast extract (YE), and Tween 80. When added to the sediment individually, all tested agents enhanced the degradation of PAHs, including naphthalene, acenaphthene, anthracene, fluorene, phenanthrene, fluoranthene, pyrene, chrysene, and benzo [a] pyrene. Moreover, the combination of SRF, Tween 80, and lactate increased the PAH degradation rate 1.2-8.2 times above that of untreated sediment (0.01-10 ${\mu}g$ PAH/ kg dry sediment/day). Our results indicated that in situ contaminant PAHs in anoxic sediment, including high molecular weight PAHs, were degraded biologically and that the addition of stimulators increased the biodegradation potential of the intrinsic microbial populations. Our results will contribute to the development of new strategies for in situ treatment of PAH-contaminated anoxic sediments.