• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.39 no.6
• /
• pp.751-758
• /
• 2019

This study tested various assumptions that simplified the configuration of the numerical model for unsaturated zone's contaminant transport to simulate the pathway to exposed point. This study investigated the contaminant migration through in the pollutant exposure pathway of vadoze zone for risk assessment of the contaminated site. For the purpose, generic scenarios as well as contaminant-based scenarios were simulated using the numerical code for transport of the contaminant in the pathway. The finite-difference one-dimensional transport with adsorption and biodegradation were considered, and it also assumed that the initial concentration was also depleted over time. The results of the generic-scenario show that as the groundwater infiltration rate decreases, the longer the path from the source to the groundwater level, the lower the concentration at the point of inflow into the groundwater level. In particular, in the case of high biodegradation rate and rapid depletion of pollutant sources, statistically outliers were found in the simulated results and generic scenarios was good at prediction.

• Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.73-78
• /
• 2008

For a given soil-contaminated site, a level of soil contamination is characterized and decisions on risk may be made from the risk assessment. The study evaluated critical design factors for the determination of sample size in the sampling design plan and the assessment of soil contaminant- leaching to groundwater. Two variables, the minimum relative detectable difference (T) and coefficient of variation (CV) were evaluated for the sample size determination. The minimum number of samples can be appropriately determined by CV under a T value greater than or equal to 0.2. Soil-contaminant leaching to groundwater was evaluated by using the Soil Screening Level equation of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Risk Based Screening Level equation of American Society for Testing and Materials, with the same input parameters. The groundwater concentrations estimated from soil contaminant concentrations were significantly affected by the Darcy velocity of groundwater and the organic content of soil.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
• /
• 2002.04a
• /
• pp.254-257
• /
• 2002

The purposes of this research are to identify the source and to analyze the pathway of nitrate contamination in "cultural village", Jeungpyeong. In order to examine recharge processes and flow pattern that closely related to the influent of nitrate contaminant, the flow field was simulated and the oxygen and hydrogen stable isotopes were analyzed. The nitrogen isotope was used to delineate contaminant sources. The shallow groundwater was mainly composed of precipitation, but leakage of domestic water and sewage contributed to the recharge. Nitrate contaminants were possibly from the leakage of sewage and animal waste. The nitrate concentration decreased due to dilution by low concentration water.ion water.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.13-23
• /
• 2019

The purpose of this study is to suggest conceptual models based on finite numerical method that can be used to assess contaminant transport through subsurface and estimate exposed concentration at contaminated site. This study tested various assumptions of the numerical models for contaminant transport in unsaturated and saturated zones to simulate the pathways to the human exposal point. For this purpose, models for seven possible scenarios of contaminant transport were simulated using the numerical code MODFLOW and MT3D. The simulation results that showed different peak concentrations and travel times were compared. In conclusion, the potential utility of the numerical models in the site specific risk analysis suggested as well as future research ramifications.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.203-216
• /
• 1999

This paper describes a set of multi-pathway models for estimating health risk to lead. The models link concentrations of an environmental contaminant (lead) in air, water and food to human exposure through inhalation, ingestion, and dietary routes. Exposure is used as the foundation for predicting risk of health detriment within the population. The process of estimating exposure using often limited data and extrapolating to a large diverse population requires many assumption, inferences, and simplification. This paper is divided into four section. The first section provides lead contaminant levels on obtaining environmental concentration of air, tap water, and foods. The second section provides a discussion of exposure parameters and uncertainty associated predicting human health risk of contaminants. The third and fourth section illustrate lifetime average daily exposure (LADE) and excess cancer risk (ECR) based on exposure parameters. The relationship between concentration of lead in an environmental medium and human exposure is determined with pathway exposure factors (PEFs). The calculation of LADE and ECR is carried out using Monte-Carlo simulation with probability density function of exposure parameters. Examination of the result reveals that, for lead exposure, ingestion (food) is the dominant route of exposure rather than inhalation (air), and ingestion (tap eater).

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.32 no.4B
• /
• pp.261-266
• /
• 2012

In this study, soil environmental impact assessment using risk-based approach was compared with that using concentration-based approach. For this, heavy metal contaminant exposure was characterized in an abandoned mine area. According to the estimated carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks, soil ingestion was identified as the most dominant exposure pathway. When contaminant concentrations exceeded the Korean Soil Contamination Warning Standards, their corresponding risk values also exceeded the Total Soil Risk Standard. Even the cases of satisfying the Korean Soil Contamination Warning Standards mostly showed higher risk levels than the Total Soil Risk Standard, re-confirming a more sensitivity of the risk-based assessment than concentration-based assessment. However, the in-depth analysis of the estimated non-carcinogenic risk values revealed a few cases for soil contact pathway showing contaminant concentrations higher than the Korean Soil Contamination Warning Standards although their non-carcinogenic risk values satisfied the level of Hazard Index Standard. The findings from this study support a necessity of shifting policy paradigm from concentration-based approach into risk-based approach for reliable risk assessment in abandoned mine areas, and also suggest a necessity of further fundamental studies regarding risk factors and standards.

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
• /
• 2005.06a
• /
• pp.303-305
• /
• 2005

3-Monochloro-1,2-propanediol (3-MCPD) is a contaminant of acid-hydrolyzed vegetable protein. Several reports have suggested that chronic exposure to 3-MCPD could produce neurotoxicity in vitro or neurobehavioral effects inaspects of experimental animals. Disturbance of the nitric oxide signaling pathway by chronic exposure to 3-MCPD may be a causal factor of neurological disorders in rats. In order to investigate the relationship between 3-MCPD administration and expression of inducibal nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), the numbers and distribution patterns of iNOS-immunoreactive neurons were examined. At the all three bregma level examined, the optical density of iNOS-postive neurons was significantly increased following exposure to 3-MCPD. The change was more severe in the upper layer than in deep layer of the cortex. These data suggest that 3-MCPD toxicity may be mediated through disturbances to the nitric oxide signaling pathway.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.51-65
• /
• 2015

Indoor inhalation of vapors intruded into buildings is an important exposure pathway in volatile organic compoundscontaminated sites. Site-specifically measured indoor air concentration is preferentially used for risk assessment. However, when indoor air concentration of VOC is not measured, the indoor air concentration needs to be estimated from soil concentration or measured soil gas concentration of the VOC. Some risk assessment guidance (e.g., Korea Ministry of Environment (KMOE) and American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) International guidance) estimate the indoor air concentration from soil concentration while other guidances (e.g., United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and Dutch National Institute for Public Health (RIVM)) estimate it from measured soil gas concentration. This study derived indoor inhalation risks of intruded benzene in two benzene-contaminated residential areas with four different risk assessment guidances (i.e., KMOE, USEPA, ASTM, and Dutch RIVM) and compared the derived risks. The risk assessment results revealed that indoor air estimation approach from soil concentration could either underestimate (when the contaminant is not detected in soil) or overestimate (when the contaminant is detected in soil even at negligible concentration) the indoor air inhalation risk. Hence, this paper recommends to estimate indoor air concentration from soil gas concentration, rather than soil concentration. Discussions about the various indoor air concentration estimation approaches are provided.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.239-244
• /
• 2014

BACKGROUND: Heavy metals contamination of soils in the vicinity of abandoned mines in South Korea has been investigated. However, PAHs contamination rarely has been studied. Both heavy metals and PAHs concentrations have been measured in this study. METHODS AND RESULTS: The samples of soil and sediment were collected from the vicinities of three abandoned coal mines and two abandoned metal mines for analysis of heavy metals contaminants and PAHs concentration from April to September 2012. After preparation of these samples following the Korean standard test method for soils, the concentrations of heavy metals contaminants and PAHs were measured using ICP-OES and GC-MS, respectively. It was observed that the concentration of Arsenic was above the concern level based on 'area 1' suggested by Korean soil conservation law, resulting that Arsenic is the main contaminant in these areas. Also Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn were observed as a partial contaminants. The concentrations of other investigated components including benzo(a)pyrene were less than the concern level. CONCLUSION: The correlation observed between Arsenic (as main contaminant) and PAHs concentrations suggested that the contaminant source and pathway are different for each other. The effect of mine activity on PAHs concentration was rarely observed.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
• /
• 2004.09a
• /
• pp.307-311
• /
• 2004

The unsaturated zone is a significant pathway of the surface contaminant movement and is a highly heterogeneous medium. Therefore, there are limitations in applying conventional convection-dispersion equation(CDE). Artificial neural network(ANN) is considered to be a versatile tool for approximating complex functions. For evaluating the applicability of ANN, numerical tests using ANN were conducted with training set generated by HYDRUS-2D which is based on CDE. The results represent that ANN can estimate the solute transport and the choice of network parameters and generation of training set patterns are important for efficient estimation.