Econ. Environ. Geol. 2005; 38(5): 535-545
Published online October 31, 2005
© THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY
Risk Assessment of Arsenic by Human Exposure of Contaminated Soil, Groundwater and Rice Grain
Correspondence to : Jin-Soo Lee
Abstract
Environmental survey from some abandoned metal mine areas was undertaken on to assess the risk of adverse health effects on human exposure to arsenic influenced by past Au-Ag mining activities. Elevated levels of As were found in tailings from the studied mine areas. This high concentration may have a impact on soils and waters around the tailing piles. In order to perform the human risk assessment, chemical analysis data of soils, rice grains and waters for As have been used. The HQ values for As via the rice grain and groundwater consumption were significantly higher compared with other exposure pathways in all metal mine areas. However, there were minimal
soil and water dermal contact risks. The resulting HI values of As from the Dongil, Okdong and Hwacheon mine areas were higher than 5.0, and their toxic risk due to drinking water and rice grain was strong in these mine areas. The cancer risk of being exposed to As by the rice grain route from the Dongil, Okdong and Hwacheon mine areas was 5.2×10-4, 6.0×10-4 and 8.1×10-4, respectively. The As cancer risk via the exposure pathway of drinking water from these mine areas exceeded the acceptable risk of 1 in 10,000 for regulatory purposes. Thus, the daily intakes of groundwater and rice grain by the local residents from the Dongil, Okdong and Hwacheon mine areas can pose a potential health threat if exposed by long-term arsenic exposure.
Keywords Arsenic (As), Exposure pathway, Toxic risk, Cancer risk, Human risk assessment
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Econ. Environ. Geol. 2005; 38(5): 535-545
Published online October 31, 2005
Copyright © THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY.
Risk Assessment of Arsenic by Human Exposure of Contaminated Soil, Groundwater and Rice Grain
Jin-Soo Lee* and Hyo-Taek Chon
School of Civil, Urban and Geosystem Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-744, Korea
Correspondence to:
Jin-Soo Lee
Abstract
Environmental survey from some abandoned metal mine areas was undertaken on to assess the risk of adverse health effects on human exposure to arsenic influenced by past Au-Ag mining activities. Elevated levels of As were found in tailings from the studied mine areas. This high concentration may have a impact on soils and waters around the tailing piles. In order to perform the human risk assessment, chemical analysis data of soils, rice grains and waters for As have been used. The HQ values for As via the rice grain and groundwater consumption were significantly higher compared with other exposure pathways in all metal mine areas. However, there were minimal
soil and water dermal contact risks. The resulting HI values of As from the Dongil, Okdong and Hwacheon mine areas were higher than 5.0, and their toxic risk due to drinking water and rice grain was strong in these mine areas. The cancer risk of being exposed to As by the rice grain route from the Dongil, Okdong and Hwacheon mine areas was 5.2×10-4, 6.0×10-4 and 8.1×10-4, respectively. The As cancer risk via the exposure pathway of drinking water from these mine areas exceeded the acceptable risk of 1 in 10,000 for regulatory purposes. Thus, the daily intakes of groundwater and rice grain by the local residents from the Dongil, Okdong and Hwacheon mine areas can pose a potential health threat if exposed by long-term arsenic exposure.
Keywords Arsenic (As), Exposure pathway, Toxic risk, Cancer risk, Human risk assessment
