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Comparisons of human risk assessment models for heavy metal contamination within abandoned metal mine areas in Korea

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Abstract

This study was initiated to develop a model specialized to conduct human risk assessments (HRAs) of abandoned metal mine areas in Korea. The Korean guideline (KG) model used in study was formulated via modification of the original Korean guidelines on HRAs of soil contamination. In addition, the newly developed model was applied to the HRAs of two abandoned metal mines contaminated with arsenic (As) and heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn). The results of the KG model were compared with those of two internationally renowned models [Contaminated land exposure assessment (CLEA) and CSOIL models]. The HRA results of the three models indicated that the areas of concern were unsafe when it came to both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic hazards. Furthermore, the hazards in both areas were mostly attributed to As and the predominant exposure pathways were identified as crop intake in the KG model and surface soil dermal contact in CLEA and CSOIL models. Accordingly, measures to protect against As exposure should be established immediately to prevent adverse health effects on inhabitants in these areas. A comparison of HRA results revealed significant differences between KG, CLEA, and CSOIL models due to the various types of exposure pathways, contaminants, and input data, such as exposure factors and receptor parameters. This study suggests that set-up of an exposure scenario is crucial for the successful performance of HRAs, and the most relevant HRA model should be deliberately selected to attain risk assessment goals.

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Abbreviations

ABSD :

Dermal absorption coefficient

ABSGI :

Gastrointestinal absorption coefficient

ABSinh :

Inhalation absorption coefficient

ADD:

Average daily dose

A exp :

Exposed surface area (m2)

AF:

Soil-skim adsorption coefficient

AID:

Daily intake amount soil (kg/day)

A skin :

Exposed skin area (m2)

AT:

Average time

AV:

Breathing volume (m3/day)

BCF:

Soil-crop bio-concentration factor

BW:

Body weight

Cdw :

Drinking-water concentration (mg/dm3/day)

CF:

Soil to plant concentration factor for each produce group (mg g−1 fw/mg g−1 dw)

CF1 :

Conversion factor 1

CF2 :

Conversion factor 2

CLEA:

Contaminated land exposure assessment

C pr :

Content of the root crop (mg/kgdry)

C ps :

Content of the leafy crop (mg/kgdry)

CR:

Carcinogenic risk

CRf :

Food consumption rate per unit body weight for each produce group (g fw kg−1 bw day−1)

CRp :

Intake rate of crop (kg/day)

CRs :

Intake ration of soil (mg/day)

CRw :

Intake rate of groundwater (mg/L)

C s :

Exposure concentration of surface soil (mg/kg)

C sw :

Exposure concentration of surface water (mg/L)

C w :

Exposure concentration of groundwater (mg/L)

DAE:

Degree of coverage (mg/cm2)

DERFA:

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, UK

EA:

Environment Agency, UK

ECR:

Excessive cancer risk

ED:

Exposure duration

EF:

Exposure frequency

Fa:

Absorption factor

fm:

Matrix factor

Fr:

Retention of soil particles

frs:

Fraction of soil in suspended particles in air

fv:

Fraction contaminated food

HF:

Homegrown fraction for each produce group

HI:

Hazard index

HQ:

Hazard quotient

HRA:

Human risk assessment

IRIS:

Integrated risk information system

KG:

Korean guideline

KMOE:

Korean Ministry of Environment

n :

Number of daily soil contact events (day−1)

NCR:

Non-carcinogenic risk

PEF:

Particulate emission factor (m3/kg)

Qdw :

Daily drinking-water intake (m3/day)

Q fvb :

Daily consumption of leafy crops (kgdry/day)

Q fvk :

Daily consumption of root crops (kgdry/day)

RfC:

Inhalation reference dose (mg/m3)

RfDabs :

Dermal reference dose (mg/kg-day)

RfDo :

Oral reference dose (mg/kg-day)

SAe :

Surface area of soil

SECA:

Soil Environment Conservation Act, Korea

SFabs :

Dermal slope factor [(mg/kg-day)−1]

SFo :

Oral slope factor [(mg/kg-day)−1]

S ing :

Direct soil and dust ingestion rate (g/day)

t :

Duration of exposure (h)

TCR:

Total excessive cancer risk

tf:

Time fraction exposure

Thw :

Water-skin adsorption thickness

T site :

Outdoor site occupancy period (h/day)

TSP:

Amount of suspended particles in air(mg/m3)

URFinh :

Inhalation unit risk {(μg/m3)−1}

V inh :

Daily inhalation rate (m3/day)

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation (NRF) of Korea funded by the Korean Ministry of Education (Grant Number 2015R1D1A1A01057566).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology and Research Institute of Natural Science (RINS), Gyeongsang National University, **ju, 52828, Republic of Korea

    Sang-Woo Lee, Hyen Goo Cho & Soon-Oh Kim

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  1. Sang-Woo Lee
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Correspondence to Soon-Oh Kim.

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Lee, SW., Cho, H.G. & Kim, SO. Comparisons of human risk assessment models for heavy metal contamination within abandoned metal mine areas in Korea. Environ Geochem Health 41, 481–505 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-018-0108-x

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