Journal of Environmental Health Sciences (한국환경보건학회지)

Korean Society of Environmental Health (한국환경보건학회)
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A Study on the Spatiotemporal Characteristics of Chemical Discharges and Quantified Hazard-Based Result Scores Using Pollutant Release and Transfer Register Data

화학물질배출이동량 자료를 활용한 화학물질배출량 및 유해기반지수 정량화와 시공간 특성 연구

  • Lim, Yu-Ra (Medical Research Center, Seoul National University) ;
  • Gan, Sun-Yeong (Division of Environmental Health, Korea Environment Institute) ;
  • Bae, Hyun-Joo (Division of Environmental Health, Korea Environment Institute)
  • 임유라 (서울대학교 의학연구소) ;
  • 간순영 (한국환경연구원 환경보건연구실) ;
  • 배현주 (한국환경연구원 환경보건연구실)
  • Received : 2022.09.16
  • Accepted : 2022.10.20
  • Published : 2022.10.31
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Abstract

Background: The constant consumption of chemical products owing to expanding industrialization has led to an increase in public interest in chemical substances. As the production and disposal processes for these chemical products cause environmental problems, regional information on the hazard level of chemical substances is required considering their effects on humans and in order to ensure environmental safety. Objectives: This study aimed to identify hazard contribution and spatiotemporal characteristics by region and chemical by calculating a hazard-based result score using pollutant release and transfer register (PRTR) data. Methods: This study calculated the chemical discharge and hazard-based result score from the Risk-Screening Environmental Indicators (RSEI) model, analyzed their spatiotemporal patterns, and identified hotspot areas where chemical discharges and high hazard-based scores were concentrated. The amount of chemical discharge and hazard-based risk scores for 250 cities and counties across South Korea were calculated using PRTR data from 2011 to 2018. Results: The chemical discharge (high densities in Incheon, Daegu, and Busan) and hazard-based result scores (high densities in Incheon, Chungcheongnam-do, and some areas of Gyeongsangnam-do Province) showed varying spatial patterns. The chemical discharge (A, B) and hazard-based result score (C, D) hotspots were identified. Additionally, identification of the hazard-based result scores revealed differences in the type of chemicals contributing to the discharge. Ethylbenzene accounted for ≥80% of the discharged chemicals in the discharge hotspots, while chromium accounted for >90% of the discharged chemicals in the hazard-based result score hotspots. Conclusions: The RSEI hazard-based result score is a quantitative indicator that considers the degree of impact on human health as a toxicity-weighted value. It can be used for the management of industries discharging chemical substances as well as local environmental health management.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

본 논문은 환경부의 재원으로 한국환경산업기술원의 환경보건디지털 조사기반 구축기술개발사업(2021003330002)의 지원을 받아 한국환경연구원이 수행한 "환경보건감시체계 구축 및 예방관리 기술 개발(2022-004(R))" 사업의 연구결과로 작성되었습니다.

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