Journal of Environmental Health Sciences (한국환경보건학회지)

Korean Society of Environmental Health (한국환경보건학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Literature Review on Health Effect Surveys of Residents in Environmentally Contaminated Areas in South Korea from 1997 to 2021

한국 환경오염 취약지역 주민 건강영향조사 문헌고찰(1997~2021)

  • Kyung-Hwa Choi (Department of Preventive Medicine, Dankook University College of Medicine) ;
  • Sujung Kim (Department of Preventive Medicine, Dankook University College of Medicine) ;
  • Hyun A Jang (Department of Preventive Medicine, Dankook University College of Medicine) ;
  • Dahee Han (Institute for Environmental Health, SeoKyeong University) ;
  • Ho-Jang Kwon (Department of Preventive Medicine, Dankook University College of Medicine) ;
  • Yong Min Cho (Institute for Environmental Health, SeoKyeong University)
  • 최경화 (단국대학교 의과대학 예방의학교실) ;
  • 김수정 (단국대학교 의과대학 예방의학교실) ;
  • 장현아 (단국대학교 의과대학 예방의학교실) ;
  • 한다희 (서경대학교 환경보건연구소) ;
  • 권호장 (단국대학교 의과대학 예방의학교실) ;
  • 조용민 (서경대학교 환경보건연구소)
  • Received : 2023.05.16
  • Accepted : 2023.06.01
  • Published : 2023.06.30
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

Background: The conducting of health effect surveys (HESs) in environmentally contaminated vulnerable areas (ECVAs) by the central and local governments has been increasing apace with the increase in demand for HESs since the Environmental Health Act was enacted in South Korea in 2008. Objectives: This study aimed to review the HESs of residents in ECVAs conducted in South Korea. Methods: An analysis was performed on 125 reports obtained from the Environment Digital Library, PRISM, and local government websites after selecting from 803 projects obtained as ECVAs from the Korea ON-Line E-Procurement System (1997~2021), National Institute Environment Research (2000~2021), and Korea Environmental Industry and Technology Institute (2009~2021). The reports were classified by background (residents' demand, HES, and more), research design (cross-sectional study, cohort, ecological study, and panel), pollution source (abandoned metal mine (AMM), industrial complex (IC), and more), and assessment method of exposure and health effects. The survey area was converted into administrative district codes for geographical mapping. Results: There were 37, 34, 18, and 10 cases associated with AMM, IC, waste incinerators, and coal-fired power plants, respectively. Most of the studies conducted were cross-sectional studies and ecological studies. The proportion of epidemiological investigations by residents' demand showed an increase from 0.0% to 8.9% for the central government while decreasing from 16.7% to 14.3% for local governments after 2008 compared to before 2008. HESs increased at both the central and local government levels since 2014. For the evaluation method, 365 environmental hazards, 319 health outcomes, and 302 biological markers were investigated, with the most commonly investigated items being metals, cancer, and blood metals. Conclusions: HESs of residents in ECVAs in South Korea have been continuously developed both quantitatively and qualitatively. Future improvements are expected, and systematic review and classification of the HESs is warranted.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

본 결과물은 환경부의 재원으로 한국환경산업기술원의 환경성질환 예방관리 핵심 기술개발사업의 지원을 받아 연구되었습니다(2021003320003). 또한, 환경부 환경성질환예방 및 사후관리사업(2204-302-260-01)의 지원을 받아 연구되었습니다.

References

  1. Kwon H, Kim H, Bae S, Eom S, Lee S, Cho YM, et al. A study developing improvement and the plan of strategies for the survey on exposure to environmental pollutants and health effects in environmentally vulnerable areas. Sejong: Ministry of Environment; 2022.
  2. National Toxicology Program. West Virginia chemical spill. Available: https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/whatwestudy/topics/wvspill [accessed 14 April 2023].
  3. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Fact sheet: 2010/2015 PFOA stewardship program. Available: https://www.epa.gov/assessing-and-managing-chemicals-under-tsca/fact-sheet-20102015-pfoa-stewardship-program#what [accessed 14 June 2022].
  4. Fletcher T, Savitz D, Steenland K. C8 science panel. Available: http://www.c8sciencepanel.org/index.html [accessed 14 June 2022].
  5. Business & Human Rights Resource Centre. DuPont lawsuits (re PFOA pollution in USA). Available: https://www.business-humanrights.org/en/latest-news/dupont-lawsuits-re-pfoa-pollution-in-usa/ [accessed 14 June 2022].
  6. Hanna-Attisha M, LaChance J, Sadler RC, Champney Schnepp A. Elevated blood lead levels in children associated with the flint drinking water crisis: a spatial analysis of risk and public health response. Am J Public Health. 2016; 106(2): 283-290. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2015.303003
  7. Maiellano J. Ethical case study: PG&E and Hinkley, CA. Available: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/ethical-case-study-pge-hinkleyca-joe-maiellano [accessed 14 June 2022].
  8. Amarelo M. California announces maximum contaminant level for 'Brockovich' carcinogen in drinking water. Available: https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/news-release/2022/03/california-announces-maximum-contaminant-level-brockovich [accessed 14 June 2022].
  9. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Love Canal followup health study. Available: https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/investigations/love_canal/fall_2006.htm [accessed 30 April 2022].
  10. Bair P, Svitana K, Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College. A civil action - the Woburn toxic trial. Available: https://serc.carleton.edu/woburn/index.html [accessed 14 April 2023].
  11. Environmental Restoration and Conservation Agency. According to the record, air pollution and trials ter. Available: https://www.erca.go.jp/yobou/saiban/tokyo [accessed 14 June 2022].
  12. Yorifuji T, Kashima S, Suryadhi MAH, Abudureyimu K. Acute exposure to sulfur dioxide and mortality: historical data from Yokkaichi, Japan. Arch Environ Occup Health. 2019; 74(5): 271-278. https://doi.org/10.1080/19338244.2018.1434474
  13. World Health Organization (WHO). Urban redevelopment of contaminated sites: a review of scientific evidence and practical knowledge on environmental and health issues. Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe; 2021.
  14. Bae H, Shin Y, Suh Y, Park J, Lee J, Lim Y, et al. A study developing improvement for the health effect assessment. Sejong: Ministry of Environment; 2015.
  15. Woo K, Ye BJ, Jang TW, Lee YI, Jong MJ, Chae HJ, et al. A study on the advancement of environmental epidemiological survey. Sejong: Ministry of Environment; 2016.
  16. Jung D, Yun S, Kim S, Kim S. A basic study on implementing receptor-oriented risk management to overcome environmental inequality. Sejong: Korea Environment Institute (KEI); 2019 Mar. Report No.: KEI Working Paper 2019-01.
  17. Hong Y, Kwon H, Kim H, Jung KS, Kim HC, Yoon J, et al. Development of curriculum to strengthen the capacity of health effect assessment. Sejong: Ministry of Environment; 2019.
  18. Kim H, Jeon J, Yoo K, Kim Y, Eom S, Kwon H, et al. Pilot study of monitoring of health effects among residents living near area with potentially severe environmental pollution. Sejong: Ministry of Environment; 2021.
  19. Public Procurement Service. Korea On-line E-Procurement System. Available: https://www.g2b.go.kr/index.jsp [accessed 30 April 2022].
  20. National Institute of Environmental Research. Available: https://www.nier.go.kr/NIER/kor/index.do [accessed 30 April 2022].
  21. Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute. Available: https://www.keiti.re.kr/site/keiti/main.do [accessed 30 April 2022].
  22. Ministry of the Interior and Safety. Policy Research Information Service & Management. Available: https://www.prism.go.kr/homepage/main/retrieveHomepageMain.do [accessed 1 February 2022].
  23. Ministry of Environment. Environment Digital Library. Available: https://library.me.go.kr [accessed 1 May 2022].
  24. Bivand R, Lewin-Koh N. maptools: tools for handling spatial objects. Available: http://maptools.r-forge.r-project.org [accessed 30 April 2022].
  25. Bivand R, Keitt T, Rowlingson B. rgdal: bindings for the 'geospatial' data abstraction library. Available: http://rgdal.r-forge.r-project.org/ [accessed 30 April 2022].
  26. Ministry of Environment. Realization of a safe and healthy environment for the public. Available: https://www.korea.kr/news/pressReleaseView.do?newsId=156491373 [accessed 19 April 2023].
  27. Korea Environmental Education Center. Dictionary of environmental education. Available: https://www.keep.go.kr/portal/145?action=read&action-value=a78e30ac816fe68d078b7008d0d9467b&page=3 [accessed 15 March 2023].