• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.366-377
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• 2021

Background: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are generated in petrochemical complexes, can spread to residential areas and affect the health of residents. Although harmful PAHs are mainly present in particle phase, gas phase PAHs can generate stronger toxic substances through photochemical reaction. Therefore, the risk assessment for PAHs around the petrochemical complex should consider both particle and gas phase concentrations. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the concentration characteristics of particle and gas phase PAHs by season in residential areas around petrochemical complexes, and to assess the risk of PAHs. Methods: Samples were collected for 7 days by seasons in 2014~2015 using a high volume air sampler. Particle and gas phase PAHs were sampled using quartz filter and polyurethane foam, respectively, analyzed by GC-MS. Chronic toxicity and probabilistic risk assessment were performed on 14 PAHs. For chronic toxicity risk assessment, inhalation unit risk was used. Monte-Carlo simulation was performed for probabilistic risk assessment using the mean and standard deviation of measured PAHs. Results: The concentration of particle total PAHs was highest in autumn. The gas phase concentration was highest in autumn. The average gas phase distribution ratio of low molecular weight PAHs composed of 2~3 benzene rings was 85%. The average of the medium molecular weight composed of 4 benzene rings was 53%, and the average of the high molecular weight composed of 5 or more benzene rings was 9%. In the chronic toxicity risk assessment, 7 of the 14 PAHs exceeded the excess carcinogenic risk of 1.00×10^-6. In the Monte-Carlo simulation, Benzo[a]pyrene had the highest probability of exceeding 1.00×10^-6, which was 100%. Conclusions: The concentration of PAHs in the residential area around the petrochemical complex exceeded the standard, and the excess carcinogenic risk was evaluated to be high. Therefore, it is necessary to manage the air environment around the petrochemical complex.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.269-277
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• 2010

Air samples were collected and analyzed to investigate regional level of PAHs and its emission sources. The average concentrations of PAHs in the suburban (Gwanak) and in the urban (Seodaemun) area were $16.52\;ng/m^3$ and $59.1\;ng/m^3$, respectively. Phenanthrene, fluoranthene, pyrene, and fluorene were predominant PAHs species, as their sum contributed to 55.6% and 60.8% of the total PAHs, respectively. The possible major source of PAHs was suspect to be the combustion of diesel fueled vehicles in both areas, particularly for Seodaemun.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.210-216
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• 2006

The concentrations of 16 priority PAHs (US EPA standard) were analyzed in the surface sediments obtained from 23 sampling sites near Kwangyang Bay in Korea. There was a local variability in the total PAHs ranged from 0.01 to 171.39 mg/kg, with a mean value of $8.13{\pm}24.8mg/kg$. The major pollution sources of PAHs near Kwanyang Bay were Taeindo, Sueo stream and Wallae stream, whose concentrations were 114.81, 38.37 mg/kg and 19.05 mg/kg, respectively. It showed that PAHs concentrations were increased with the decrease of particle size and with the increase of organic carbon contents in three fractioned sediments. From the analysis of PAHs source using LMW/HMW, Phe/Ant, and Fla/Pyr, pyrolysis by-products were mostly showed in Kwangyang Bay and some place showed the mixure of pyrolysis by-products, and crude oil by-products. Besides, the toxic effects assessment on benthic ecosystem for three major pollution sources showed that the PAHs concentration of Taindo which was mainly accumulated with carcinogenic PAHs exceeds ERM value and the PAHs of Sueo and Wallae streams are the degree of ERL value.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2000.04a
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• pp.89-91
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• 2000

Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) compounds are highly carcinogenic chemicals and common groundwater contaminants that are observed to persist in soils. The adherence and slow release of PAHs in soil is an obstacle to remediation and complicates the assessment of cleanup standards and risks. Biological degradation of PAHs in soil has been an area of active research because biological treatment may be less costly than conventional pumping technologies or excavation and thermal treatment. Biological degradation also offers the advantage to transform PAHs into non-toxic products such as biomass and carbon dioxide. Ample evidence exists for aerobic biodegradation of PAHs and many bacteria capable of degrading PAHs have been isolated and characterized. However, the microbial degradation of PAHs in sediments is impaired due to the anaerobic conditions that result from the typically high oxygen demand of the organic material present in the soil, the low solubility of oxygen in water, and the slow mass transfer of oxygen from overlying water to the soil environment. For these reasons, anaerobic microbial degradation technologies could help alleviate sediment PAH contamination and offer significant advantages for cost-efficient in-situ treatment. But very little is known about the potential for anaerobic degradation of PAHs in field soils. The objectives of this research were to assess: (1) the potential for biodegradation of PAH in field aged soils under denitrification conditions, (2) to assess the potential for biodegradation of naphthalene in soil microcosms under denitrifying conditions, and (3) to assess for the existence of microorganisms in field sediments capable of degrading naphthalene via denitrification. Two kinds of soils were used in this research: Harbor Point sediment (HPS-2) and Milwaukee Harbor sediment (MHS). Results presented in this seminar indicate possible degradation of PAHs in soil under denitrifying conditions. During the two months of anaerobic degradation, total PAH removal was modest probably due to both the low availability of the PAHs and competition with other more easily degradable sources of carbon in the sediments. For both Harbor Point sediment (HPS-2) and Milwaukee Harbor sediment (MHS), PAH reduction was confined to 3- and 4-ring PAHs. Comparing PAH reductions during two months of aerobic and anaerobic biotreatment of MHS, it was found that extent of PAHreduction for anaerobic treatment was compatible with that for aerobic treatment. Interestingly, removal of PAHs from sediment particle classes (by size and density) followed similar trends for aerobic and anaerobic treatment of MHS. The majority of the PAHs removed during biotreatment came from the clay/silt fraction. In an earlier study it was shown that PAHs associated with the clay/silt fraction in MHS were more available than PAHs associated with coal-derived fraction. Therefore, although total PAH reductions were small, the removal of PAHs from the more easily available sediment fraction (clay/silt) may result in a significant environmental benefit owing to a reduction in total PAH bioavailability. By using naphthalene as a model PAH compound, biodegradation of naphthalene under denitrifying condition was assessed in microcosms containing MHS. Naphthalene spiked into MHS was degraded below detection limit within 20 days with the accompanying reduction of nitrate. With repeated addition of naphthalene and nitrate, naphthalene degradation under nitrate reducing conditions was stable over one month. Nitrite, one of the intermediates of denitrification was detected during the incubation. Also the denitrification activity of the enrichment culture from MHS slurries was verified by monitoring the production of nitrogen gas in solid fluorescence denitrification medium. Microorganisms capable of degrading naphthalene via denitrification were isolated from this enrichment culture.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.37-53
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• 1993

The polynuclear hydrocarbons (PAHs) emitted from coke oven standpipe were sampled using three sampling systems, including glass fiber filter+silver membrane filter, glass fiber filter+silver membrane filter+XAD-2 adsorbent tube, PTFE membrane filter+XAD-2 adsorbent tube, extracted by methylene chloride and analysed by gas chromathography using flame ionization detector. The results of this study were as follows. 1. Because the amounts of coke oven emissions(COE) were large, the analyses of PAHs were simple and possible without evaporation and concentration. Although the generation of COE was high during early stage of coking, the airborne concentration of PAHs was low and increased during late coking. 2. The contents of PAHs in COE were 1.35-2.81%. 3. The index components of PAHs were fluoranthene and pyrene. Their correlation coefficient to total PAHs were 0.96, 0.95, respectively. 4. The particulate PAHs were sampled by filter and gaseous PAHs by adsorbent tube. The collection efficiency of glass fiber filter+silver membrane filter was 20% of total amount sampled by filters+adsorbent and PTFE membrane filter 50%. Adsorbent tube must be attached to the filter to collect light and small PAH components. 5. The generation of acenaphthene and indeno (1,2,3-cd) pyrene were low and concentrations of fluorene and anthracene were $20-40ug/m^3$ throughout coking time. Other PAH eoncentrations were sometimes high. The generation of PAHs was low at 4-6 hours of coking time. The gaseous PAHs were generated earlier than particulate PAHs.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.141-147
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• 2004

Sixteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were analyzed in seventy marine organisms (40 species) from the Korean coast. PAHs were present in all the organisms. The level of total PAHs in the organisms varied from 0.45 to 224 ng/g dry weight and the carcinogenic PAHs varied from 0.05 to 49.8 ng/g dry weight. The PAHs residues according to the marine organisms showed a highest content in bivalve species, and followed by crustaceans, cephalopods, fish and gastropods. Human dietary intake of total PAHs through marine organism in Korea was estimated to be 4.12 ng/kg body weight/day and 0.67 ng/kg body weight/day for carcinogenic PAHs. The relative contributions of individual species to the total dietary intake of PAHs were in the order of bivalves $(53.4{\%})$, fish $(21.9{\%})$, crustaceans $(15.3{\%})$, cephalopods $(8.8{\%})$ and gastropods $(0.6{\%})$. Daily dietary intake of $PAH_{TEQ}$ expressed as a TEQ value was estimated to be 0.13 pg TEQ/kg body weight/day, which did not exceed a tolerable daily intake (TDI) proposed by the KFDA and the WHO as well as the UK toxicity committee. Lifetime cancer risk due to ingestion of marine species by the Korean adult was evaluated using the equation estimating exposure of food ingestion. Although approximately $23{\%}$ of cumulative frequency of the sampled marine species exceeded the cancer risk guideline, lifetime cancer risk associated with marine organism consumption was negligible. Results indicate that dietary intake of PAHs through the consumption of the Korean marine organisms seems to be safe for human ingestion with negligible cancer risk.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.15-23
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• 2016

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are primarily formed as a result of thermal treatment of food, especially barbecuing or grilling. Contamination by PAHs is due to generation by direct pyrolysis of food nutrients and deposition from smoke produced through incomplete combustion of thermal agents. PAHs are ubiquitous compounds, well-known to be carcinogenic, which can reach the food in different ways. As an important human exposure pathway of contaminants, dietary intake of PAHs is of increasing concern for assessing cancer risk in the human body. In addition, the risks associated with consumption of barbecued meat may increase if consumers use cooking practices that enhance the concentrations of contaminants and their bioaccessibility. Since total PAHs always overestimate the actual amount that is available for absorption by the body, bioaccessibility of PAHs is to be preferred. Bioaccessibility of PAHs in food is the fraction of PAHs mobilized from food matrices during gastrointestinal digestion. An in vitro human digestion model was chosen for assessing the bioaccessibility of PAHs in food as it offers a simple, rapid, low cost alternative to human and animal studies; providing insights which may not be achievable in in vivo studies. Thus, this review aimed not only to provide an overview of general aspects of PAHs such as the formation, carcinogenicity, sources, occurrence, and factors affecting PAH concentrations, but also to enhance understanding of bioaccessibility assessment using an in vitro digestion model.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.143-152
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• 2005

To investigate the exposure effect of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), we analyzed the relationship between urinary 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) concentration and PAHs exposure. The study population contained 44 workers in steel-pipe coating and paint manufacture industries. We measured airborne total PAHs as an external dose, urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) as an internal dose of PAHs exposure, and urinary 8-OHdG as an effective dose of oxidative DNA damage. There was significant correlation between the urinary concentration of l-OHP and the environmental concentration of PAHs, pyrene, urinary cotinine, AST, and GGT. The mean of urinary 8-OHdG was $17.07\pm1.706{\mu}g/g$ creatinine in workers exposed to airborne PAHs. There was significant correlation between the urinary concentration of 8-0HdG and the airborne concentration of PAHs. From the results of stepwise multiple regression analysis about 8-OHdG, significant independents was total PAHs. In this study, there were significant correlation between the urinary concentration of 8-OHdG and the airborne concentration of PAHs. The urinary 1-OHP was effective index as a biomarker of airborne PAHs in workplace. But it was influenced by non-occupational PAHs source, smoking and biomarkers of liver function test.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.296-303
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• 2008

This study was performed to establish an analytical method of PAHs in oil contaminated soil of these methods by evaluating the PAHs test methods from US EPA and ISO etc. The application to domestic contaminated soil leads to a conclusion that alumina column is a more effective clean-up procedure for oil contaminated soil rather than the others. It is proposed with the new analytical method of 12 PAHs except for more volatile compounds (naphthalene, acenaphthylene, acenaphthene, fluorene). The recovery of PAHs in this method ranged 67~107%. The oil contaminated soil samples were analyzed using GC/MSD. The concentration of PAHs ranged $78.68{\sim}275.57{\mu}g/kg$. The predominated compounds were fluoranthene, pyrene and chrysene attributing about 70% of total concentration. The level of Benzo[a]pyrene ranged $1.76{\sim}24.65{\mu}g/kg$.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.129-138
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• 2004

Determination of some PAHs in ambient air at Ulsan have been carried out by collection of the components into n-hexane followed by synchronous spectrofluorimetric technique. 10 PAHs, such as acenaphthene (Ace), anthracene (Anth), benz[a]anthracene (BaA), benzo[b]fluoranthene (BbFt), benzo[k]fluoranthene (BkFt) benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), chrysene (Chry), phenanthrene (Phen), fluoranthene (Ft), perlyrene (Per), and pyrene (Pyr) in air samples were able to determine separately by synchronous spectrofluorimetry. Calibration curves for those components were linear for the concentration range of 0.2∼166ppb PAHs with the correlation factor of 0.9985∼0.9999. The predominant contribution was phenanthrene which was included 36.9∼85.1% to the overall level of the 10 PAHs in some areas. Also benzo[a]pyrene which was known to carcinogenicity was detected from 6.4 to 55.8ng/㎥, benzo[a]anthracene of some areas was contained from 21.9∼153ng/㎥.