Evaluation of the Exposure to Environmental Pollutants Emanating from National Industrial Complexes

Abstract

The industrial complexes built during the course of economic development in South Korea played a pivotal role in the country’s rapid economic growth. However, this growth was accompanied by health problems due to the pollutants released from the industrial complexes inevitably located near residential areas, given the limited land area available in South Korea. This study was conducted to evaluate the exposure to each pollutant emanating from industrial complexes for residents living in nearby areas, and to determine the substances requiring priority attention in future surveys. Pollutants were comprehensively categorized according to their emission and exposure levels based on data previously collected from the study areas. The emission, ambient concentration, and biomarker concentration levels of major pollutants emitted from eight national industrial complexes (Ulsan, Pohang, Gwangyang, Yeosu, Chungju, Daesan, Sihwa, and Banwol) were determined and tabulated. Each of the values was compared with the national/local average values, reference values, or control area concentrations depending on availability. Substances with completed exposure pathways and with high values for emissions, ambient concentrations, and biomarker concentrations were considered the substances posing exposure risks to the residents living near the corresponding industrial complex. The substances requiring continuous monitoring or supplementary exposure investigation were also categorized and presented. Lead and benzene had higher values for emissions, ambient concentrations, and biomarker concentrations in the Ulsan Industrial Complex area; thus, they were most likely to pose exposure risks to residents living in the area’s neighborhoods. In other areas, styrene, xylene, cadmium, nitrogen oxide, trichloroethylene, nickel, manganese, and chromium required continuous monitoring, and arsenic, nickel, manganese, and chromium required biomarker measurements. In conclusion, the substances identified and categorized in this study need to be given appropriate attention in future surveys on exposure risks and health effects related to industrial complexes.

Development and demonstration of a data visualization platform of short‐term guidelines for ambient air levels of benzene during disaster response in Houston, Texas

“…Houston is one of the best monitored areas in the USA, and yet, this network alone was not able to capture the full extent of the benzene plume during the ITC fire. As noted by Bae et al (2018), extensive monitoring networks have high construction and maintenance costs; instead, these researchers used modeling to understand the risk profile of benzene exposure to the Ulsan metropolitan city in Korea, which includes two national industrial complexes. This is despite the fact there was an average of 23 annual "chemical accidental events" that occurred in Korea between 2010 and 2013 (Bae et al, 2018).…”

“…Changes in hematopoiesis and hematotoxic effects, including altered blood cell counts and lymphocyte counts and immunotoxicity, are consistent indicators of benzene exposure (IRIS, 2002; McHale et al, 2012; OEHHA, 2014) and can be measured even after brief exposure periods (Kirkeleit et al, 2006). Of additional concern is that hematotoxicity from short‐term benzene exposure is associated with future risk of hematological cancers (IARC, 2018; McHale et al, 2012), indicating that there is likely no safe level of benzene exposure (Bae et al, 2018; Smith, 2010). Although the exact form of the exposure–response curve for benzene has been debated (Kim, Vermeulen, Waidyanatha, Johnson, Lan, Rothman, et al, 2006; Kim, Vermeulen, Waidyanatha, Johnson, Lan, Smith, et al, 2006; OEHHA, 2014; Rappaport et al, 2009; Smith, 2010), the USEPA cited studies indicating supralinear exposure‐response benzene at concentrations less than 1 ppm and used these data as primary evidence to lower benzene concentrations in gasoline formulations (Smith, 2010).…”

Temporal-Spatial Characteristics of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) near Petrochemical Industrial Complex using PTR-ToF-MS

“…In petrochemical complexes, However, the process continues 24 hours a day, resulting in a continuous discharge of pollutants (Bae et al, 2018). Figure 6 shows the data obtained through 30 mobile observations by hour.…”