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Activity-Based Exposure Levels and Cancer Risk Assessment Due to Naturally Occurring Asbestos for the Residents Near Abandoned Asbestos Mines in South Korea

Author

Listed:
  • Seungho Lee

    (Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan 50612, Korea)

  • Dongmug Kang

    (Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan 50612, Korea
    Department of Preventive and Occupational & Environmental Medicine, Medical College, Pusan National University, Yangsan 50612, Korea
    Environmental Health Center of Asbestos, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan 50612, Korea)

  • Youngki Kim

    (Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan 50612, Korea
    Department of Preventive and Occupational & Environmental Medicine, Medical College, Pusan National University, Yangsan 50612, Korea
    Environmental Health Center of Asbestos, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan 50612, Korea)

  • Yoon-Ji Kim

    (Department of Preventive and Occupational & Environmental Medicine, Medical College, Pusan National University, Yangsan 50612, Korea
    Environmental Health Center of Asbestos, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan 50612, Korea)

  • Se-Yeong Kim

    (Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan 50612, Korea
    Department of Preventive and Occupational & Environmental Medicine, Medical College, Pusan National University, Yangsan 50612, Korea)

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the overall asbestos exposure intensity and assess the health risk to residents due to naturally occurring asbestos (NOA) near abandoned asbestos mines in South Korea. Of 38 mines, we found 19 with measured concentrations of NOA. We evaluated the average of airborne NOA concentrations according to the environmental exposure category. When evaluated regionally by dividing into two clusters, the mean concentrations in activity-based sampling (ABS) scenarios exceeded the Korean exposure limit (0.01 f/cc) in both clusters. Moreover, airborne NOA concentrations in agricultural activity (5.49 × 10 −2 f/cc) and daily activity (6.95 × 10 −2 f/cc) had the highest values for clusters A and B, respectively. The excess lifetime cancer risk of one region (cluster A) by the ABS scenarios did not exceed the Korean Ministry of the Environment’s criteria for soil purification (1 × 10 −4 ). However, one of the ABS scenarios—the daily life activity of clusters centered on Chungcheongbuk-do (cluster B)—showed an exposure of 1.08 × 10 −4 , greater than the limit (1 × 10 −4 ). This indicates non negligible health damage to residents living near the abandoned asbestos mines, and it is necessary to continuously monitor and clean up the asbestos contamination.

Suggested Citation

  • Seungho Lee & Dongmug Kang & Youngki Kim & Yoon-Ji Kim & Se-Yeong Kim, 2021. "Activity-Based Exposure Levels and Cancer Risk Assessment Due to Naturally Occurring Asbestos for the Residents Near Abandoned Asbestos Mines in South Korea," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-12, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:10:p:5225-:d:554634
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Małgorzata Krówczyńska & Ewa Wilk, 2018. "Asbestos Exposure and the Mesothelioma Incidence in Poland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-17, August.
    2. Kyeongmin Kwak & Kyung Ehi Zoh & Domyung Paek, 2021. "Incidence of Cancer and Asbestos-Related Diseases among Residents Living near Abandoned Asbestos Mines in South Korea: A Retrospective Cohort Study Using National Health Insurance Database," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-15, January.
    3. Yu-Ryong Yoon & Kyeong Min Kwak & Yeyong Choi & Kanwoo Youn & Jinwook Bahk & Dong-Mug Kang & Domyung Paek, 2018. "The Asbestos Ban in Korea from a Grassroots Perspective: Why Did It Occur?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-12, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Eun-A Kim, 2021. "Standardized Incidence Ratio and Standardized Mortality Ratio of Malignant Mesothelioma in a Worker Cohort Using Employment Insurance Database in Korea," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-13, October.
    2. Kathleen Mahoney & Tim Driscoll & Julia Collins & Justine Ross, 2023. "The Past, Present and Future of Asbestos-Related Diseases in Australia: What Are the Data Telling Us?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-12, May.
    3. Jiwoon Kwon, 2022. "Impact of Naturally Occurring Asbestos on Asbestos Ban: Regulations and Experience of the Republic of Korea," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(2), pages 1-12, January.

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