scholarly journals Geographical Distribution and Risk Assessment of Volatile Organic Compounds in Tributaries of the Han River Watershed

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 956
Author(s):  
Jong-Kwon Im ◽  
Yong-Chul Cho ◽  
Hye-Ran Noh ◽  
Soon-Ju Yu
Keyword(s):  
Volatile Organic Compounds ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Organic Compounds ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
River Watershed ◽  
Han River ◽  
Detection Frequency ◽  
Volatile Organic ◽  
Mean Concentration

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), with negative impacts on the aquatic ecosystem, are increasingly released into the environment by anthropogenic activities. Water samples were collected from five areas of the Han River Watershed (HRW) tributaries, South Korea, to detect 11 VOCs, which were classified as halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbons (HAHs) and aromatic hydrocarbons (AHs). Among the 11 VOCs, 1,1-dichloroethylene, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, and vinyl chloride were undetected. The highest concentration compounds were chloroform (0.0596 ± 0.1312 µg/L), trichloroethylene (0.0253 ± 0.0781 µg/L), and toluene (0.0054 ± 0.0139 µg/L). The mean concentration (0.0234 µg/L) and detection frequency (37.0%) of HAHs were higher than those of AHs (0.0036 µg/L, 21.0%, respectively). The Imjin Hantan River area exhibited the highest mean concentration (0.2432 µg/L) and detection frequency (22.9%), because it is located near industrial complexes, thus, highlighting their role as important VOC sources. However, the detected VOCs had lower concentrations than those permitted by the EU, WHO, USA, and South Korea drinking water guidelines. Ecological risks associated with the VOCs were estimated by risk quotient (RQ); consequently, the predicted no-effect concentration was 0.0029 mg/L, and the toluene and styrene RQ values were >1 and >0.5, respectively. The findings may facilitate policymakers in designing pollution control strategies.

scholarly journals Characteristics and Sources of Selected Halocarbon and Hydrocarbon Volatile Organic Compounds in Surface Water of the Han River Basin

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (18) ◽  
pp. 2568
Author(s):  
Jong Kwon Im ◽  
Sujin Kim ◽  
Young Seuk Kim ◽  
Hye Ran Noh ◽  
Young-Min Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Surface Water ◽  
Volatile Organic Compounds ◽  
Organic Compounds ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Total Concentration ◽  
Average Concentration ◽  
Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Han River ◽  
Detection Frequency ◽  
Volatile Organic

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are ubiquitous pollutants in surface water, which is the main source of drinking water in South Korea. We investigated the behavior (concentration, distribution, and environmental risk) of eleven selected VOCs in the surface water of the Han River tributaries using purge-and-trap gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The average concentration of VOCs was 0.29 ± 0.47 μg/L. Chloroform and trichloroethylene (TCE) were the major pollutants, accounting for approximately 64.2% and 25.6% of the total concentration, respectively, and showing that halocarbons accounted for 94%. Chloroform was positively correlated with TCE and xylenes, and TCE was positively correlated with tetrachloroethylene (PCE). No differences were observed in the temporal average concentrations of total VOCs, but the concentrations differed significantly among sub-watershed areas. The Imjin-Hantan River, Han River mainstream, and Anseong Stream watersheds had a high positive association with TCE, whereas the Bukhan and Namhan River watersheds had a strong positive link with chloroform. The contamination and detection frequency of VOCs were highest in industrial complexes, followed by urban and rural areas. Thus, point source pollution significantly contributed to VOC contamination of these tributaries. Risk quotients for most VOCs were <1, suggesting negligible risk. Considering the relatively high occurrence of VOCs and their potential ecological risks, continuous environmental monitoring and study of environmental impacts based on ecotoxicity studies of domestic aquatic species are warranted.

scholarly journals Occurrence, Potential Sources, and Risk Assessment of Volatile Organic Compounds in the Han River Basin, South Korea

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 3727
Author(s):  
Jong Kwon Im ◽  
Soon Ju Yu ◽  
Sujin Kim ◽  
Sang Hun Kim ◽  
Hye Ran Noh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Volatile Organic Compounds ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Organic Compounds ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Halogenated Hydrocarbons ◽  
Drinking Water Source ◽  
Han River ◽  
Volatile Organic ◽  
Han River Basin

Increasing public awareness about the aesthetics and safety of water sources has shifted researchers’ attention to the adverse effects of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on humans and aquatic organisms. A total of 17 VOCs, including 10 volatile halogenated hydrocarbons and seven volatile non-halogenated hydrocarbons, were investigated at 36 sites of the Han River Basin, which is the largest and most important drinking water source for residents of the Seoul metropolitan area and Gyeonggi province in South Korea. The VOC concentrations ranged from below detection limits to 1.813 µg L−1. The most frequently detected VOC was 1,2-dichloropropane, with a detection frequency of 80.56%, as it is used as a soil fumigant, chemical intermediate, and industrial solvent. In terms of geographical trends, the sampling sites that were under the influence of sewage and industrial wastewater treatment plants were more polluted with VOCs than other areas. This observation was also supported by the results of the principal component analysis. In the present study, the detected concentrations of VOCs were much lower than that of the predicted no-effect concentrations, suggesting low ecological risk in the Han River. However, a lack of available ecotoxicity data and limited comparable studies warrants further studies on these compounds.

Monitoring of Volatile Organic Compounds at Gyeongju: A Historical and Tourist Place in South Korea

2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (8) ◽  
pp. 2493-2499 ◽  
Author(s):  
Young Kyo Seo ◽  
Lakshmi Narayana Suvarapu ◽  
Sung Ok Baek
Keyword(s):  
Volatile Organic Compounds ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Organic Compounds ◽  
Volatile Organic

scholarly journals Atmospheric Pollution Interventions in the Environment: Effects on Biotic and Abiotic Factors, Their Monitoring and Control

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nukshab Zeeshan ◽  
Nabila ◽  
Ghulam Murtaza ◽  
Zia Ur Rahman Farooqi ◽  
Khurram Naveed ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Volatile Organic Compounds ◽  
Organic Compounds ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Atmospheric Pollutants ◽  
Control Mechanisms ◽  
Gaseous Emissions ◽  
Monitoring And Control ◽  
Soil Microbial ◽  
Volatile Organic

Atmosphere is polluted for all living, non-living entities. Concentrations of atmospheric pollutants like PM2.5, PM10, CO, CO2, NO, NO2, and volatile organic compounds (VOC) are increasing abruptly due to anthropogenic activities (fossil fuels combustion, industrial activities, and power generation etc.). These pollutants are causing soil (microbial diversity disturbance, soil structure), plants (germination, growth, and biochemistry), and human health (asthma, liver, and lungs disorders to cancers) interventions. All the effects of these pollutants on soil, plants, animals, and microbes needed to be discussed briefly. Different strategies and technologies (HOPES, IOT, TEMPO and TNGAPMS) are used in the world to reduce the pollutant emission at source or when in the atmosphere and also discussed here. All gaseous emissions control mechanisms for major exhaust gases from toxic to less toxic form or environmental friendly form are major concern. Heavy metals present in dust and volatile organic compounds are converted into less toxic forms and their techniques are discussed briefly.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document