Geographical Distribution and Risk Assessment of Volatile Organic Compounds in Tributaries of the Han River Watershed
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 classif...
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MDPI AG
2021-05-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/11/5/956 |
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| author | Jong-Kwon Im Yong-Chul Cho Hye-Ran Noh Soon-Ju Yu |
| author_facet | Jong-Kwon Im Yong-Chul Cho Hye-Ran Noh Soon-Ju Yu |
| author_sort | Jong-Kwon Im |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T11:30:31Z |
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| id | doaj.art-47df3496382349e2ac90b785dd350d65 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T11:30:31Z |
| publishDate | 2021-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-47df3496382349e2ac90b785dd350d652023-11-21T19:17:01ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952021-05-0111595610.3390/agronomy11050956Geographical Distribution and Risk Assessment of Volatile Organic Compounds in Tributaries of the Han River WatershedJong-Kwon Im0Yong-Chul Cho1Hye-Ran Noh2Soon-Ju Yu3Han River Environment Research Center, National Institute of Environmental Research, 42, Dumulmeori-gil 68beon-gil, Yangseo-myeon, Yangpyeong-gun 12585, KoreaHan River Environment Research Center, National Institute of Environmental Research, 42, Dumulmeori-gil 68beon-gil, Yangseo-myeon, Yangpyeong-gun 12585, KoreaHan River Environment Research Center, National Institute of Environmental Research, 42, Dumulmeori-gil 68beon-gil, Yangseo-myeon, Yangpyeong-gun 12585, KoreaHan River Environment Research Center, National Institute of Environmental Research, 42, Dumulmeori-gil 68beon-gil, Yangseo-myeon, Yangpyeong-gun 12585, KoreaVolatile 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.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/11/5/956halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbonsaromatic hydrocarbonsHan River watershedindustrial complexeswastewater treatment facilities |
| spellingShingle | Jong-Kwon Im Yong-Chul Cho Hye-Ran Noh Soon-Ju Yu Geographical Distribution and Risk Assessment of Volatile Organic Compounds in Tributaries of the Han River Watershed Agronomy halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbons aromatic hydrocarbons Han River watershed industrial complexes wastewater treatment facilities |
| title | Geographical Distribution and Risk Assessment of Volatile Organic Compounds in Tributaries of the Han River Watershed |
| title_full | Geographical Distribution and Risk Assessment of Volatile Organic Compounds in Tributaries of the Han River Watershed |
| title_fullStr | Geographical Distribution and Risk Assessment of Volatile Organic Compounds in Tributaries of the Han River Watershed |
| title_full_unstemmed | Geographical Distribution and Risk Assessment of Volatile Organic Compounds in Tributaries of the Han River Watershed |
| title_short | Geographical Distribution and Risk Assessment of Volatile Organic Compounds in Tributaries of the Han River Watershed |
| title_sort | geographical distribution and risk assessment of volatile organic compounds in tributaries of the han river watershed |
| topic | halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbons aromatic hydrocarbons Han River watershed industrial complexes wastewater treatment facilities |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/11/5/956 |
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