A study on the characteristics of pollutant release and transfer registers (PRTRs) and cancer incidence rates in Korea.

This study aims to identify the past decade's trend of harmful chemical emissions, which have been disclosed on the website as open information. During the past 10 years, the number of places of business, examined for their harmful chemical emissions, increased about 1.3× and their emissions went up 1.1×. More than 50% of total emissions have occurred in the top three areas, and the largest emissions were from xylene and toluene for the past 10 years. Among the total emissions, the group 1 carcinogen decreased from 5.3 to 2.1%, and among group 1 in particular, trichloroethylene and benzene accounted for more than 80%. Although it was impossible to find out any relationship between major cancers' development and the results of carcinogen emissions, considering the features of carcinogens emitted in specific areas, more research is needed to find out relationship. And, it is necessary to come up with proactive policies to reduce harmful chemical substances which can affect human health through environmental pollution.

Exposure assessment and health risk of poly-brominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants in the indoor environment of elementary school students in Korea.

This study assessed the health risks of elementary school students' exposure to PBDEs via different possible pathways in children's facilities. After PBDE contamination was measured, exposure was demonstrated to occur through multiple routes, including inhalation of indoor dust, dermal contact with products' surfaces and children's hands, and incidental dust ingestion. Samples were collected from various children's facilities (30 elementary schools, 31 private academies, 12 living rooms and bedrooms in houses, 5 public libraries of children's literature, and 3 large hypermalls) in summer (Jul-Sep, 2008) and winter (Jan-Feb, 2009). The hazard index (HI) was estimated for non-carcinogens and PBDEs, such as TeBDE, PeBDE, HxBDE, OcBDE, and DeBDE. PBDEs were detected in all floor dust samples, 99% of indoor air samples, 94% of product-wipe samples, and 86% of hand wipe samples. The average levels of PBDEs ranged from 0.19 to 1.06 ng/m(3) in indoor air, 4623 to 6,650 ng/g-dust in floor dust, 0.012 to 0.103 ng/cm(2) on product surfaces, and 7.89 to 25.38 ng/hand on the surface of children's hands. The HI for school children via multimedia and multipathway exposure to PBDEs did not exceed 1.0. The exposure to PBDEs at home (approximately 80%) was dominant. The contribution rates of PBDE risk were 77% and 15% via dust ingestion at home and at elementary school, respectively; thus, intake of floor dust was determined to be the primary route of exposure.

Health risks assessment in children for phthalate exposure associated with childcare facilities and indoor playgrounds.

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the health risks for children exposed to phthalate through several pathways including house dust, surface wipes and hand wipes in child facilities and indoor playgrounds. METHODS: The indoor samples were collected from various children's facilities (40 playrooms, 42 daycare centers, 44 kindergartens, and 42 indoor-playgrounds) in both summer (Jul-Sep, 2007) and winter (Jan-Feb, 2008). Hazard index (HI) was estimated for the non-carcinogens and the examined phthalates were diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), dibutyl-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP), and butylbenzyl phthalate (BBzP). The present study examined these four kinds of samples, i.e., indoor dust, surface wipes of product and hand wipes. RESULTS: Among the phthalates, the detection rates of DEHP were 98% in dust samples, 100% in surface wipe samples, and 95% in hand wipe samples. In this study, phthalate levels obtained from floor dust, product surface and children's hand wipe samples were similar to or slightly less compared to previous studies. The 50(th) and 95(th) percentile value of child-sensitive materials did not exceed 1 (HI) for all subjects in all facilities. CONCLUSIONS: For DEHP, DnBP and BBzP their detection rates through multi-routes were high and their risk based on health risk assessment was also observed to be acceptable. This study suggested that ingestion and dermal exposure could be the most important pathway of phthalates besides digestion through food.