Health risk assessment for uranium in Korean groundwater.
We analyzed the radiological and chemical risks of uranium in groundwater. The total sample number over 4 years was 498. There were several use patterns of groundwater in Korea, but we considered the risk only for drinking water. The geometric mean of uranium concentration in 10 areas in Korea was 0.17 microg x l(-1). The excess cancer risks were in the 10(-7) level in the radiological risk aspect and the hazard quotient was 0.005 in the chemical risk aspect. Therefore, we could conclude that an adverse health risk is unlikely to be posed due to exposure to uranium. However, the concentration of uranium must be monitored periodically and adequate action taken in the few and small areas that contain high uranium levels in groundwater.
Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, 134 Shinchon-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 120-752, South Korea.
Ye-shin
YS
Kim
Hoa-sung
HS
Park
Jin-yong
JY
Kim
Sun-ku
SK
Park
Byong-wook
BW
Cho
Ig-hwan
IH
Sung
Dong-chun
DC
Shin
D004781:Environmental Exposure; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology; D011634:Public Health; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014501:Uranium / Q000506:poisoning*; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000506:poisoning*
D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive; D014501:Uranium