Sun-Kyoung Shin

Occurrence and distribution of pharmaceuticals in wastewater from households, livestock farms, hospitals and pharmaceutical manufactures

Twenty-four pharmaceuticals were measured in wastewater from 12 municipal wastewater treatment plants (M-WWTPs), four livestock WWTPs (L-WWTPs), four hospital WWTPs (H-WWTPs) and four pharmaceutical manufacture WWTPs (P-WWTPs). The total concentration of pharmaceuticals in the influent samples was highest in the L-WWTPs followed by the P-WWTPs, H-WWTPs and M-WWTPs. The effluents had different patterns of pharmaceuticals than their corresponding influents because of the different fate of each compound in the WWTPs. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) were the most dominant in the influents from the M-WWTPs and P-WWTPs, while antibiotics were dominantly detected in the L-WWTP. In the H-WWTP influents, NSAIDs, caffeine and carbamazepine were dominant. In the P-WWTPs, the distribution of pharmaceuticals in the effluents varied with sampling sites and periods. The M-WWTP influents had the highest daily loads, while the effluents showed somewhat similar levels in all source types.

Assessment of fates of estrogens in wastewater and sludge from various types of wastewater treatment plants.

We measured five estrogens in the wastewater samples from the municipal wastewater treatment plants (M-WWTPs), livestock wastewater treatment plants (L-WWTPs), hospital WWTPs (H-WWTPs) and pharmaceutical manufacture WWTPs (P-WWTPs) in Korea. The L-WWTPs showed the highest total concentration (0.195-10.4 μg L(-1)) of estrogens in the influents, followed by the M-WWTPs (0.028-1.15 μg L(-1)), H-WWTPs (0.068-0.130 μg L(-1)) and P-WWTPs (0.015-0.070 μg L(-1)). Like the influents, the L-WWTPs (0.003-0.729 μg L(-1)) and the M-WWTPs (0.001-0.299μgL(-1)) also showed higher total concentration of estrogens in the effluents than the H-WWTPs (0.002-0.021 μg L(-1)) and P-WWTPs (0.011 μg L(-1) in one sample). The L-WWTPs (37.5-543 μg kg(-1), dry weight) showed higher total concentrations in sludge than the M-WWTPs (3.16-444 μg kg(-1), dry weight) like the wastewater. The distribution of estrogens in the WWTPs may be affected by their metabolism in the human body, their transition through biological treatment processes, and their usage for livestock growth. Unlike the concentration results, the daily loads of estrogens from the M-WWTPs were the highest, which is related to the high capacities of WWTPs.

Emission of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in use of electric/electronic equipment and recycling of e-waste in Korea.

The emission rates of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) from electric/electronic products during their use and disposal were estimated. E-wastes, including televisions and refrigerators, gathered at recycling centers were also analyzed to estimate their emissions. The average concentrations of PBDEs in TV rear covers produced before and after the year 2000 were 145,027 mg/kg and 14,049 mg/kg, respectively. The PBDEs concentration in TV front covers was lower than the concentration in TV rear covers. The concentration in the components of the refrigerator samples ranged from ND to 445 mg/kg. We estimated the atmospheric emissions of PBDEs based on the concentrations. The annual emissions from TV rear covers produced before 2000 were calculated to be approximately 162.1 kg and after 2000, the annual emissions were 18.7 kg. Refrigerators showed the lowest annual emissions of PBDEs (0.7 kg). The atmospheric concentrations were also measured to calculate emissions generated during the recycling process. The highest concentration was 16.86 ng/m(3) emitted from the TV sets during the dismantling process. The concentrations of PBDEs generated in the plastic processing field ranged from 2.05 to 5.43 ng/m(3) depending on the products, and ambient air in open-air yards showed concentrations in the range of 0.32 to 5.55 ng/m(3). Emission factors for the recycling process were calculated using the observed concentrations. The estimated emissions according to the emission factors ranged from 0.3×10(-1) to 90.3 kg/year for open-air yards and from 0.1×10(-1) to 292.7 kg/year for the dismantling and crushing processes of TV set, depending on the production year.

Characteristics and emission factors of PCDD/Fs in various industrial wastes in South Korea.

Since South Korea ratified Stockholm Convention in January 2007, there is an obligation to survey the national emission of PCDD/Fs through environmental routes other than the air for taking actions to reduce and/or eliminate the release of PCDD/Fs. In this study, PCDD/F-containing wastes from various industrial emission sources in Korea (n=388) except from incinerators were investigated to elucidate the emission characteristics and their emission factors of PCDD/Fs in each industry. The concentrations of PCDD/Fs in waste samples ranged ND-96,200 ng I-TEQ kg(-1) (or 66,600 ng WHO-TEQ kg(-1)) for solid phase samples and ND-11,100 pg I-TEQL(-1) (or 6800 ng WHO-TEQ L) for liquid samples, respectively. Elevated levels of PCDD/F concentrations and emission factors were found in the wastes from productions of Cu, Al, Zn, Iron/steel, Pb, EDC/VCM/PVC and from waste landfill sites. The wastes from productions of cement (kilns) and acetylene (carbide method) showed elevated levels of PCDD/F emission factors only. The dominant congeners were OCDD, OCDF, 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDF and 1,2,3,4,5,7,8-HpCDD. The PCDF ratios in samples from thermal processes and solid phase samples were 69% and 70%, respectively. The ratio of OCDD congener (about 23.5%) was higher than that of other congeners in both solid and liquid phase wastes. These results can be used as a useful reference for the establishment of the PCDD/F inventory and their management plans.

Static and dynamic flow analysis of PBDEs in plastics from used and end-of-life TVs and computer monitors by life cycle in Korea

This study focused on a quantitative substance flow analysis (SFA) of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in plastics from obsolete TVs and computer monitors that often contain large amounts of the flame retardants. According to the results of the static SFA study, 1.87 tons and 0.28 tons of PBDEs from newly manufactured TVs and computer monitors were introduced into households in 2011 in Korea, respectively. There were approximately 924 tons and 90.3 tons of PBDEs present in TVs and computer monitors in households during product use, respectively. The results of the dynamic SFA study indicated that in 2017 the amount of PBDEs from TVs and computer monitors in the recycling stage is expected to be 2.63 tons and 0.1 tons, respectively. Large fractions of PBDEs from used TVs are present in recycled plastics, while PBDE-containing computer monitors are exported to Southeast Asian countries. This research indicates that PBDEs were emitted the most from recycled plastic pellet processes upon recycling. Further study may be warranted to focus the flow of PBDEs in recycled plastic products in order to determine the final destination and disposal of these chemicals in the environment.

Study on mercury concentrations of freshwater fish from Lake An-dong and its upper stream

In this study, mercury concentrations in freshwater fish from Lake An-dong basin were investigated and were compared with the results of the national freshwater fish monitoring survey. The mercury concentrations of fish from Lake An-dong were in the range of 37~611 ng/g and Korean piscivorous chub, the top predator showed the highest average mercury concentrations, . Most of fish caught from upstream of Lake An-dong were herbivorous and omnivorous, and goby minnow and pale chub showed relatively lower mercury concentrations of and , respectively. Especially, mercury concentrations of long nosed barbel and largemouth bass caught from Lake An-dong were found to be higher than those of the average of the national survey monitoring data.

Study on distribution characteristics of brominated flame retardants in sediments

Total 11 samples of sediments from the Geum river and the Nakdong river and its estuaries were analyzed to investigate the distribution characteristics of PBDEs and HBCD. Concentration of PBDEs in sediments ranged from 2.19~101.34 (average 30.70, median 20.91) ng/g-dw. The concentration range of PBDEs in river sediments is greater than those of estuary sediments. The HBCD concentration was ranged from N.D.~7.85 (average 1.47, median 0.32) ng/g-dw. HBCD concentrations compared with PBDEs are approximately 1/20 level, which is associated with low domestic usage. Isomer patterns of PBDEs and HBCD suggested that not only the use of commercial products, but the physicochemical properties of these materials, environmental degradation, and environmental behavior could affect the distribution characteristics of these chemicals and their isomers.

Analytical method for combustible waste contaminated by the HF leakage from industrial process

Abstract: Hydrofluoric acid (HF), a typical inorganic acid, has been used in the industry for its various usageand classified as the toxic compound, because it can cause the pneumonia and pulmonary edema when it wasexposed to respiratory organs. The official environmental analytical method for fluorine and its compound inwaste has not been developed. For this reason, we have faced some problem to treat the contaminated wastesby the HF leakage from industrial process. In this study, prepared for analytical method for combustible waste(crop, trees, etc.) generated from HF leaking accident and to be applied as the official analytical method forfluorine contaminated waste when the fluorine and its compound will be regulated as a hazardous materialby the waste management law later.요약: 불화수소는 유리의 식각, 금속의 녹 제거 등 산업계에서 많이 사용되는 대표적인 무기산이며 노출 시 눈, 코, 목안을 강하게 자극하고, 흡입 시 폐렴, 폐수종 기관지염을 일으키는 대표적인 유독물질에해당하는 화학물질로 구분되어 있다. 현행 폐기물공정시험기준에는 불소화합물에 대한 함량분석방법이마련되어 있지 않아 최근 발생된 불화수소 누출사고로 발생된 불산에 오염된 농작물, 수목 등 가연성 폐기물의 신속하고 안전한 처리방법 마련에 어려움을 겪었다. 본 연구에서는 불화수소 누출사고로 발생된가연성 폐기물(농작물, 수목 등) 중 불소 및 불소화합물의 함량분석방법 마련을 통해 폐기물의 불산 오염여부를 판단하고 적절한 폐기물 처리방법을 제시하고, 향후 이 방법을 폐기물 관리법상에 지정폐기물에 함유된 유해물질로 불소 및 불소화합물에 대한 항목 추가 시 폐기물공정시험기준으로 활용하고자 한다.Key words: Hydrofluoric acid (HF), leaking accident, combustible waste, analytical method

Content characteristics of persistent organic pollutants waste from paint, iron making and steel making process

This study has been carried out in order to effectively manage three groups of unregulated hazardous organic substances (PCDD/DFs, PAHs, PCBs) in South Korea. The investigated substances have been analyzed according to the test methods for hazardous substances in specified wastes provided by the National Institute of Environmental Research, Korea. Total contents of the organic compounds have been determined for hazardous wastes from three major industrial categories (paint, iron removal, steelmaking), such as waste organic solvent, waste paint or dust. By investigating the waste samples for 7 PAHs using GC/MSD, Naphthalene has been detected (N.D~1631.33 mg/kg). The highest Naphthalene concentration, which exceeded the korean marine dumping waste standard, was found in waste organic solvents and waste paints. Although a content analysis of 7 PCB isomers has been conducted, none of these compounds was detected. The analysis of PCDD/DFs has revealed that all samples meet the criterion for low POP content defined in the technical guidelines developed under the Basel Convention. The PCDD/DFs content in dust samples deriving from 10 manufacturing processes (billet, bloom) was determined to be in the range of N.D~5.66 ng I-TEQ/g waste.

Estimation of conbined uncertainty for dioxin reference materials from the fly ash

This study was performed to validate reference materials (RMs) for proficiency testing (PT) in waste inter-laboratories. Dioxin RMs were prepared from fly ash in industrial incinerators. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) of analytical results were 2.6~15.7% for the dioxin RMs in 10 replicates (between and withinbottles). Data were collected and statistical analysis was performed by the One-way ANOVA test. The combined uncertainties of target isomers in dioxin analysis were 0.114~7.091.