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2025 Vol.30, Issue 5 Preview Page
Selection of Management Measures for Heavy Metal Pollution and Human Health Risk Assessment in Soil Environments Near Abandoned Coal Mines

폐석탄광산 인근 토양 환경 내 중금속 오염 및 인체위해성평가를 통한 관리방안 선정

Park Pansoo1
,
Chae Doohyun12*
,
Park Seungho3
,
Sung Changyoung4
박판수 1
,
채두현 12*
,
박승호 3
,
성찬경 4
1Department of Environmental Engineering, University of Seoul 02504, Korea
2Gyeonggi Research Institute of Environmental Sciences 12982, Korea
3Department of Energy & Mineral Resources Engineering, Sejong University, Seoul 05006, Korea
4Oceanic Co., Ltd., Gangneung-si 25491, Korea
1서울시립대학교 환경공학부
2재단법인 경기환경과학연구원
3세종대학교 에너지자원공학과
4주식회사 오셔닉
*Corresponding Author
31 October 2025. pp. 58-66
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Abstract

This study evaluated heavy metal (As, Cd, Cu, Zn) contamination levels in paddy field soils near 11 abandoned coal mines and conducted deterministic and probabilistic human health risk assessments centered on rice consumption pathways. In some areas, As exceeded the concern level (25 mg/kg) by up to 2.84 times (maximum 71.0 mg/kg), and Cd exceeded 4 mg/kg by up to 1.88 times (maximum 7.52 mg/kg). Based on the deterministic median (P50) criterion, the HI(Hazard Index) for adults was 2.38 and the CR(Cancer Risk)(inorganic As, iAs) was 3.7 × 10-4 (site exceedance rate: HI>1 was 99.8%, CR > 1 × 10-4 was 99.6%). For children, the HI was 3.87 and the CR was 6.0 × 10-4, both higher than for adults. Probabilistic analysis showed that the P95 of HI and CR exceeded the criteria at multiple sites, with exceedance probabilities generally calculated at over 90%. Grading results indicated that the priority management category C grade accounted for 80.9%, confirming the urgency of management. The probabilistic assessment was limited to inorganic arsenic(iAs) and Cd (rice consumption pathway). Cu and Zn were excluded from quantitative risk calculation due to HQ(Hazard Quotient) < 1 and data uncertainty. This study confirmed that inorganic-Arsenic(iAs) dominates the risk in the rice pathway and proposed phased management strategies for priority sites, including soil As reduction and improvements in PF(Processing Factor) during cooking and milling processes.

Keywords
Abandoned coal mine
Deterministic assessment
Probabilistic assessment
Risk assessment
Priority management level
Sensitivity analysis
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Information
  • Publisher :The Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국지하수토양환경학회
  • Journal Title :Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
  • Journal Title(Ko) :지하수토양환경
  • Volume : 30
  • No :5
  • Pages :58-66
  • Received Date : 2025-08-30
  • Revised Date : 2025-09-05
  • Accepted Date : 2025-10-03
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.7857/JSGE.2025.30.5.058
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