세척수에 포함된 무기물질의 함량이 먹는 물의 수질기준을 초과하여, 참외 GAP 인증을 받지 못하는 사례가 최근 들어 종종 발생하고 있다. 이에 농업현장에서는 껍질을 제거하여 먹는 참외의 소비특성을 감안하여 세척수 수질기준의 일부를 완화해 줄 것을 요청하고 있다. 이에, 본 연구에서는 성주 지역에서 2017-2019년 GAP 인증 참외의 세척에 이용되는 지하수 142건의 수질자료를 근거로 무기물질 4종(불소, 비소, 철, 망간)의 인체 위해성을 평가 하였다. 연구 결과, 성주 지역 GAP 참외의 세척에 사용 되는 지하수를 음용수 수준으로 섭취하는 우리나라 국민의 4종 무기물질에 대한 HQ는 모두 평균 0.10 이하로 안전한 수준이었다. 특히, 심미적 영향물질인 철, 망간의 경우 성주 지역 지하수를 음용수 수준으로 섭취하는 경우 HQ 가 평균 0.00. 과다노출군의 경우 0.01나타났는데, 일반 참외를 섭취하는 국민의 HQ(평균 0.01, 과다노출군 0.03)보다 낮은 수준이었다. 따라서, 성주 지역 지하수를 GAP 농산물의 세척에 활용하더라도 철, 망간을 포함한 4종 무기 물질이 인체에 미치는 영향은 미미할 것으로 생각된다.

Domestic studies for identification of causality between children exposure to toxic chemicals, such as arsenic (As) and resulted hazardous effects were not implemented. This study was conducted to probabilistically estimate dietary As intake and health risk assessment for young children and all age-specific populations from the consumption of As-contaminated rice of Korea. Arsenic intakes for young children (1 to 6 years old) from As-contaminated rice were higher than other age-specific groups, based on a dose-per-body weight basis. Based on the current EPA cancer slope factor for As, estimated cancer risks (to the skin cancer) associated with dietary intake of As-contaminated rice for 1 to 2 years old group and 3 to years old group are 1.76 per 10,000 and 3.16 per 10,000, respectively, at the 50th percentile. Based on possible reference levels (0.005 mg/kg/day) for children, mean and 95th percentile value of HQ from rice for young children are very below 1.0, which is a regulatory limit of non-carcinogenic risks for human.

Chronic exposure to Arsenic (As) causes significant human health effects including various cancers. Total As concentrations from 300 polished rice samples cultivated near the mining areas in Korea were analyzed to estimate a probabilistic assessment of human health risk from As-contaminated rice. The mean of total As concentrations in rice was 0.09 mg/kg and lognormal distribution model was set for total As concentrations. Human health risk for As in rice was estimated using gender-specific rice consumption data and average daily dose (ADD). While cancer risk (CR) and hazard quotient (HQ) were calculated using oral cancer slope factor (OCSF) and Reference dose (RfD) suggested by the U.S. EPA. Mean of CR posed by total As was 2.16 (for male) and 1.83 (for female) per 10,000. The HQ for general population from rice cultivated near the mining areas in Korea was below 1 as the 50th percentile of general population. However, less than 10% of general population consuming rice cultivated near the mining areas would exceed 1.0. This result is similar with those from each gender-specific group.