Skip to main content
Home

Dedicated to discovery

  • Company
    • About us
    • Careers
    • Events
  • Support
    • Laboratory Planning
    • Register a Product
    • Register Your Product (USA & Canada Only)
  • Contact
  • U.S.A.
  • Deutschland
  • España
  • France
  • Italia
  • Brasil
  • 日本
  • 中国
Home
  • Products
    • PURELAB®
      • PURELAB® Quest
      • PURELAB® Pharma Compliance
      • PURELAB® Chorus 1 Complete
      • PURELAB® Chorus 1
      • PURELAB® Chorus 2
      • PURELAB® Chorus 2 +
      • PURELAB® Chorus 3
      • PURELAB® flex 1
      • PURELAB® flex 2
      • PURELAB® flex 3
      • PURELAB® flex 4
      • PURELAB® flex 5
    • CENTRA®
      • CENTRA® R60/120
      • CENTRA® R200
      • CENTRA® RDS
    • MEDICA®
      • MEDICA® 7/15
      • MEDICA® Pro-R & Pro-RE
      • MEDICA® R200
      • MEDICA® EDI 15/30
      • MEDICA® Pro-LPS
      • MEDICA® Pro EDI 60/120
      • MEDICA® BIOX
      • Hubgrade
    • BIOPURE®
      • BIOPURE® 300/600
    • ELGA Full Product Range
      • PURELAB® Classic
  • Applications
    • Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy
    • Cell and Tissue Culture
    • Clinical Biochemistry
    • Electrochemistry
    • Gas Chromatography
    • General lab water requirement
    • Immunochemistry
    • Liquid Chromatography
    • Mass Spectrometry
    • Microbiology
    • Molecular Biology
    • Spectrophotometry
  • Technologies
    • Activated Carbon
    • Electrodeionization (EDI)
    • Filtration
    • Ion Exchange
    • PureSure
    • Reverse Osmosis
    • Ultraviolet
  • Impurities In Water
    • Dissolved Gases
    • Inorganic Compounds
    • Microorganisms & Bacteria
    • Organic Compounds
    • Particulates
  • Knowledge
    • Blog
    • Case Studies
    • Ultrapure water
    • Guides and White Papers
  • Where to buy
  • Contact us
Home
  • Contact us
  • Products
    • PURELAB®
      • PURELAB® Quest
      • PURELAB® Pharma Compliance
      • PURELAB® Chorus 1 Complete
      • PURELAB® Chorus 1
      • PURELAB® Chorus 2
      • PURELAB® Chorus 2 +
      • PURELAB® Chorus 3
      • PURELAB® flex 1
      • PURELAB® flex 2
      • PURELAB® flex 3
      • PURELAB® flex 4
      • PURELAB® flex 5
    • CENTRA®
      • CENTRA® R60/120
      • CENTRA® R200
      • CENTRA® RDS
    • MEDICA®
      • MEDICA® 7/15
      • MEDICA® Pro-R & Pro-RE
      • MEDICA® R200
      • MEDICA® EDI 15/30
      • MEDICA® Pro-LPS
      • MEDICA® Pro EDI 60/120
      • MEDICA® BIOX
      • Hubgrade
    • BIOPURE®
      • BIOPURE® 300/600
    • ELGA Full Product Range
      • PURELAB® Classic
  • Applications
    • Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy
    • Cell and Tissue Culture
    • Clinical Biochemistry
    • Electrochemistry
    • Gas Chromatography
    • General lab water requirement
    • Immunochemistry
    • Liquid Chromatography
    • Mass Spectrometry
    • Microbiology
    • Molecular Biology
    • Spectrophotometry
  • Technologies
    • Activated Carbon
    • Electrodeionization (EDI)
    • Filtration
    • Ion Exchange
    • PureSure
    • Reverse Osmosis
    • Ultraviolet
  • Impurities In Water
    • Dissolved Gases
    • Inorganic Compounds
    • Microorganisms & Bacteria
    • Organic Compounds
    • Particulates
  • Knowledge
    • Blog
    • Case Studies
    • Ultrapure water
    • Guides and White Papers
  • Where to buy
  • Contact us
  • Company
    • About us
    • Careers
    • Events
  • Support
    • Laboratory Planning
    • Register a Product
    • Register Your Product (USA & Canada Only)
  • Contact
  • U.S.A.
  • Deutschland
  • España
  • France
  • Italia
  • Brasil
  • 日本
  • 中国
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Global Legal Compliance
  • Patents
  • Trademarks
  • Impressum

Let's talk about lab water

  • Categories
    • Analytical Chemistry
    • Biotechnology
    • Clinical & Pharma
    • Cool Science
    • Environment & Sustainability
    • Future Science
    • Life in The Lab
    • Life Science Results
    • PURELAB Product Design
    • Science of the Future
    • Water In The Lab
    • Water Purity
  • Authors
    • ELGA Editorial Team_cloned
    • ELGA Editorial Team
    • Natasha Zarach
    • Dr Paul Whitehead
    • Dr Alison Halliday
    • John Walker
Environment & Sustainability

Monitoring the quality of drinking water in South Korea

4 Jul 2022
- by ELGA Editorial Team

Monitoring the quality of drinking water in South KoreaThe leaching of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from industrial or agricultural areas into drinking water poses a risk to human health. Understanding how the level of contamination changes over time and across different geographical regions can help to identify and mitigate risk, as well as pinpoint potential sources of VOCs. Researchers in South Korea have completed a study to validate the concentration of 17 problematic VOCs in various tributaries in the Han River Basin, which contains vast amounts of agriculture and industry, and supplies water to millions of people in the region.

VOCs are carbon-containing chemicals with high vapor pressures under normal conditions, and can be toxic to human health. VOCs are used widely in industry and agriculture, and there is a risk of these compounds leaching into surface and groundwater systems during manufacturing, transportation, storage, use, disposal and handling. The ingestion of VOCs over a prolonged period has been linked to disorders of the immune, nervous and reproductive systems, as well as several cancers. Given their toxicity, the World Health Organization (WHO) has established guidelines for maximum lifetime consumption of VOCs, putting pressure on governments and regulators to monitor levels in sources of drinking water.

Most of the drinking water in Korea comes from surface water sources – such as rivers and streams – which are often surrounded by urbanized or agricultural areas, making them particularly susceptible to pollution by VOCs. The Han River Basin, for example, is the largest and most important source of water for the entire Seoul metropolitan area and Gyeonggi Province in South Korea, serving approximately 26 million people. A combined research team from the National Institute of Environmental Research, Baylor University and Seoul National University has therefore conducted a study to determine the levels of VOCs in the river’s various tributaries and assess the associated risks.
 

Sample preparation, processing and analysis

Surface water samples were collected from a depth of 20 cm at 36 sites along the Han River’s tributaries in June, August and October 2017. In these locations, 24 sewage treatment plants (STPs) and seven industrial wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) were identified as potential sources of VOCs. A gas chromatograph mass spectrometer (GC-MS) was used to investigate a total of 17 target compounds in each sample. Fresh working solutions for sample spiking were made up using ultrapure deionized water obtained from ELGA PURELAB® DV35.

To determine ecological risk, the highest measured concentration was divided by the predicted no-effect concentration, a value derived from dividing the toxicity factor by the assessment factor, based on guidance from the European Commission.  MEC / PNEC Ecotoxicity data on freshwater algae, crustaceans, and fish was taken from the US Environmental Protection Agency to determine at what concentrations VOCs would impact life.
 

The results

Seven of the 17 target VOCs – including cis-1,2-dichloroethene, trans-1,2-dichloroethene, hexachlorobutadiene, 1,2-dichloropropane, heptane, 1,3-diethylbenzene, 1,4-diethylbenzene – were detected in the samples, while the remaining 10 were absent from all samples. The concentration of the VOCs varied between 0.0006 to 1.8131 µg/l−1, with 1,2-dichloropropane being found most frequently (0.0022-0.4580 µg/l−1). 1,2-dichloropropane was also the only VOC to significantly correlate with temporal distribution, showing a maximum concentration in August of 0.1001 ±0.3012 µg/l−1. The Hantan-Imjin rivers and areas of industrial complex streams were the most contaminated, which is likely to be the result of industrial activity, as well as other possible sources of contamination including STPs and WWTPs. Overall, the concentrations of VOCs were similar to those found in studies conducted on other rivers and in other countries, and were estimated to pose a very low ecological risk.
 

Future applications

The concentrations of VOCs in surface and groundwater sources that form municipal drinking water supplies need to be monitored over time and across different geographical regions. This will help to ensure that levels remain within the guidelines for safe human consumption, particularly in changing landscapes with areas of significant industrialization or agriculture.


Why choose ELGA LabWater?

The presence of impurities in laboratory water can be a major problem in research experiments, and can seriously compromise results. ELGA LabWater has been a trusted name in pure and ultrapure water since 1937. We believe in providing you with water purification solutions that can meet a wide range of needs and applications, backed by excellent service and support. For more information on our Type I ultrapure water systems, check out our PURELAB Quest, PURELAB Chorus 1 Complete and our PURELAB flex models.

 

Quest Download

PURELAB Quest

The only purifier on the market that dispenses all 3 types of science ready water from a compact, economical and easy to use system!

             Click Here To Find Out More

 

Explore more from our blog

27 Mar 2023
How does a plant-based diet affect the mineral content of breast milk?
9 Mar 2023
Identifying antibacterial compounds in industrial hemp
27 Feb 2023
Single-cell suspensions from the human placenta
16 Jan 2023
Measuring the effects of indoor air pollution
10 Jan 2023
A novel approach to wound healing
12 Dec 2022
3D bioprinting probiotics capsules
4 Nov 2022
Wie mikrobielle Brennstoffzellen zur Lösung von zwei dringenden globalen Umweltproblemen beitragen könnten
24 Oct 2022
New ‘designer drug’ identified in e-cigarettes

Blog Categories

  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Biotechnology
  • Clinical & Pharma
  • Cool Science
  • Environment & Sustainability
  • Future Science
  • Life in The Lab
  • Life Science Results
  • PURELAB Product Design
  • Science of the Future
  • Water In The Lab
  • Water Purity
  • Enquiry
  • Get a Quote
  • Book a Demo
  • Find an Approved Partner

Enquiry

Please check this to confirm that you have read our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Get a Quote

Please check this to confirm that you have read our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Book a Demo

Please check this to confirm that you have read our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Call us

Can't find what you are looking for?

Support Number
+44 (0)20 3567 7300
United Kingdom Sales
+44 (0)1628 879 704
United States of America Sales
+1 877-315-3542
France Sales
+33 1 40 83 65 00
China Sales
+86 400-616-8882

 

ELGA LabWater US Headquarters

ELGA LabWater North America
5 Earl Ct Suite 100
Woodridge, IL 60517
USA

Tel: 630-343-5251

ELGA LabWater UK Headquarters

Lane End Business Park
Lane End, High Wycombe
HP14 3BY
United Kingdom
T: +44 (0) 203 567 7300
F: +44 (0) 203 567 7205

Case Studies

  • Abbott Diagnostics
  • DASA Medical Diagnostics
  • NeoDIN Medical Institute
  • North Staffordshire NHS Trust
  • Olsberg Vocational College

Resources

  • Learn About Ultrapure Water
  • Guides and White Papers
  • Purification Technologies
  • Applications
  • Impurities In Water

Blogs

  • Latest Blog
  • Water Purity - Different Types of Pure Water
  • What is Clinical Laboratory Reagent Water (CLSI)?
  • What is Total Organic Carbon (TOC)?

© VWS (UK) Ltd. trading as ELGA LabWater. 2023 - All rights reserved.
ELGA is the global laboratory water brand name of Veolia.

  • Privacy policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Global Legal Compliance
  • Patents
  • Trademarks
  • Impressum
  • Language
    • Deutsch
    • English
    • Español
    • Français
    • Italiano
    • Português
    • 日本語
    • 中文
  • Other Veolia Sites
    • Veolia
    • Veolia Foundation
    • Veolia Water Technologies
Elga Veolia
TOP

© 2017 ELGA Veolia