The increasing cancer risk (CR) due to sediment- and soil-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is a major threat to public health. The CR of sediment- and soil-bound carcinogenic PAHs was estimated for the first time in coastal and residential areas near an industrial zone in Korea. Monte Carlo probabilistic simulations and sensitivity tests were conducted to calculate the CR and to identify the most sensitive parameters. The CR was found to be highest in the coastal areas of Korea. Ulsan, which is located on the southeastern coast of Korea, was classified as a high cancer risk zone according to United States Environmental Protection Agency standards, while the western coast and Mohang Harbor were classified as moderate cancer risk zones. Fish consumption was identified as the main contributor (94–99%) to the total risk levels in the coastal areas. The biota-to-sediment accumulation factor (43–76%) and PAH levels (8–44%) in sediment were identified as the parameters that were most sensitive to the CR. In the residential area, the CR was found to be within the range of 10-6 to 10-4, which categorized it as a low cancer risk zone. Furthermore, the CR for residents in the industrial area was estimated to be 12 and 5 times higher than that for residents in the rural and urban areas, respectively. The exposure duration (55–85%) and skin adherence factor for soil (35–42%) were identified as the most sensitive parameters for the overall CR in the residential area. Korea generally has high fish and seafood consumption, which has been recognized as the most significant exposure route for CR in coastal areas. Thus, the consumption of fish and seafood from coastal areas, especially those near Ulsan, might be responsible for the increasing number of cancer patients in Korea.

中文翻译：

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韩国沿海地区沉积物和土壤中多环芳烃的癌症风险水平

由于沉积物和土壤中的多环芳烃 (PAH)，癌症风险 (CR) 的增加是对公共健康的主要威胁。首次在韩国工业区附近的沿海和住宅区估计了沉积物和土壤结合的致癌多环芳烃的 CR。进行了蒙特卡罗概率模拟和灵敏度测试以计算 CR 并确定最敏感的参数。发现 CR 在韩国沿海地区最高。根据美国环境保护署的标准，位于韩国东南沿海的蔚山被列为高癌症风险区，而西海岸和磨杭港则被列为中等癌症风险区。鱼类消费被确定为沿海地区总风险水平的主要贡献者（94-99%）。沉积物中的生物群对沉积物积累因子（43-76%）和 PAH 水平（8-44%）被确定为对 CR 最敏感的参数。在住宅区，CR 被发现在 10-6 到 10-4 的范围内，将其归类为低癌症风险区。此外，工业区居民的 CR 估计分别是农村和城市居民的 12 倍和 5 倍。暴露持续时间 (55-85%) 和土壤的皮肤粘附因子 (35-42%) 被确定为住宅区整体 CR 的最敏感参数。韩国的鱼类和海鲜消费量普遍较高，已被公认为沿海地区 CR 最重要的暴露途径。因此，食用来自沿海地区，尤其是蔚山附近地区的鱼类和海鲜，可能是韩国癌症患者数量增加的原因。