Geographical Distribution and Risk Assessment of Volatile Organic Compounds in Tributaries of the Han River Watershed

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), with negative impacts on the aquatic ecosystem, are increasingly released into environment by anthropogenic activities. Water samples were collected from five areas of Han River Watershed (HRW) tributaries, South Korea, to detect 11 VOCs, which classified as halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbons (HAHs) and aromatic (AHs). Among 1,1-dichloroethylene, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, vinyl chloride undetected. The highest concentration chloroform (0.0596 ± 0.1312 µg/L), trichloroethylene (0.0253 0.0781 toluene (0.0054 0.0139 µg/L). mean (0.0234 µg/L) detection frequency (37.0%) HAHs higher than those AHs (0.0036 µg/L, 21.0%, respectively). Imjin Hantan area exhibited (0.2432 (22.9%), because it is located near industrial complexes, thus, highlighting their role important VOC sources. However, detected VOCs had lower concentrations permitted EU, WHO, USA, Korea drinking water guidelines. Ecological risks associated estimated risk quotient (RQ); consequently, predicted no-effect was 0.0029 mg/L, styrene RQ values >1 >0.5, respectively. findings may facilitate policymakers in designing pollution control strategies.