`Ulsan Residents Face 20-Time Higher Risk of Cancer`

An expert insisted that the residents of Ulsan are likely to face the high risk of cancer due to the atmospheric volatility organic compounds (VOCs).

According to the Ministry of Environment yesterday, Prof. Lee Byong-Kyoo of Ulsan University (Civil & Environmental Engineering Department) plans to present `research evaluation on the exposure risk to the VOCs in everyday life in Ulsan` at the 12th Environment Congress and Exhibition at Walker Hill Hotel in Seoul beginning on Monday.

Prof. Lee insisted in his research paper which was distributed prior to the presentation that ``according to the research result on the everyday living patterns of 331 Ulsan citizens over 20 year old with the degree of the VOCs in the living quarters, the risk of developing cancer in their 70 year life period by being exposed to VOCs exceeded 20 times higher than the U.S. EPA standard, marking the numerical value of `0.000216`.``

Benzene, the representative VOCs, is included in the automobile exhaust fumes, the factory smoke and paint. Benzene is categorized as a carcinogenic substance.

Prof. Lee said that the carcinogenic risk in the industrial complex during the working hours or outdoor activities was 3 times higher than other cities.

He added that risk of developing cancer while sleeping in new apartments is twice higher than the older apartments due to the exhaustion of carcinogenic VOCs from wallpapers, paint, curtains, and furniture.

Prof. Lee said in his paper that ``in order to lower the risk of cancer due to VOCs, source of VOCs exhaust should be reduced and the indoor should be properly ventilated.``

Jung Young-Gwan yongari@donga.com