• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.37-48
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• 2011

Some industrial minerals used in domestic industries such as monazite, apatite, bauxite, and ilmenite belong to NORM (Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials) because they show a high radioactivity. Products, semi-products, wastes, and by-products which show higher radioactivity than NORM belong to TENORM (Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials). Apatite used for manufacturing phosphate fertilizer in Namhae Chemical company belongs to NORM, and its by-product, phospo-gypsum, belongs to TENORM. A geological investigation is needed for the future environmental impact assessment of the Namhae Chemical company's site. According to survey results of the Namhae Chemical company's site, soil mineral composition indicated the mixture of minerals derived from the country rock (quartz, feldspar, mica, $l4{\AA}$ mineral, kaolin and amphibole) and minerals from the gypsum open-air storage yard (gypsum and apatite). Soil samples showed average content of U 4.6 ppm and Th 10 ppm, which are similar to average crustal abundances. They also show average contents of $^{40}K$ 191-1,166 Bq/kg, $^{226}Ra$ 15.6-710 Bq/kg, and $^{232}Th$ 17.4-72.7 Bq/kg, which indicate moderate levels of radio nuclide. But $^{226}Ra$ anomaly in the gypsum open storage yard is clearly confirmed and $^{232}Th$ anomaly is also confirmed in the east road side of the factory and nearby mountain areas. Soil external hazard indices ranged 0.24-2.01 with the average 0.54. Although most external hazard indices were lower than 1, which means radiation hazard index to be negligible, 5 samples out of total 40 samples showed higher values than 1, and further detailed investigation is needed.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.565-583
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• 2020

In recent years, various social issues related to the natural radioactive elements detected in household goods and building materials are addressed, and should be solved promptly. In Korea, for more than 20 years, the Ministry of Environment has investigated the natural radioactive materials such as heavy metals, uranium, and radon in soil or groundwater. The origins of natural radioactive materials in them may have a close correlation with the geological factors including classification of rocks, petrogenetic origins, and deformation characteristics, but the exact geological correlations are not clarified because of the absence of the government policy preserved in the basement rocks, soils as well as groundwater in fault-related reservoirs. This study aims to perform a research on the correlation between the petrogeneses of the Phanerozoic plutonic rocks and natural radioactive concentrations in rocks (radon, uranium, thorium, potassium etc.) in Korea. Among the Phanerozoic plutonic rocks, alkaline plutonic rocks (syenite, monzonite and monzodiorite and alkali granite) show high U and Th concentrations by high solubilities of U, Th, Zr, REE, and Nb until the most extreme stages of magmatic fractionation (viz. crystal fractionation) due to high magma temperature and high alkalinity tendency. The highly fractionated high-K calalkaline and peraluminous granitic rocks (leucogranite, two-mica granite and leucocratic pegmatite are also U and Th concentrations compared with other less or medium fractionated granitic rocks (diorite, granodiorite and granite). The alkaline plutonic rocks are associated with intracontinental rifting and extensional environment after crustal thickening by collisional and subductional processes. In contrast, the dominant calc-alkaline granitic rocks in Korea are related to the arc environment of the subduction zone. In summary, the trends of the U, Th and K concentration from the Phanerozoic plutonic rocks in Korea are closely linked to the petrogenesis of the rocks in tectonic environment. The preliminary data for gamma-spectrometric mesurments of natural radionuclide contents (²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K) in the Phanerozoic plutonic rocks show high values in the alkaline and highly fractionated granitic rocks.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.347-362
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• 2020

Iron (hydro)oxides in aqueous environments are primarily formed due to mining activities, and they are known to be typical colloidal particles disturbing surrounding environments. Among them, hematites are widespread in surface environments, and their behavior is controlled by diverse factors in aqueous environments. This study was conducted to elucidate the effect of environmental factors, such as ionic composition and strength, pH, and natural organic matter (NOM) on the behavior of colloidal hematite particles. In particular, two analytical methods, such as dynamic light scattering (DLS) and single-particle ICP-MS (spICP-MS), were compared to quantify and characterize the behavior of colloidal hematites. According to the variation of ionic composition and strength, the aggregation/dispersion characteristics of the hematite particles were affected as a result of the change in the thickness of the diffuse double layer as well as the total force of electrostatic repulsion and van der Walls attraction. Besides, the more dispersed the particles were, the farther away the aqueous pH was from their point of zero charge (PZC). The results indicate that the electrostatic and steric (structural) stabilization of the particles was enhanced by the functional groups of the natural organic matter, such as carboxyl and phenolic, as the NOM coated the surface of colloidal hematite particles in aqueous environments. Furthermore, such coating effects seemed to increase with decreasing molar mass of NOM. On the contrary, these stabilization (dispersion) effects of NOM were much more diminished by divalent cations such as Ca²⁺ than monovalent ones (Na⁺), and it could be attributed to the fact that the former acted as bridges much more strongly between the NOM-coated hematite particles than the latter because of the relatively larger ionic potential of the former. Consequently, it was quantitatively confirmed that the behavior of colloidal hematites in aqueous environments was significantly affected by diverse factors, such as ionic composition and strength, pH, and NOM. Among them, the NOM seemed to be the primary and dominant one controlling the behavior of hematite colloids. Meanwhile, the results of the comparative study on DLS and spICPMS suggest that the analyses combining both methods are likely to improve the effectiveness on the quantitative characterization of colloidal behavior in aqueous environments because they showed different strengths: the main advantage of the DLS method is the speed and ease of the operation, while the outstanding merit of the spICP-MS are to consider the shape of particles and the type of aggregation.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.629-642
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• 2023

Currently, low and intermediate level radioactive waste is being disposed of at the Gyeongju disposal site for permanent isolation. Since 2006, the Korea Radioactive Waste Agency has been conducting site characteristics surveys continuously verifying changes in the site based on the site monitoring and investigation plan. The hydrogeochemical environment of the disposal site is considered for the evaluation of natural barriers. However, the seawater must be considered because of the regional characteristics of Gyeongju, which is near the East Sea. Therefore, this study, collected 30 samples for deriving the groundwater quality data from seven wells and compared with two seawater samples collected from October 2017 to June 2022. Additionally, the study explores the groundwater monitoring method using statistical tools such as clustering and background concentration analysis. The groundwater samples in the study area were classified into two to four clusters depending on their chemical constituents-especially, EC, HCO₃, Na, and Cl-using statistical analysis, molar ratio, and K-means clustering.

• Journal of Naturopathy
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.18-30
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• 2022

Background: It was to develop an air purification system (APS) using an underground air purification layer to verify the effect of basalt forest's underground air (sumgol) on a volcanic Jeju. Finally, it is necessary to analyze these purified air components and their usefulness to the human body in an air experience center. Purpose: It was to collect basalt forest air, analyze its composition, and explore its effect on the human body. Methods: We APS devices installed at four points in the Papaville area of Jeju. The air discharged from the APS was collected and analyzed the recycling components. An installed experience room filled with negative ions is about 5,000 ions/m³. After allowing the participants to stay for 60 to 120 minutes, we investigated the state of blood vessels. Results: In the analysis of the underground air, the O₂ concentration was 21.18%, which was higher than the average oxygen concentration of 20.94% in the atmosphere. However, Formaldehyde was not detected, and the CO₂ was 419 ppm, which was lower than that of indoor air. The PM2.5 concentration was less than 24 ㎍/m³ and detected anions over 5.000 /m³. The experiencer's vascular states improved, and the increase in pulse rate and stress relief were high. Conclusions: The valuable ingredients identified by analyzing the air were precious for natural healing. The experience results showed that it effectively improved the pulse rate, blood vessels, and stress. These conditions may be highly beneficial as a new area for expanding the basalt lava forest in the Jeju area into the natural healing and wellness industry.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Hazard Mitigation
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.129-134
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• 2009

As a result of improved wastewater treatment facilities, the point source pollution emitted from human and municipal wastes is greatly decreasing. Conversely, the non-point source (NPS) pollution emanated from city streets, rural homes, suburban development, animal feedlot, croplands, and forestry is rapidly increasing. Practically, the main concern of the government is to control NPS pollutants by means of establishing a long term plan in order to protect the aqua-ecosystem. Studies have been conducted to assess the intensity of NPS from various landuses. In Korea, the data on NPS pollutant loadings are limited to few and broadly categorized landuses unlike in USA wherein specific landuses are available. This research aims to characterize the wash-off characteristics of NPS pollutants from forest landuse. Two sites were monitored during 15 storm events from 04/2008 to 10/2008. Mean $BOD_5$ EMCs are 1.13 mg/L and 0.91 mg/L for the two sites, respectively. The results of this research will be a helpful contribution for the assessment of total NPS pollutant loadings.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.1 no.1 s.1
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• pp.1-29
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• 1986

The guidelines and regulations that have revised by World Health Organization, the United States of America, Canada and Japan were reviewed for standards relevant to health of the people. The substances and parameters were discussed. Various standards were presented and recent changes in policies were relighted with their scientific information.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.51-58
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• 2000

This study was performed to accumulate database for natural sulfur emissions in the Yellow Sea region of Korea. The atmospheric concentrations of dimethylsulfide(DMS) were measured during two intensive field experiments (April and September 1999) from Duk-Juk Island located in the Yellow Sea. Ship-measurement of DMS was made additionally between Chungdo(China) and Inchun(Korea) across the Yellow Sea during June 1999. The mean(and ISD) of DMS concentrations in Duk-Juk Island during two field campaigns was $24.0{\pm}40.5$(n=40, April) and $61.1{\pm}37.9$ pptv(n=35, September), respectively. The atmospheric DMS measured from ship experiments was generally low and close to the background concentrations in the open sea area. The temporal distributions of DMS concentration were complicated in some sense but comparable to those of ambient meteorological parameters. On the basis of our measurements of atmospheric DMS(and evidence found from previous studies), the sea-to-air flux of DMS in the Yellow Sea is estimated to be about 4Gg S/yr. This amount of natural S emissions is relatively lower than the estimates derived for Cheju Island. Therefore, additional experiments may be desperate to derive more reliable figures for natural sulfur emissions in the Yellow Sea region.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.389-397
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• 2014

An absorption chiller-heater using only a natural refrigerant hardly causes any environmental pollution. In an absorption chiller-heater, the performance of its high-temperature generator, which uses exhaust gases, is essential to achieving superior system performance. To investigate the performance of such a high-temperature generator, a laboratory-scale high-temperature generator working with exhaust gases was designed and tested. Changes in the performance of the high-temperature generator as a function of inlet conditions of the absorbing solution, such as air inlet temperature and mass flow, were investigated. It was observed that when the air mass flow rate ratio was increased from 80% to 120%, the heat capacity was increased by 30%, 33%, 34%, and 37%, respectively. Additionally, when the air inlet temperature was elevated from $170^{\circ}C$ to $210^{\circ}C$ for absorption solution concentrations of 56%, 55%, 545, and 53%, the heat capacity increased by 140%, 160%, 220%, and 224%, respectively.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.36 no.10
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• pp.719-723
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• 2014

For effective implementation of total maximum daily load (TMDL), this study presented the improving plans of non-point source pollution management including the classification of non-point source pollution, calculation of non-point source pollution load (generated, discharged), selection of non-point source pollution management regions and management of non-point source pollutant. First of all, the definition of point source pollution and non-point source pollution based on the legal and scientific viewpoint should be precisely classified and managed. Especially, the forest, grassland and river without occurrence of environmental damage by activity of business and human should be separately classified natural background pollutants. The unit for generated and discharged non-point source pollution should be preferentially changed according to actual condition of watershed. The calculation methods of generated and discharged non-point source pollution should be corrected consideration on the amount and duration of rainfall. While the TMDL is implemented, non-point source pollution management regions should be selected in the watersheds exceed the targeted water quality standards by the rainfall. The non-point source pollution management regions should be selected in the minimal regions where have high values of discharged non-point source pollution density in the urban area, farmland and site area except forest, grassland in the whole watershed. The non-point source pollutant treatment facilities, which take into consideration non-point source pollution load per unit area, duration of the excess concentration, realizable possibility of treatment, effectiveness of treatment cost versus point source pollutant, should be established in the regions with a large generated non-point source pollution load and a high concentration of water quality exceed the targeted water quality standards by the rainfall.