• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.77-82
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• 2017

Thus, chemicals are managed under 9 related central government department and 16 relevant laws with program such as Process Safety Management and Offsite Consequence Analysis in korea. Guidelines for set the endpoint concentration for chemcals based on the ERPG-2 (Emergency Response Planning Guidelines-2) and AEGL-2 (Acute Exposure Guidelines Level-2). but ERPG and AEGL do not describe exposure for less than 10 minutes. because of this, each guidelines define criteria differently for short time less than 10 minutes exposure. This indefinite exposure criteria would give rise to a confusion in the chemical plants, and potentially lead to a critical decision making error when accidents happen. In an effort to apply guidelines with evenly-distributed initial time frame, AEGL concentrations within 10 minute exposure time were evaluated by examining statistical regression curves. The results were in good agreement with those from the Probit Function based on each AEGL grade to explain 3 different threshold levels of exposure effects. Resultant re-enforced guidelines for endpoint chemical concentrations are, therefore, to provide powerful tool to assess and manage the risk associated with any potential chemical accidents at an early stage.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.166-174
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• 2021

Objectives: This study aimed to provide temporal Acute Exposure Guideline Levels (AEGL) for a hazardous substance as a pilot study. Methods: As one of the substances designated by the Korea Ministry of Environment as requiring preparations for potential accidents, formaldehyde was selected to estimate the AEGLs. The calculation was based on Haber's formula (Cn×t=k) using valid toxicity data (for humans/animals). A total of 96 points of AEGL levels were provided using an interval of five minutes over eight hours. Results: The AEGL-1 and 2 values were constant for the entire exposure duration at 0.9 ppm and 14 ppm, respectively. The values were obtained from clinical/animal tests, and the adaptation effect after a given exposure duration was also considered. AEGL-3 was based on animal toxicity data, and it was estimated from 127 ppm for the initial five minutes to 35 ppm for eight hours. Conclusions: More specific AEGL levels for formaldehyde could be obtained in this study using toxicity data with Haber's formula. Based on this methodology, it would be also possible to estimate AEGL levels that can be used at the scene of a chemical accident for other substances requiring preparation for potential accidents.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.10
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• pp.308-316
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• 2020

This study attempted to derive an equation for calculating the damage impact distance using CARIS so that local governments can quickly determine evacuation and notification of residents in the event of an ammonia-release accident. Ammonia is an accident-causing substance and one of 16 substances to prepare for resident evacuation. It is the most frequently occurring chemical with 58 chemical accidents from 2014~2019. The study derives an equation for calculating the damage impact distance according to the exposure time of ammonia based on AEGL, an acute exposure standard applicable to the general population, which is includes vulnerable groups such as infants, children and the elderly and designated by the EPA. The calculation formulas for each concentration and exposure time to classify the hazardous area according to AEGL-3 and the semi-dangerous area according to AEGL-2 were derived. A comparison of the relative standard deviation between the damage impact distance values of CARIS revealed that is was in the range of 0~2%. Local governments should consider the actual accident situation and apply the appropriate damage-affected distance calculation formula derived from the study to evacuate residents near the origin of the accident or use for protective measures such as indoor evacuation notification.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.60-71
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• 2023

The purpose of this study is to propose a quantitative toxicity endpoint distance suitable for the initial response of firefighters by comparing and analyzing the commonly applied toxic level of concern (T-LOC), specifically emergency response planning guidelines (ERPG), acute exposure guideline levels (AEGL), and immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH). This is to protect the fire brigade, which responds to toxic chemical accidents first during the golden time. Using areal locations of hazardous atmospheres, a damage prediction program, the amount of leakage for both acidic and basic substances, along with the endpoint distance, were analyzed for alternative accident and worst-case accident scenarios. The results showed that the toxicity endpoint distance, serving as a compromise between Level-3 and Level-2 of T-LOC, was longer than ERPG-3 and shorter than ERPG-2 with IDLH, while its values were analyzed in the order of ERPG-2, AEGL-2, IDLH, AEGL-3, and ERPG-3. It is suggested that the application of IDLH in an emergency (red card) and ERPG-2 endpoint distance in a non-emergency (non-red card) can be utilized for the initial response of the fire brigade.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.39-49
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• 2024

This study aims to propose an improvement of fire safety management plans for buildings, such as apartment complexes and schools, within a 10 km radius of industrial complexes. It utilizes an off-site consequence analysis program to reflect the toxic impact on national industrial complexes and surrounding areas. The ALOHA program was utilized to analyze the impact of toxicity due to a hydrogen chloride leak, a hazardous material. The results showed that the area with AEGL-2 and above ranged from 3.1 km to 10 km, the AEGL-3 area ranged from 1.9 km to 7.3 km. The ASET was measured to be between 3 and 24 minutes. Due to the impact of toxicity, it is necessary to prepare fire safety management plans for buildings, such as apartment complexes and schools that are within a 10 km radius from industrial complexes. These safety plans incorporate the hydrogen chloride risk assessment results, ASET, weather conditions, and coordination with the local community.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.44-54
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• 2018

Objectives: To protect individuals working at the site as well as the surrounding general population from a chemical accident, several emergency exposure guidance levels have been used to set a level of concern for certain chemicals. However, a level of concern has not been established for many substances that are frequently used or produced in large quantities in Korean workplaces. In the present study, we investigated the guidance levels for protecting populations from chemical exposure and the estimation of level of concern using acute inhalation and oral toxicity data. Methods: The number of chemicals to which emergency exposure guidance levels (e.g., ERPG-2, AEGL-2, PAC-2, and IDLH) can be applied were determined among 822 hazardous chemicals according to the 'Technical Guidelines for the Selection of Accident Scenarios (revised December 2016)'. The ERPG and AEGL values were compared across all three tiers for the 31 substances that appeared on both lists. We examined the degree of difference between the emergency exposure guidance levels and the estimates of level of concern calculated from acute inhalation or acute oral toxicity data. Results: Among the 822 hazardous chemicals, emergency exposure guidance levels can be applied to 359 substances, suggesting that the estimates of level of concern should be calculated using acute toxicity data for 56.3% of the hazardous chemicals. When comparing the concordance rates of ERPG and AEGL for 31 substances, the difference between the two criteria was generally small. However, about 40% of the substances have values diverging by more than three-fold in at least one tier. Such discrepancies may cause interpretation and communication problems in risk management. The emergency exposure guidance levels were similar to the estimates of level of concern calculated using acute inhalation toxicity data, but the differences were significant when using acute oral toxicity data. These results indicate that the level of concern derived from acute oral toxicity data may be insufficient to protect the population in some cases. Conclusion: Our study suggests that the development of standardized guidance values for emergency chemical exposure in the Korean population should be encouraged. It is also necessary to analyze acute toxicity data and fill the information gaps for substances that are important in Korean workplace situations.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.703-712
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• 2021

In this study, a formula was derived to calculate the damage impact distance using the Chemical Accident Response Information System (CARIS) so that local governments can decide on the evacuation and notification of 13 types of substances. The National Institute of Chemical Safety selected 16 out of 97 types of accident preparedness substances in 2018 and called them residents' evacuation preparedness substances. In a chemical accident, local governments should prepare for resident notification, such as emergency disaster texts. Using the CARIS in Chungju, this study modeled the damage-affected distances of 13 types of substances for the evacuation of residents. Under all conditions, the coefficient of determination R2 was 0.99 or higher, representing a range of at least 0.9921 to a maximum 0.9999. The relative standard deviation between the damage impact distance obtained using the calculation formula, and the CARIS result was compared. The minimum separation distance was corrected considering the actual chemical accident response situation, and the range was found to be between 0.58 and 5.97%. The damage impact distance can be calculated at the site using the calculation formula derived from the research, and local governments can determine whether to evacuate or notify residents.

• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.449-461
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• 2013

As the hydrofluoric acid leak in Gumi-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do or hydrochloric acid leak in Ulsan, Gyeongsangnam-do demonstrated, chemical related accidents are mostly caused by large amounts of volatile toxic substances leaking due to the damages of storage tank or pipe lines of transporter. Safety assessment is the most important concern because such toxic material accidents cause human and material damages to the environment and atmosphere of the surrounding area. Therefore, in this study, a hydrofluoric acid leaked from a storage tank was selected as the study example to simulate the leaked substance diffusing into the atmosphere and result analysis was performed through the numerical Analysis and diffusion simulation of ALOHA(Areal Location of Hazardous Atmospheres). the results of a qualitative evaluation of HAZOP (Hazard Operability)was looked at to find that the flange leak, operation delay due to leakage of the valve and the hose, and toxic gas leak were danger factors. Possibility of fire from temperature, pressure and corrosion, nitrogen supply overpressure and toxic leak from internal corrosion of tank or pipe joints were also found to be high. ALOHA resulting effects were a little different depending on the input data of Dense Gas Model, however, the wind direction and speed, rather than atmospheric stability, played bigger role. Higher wind speed affected the diffusion of contaminant. In term of the diffusion concentration, both liquid and gas leaks resulted in almost the same $LC_{50}$ and ALOHA AEGL-3(Acute Exposure Guidline Level) values. Each scenarios showed almost identical results in ALOHA model. Therefore, a buffer distance of toxic gas can be determined by comparing the numerical analysis and the diffusion concentration to the IDLH(Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health). Such study will help perform the risk assessment of toxic leak more efficiently and be utilized in establishing community emergency response system properly.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.8
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• pp.60-66
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• 2020

This paper presents a method for improving the selection of boundary areas suitable for Korea's situation based on domestic and foreign case studies on the establishment of boundary areas to protect people and the environment from chemical substances in response to chemical accidents and chemical terrorism. Currently, various related ministries are divided into hot zones, warm zones, and cold zones in common, but in specific areas, they are used in different ways in terms of terminology utilization. Therefore, it was suggested that the boundary areas be divided into four zones: hot zone, warm zone, cold zone, and safety zone. In addition, the terms warm zone and safety zone should be re-established. The existing ERPG acute exposure standard does not take into account various exposure times. Therefore, it is unsuitable for long-term exposure, so the priority of application should be AEGL, ERPG, PAC, and IDLHs. The CARIS information provision method is classified into substances that can or cannot be diffused or classified as indoor leaks. In addition, the wind direction trust line and the ERG's initial separation distance and protective action distance are expressed together so that they can be used for accident responses.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.407-417
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• 2024

The objective of this study is to predict and reduce potential damage caused by chlorine gas leaks, a hazardous material, when vehicles transporting it overturn due to accidents or other incidents. The goal is to forecast the anticipated damages caused by chlorine toxicity levels (ppm) and to design effective response strategies for mitigating them. To predict potential damages, we conducted quantitative assessments using the ALOHA program to calculate the toxic effects (ppm) and damage distances resulting from chlorine leaks, taking into account potential negligence of drivers during transportation. The extent of damage from toxic gas leaks is influenced by various factors, including the amount of the leaked hazardous material and the meteorological conditions at the time of the leak. Therefore, a comprehensive analysis of damage distances was conducted by examining various scenarios that involved variations in the amount of leakage and weather conditions. Under intermediate conditions (leakage quantity: 5 tons, wind speed: 3 m/s, atmospheric stability: D), the estimated distance for exceeding the AEGL-2 level of 2 ppm was calculated to be 9 km. This concentration poses a high risk of respiratory disturbance and potential human casualties, comparable to the toxicity of hydrogen chloride. In particular, leaks in urban areas can lead to significant loss of life. In the event of a leakage incident, we proposed a plan to minimize damage by implementing appropriate response strategies based on the location and amount of the leak when an accident occurs.