• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.32-40
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• 2008

Methyl bromide has been used as a representative fumigant for quarantine, and several poisoning cases have occurred recently by this chemical in Korea. The purpose of this study is to evaluate workers' exposures to airborne methyl bromide in the importing and exporting plant products quarantine companies. Air samples were collected 400/200 mg Anasorb 747TM and were analyzed by gas chromatograph /flame ionization detector according to the Occupational Safety and Health Agency (OSHA) Method PV2040. Geometric mean (GM) and arithmetic mean (AM) of total 27 workers' exposure concentrations to airborne methyl bromide were 1.12 ppm and 0.24 ppm, respectively. Two exposures(12.1 ppm and 12 ppm as 8hr-TWA) of total 27 workers' exposures exceeded the Korean standard (5 ppm) of Ministry Labor, while 4 exposures (15%) exceeded the Threshold Limit Value (TLV) (1 ppm) of American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). Seven samples (11%) of total 63 short-term air samples exceeded the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) 20 ppm (Ceiling). The opening (management) task in wood fumigation by tent showed the highest short-term exposure concentrations (AM: 18.6 ppm, GM: 0.58 ppm, maximum: 340.7 ppm). The maximum level in treatment task of the same process was 2.01 ppm. Methyl bromide concentrations in opening operation was significantly higher than that in treatment operation (p<0.05). In conclusion, the GM of workers' 8hr-TWA exposures to airborne methyl chloride in the importing/exporting plant quarantine industry was estimated below the ACGIH TLV (1 ppm). However, opening task in the fumigation of wood being covered with tent or fumigation of pant products in container showed the levels exceeding ACGIH TLV (1 ppm), and opening task in the fumigation of wood being covered with tent showed the level exceeding the Korean standard of Ministry of Labor (5 ppm).

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2014.11a
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• pp.59-60
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• 2014

To prevent the rusting of steel, a variety of finishing materials has been applied. When steel is exposed to an extreme chloride environment, however, the thermal performance and aging of the finishing materials cause the material to lose its rust protective performance. In this study, an accelerated corrosion test was performed on five different finishing materials for steel, to determine the critical values of corrosion. As the result, the critical value of corrosion was found with no coat between 0.58mg/d㎡ and 0.73mg/d㎡, with urethane coat between 7.89mg/d㎡~8.46mg/d㎡, with one-layered red lead coat between 57.95mg/d㎡ and 69.48mg/d㎡, and with staleness201 between 80.73mg/d㎡ and 89.35mg/d㎡.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2017.05a
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• pp.7-8
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• 2017

Corrosion of reinforced concrete embedded in concrete is a deterioration phenomenon due to intrusion of embodied or Airborne chloride ions. Corrosion of a embedded steel increases the volume of the rebar and causes damage to the structure such as cracking and peeling of the concrete. This causes penetration of various corrosive factors and accelerates the corrosion of reinforcing bars, which has a serious effect on the durability of the structure. Researches on the corrosion phenomenon of these rebars by electrochemical methods have been carried out for a long time, but it is a lack of research in Korea. Therefore, in this study, one of electrochemical experimental methods, Tafel extrapolation method, was used to evaluate the performance of reinforcing bars according to the amount of NaCl and LiNO₂ added to concrete.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.109-123
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• 2020

Objectives: The aims of this study were to review the standards and key components of the standards for disposable masks in Korea, the US, EU, Japan, and China and to evaluate the appropriateness of disposable masks during a virus pandemic. Methods: We reviewed the standards in the above countries and compared their key elements for each standard. For the second purpose, systemic paper gathering using key words like 'mask', 'respirator' 'virus', and 'coronavirus' in the PubMed search engine was performed. Fifty-three papers were selected and reviewed in regard to the appropriateness of test protocols with sodium chloride(NaCl) particles for virus filtration and the effectiveness against viruses. Results: The standards for masks are largely divided into two categories: US standards and EU standards. In Korea, the Ministry of Employment and Labor adapted the EU standards for workers and the Health Masks adopted the Ministry of Employment and Labor standards by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Regarding airborne viral infections, WHO emphasizes only droplet infection, while many studies have shown that small particles enter the air through coughing or sneezing, which increases the possibility of airborne infection. Compared to other particles, various factors such as airborne viability and the ability to replicate the virus in the body are further involved in the virus's airborne infection rate. Airborne infection is classified into absolute air infection, preferential air infection, and opportunistic air infection. The NaCl-certified N95 mask showed good filtration efficiency against viruses and NaCl particles were proved to be a surrogate material for viruses. From this, KF94 is also expected to be effective in blocking viruses. Conclusion: The N95 test method could be used as a surrogate test method for virus filtration. N95-class masks have been found to effectively block viral infections in the air. However, surgical or medical masks are only partially effective against airborne virus infection though they could effectively block large droplet infection. However, most studies considered in this study targeted N95 in foreign countries and studies on masks actually used in Korea are very limited, so studies on microorganisms and reuse on domestic masks should be conducted in the future.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.119-126
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• 2019

In case of RC(Reinforced Concrete) structures which are constructed in coastal areas, chloride ions in sea water corrode the steel rebar in concrete. Especially in coastal areas, RC structures are affected by not only immersion of sea water, but also tidal of sea water and airborne chloride ions. In this study, marine environment exposure tests are conducted, considering 3 types of exposure environments(immersion zone, tidal zone, splash zone) and the exposure periods of 180 days, 365 days, and 730 days. Also, the concrete mixtures for this study are established, considering 3 levels of W/B(Water to Binder) ratio(0.37, 0.42, 0.47) and 2 levels of substitution rate of Fly ash(0 %, 30 %). In all exposure environments, Fly ash concrete has lower apparent chloride diffusion coefficients than OPC concrete. It is thought that fly ash's pozzolan reaction improves chloride resistance of concrete. Fly ash concrete has up to 63.5 % of decreasing rate in 180 days of exposure and up to 55.8 % of decreasing rate in 730 days of exposure, based on diffusion coefficients of OPC concrete. As a result of evaluation about effects of exposure environments, apparent chloride diffusion coefficients of fly ash concrete are evaluated in order of tidal zone, immersion zone, and splash zone. In tidal zone, It is thought that repeated cycles of wetting and drying of sea water cause the diffusion of chloride ions rapidly.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.69-76
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• 2003

Hexavalent chromium may reduce on polyvinyl chloride (PVC) filter during sampling and storage of sample. Recently, new or modified filters for preventing Cr(VI) from the reduction has been introduced. Thus, this study was performed to compare the reduction behaviors of Cr(VI) on several sampling filters and to find the most appropriate filter for airborne Cr(VI) sampling in plating operation. The results were as follows. 1. There were statistically significant differences among PVC, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). glass fiber (GF) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) filters in recovery rates of spiked Cr(VI) samples by storage time(p<0.05). There was no significant difference between PVC and PTFE filters(p>0.05). The PVC and PTFE filters showed higher recoveries than GF and PVDF filters(p<0.05). 2. The quartz fiber(QF) filter treated with an alkali solution(2% NaOH/3% Na$_2$CO$_3$, 1% NaOH) showed a significantly higher recovery of Cr(VI) by storage time than other filters(GF and QF filter)(p<0.05). There was no difference in recovery of Cr(VI) between alkali-treated and untreated GF it filters(p>0.05). But the QF filters treated with two alkali solution showed a significantly higher recovery than the untreated QF filter(p<0.05). There was no significant difference in recovery of Cr(VI) between QF filters treated with 1% NaOH and 2% NaOH/3% Na$_2$CO$_3$(p>0.05). In conclusion, treatment of QF fillers with alkali solution was most effective in protecting from the reduction of Cr(VI).

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.479-490
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• 1998

The concentrations of ten inorganic (sodium, chloride, sulfate, ammonia, etc.) and three organic (acetate, formate, and MSA) ions associated with airborne particulate matter were measured from Cheju Island, Korea during the three field intensive campaigns conducted in (1) Sept./oct. 1997 (fall), (2) Dec. 1997 (winter), and (3) April 1998 (spring). The results of our measurements indicated that the concentration levels of most ionic species were decreasing significantly across the three experimental periods. The patterns of concentration reduction were clear as the sum of all cation and anion species changed dramatically across those periods such as 294> 144 > 65 and 193 >96>74 nequiv/m3, respectively. The changes were best explained in terms of the wind rose patterns of the study site. Since our sampling spot is located on the western-end point of Cheju Island, it is likely to reflect the effects of diverse sources such as natural, marine processes during NW and local non-maritime ones during SE winds. .Hence, the periodical changes in ionic concentrations may be accounted for by the comparable changes in wind direction. To further investigate environmental characteristics of these ionic components, correlation analysis was conducted not only between meteorological and ion data but between different ion-pairs. The results of these analyses confirm that the concentration levels of ionic species are strongly affected by wind speed and temperature and that there are certain patterns between ion species to which such effects apply. In light of the significance of the wind rose patterns in the area, we further extended these analyses into four data groups that were divided on the basis of wind direction. The results of these analyses showed that the strength of correlations between important pairs (e.g.:. between windspeed and most of major inorganic species including sodium and chloride) can be ranked on the distribution of major ions are very diverse, depending on data grouping scheme for such analysis. The results of this study thus suggest that environmental behavior of chemical components be analyzed in various respects, rather than simple standard, especially if measurements are made in complex environmental condition under which both natural and anthropogenic effects are competing each other.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.48-57
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• 2016

Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate the accuracy and precision of airborne metal analysis using polyvinyl chloride(PVC) membrane filter by pretreatment methods. Methods: A total of 75 spiked PVC samples for Cr, Fe and Mn ranged from 6 ug/sample to 40 ug/sample were used to evaluate recovery rates for three pretreatment methods: acid extraction, hot plate ashing and microwave digestion. For Mn, an additional 75 spiked mixed cellulose ester(MCE) membrane filters were analysed to compare the recovery rates of PVC samples. All samples were analysed with an inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer(ICP-OES) and manganese samples were additionally analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometer(AAS). Results: The overall mean recovery rates of PVC samples for Cr, Fe and Mn were 90% or higher regardless of pretreatment methods, but there were statistically significant differences in recovery rates for Cr(p<0.05) and Mn(p<0.01) samples by pretreatment methods. The biases and the coefficient variations of PVC samples for three metals pretreated with three kinds of pretreatment methods ranged from 1.7% to 4.7% and from 1.6% to 6.5%, respectively. The manganese PVC samples pretreated by microwave digestion and analyzed with ICP-OES had the lowest bias at 1.9% and also showed lower bias than the bias for MCE samples, 2.7%. Conclusions: In order to accurately analyze the metals sampled with PVC membrane filters, microwave digestion and ICP-OES can be recommended.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.142-154
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• 2011

This study predicted the probability of corrosion initiation of reinforced concrete tunnel boxes structures using the Monte Carlo Simulation. For the inner wall and outer wall in the tunnel boxes, exposed to airborne chloride ion and seawater directly respectively, statistical values of parameters like diffusion coefficient D, surface chloride content $C_s$, cover depth c, and the chloride threshold level $C_{lim}$ were examined from experiment or literature review. Their average values accounted for $3.77{\times}10^{-12}m^2/s$, 3.0% by weight of cement, 94.7mm and 45.5mm for outer wall and inner wall, respectively, and 0.69% by weight of cement for D, $C_s$, c, and $C_{lim}$, respectively. With these parametric values, the distribution of chloride contents at rebar with time and the probability of corrosion initiation of the tunnel boxes, inner wall and outer wall, was examined by considering time dependency of chloride transport. From the examination, the histogram of chloride contents at rebar is closer to a gamma distribution, and the mean value increases with time, while the coefficient of variance decreases with time. It was found that the probability of corrosion initiation and the time to corrosion were dependent on the time dependency of chloride transport. Time independent model predicted time to corrosion initiation of inner wall and outer wall as 8 and 12 years, respectively, while 178 and 283 years of time to corrosion was calculated by time dependent model for inner wall and outer wall, respectively. For time independent model, the probability of corrosion at 100 years of exposure for inner wall and outer wall was ranged 59.5 and 95.5%, respectively, while time dependent model indicated 2.9 and 0.2% of the probability corrosion, respectively. Finally, impact of $C_{lim}$, including values specified in current codes, on the probability of corrosion initiation and corrosion free life is discussed.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.615-622
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• 2015

East Asia is characterized by anthropogenic emissions resulting from the large population and fast economic growth of this region. Since the prevailing wind is westerly and northwesterly, emissions from Ul-jin can be expected to contribute to acidic deposition increase in downwind direction. Aerosols collected at the near coast site, Uljin geun, gyungbook and were analyzed for $NH_4{^+}$, $Mg^{2+}$, $Na^+$, $Ca^{2+}$, $Cl^-$, $SO_4{^{2-}}$, and $NO_3{^-}$ from Aug. 2012 to Feb. 2013. The seasonal averaged aerosol concentration showed the highest potassium and calcium ion in winter and the highest ammonium ion due to a meadow and high solar intensity in summer. Sodium and chloride ion showed the same ratio all seasons and sulfate and nitrate species showed the maximum value in winter Chemical components of aerosols collected at the near coast site, Uljin geun, gyungbook were lower by 16 to 73% than those collected at other similar environment site such as kanghwa, yangyang. Comparing air quality data at the near coast site, Uljin geun, gyungbook, There was found that Uljin coast site is less influenced by the sea salts(potassium, magnesium, calcium) and nss-$SO_4{^{2-}}$ percentage is 3~13% higher than similar condition site.