• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.47-52
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• 2017

Chemical accidents occur by a variety of causes and aspects. Accident preparedness substances (APS) are defined by toxic chemicals highly likely to cause accidents due to their high acute toxicity, explosiveness or likely to cause severe damage where a chemical accident occurs among the chemicals. APS is designated and announced by Presidential Decree. However, chemical accidents occurred for recent 7 years were arisen mainly from non-accident preparedness substances, and only 24 species were included as chemical accident trigger among total 69 APS. In addition, APS were designated in 2014 and the list has not been updated since then although it needs to be amended in several aspects. Accordingly, this study analyzes the necessity of modification of APS management, and presents improved plans.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.30 no.sup
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• pp.4.1-4.7
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• 2015

Objectives Approximately 2000 phase-in substances are subject to registration according to the Act on the Registration and Evaluation, etc. of Chemical Substances (K-REACH), and the expected testing cost is 2.06 trillion Korean won assuming all the test data required for registration are acquired. The extent to which these enormous test costs can be reduced depends on the availability of existing data that can be used to meet the requirements of the K-REACH we examined the current availability of test data that can be used for chemical substance registration. Methods We analyzed the possibility of utilizing the existing test data obtained from 16 reference databases for 369 of 518 kinds of phase-in substances subject to registration that were reported in last October 2014. Results The physical and chemical properties were available for 57.1% of substances, whereas data regarding human hazards and environmental hazards were available at considerably lower rates, 8.5% and 11.8%, respectively. Conclusions Physical and chemical properties were available for a fairly high proportion, whereas human hazards and environmental hazards were reported for considerably fewer substances.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.179-182
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• 2023

The Chemical Substances Control Act has been legislated to counter the risks posed by chemical substances to public health and the environment, but a number of small- and large-scaled incidents related to hazardous chemicals continue to occur every year. The Korean Ministry of Environment takes legal responsibility for prevention, preparedness, and response to nationwide chemical accidents under the Chemical Substances Control Act. The determination of chemical accidents that occur during hazardous chemical handling processes is based on the Article 2 (Definitions) of the law and the administrative criteria for judgement of chemical accidents. However, there are certain ambiguities in the scientific basis for determining chemical accidents under the current regulations. Whether or not a chemical accident has a direct influence on penalties and administrative measures for a workplace where an accident occurred, it is necessary to find reasonable criteria for determining chemical accident based on legal and scientific evidence.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.59 no.5
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• pp.932-938
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• 2010

This paper proposed the effective treatment method for organic substances using the barrier discharge plasma process and catalytic chemical reaction followed from ozone decomposition. The decomposition by the plasma process of organic substances such as trichloroethylene, methyl alcohol, acetone, and dichloromethane carried out, and ozone is generated effectively at the same time. By passing through catalysts, ozone easily decomposed and further decomposed organic substances. And, 2-dimensional distribution of ozone using the optical measurement method is performed to identify the catalytic surface chemical reaction. In addition, CO is easily oxidized into $CO_2$ by this chemical reaction, which might be induced oxygen atom radicals formed at the surface of catalyst from ozone decomposition.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.16-25
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• 2013

The Korean groundwater law regulates 20 groundwater contamination parameters, including 14 specific harmful substances. Expanding the number of groundwater quality standards are needed to cope with recent groundwater quality deterioration due to the use of various chemicals. Chemical ranking and scoring system (CRS) is a scientific tool to sort priority chemicals by considering exposure and toxicity potentials. In this study, we developed a CRS for scoring and ranking of possible groundwater pollutants and screened priority substances to be later considered in the Korean standard expansion. Chemical Ranking Of groundWater pollutaNts (CROWN) incorporates important parameters consisting of exposure potential, human and water ecotoxicity, interests, and certainty. Furthermore, CROWN additionally evaluated existence of other media standards to consider impacts by contamination of other media. The 197 substances that were common to 9 countries were selected first. CROWN evaluated and ranked each chemical, and finally suggested priority substances. Suggested priority substances were classified into two groups according to the groundwater use purposes: drinking and non-drinking. The priority substances were further classified into $1^{st}$ and $2^{nd}$ group priorities. The $1^{st}$ group consists of 75 substances, including the all the Korean groundwater standard parameters. CROWN will be used in selecting groundwater pollutants for possible inclusion in the Korean standard expansion.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2021

Objective: The purpose of this study was to contribute to the prevention of occupational diseases through the development of an automatic analysis program for evaluating workers' exposure to hazardous chemical substances. Methods: The authors selected chemical substances that caused occupational disease in Korea and chemical substances that are frequently used in industrial sites as target substances for a GC-MS automatic analysis program. The target substances are organic compounds which can be measured by a passive sampler. The automatic analysis program was studied using various raw data obtained from GC-MS analysis for the target substances. Results: A total of 48 organic compounds that can be measured with a passive sampler were selected as target substances for the GC-MS automatic analysis program. The selected compounds included substances that caused occupational disease, substances related to C1 and D1 in special health examinations, and substances for which work environment measurements have been frequently conducted. The GC-MS automatic analysis program was developed by combining information mainly on retention time and mass spectrum. The GC-MS automatic analysis program is designed to analyze unknown samples by comparing the mass spectrum and retention time of the samples to those of reference materials. To evaluate the stability of the program, samples at about the 30-50% level of OELs were prepared and analyzed with the GC-MS automatic analysis program, resulting in stable results for all 48 organic compounds. Conclusion: An automatic analysis program for a total of 48 organic compounds was developed using a GC-MS system that can analyze organic compounds. Unknown samples that contain the 48 organic compounds can be automatically analyzed by the developed program. It is anticipated that it can contribute to the prevention of occupational diseases through an GC-MS automatic analysis program that can quickly provide workers with information on exposure to chemical substances.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Industry Convergence
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• v.25 no.6_2
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• pp.979-986
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• 2022

Chemical accidents are increasing day by day as the industry develops. To prevent such chemical accidents, Korea enacted the Chemicals Control Act. Through these laws, systematic management of chemical substances began. There are various positions in the companies. hazardous chemical supervisors, equipment and technical human, operators and employees. Chemicals-related education for each position should be provided. As a result of the survey, hazardous chemical supervisors and equipment and technical human liked the overall content of the Chemicals Control Act and the education subject on safety management standards for facilities. Conversely, the operators liked the course on how to wear personal protective equipment. The employees preferred subjects such as classification of chemical substances and prevention of chemical accidents. Currently, various modular textbooks are widely available. Rather than general education, it is necessary to select and provide customized subjects that are preferred and interested according to the position. Then it will be more effective in understanding harzardous chemical substances and in preventing chemical accidents.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.22 no.10
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• pp.1093-1100
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• 2001

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.110-116
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• 2016

The major aim of this study was to provide information on the chemical accidents that occurred in laboratories over the last 3 years. The total incidence of laboratory chemical accidents was 30 cases; 25 cases occurred at educational institutions. Most accidents (19 cases) occurred due to spills and leaks. The main cause of the accidents analyzed was worker carelessness (21 cases). Twenty-two accidents were related to hazardous chemical substances. In addition, general chemical substances as well as waste liquid contributed 26% to the incidents related to the laboratory. Among the 22 hazardous chemical substances involved in laboratory chemical accident, 67% of accident substances were accident preparedness substances.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.63-70
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• 2014

There has been an increase in fire/explosion accidents caused by chemical substances used in new small/medium sized construction, reconstruction, or extension sites. There is vast room for improvement, especially in safety training, safety inspection, and selection of countermeasures because training, technicality, and management systems regarding fire/explosion risks in small/medium sized construction sites are very immature in most cases. The purpose of this study is to propose a differentiated technical, educational, and management application plan for preventative management of fire/explosion accidents caused by chemical substances used in small/medium sized construction sites.