• 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 Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.73-80
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• 1997

This study was performed to develop the dispersion modeling methodology for quantitative prediction of the hazard distance or toxic buffer distance by comparing 10-min average, 30-min average, and 1-hr average maximum ground-level concentration with $Cl_2$ regultaion concentration, IDLH and ERPG-3 concentration for hazardous toxic gas, $Cl_2$ releases from the storage tank of the chemical plant facilities. For this dispersion modeling, the source term model, dispersion model, meteorological and topographical data are incorporated into the SuperChems model, and then the effects of the atmospheric stability, wind speed, and surface roughness length changes on the maxum ground-level concentration were estimated.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.7-17
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• 1998

This study is to develop the consequence modeling methodology for quantitative prediction of the hazard distance(or toxic buffer distance) for two-phase flow continuous releases from the pressurized chlorine saturated liquid storage tank of the chemical plant facilities. The source term modeling was peformed by the refined analysis method based on USEPA's guideline and SuperChems model self-calculation, respectively. The hazard distance was predicted for STEL, IDLH and ERPGs(ERPG-2 and ERPG-3) concentrations being used as the toxic regultaion concentration in hazard estimation. To use as hazard estimation guideline for the establishment of the emergency response planning, the effects of source characteristics and meteorological vaiations on the hazard distance was especially considered for ERPG-2 concentration.

• 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 Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.90-96
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• 2018

Design techniques for minimizing the damage caused by leakage of $H_2S$ gas, contained in natural gas and petroleum, have been widely studied abroad in chemical plants that purify and process natural gas and petroleum. However, there is no domestic engineering practice and regulation of $H_2S$. In accordance with the circumstances, this study proposes the quantitative criteria of process equipment to install $H_2S$ toxic gas detector as 500 ppm and explains the valid basis. The $H_2S$ gas dispersion radius up to IDLH 100 ppm is calculated by ALOHA under previous $H_2S$ gas leak accident scenario. The weather conditions of modeling include the conditions of Ulsan, Yeosu and Daesan, the three major petrochemical complexes in Korea. The long radius up to 100 ppm was derived in order of Ulsan, Daesan, Yeosu. For emergency safety the dispersion radius up to 100 ppm of the $H_2S$ gas obtained in this study should be extended to apply the additional $H_2S$ toxic gas detector, and local climate conditions should be considered.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.156-158
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• 2012

Intervertebral intradural lumbar disc herniation (ILDH) is a quite rare pathology, and isolated intradural lumbar disc herniation is even more rare. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may not be able to reveal ILDHs, especially if MRI findings show an intact lumbar disc annulus and posterior longitudinal ligament. Here, we present an exceedingly rare case of an isolated IDLH that we initially misidentified as a spinal intradural tumor, in a 54-year-old man hospitalized with a 2-month history of back pain and right sciatica. Neurologic examination revealed a positive straight leg raise test on the right side, but he presented no other sensory, motor, or sphincter disturbances. A gadolinium-enhanced MRI revealed what we believed to be an intradural extramedullary tumor compressing the cauda equina leftward in the thecal sac, at the L2 vertebral level. The patient underwent total L2 laminectomy, and we extirpated the intradural mass under microscopic guidance. Histologic examination of the mass revealed a degenerated nucleus pulposus.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.402-411
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• 2013

Objectives: This study aims to assess the concentrations of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide according to task unit area at swine farms. Methods: A total of six swine farms were selected for this study. Ammonia and hydrogen sulfide were monitored using a real-time multi-gas monitor which could sample the gases simultaneously. The sampling was done in the pig building, manure storage facility and composting facility of each farm. Results: The concentration of ammonia in the pig buildings(GM 22.6 ppm, GSD 2.3) was significantly higher(p<0.0001) than in the manure storage facilities(GM 10.4 ppm, GSD 2.7) and composting facilities(GM 8.6 ppm, GSD 2.8). The concentration of hydrogen sulfide in the manure storage facilities(GM 9.8 ppm, GSD 3.2) was higher(p<0.0001) than in the pig buildings(GM 2.3 ppm, GSD 2.3) and composting facilities(GM 1.9 ppm, GSD 2.5). In particular, the levels of hydrogen sulfide in the confined manure storage facilities were higher than those in open-type facilities and the peak concentration(98 ppm) in the confined facilities was approximate to 100 ppm, at the value of Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health(IDLH). Conclusions: Suffocation accidents caused by hazardous gases at a swine farm have occurred annually. Real-time monitoring of the hazards should be done in order to protect farm workers and livestock from the sudden accidents.

• 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.