• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
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• 2005.12a
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• pp.4-15
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• 2005

Methylmercury (MeHg) is an environmental pollutant with neurotoxic effects on the central nervous system. The major exposure route of MeHg to humans is via consumption of fish and shellfish which accumulate the chemical through the food web in an aquatic environment. Hair mercury level is an excellent marker for MeHg exposure. We have been conducting a survey on hair mercury contents among general populations from 14 districts to estimate the current Japanese MeHg exposure level. Total mercury levels of all hair samples collected (12923 in total) were analyzed by the oxygen combustion-gold amalgamation method using an atomic absorption mercury detector. Multiple regression analysis revealed that mercury levels were significantly correlated with several covariates, such as sex, age, the amount of daily intake of total fish/shellfish, a preference for certain fish such as tuna or bonito, and artificial waving. The geometric means for the population without artificial waving were 2.47 and 1.65 ${\mu}g/g$ for males (n = 5623) and females (n = 3470), respectively. Hair mercury levels varied with age, and the variations were more significant in males. Since the difference between sexes was not evident at younger ages, some hormonal control might also be involved in the mercury uptake by human hair. The average mercury levels in our hair samples varied among the sampling districts. Tuna is a major carnivorous fish with high mercury accumulations that is often consumed in Japan. The amount of fish consumption and the preference rate far tuna would appear to be responsible far the regional variation in hair mercury levels in Japan. Recently, a provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) of MeHg was revised by 61st JECFA to 1.6 ${\mu}g/kg/week$, which was about half that of the Japanese standard, and corresponded to a hair level of 2.2 ppm. The distribution of hair mercury levels in Japanese populations in the present study indicated that 25% of the Japanese females of child-bearing age were estimated to be exposed to MeHg over the PTWI level. This would reflect the high Japanese consumption of marine products. However, not only mercury contamination, but also the nutritional benefit may have to be considered when discussing the risk involved in the current level of fish and shellfish consumption in Japan.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.10 no.12
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• pp.3740-3747
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• 2009

To protect the citizens' health of Gyeongju and to secure basic data for the assessment of health and environmental risk, distribution characteristics of meteorological elements were investigated and numerical simulation of wind field using RAMS model was carried out. In addition, measurement and analysis of air pollutants, forecasting the behavior air pollutants using ISC-AEROMOD view, and health and environmental risk-influenced zones were defined through managing air polluting materials to prevent health damage and property damage. According to the survey results of air pollution in Gyeongju and surroundings, average annual concentration of air pollutants in Gyeongju was slightly lower than that in Pohang and Ulsan areas, but concentration of particulate matters and nitrogen dioxide at Gyeongju Station Square and Yonggang Crossing were sometimes higher than that in Pohang and Ulsan areas. Results of the modeling of moving and diffusion of air pollutants that affect citizens' health showed that parts of the 1st through 4th industrial complexes together with POSCO were included in particulate matters and sulfur dioxide influenced areas in Pohang Steel Complex area, and that Haedo-dong, Sangdae-dong, Jecheol-dong and Jangheung-dong in Pohangnam-gu represented locally worsened air quality due to a quantity of air pollutant emission from dense steel industries and large scale industrial facilities.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.329-341
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• 2016

Objectives: The goal of this study was to investigate the short-term effect of ambient air pollution on emergency department (ED) visits in Seoul for asthma according to patients' prior history of allergic diseases. Methods: Data on ED visits from 2005 to 2009 were obtained from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. To evaluate the risk of ED visits for asthma related to ambient air pollutants (carbon monoxide [CO], nitrogen dioxide [$NO_2$], ozone [$O_3$], sulfur dioxide [$SO_2$], and particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter <$10{\mu}m$ [$PM_{10}$]), a generalized additive model with a Poisson distribution was used; a single-lag model and a cumulative-effect model (average concentration over the previous 1-7 days) were also explored. The percent increase and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated for each interquartile range (IQR) increment in the concentration of each air pollutant. Subgroup analyses were done by age, gender, the presence of allergic disease, and season. Results: A total of 33 751 asthma attack cases were observed during the study period. The strongest association was a 9.6% increase (95% CI, 6.9% to 12.3%) in the risk of ED visits for asthma per IQR increase in $O_3$ concentration. IQR changes in $NO_2$ and $PM_{10}$ concentrations were also significantly associated with ED visits in the cumulative lag 7 model. Among patients with a prior history of allergic rhinitis or atopic dermatitis, the risk of ED visits for asthma per IQR increase in $PM_{10}$ concentration was higher (3.9%; 95% CI, 1.2% to 6.7%) than in patients with no such history. Conclusions: Ambient air pollutants were positively associated with ED visits for asthma, especially among subjects with a prior history of allergic rhinitis or atopic dermatitis.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.27 no.10
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• pp.1081-1089
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• 2005

In order to examine the application feasibility of Orimulsion fuel in a commercial boiler using heavy fuel oil, a numerical and experimental research efforts have been made especially to figure out the fundamental combustion characteristics of this fuel in a small-scale boiler. One of the notable combustion features of Orimulsion fuel is the delayed appearance of flame location with the flame shape of rather broad distribution, which is found experimentally and confirmed by numerical calculation. This kind of flame characteristics is considered due to the high moisture content included inherently in the process of Orimulsion manufacture together with micro-explosion by the existence of fine water droplets. In order to investigate the effect on the combustion characteristics of Orimulsion, a series of parametric investigation have been made in terms of important design and operational variables such as injected amount of fuel, types of atomization fluid, and phonemenological radiation model employed in the calculation, etc. The delayed feature of peak flame can be alleviated by the adjustment of the flow rate of injected fuel and the generating features of CO, $SO_2$ and NO gases are also evaluated in the boiler. When the steam injection as atomizing fluid is used, the combustion process is stabilized with the reduced region of high flame temperature. In general, the calculation results are physically acceptable and consistent but some refinements of phenomenological models are necessary for the better resolution of pollutant formation. From the results of this small-scale Orimulsion boiler, it is believed that a number of useful information are obtained with the working computer program for the near future application of Orimulsion fuel to a conventional boiler.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.149-154
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• 1985

Removal of water pollutants by water hyacinth was examined with two nutrients, $NO_3$-N, $PO_4$-P and four heavy metals, Cu, Pb, Cd, Cr under laboratory conditions. $NO_3$-N was reduced to 0.7, 0.9 and 1.2 ppm, and 0.1, 0.2 and 0.5 ppm in $NO_4$-P from 10, 25 and 50 ppm 3 days after treatment, respectively. Among heavy metals Cu and Pb were removed faster and higher than Cd and Cr and also amount of heavy metals absorbed by water hyacinth was higher in the order of Cu > Pb > Cr > Cd. Distribution of heavy metals in this plant was higher in roots than in leaves and amount absorbed in roots was related to the treated concentrations. The harmful effect on growth of water hyacinth was observed in Cu and Cd.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.53-64
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• 2009

Wetlands can remove organic contaminants, metals and radionuclides from wastewater through various biogeochemical mechanisms. In this study, a mathematical model was developed for simulating the fate and transport of chemical species in marsh wetland sediments. The proposed model is a one-dimensional vertical saturated model which is incorporated advection, hydrodynamic dispersion, biodegradation, oxidative/reductive chemical reactions and the effects from external environments such as the growth of plants and the fluctuation of water level due to periodic tides. The tidal effects causes periodic changes of porewater flow in the sediments and the evapotranspiration and oxygen supply by plant roots affect the porewater flow and redox condition on in the rhizosphere along with seasonal variation. A series of numerical experiments under hypothetical conditions were performed for simulating the temporal and spatial distribution of chemical species of interests using the proposed model. The fate and transport of a trace metal pollutant, chromium, in marsh sediments were also simulated. Results of numerical simulations show that plant roots and tides significantly affect the chemical profiles of different electron acceptors, their reduced species and trace metals in marsh sediments.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.35 no.12
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• pp.1375-1381
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• 2011

Combustion processes in an optically-accessible single-cylinder heavy-duty diesel engine equipped with a highpressure common-rail injection system were investigated for JP-8 and diesel. Direct imaging and two-color thermometry were employed to verify the emission trend for both fuels. The combustion process was characterized by image analysis with focus on luminosity. The results of two-color thermometry were analyzed on the basis of the flame temperature and KL factor distribution. Analysis of the combustion process by direct imaging showed that the ignition delay was longer for JP-8 than for diesel, while the flame was extinguished rapidly. Analysis of the flame luminosity showed that the combustion intensity was higher for diesel and that the flame lasted for a longer duration in this case. Two-color thermometry results showed that the high-temperature region extended over a large area during JP-8 combustion, implying the formation of a large amount of $NO_x$. In addition, the KL factor showed low level over a large area and relatively homogeneous in the case of JP-8 combustion, which implied that less smoke was produced when using this fuel.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.101-119
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• 2018

In this study, we analyzed long-term measurements and air quality simulation results of four criteria air pollutants ($PM_{10}$, $O_3$, $NO_2$, and $SO_2$) for 10 years, from 2006 to 2015, with emphasis on trends of annual variabilities. With the observation data, we conducted spatial interpolation using the Kriging method to estimate spatial distribution of pollutant concentrations. We also performed air quality simulations using the CMAQ model to consider the nonlinearity of the secondary air pollutants such as $O_3$ and the influence of long-range transport. In addition, these simulations are used to deduce the effect of long-term meteorological variations on trends of air quality changes because we fixed the emissions inventory while changing meteorological inputs. The nation-wide inter-annual variability of modeled $PM_{10}$ concentrations was $-0.11{\mu}g/m^3/yr$, while that of observed concentrations was $-0.84{\mu}g/m^3/yr$. For the Seoul Metropolitan Area, the inter-annual variability of observed $PM_{10}$ concentrations was $-1.64{\mu}g/m^3/yr$ that is two times rapid improvement compared to other regions. On the other hand, the inter-annual variability of observed $O_3$ concentrations is 0.62 ppb/yr which is larger than the simulated result of 0.13 ppb/yr. Magnitudes of differences between the modeled and observed inter-annual variabilities indicated that decreasing trend of $PM_{10}$ and increasing trend of $O_3$ are more influenced by emissions and oxidation states than meteorological conditions. We also found similar patterns in $NO_2$. However, $NO_2$ trends showed greater regional and seasonal differences than other pollutants. The analytic approach used in this study can be applicable to estimate changes in factors determining air quality such as emissions, weather, and surrounding conditions over a long term. Then analysis results can be used as important data for air quality management planning and evaluation of the chronic impact of air quality.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.319-329
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• 2017

In this study, formaldehyde concentrations in two exhibition halls were monitored using a passive sampler from May 2012 to April 2013. Formaldehyde concentrations in the exhibition halls were 5 to 36 times higher than concentrations outdoors. Concentrations inside the exhibition room and showcase varied according to pollutant source, HVAC(heating, ventilation, air conditioning)system and environment management. The formaldehyde concentration levels were corrected according to a standard method prescribed by Indoor Air Quality Management Law of the Ministry of Environment, Korea. As a result, Most concentration levels exceeded the exhibition standard of the Ministry of Environment($100{\mu}g/m^3$) and artifacts conservation standard of Tokyo National Museum($50{\mu}g/m^3$). Seasonal concentrations in the exhibition room and showcase were in the order summer>fall>spring>winter. Formaldehyde emissions increased in summer when air temperature and relative humidity are both high. Formaldehyde concentration distribution according to the temperature and relative humidity showed positive correlation. Air temperature showed good correlation because $R^2$ was in the range of 0.8~0.9. Analysis of formaldehyde emission characteristics in the exhibition hall would be helpful in efforts to improve indoor air quality.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.497-507
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• 2011

This research studied human health risk assessment of benzene from industrial complexes of Chungcheong Province (Seosan industrial complex) and Jeonla Province (Iksan industrial complex and Yeosoo industrial complex). The residents near the industrial complexes areas can be often exposed to volatile organic compounds (e.g., benzene, toluene, xylenes) through a number of exposure pathways, including inhalation of the organic pollutant via various environmental matrices (air, water and soil), contaminated water, and soil intake. Benzene is well known to be a common carcinogenic and toxic compound that is produced from industrial and oil refinery complexes. In this study, a number of samples from water, air, and soil were taken from the residential settings and public school zones located near the industrial complex sites. Based on the carcinogenic risk assessment, the risk estimates were slightly above $10{\times}10^{-6}$ at all three industrial sites. According to deterministic risk assessment, inhalation was the most important route. The distribution of benzene in the environment would be dependent on vapor pressure, and the physical property influencing the extent of the potential risks. Non-carcinogenic risk assessment of benzene shows that the values of Hazard Index(HI) were much lower than 1.0 at all industrial complexes. Therefore, benzene was not a cause of concern in terms of non-carcinogenic risk posed to the residents near the sites. When compared to probabilistic risk assessment, the CTE(central tendency exposure) cancer risk values of deterministic risk assessment were close to the mean values predicted by the probabilistic risk assessment. The RME(reasonable maximum exposure) values fell within the range of 95% to 99.9% estimated by the probabilistic risk assessment. Since the values of carcinogenic risk assessment were higher than $10{\times}10^{-6}$, further detailed monitoring and refined risk assessment for benzene may be warranted to estimate more reliable and potential inhalation risks to receptors near the industrial complexes.