• The Journal of Fisheries Business Administration
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.63-78
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• 2011

This study looked into conflicts of government policies for oil spill sites which are focusing on Taean-gun after the oil spill in Taean-gun and examined the effects on the conflicts. There are lots of conflicts on the on-going restoration project of fishing ground environment(fishing ground inspection, restoration program development, improvement in fishery biology ecosystem and fishery productivity). For example, these show diverse conflicts between business associates, project processes, business subjects, project participation, and the use of fishing ground. This study found out the first reason of dissatisfaction and conflicts is that there is a difference between groups in terms of political aims and perception. Secondly, lack of communication and cooperation between the center and the provinces, organizations in the provinces, the local government and fishing village cooperatives, fishermen in the fishing industry. Thirdly, the local government and the fishing village head don't show their leadership to improve project performance.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.111-123
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• 2009

The purpose of this study is to investigate the time-elapse change of oil-polluted Taean coastal area with by Herbei Spirit oil spill incident. From Mandae of Iwonmeyon to Padori beach of Sowonmeyon, field monitering was conducted at eleven surveying points surveying. The specific conclusions from this study are as follows. The residual oil was not founded at ten surveying points, but the crude oil remained under the ground at the Groompo beach one year passed since the oil spill. Because the efforts of volunteers over millionaires and inhabitants for cleaning and reciprocating actions of waves, the oil-polluted coastal area by Herbei Spirit oil spill incident. It is guessed that a part of stranded oil spilled from the incident was degraded by physical, chemical, and biological weathering and the residue was dispersed in tidal and subtidal zone with oil-minerals aggregates(OMA).

• Proceedings of the KAIS Fall Conference
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• 2010.05b
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• pp.910-914
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• 2010

A collision between a barge and an oil tanker of Hebei Spirit caused the release of an estimated 12,547 tons of light crude oil into the Yellow Sea off the west coast of Taean-gun, Korea on December 7, 2007. This study was aimed to evaluate exposure conditions and acute health effects in soldiers participating in the Hebei Spirit oil spill cleanup activities and the association between these and the nature of the work and use of protection devices. The sample comprised 2,624 soldiers stratified by working area and number of working days. We divided working area into the coast of Taean-gun(highly polluted area) and other areas affected by Hebei Spirit oil spill. And we divided number of working days into 1-7 days, 8-14 days, 15-21 days and above 22 days. Data were obtained via a structured, self-administered questionnaire and included information on working area, type of working, number of working days, use of protective materials, and acute health effects. Acute health effects were classified into 5 groups: neurological, respiratory, dermatologic, ophthalmic and other symptoms. Data analysis was performed using unconditional logistic regression used to compute odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. On logistic regression analysis, working on the coast of Taean-gun was significantly associated with increased risk of acute health problems: headache, dizziness, nausea, general fatigue, insomnia, flushed face, sore throat, dry throat, runny nose, cough, sputum, skin irritation, sore eyes, injection of conjunctiva, tear, and low back pain. Furthermore soldiers working more than 21 days were significantly associated with increased risk of acute health problems: insomnia, flushed face, sore throat, runny nose, cough, sputum, tear, low back pain and fever. Accordingly, the exposure to the oil and the subsequent cleanup efforts were suggested to inflict acute health problems on soldiers participating in the Hebei Spirit oil spill cleanup activities.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.166-173
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• 2010

Objectives: On December 7, 2007, the Hebei Spirit oil tanker spilled out 12,547 kl of crude oil on the Yellow Sea 10 km away from the cost of Taean Province, Korea. As the coastline has been contaminated, local residents have been exposed to crude oil. Because the residents were showing many symptoms, we investigated the acute health effects of this oil spill on them. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study consisting of the heavy and moderately oil soaked area in Taean and the lightly oil soaked area in Seocheon. Ten seashore villages were selected from each area, and 10 male and female adults were selected from each village. We interviewed the subjects using a structured questionnaire on the characteristics of residents, the cleanup activities, the perception of oil hazard, depression and anxiety, and the physical symptoms. The odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were analyzed using logistic regression analysis. The logistic regression model was adjusted for age, gender, education, smoking, the perception of oil hazard and anxiousness. Results: The more highly contaminated the area, the more likely it was for residents to be engaged in cleanup activities and have a greater chance of exposure to oil. The indexes of anxiety and depression were higher in the heavy and moderately oil soaked areas. The increased risks of headache, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, tingling of limb, hot flushing, sore throat, cough, runny nose, shortness of breath, itchy skin, rash, and sore eyes were significant. Conclusions: The results suggest that exposure to crude oil is associated with various acute physical symptoms. Long-term investigation is required to monitor the residents' health.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.795-799
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• 2008

We have studied bioremediation of effective microorganisms on crude oil spill in Taean, west-coast of Korea. Oil contaminated soil samples were collected on December 14, 2007, seven days after the Hebei Spirit oil-spilled accident. Total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) was measured to evaluate the effectiveness of effective microorganisms (EM) which were composed with yeast, photosynthetic bacteria and lactic acid bacteria on oil degradation. TPH concentration before EM treatment was 323.8 mg/kg, whereas TPH concentrations on 2 days after EM treatment and that of control (without EM) was 102.1 mg/kg and 170.6 mg/kg, respectively. On six days after EM treatment TPH was 91.3 mg/kg and that of control was 127.7 mg/kg. Percentages of degraded crude oil were 47.3% without EM and 68.5% with EM, 60.6% without EM and 71.8% with EM on 2 and 6 days after EM treatment, respectively. These results clearly showed that the application of effective microorganisms toward oil-contaminated soil was quite useful to degrade crude oil spill. These results were derived from the effects of biostimulation of microbial media nutrients and bioaugmentation of effective microorganisms. If we carefully apply these effective microorganisms, it can be a useful bioremediation method to recover oil-contaminated marine ecosystems.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.387-395
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• 2010

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare the physical and mental health status of disaster victims according to disaster types, such as a typhoon disaster and an oil spill disaster, and to suggest adequate health care services for them. Methods: A total of 484 people who suffered disasters were selected for this study, and data were collected from July to August, 2008. The data-set for this study included 286 victims of typhoon disasters in Jeju and Jeollanamdo district in South Korea, and 198 victims of the oil spill disaster in Taean. Physical health status was measured using revised Patient Health Questionnaire and mental health status was measured using the Korean version of 'Post-traumatic Diagnostic Scale'. Results: According to the comparative analyses of typhoon disaster victims and oil spill disaster victims, poorer physical health outcomes were shown among the oil spill disaster victims when compared to the typhoon disaster victims. Also, the oil spill disaster victims showed symptoms of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder, at rates higher than those found among the typhoon disaster victims. Conclusions: These findings suggest that there is a need to provide adequate physical and mental health-related care services for oil spill disaster victims. The seriousness of oil spill disaster should be realized and reconsidered in developing recovery strategies and disaster preparedness for physical and mental health services.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.67 no.3
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• pp.249-253
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• 2009

On 7 December 2007, the Hebei Spirit ran aground near Taean and released approximately 10,900 tons of oil into the sea. Crude oil on the coastal areas and fumes in the air increased the number of health problems among the local population. We report a case of respiratory failure after the oil spill clean-up work. A 66-year-old female was admitted to hospital with cough, sputum, and dyspnea of 1-month duration after the oil spill clean-up. She was diagnosed with community-acquired pneumonia and treated with empirical antibiotics. However, she had progressive respiratory failure without identification of the pathogen. Respiratory failure due to chronic inhalation of hydrocarbons from the crude oil spill clean-up was suspected. After mechanical ventilation care, she recovered from respiratory failure and was discharged. We report a case of severe respiratory toxic effects after an oil spill clean-up. We concluded that long-term hydrocarbon inhalation during the oil spill clean-up may have induced respiratory failure in this case.

• Journal of Environmental Policy
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.17-54
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• 2012

This paper researched market responses for listed companies in several industries affected by the major oil spill accident off the coast of Taean, in December 7, 2007. The Taean accident triggered considerable concerns in people over the possibility of potential future regulation in shipbuilding and petroleum industries. However, the accident also provided an unexpected business opportunity for environmental clean-up industry and shipbuilding industry. The oil spill triggered the acceleration of the enactment of policies that require all new oil tankers to be constructed with double hull, which is interpreted as a good news for shipbuilding industry. Increased public pressure coupled with the prospect of tightened regulation is expected to decrease the market values of firms in the affected business fields. The stock prices of shipbuilding companies dropped after the incident but dramatically surged after the enactment of the policy in January 31, 2008. Our study also found that companies with more extensive prior environmental disclosure had less negative market reactions during the first sixteen days following the accident.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.466-472
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• 2011

Hazardous chemicals, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and heavy metals, are known as being harmful to human health were included in oils released by the Herbei Spirit Oil Spill accident in December 2007. To investigate changes of eating habits by the exposure to harmful substances, we conducted 5 focus group interviews for residents at Taean coast areas, who had experienced the oil spill accident. Participants included 46 women (mean age: $57.2{\pm}10.9$) who were mainly responsible for preparing family meals. Focus group discussions were audio-taped, transcribed and categorized by themes. Participants expressed more frequent illness symptoms such as dizziness, vomiting, visual loss, and skin diseases after the accident. They mentioned that their worries about economic hardship and worsened health status since the accident induced mental problems, such as depression about their children. Regarding eating habits, participants reported less intakes of fishes and meats and relatively more intakes of vegetables and kimchi due to the lack of household incomes after the accident. Although the participants had been used to collecting or catching fish or shellfish for their consumption previously, they mainly purchased these foods from local markets after the accident. Changes of eating habits induced by the accident included drinking boiled water and having steamed or fried seafood rather than raw seafood. Changes of food intakes occurred less frequently in older adults due to their longterm fixed eating habits, although they felt uncomfortable for having raw fish. The findings of this study clearly present that the exposure of hazardous substances by the oil spill accident had a significant impact on changes in eating habits besides economic, physical, and mental problems among the residents in Taean. Continuous health and nutrition monitoring and support are needed.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.705-714
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• 2010

The residual oil concentrations in seawater and sediments were investigated along the Taean coast of Korea, following the Hebei Spirit oil spill, which occurred on 7 December 2007. The oil concentration in seawater ranged from 0.059 to $0.866\;{\mu}g/L$ for the tidal flat culture grounds and from 0.016 to $0.943\;{\mu}g/L$ in the fish cage areas in 2008. These were dominated by the seawater temperature relationship. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediments were also analyzed and the concentrations ranged from 3.4 to 509.7 ng/g dry weight. The average PAH level was higher in seawater from the Sinduri area than the Padori area, while the average PAH level in sediments was higher in Padori. The diagnostic ratio of PAHs was investigated to determine the origins of the PAHs. The PAHs in the Seongam area, which was not affected by the oil spill, are of pyrolytic origin, while the PAHs in Padori and Sinduri were of petrogenic origin. The residual oils in the areas affected by the oil spill tended to decrease over time, except in summer. The oils in pore water remained 6- to 16-fold higher, as compared to the seawater overlying the tidal flat, implying that residual oils will continue to influence the affected region for the foreseeable future.