• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.401-411
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• 2005

This study was conducted to develop a method to be able to estimate the vehicular emissions according to spatial scales-Seoul province, 25 counties and hundreds of grids $(1km{\times}1km)$. First, the emissions at each spatial scale was calculated by using the road network and the travel volume and speed of each link modeled by travel demand model (TDM). Second, the emission at each spatial scale was calculated on the basis of average speeds estimated by using three kinds of averaging method. These are called the provincial, volume-delay function (VDF) and zonal method, respectively. Third, three kinds of emissions and those by TDM are compared each other at three spatial scales. In Seoul (provincial scale), three kinds of emissions are less than those by TDM, but the differences of TDM from three speed averaging methods (SAMs) are small. The relative ratios of three SAMs to TDM are $88\~90\%\;in\;CO,\;99\~100\%\;in\;NOx,\;84\~85\%$ in VOCs. At county scale, NOx among three pollutants showed the highest correlation between TDM and three SAMs and the zonal method among three SAMs was proven to be the highest correlation with TDM. NOx showed the coefficients $(R^2)$ greater than 0.9 in all three SAMs but CO and VOC showed the coefficients $(R^2)$ greater than 0.9 in only zonal method. Slopes of co..elations of all pollutants showed the values close to '1' in zonal method. In the other two SAMs, slopes of NOx showed the values close to '1', but those of CO and VOC showed the values less than 0.85. At grid scale, correlations between TDM and three SAMs were not high. CO showed $0.68\~0.77\;in\;R^2s\;and\;58\~0.68$ in slopes. NOx showed $0.90\~0.94\;in\;R^2s\;and\;0.86\~0.94$ in slopes. VOC showed $0.56\~0.70\;in\;R^2s\;and\;0.48\~0.57$ in slopes. There are not high correlations between TDM and three SAMs in grid scale. This study showed that there is the most suitable method for calculating the average travel speed at each spatial scale and it is thought that the zonal method is more suitable than the VDF or provincial method.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.177-183
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• 2010

Bum-type $CO_2$ generators are widely used in greenhouses for the purpose of $CO_2$ supply for photosynthesis and greenhouse heating. However harmful gases included in the air might give severe effects on the plant growth. For investigating the possible emission of harmful gases from commercial bum-type $CO_2$ generators, we carried out the analysis of the harmful by-products (NO, NOx, $NO_2$, CO, and VOCs) and $CO_2$ caused by using a bum-type $CO_2$ generator in greenhouses. And the harmful by-products from different type of fuels such as kerosene, LPG, and LNG were quantified. In order to minimize the uncertainties from a $CO_2$ generator, 4 different $CO_2$ generators were utilized in four plastic greenhouses and a glasshouse located at different places during the experimental works. The results showed that the concentration of NOx is proportional to $CO_2$ concentration. Levels of harmful gases in the most of greenhouses, where the new bum-type $CO_2$ generators were installed, were lower than 1.0 ppm when $CO_2$ concentration was set at 1,000 ppm. In case of LNG combustion, the concentration of CO reached out up to 300 ppm and pre-treatment for CO reduction, such as the adsorption process, would be inevitable to abate the adverse effects on plant growth.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.65-87
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• 2011

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to perform basic study on environmental and respiratory diseases in Ulsan and vicinities. Also, this study evaluated the actual state of environmental disease and health education at middle and high schools in Ulsan and surroundings. Methods: For this study, we conducted a survey on the health of the general public, environmental effects, and investigated the characteristics of environmental disease, health and hygiene education, etc. The populations of this study were middle and high school students in Ulsan, Korea. This study investigated the knowledge of environmental disease and health education at schools in Ulsan and vicinities from November 2009 to December 2009. All statistical calculations were performed with Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) for Windows, and gained the following results by implementing Frequency Analysis, Cross-tabulation Analysis and ANOVA. Results: As more and more environmental diseases are increased, the interest of the people has been increasing on this. The incidence rates of asthma and atopy were represented the top 25% of the country in Korea. The source of heavy metal, PAHs and VOCs in Ulsan includes the Petrochemical Complex at Nam-gu and Ulju-gun, the Nonferrous Metal Industrial Complex at Onsan-eup, Ulju-gun, and the Heavy Industrial Complex at Dong-gu and Buk-gu. Especially, there are a number of fossil fuel combustion facilities such as waste incineration plants and boilers at Nam-gu and the Onsan Industrial Complex. It may help greatly to investigate the characteristics of environmental pollutants such as environmental air pollutant and indoor contaminant to better manage the local student's health. Conclusions: It has been revealed that the hazardous chemicals and environmental contaminants are main substances of cause for asthma, atopy, dermatitis, and allergy disease. Therefore, through with collecting basic data such as environmental disease of inhabitants, health education, conscious and knowledgeable level in parents of students and students, We have to exert to improve knowledge and prevention with health life in school through development of health education program systematically for preventing of environmental disease.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.344-352
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• 2023

Background: With its developed port and related industries, the concentration of fine dust is high in Busan compared to other cities in South Korea. Many studies have reported the health effects of fine dust, but there has been a lack of information regarding concentrations of volatile organic compounds among those who exposed to high levels of fine dust. Objectives: This study aimed to define an area with high concentrations of particulate matter and perform biomonitoring surveys among the residents of the area. Methods: Air quality data was collected and the mean level of each district in Busan was derived. We then defined the area with the highest concentrations of PM₁₀ as a target site. Urine samples were collected from the 400 participants and analyzed for VOCs metabolites - trans,trans-Muconic Acid (t,t-MA) and N-AcetylS-(benzyl)-L-cysteine (BMA). Interviews were conducted by trained investigators to examine demographic information. The levels of t,t-MA and BMA were compared with representative South Korean population data (Korean National Environmental Health Survey). The association of the VOC metabolites and fine dust were analyzed by general linear regression analysis. Results: The mean of PM₁₀ in the target site was 42.50 ㎍/m³ from 2018 to 2020. Among the 400 participants in the target site, 74.8% were female and the average age of the participants was 66 years. The geometric mean of t,t-MA was 71.15 ㎍/g creatinine and the BMA was 7.00 ㎍/g creatinine among the residents. The levels were higher than the geometric mean from the 4th KoNEHS. The levels of t,t-MA showed significance in BMI, smoking status, and household income. BMA showed significance in gender and age. Conclusions: Compared to the general population of South Korea, the target site's residents had higher biomonitoring levels. Based on this study, continuous screening for high risk areas, including the target site, and biomonitoring of the residents are required.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.519-525
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• 2008

Biodegradation of toluene, styrene and hydrogen sulfide as model compounds of volatile organic compounds and odor from waste gas was investigated experimentally in a biotrickling filter. This study focussed on the description of experimental results with regard to operating conditions. The effect of varying $H_2S$ load rate and inlet concentration was investigated under autotropic and mixotropic environmental conditions. The $H_2S$ removal efficiencies of greater than 99% were achieved at $H_2S$ loads below $10g/m^3{\cdot}hr$ for each environment. It was observed that the maximum elimination capacity of mixotrophic filter was achieved a little greater than the one of autotrophic filter. The biofiltration of toluene and styrene in trickling bed was examined under different gas flow rates, load rates, and inlet concentrations. Below $40g/m^3{\cdot}hr$ of toluene loading, the elimination capacity and loading were identical and it was completely destroyed. In high loading of toluene, the biotrickling filter was operated at its maximum elimination capacity. In the inlet concentration of 0.2, 0.5, and $1.0g/m^3$, the maximum elimination capacity of toluene showed 40, 45, and $60g/m^3{\cdot}hr$, respectively. After a short adaptation period, it was demonstrated that the results of styrene in originally toluene adapted bioreactor was similar with the ones of toluene. However, the performance of filer for styrene is generally a little lower than for toluene. The operating conditions (including liquid flow rate etc.) allowing the highest removal efficiency should be determined experimentally for each specific case.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.100-107
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• 2007

People have spent lots of time inside building about 90% of these day. Industry has been developed rapidly after I960. Construction materials had changed from natural materials to chemical materials and confidentiality of building has been more higher than before by policy of saving energy. These have caused sick-building syndrome (SBS) for us. So people want environmental construction materials for their house. We designed a environmental loess (yellow soil) finishing material which was composed of loess, water, water-soluble resin, hardener and filler. The purposes of this study were that making an environmental loess finishing material with optimum ratio, evaluating the usability of loess finishing material for wall. Furthermore it was suitable for wall to evaluate mechanical properties that are impact test, cracking test, abrasion test and de-bonding test, environmental properties that were emission of VOCs, formaldehyde and far infrared radiation.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.187-201
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• 1996

This study was to evaluate the efficiency of diffusive monitor using activated carbon fiber(ACF, KF-1500) in measuring airborne organic solvents. The following characteristics were identified and studied as critical to the performance of diffusive monitor; recovery, sampling rate, face velocity, reverse diffusion and storage stability. For the evaluation of the performance of this monitor, MIBK, PCE, toluene were used as organic solvents. In the sampling rate experiments, eight kinds of solvents (n-hexane, MEK, DIBK, MCF, TCE, CB, xylene, cumene) as well as the above solvents were used. The results were as follows: 1. The desorption efficiencies(DE's) of ACF diffusive monitor ranged from 83 % to 101 %. In contrast, those of coconut shell charcoal ranged from 78 % to 102 %. Especially, the DE's of ACF for the polar solvents such as MEK were superior to those of charcoal. 2. Experimental sampling rates on ACF were average 42ml/min(37-46ml/min) for 11 organic solvents at $24{\pm}2^{\circ}C$, $50{\pm}5%RH$. However ideal sampling rates(DA/L) were 33 % higher than experimental sampling rates. 3. The initial response(15~16 min) of the testing monitor was 2 times higher than the actual concentration determined by the reference methods at $24{\pm}2^{\circ}C$, $8{\pm}5%RH$ and $80{\pm}5%RH$. Within 1 hours, the curve reached a linear horizontal line at low humidity condition. But sampling efficiencies decreased with respect to time at high humidity condition. And sampling efficiencies were higher at high humidity condition than low humidity condition for MIBK. 4. At very low velocity (less than 0.02 m/sec), the concentration of ACF diffusive monitor were poorly estimated. But ACF diffusive monitor were not affected at higher velocity(0.2 m/sec-0.6 m/sec). 5. There was no significant reverse diffusion when the ACF monitors were exposed to clean air for 2 hours after being exposed for 2 hours at the level of 1 TLV. 6. There was no significant sample loss during 3 weeks of storage at room temperature and 5 weeks of storage at refrigeration.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.49-82
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• 2004

The study aimed to evaluate cancer damage cost due to risk from benzene inhalation. We performed health risk assessment based on US EPA guideline to estimate annual population risk in Ulsan metropolitan city. Also, we estimated a willingness-to-pay amount for reducing a cancer mortality rate to evaluate a value of statistical life. We combined the annual population risk and the value of statistical life to calculate the cancer damage cost. In the health risk assessment, we applied the benzene unit risk ($2.2{\times}10^{-6}{\sim}7.8{\times}10^{-6}$) in the US EPA'S Integrated Risk Information System to assess the annual population risk. Average concentration of benzene in ambient air is $7.88{\mu}g/m^3$(min: 1.16~max: $23.32{\mu}g/m^3$). We targeted an exposure population of 516,641 persons who aged over 30 years old. Using a Monte-Carlo simulation for uncertainty analysis, we evaluated that the population risk of benzene during ten years in Ulsan city is 2.90 persons (5 percentile: 0.32~95 percentile: 9.11persons). And the monthly average WTP for 5/1,000 cancer mortality reduction during ten years is 14,852 Won(95% C.I: 13,135~16,794 Won) and the implied VSL is 36 million Won(95% C.I: 30~40 million Won). Cancer damage cost due to risk from benzene inhalation during 10 years in Ulsan city is about 104 million Won(5 percentile: 13~95 percentile: 328 million Won). Health benefit cost to reduce a cancer mortality risk of benzene is about 50 million Won is Ulsan metropolitann city. But, it is very important that this cost is not for all health damage cost of cancer mortality in some area. We just recommended a model for evaluating a cancer risk reduction, so we must re-evaluate an integrated application of total VOCs damage cost including benzene.