• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.1079-1087
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• 1995

The quality of human life is directly related to the quality of the environment. To assess environmental quality we must first determine the MCLG(Maximum Contaminant Level Goal), MCL(Maximum Contaminant Level), environmental impact and so on. The MCLG is the concentration at which no known adverse health effects occur. The MCLG is determined by risk assessment identifying which process is hazardous assessing, dose-response, human exposure, and characteristics of risk. With consideration of analytical methods, treatment technology, cost and regulatory impact, the MCL is set as close to the MCLG as possible. In this way, determination of the concentration and national distribution of contaminants is important for assessment of environmental quality The analytical sciences pose potential problems in assessing environmental quality. Continuing improvement in the performance of analytical instruments and operating technique has been lowering the limits of detectability. Contaminant concentration below the detection limit has usually been reported as ND(Not-Detected) and this has often been misunderstood as equivalent to zero. Because of this, more the contaminant concentration in the past was below the detection limit, whereas contaminants can be quantified now even though the contaminant concentration might remain the same or may even have decreased. In addition, environmental sampling has various components due to heterogeneous matrices. These samples are used to overestimate the concentration of the contaminant due to large variability, resulting in excess readings for MCL. In this paper, the significance of the analytical sciences is emphasized in both a conceptual and a technical approach to environmental assessment.

• Journal of Korean Society for Quality Management
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.535-552
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• 2020

Purpose: The main theme of this study is to derive a specific quality loss function with multiple characteristics according to the same analytical structure as the single characteristic quality loss function of Taguchi. In other words, it presents an analytical framework for measuring quality costs that can be controlled in practice. Methods: This study followed the analytical methodology through geometric, linear algebraic, and statistical approaches Results: The function suggested by this study is as follows; $$L(x_1,x_2,{\cdots},x_t)={\sum\limits_{i=1}^{t}}k_i\{x_i+{\sum\limits_{j=1}^{t}}\({\rho}_{ij}{\frac{d_i}{d_j}}\)x_j\}x_i$$ Conclusion: This paper derived the quality loss function with multiple quality characteristics to expand the usefulness of the Taguchi quality loss function. The function derived in this paper would be more meaningful to estimate quality costs under the practical situation and general structure with multiple quality characteristics than the function by linear algebraic approach in response surface analysis.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.16-21
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• 2010

It has been well known that organic industrial solvents such as toluene, xylene and styrene are environmental health hazards causing occupational diseases to workers. The detection of biological metabolites of toluene, xylene and styrene in blood, urine, breast milk, saliva, and hair of workers exposed to these organic industrial solvents is a useful tool for assessing the amount of organic industrial solvents. Therefor, the external analytical quality assurance program is extremely important work for increasing reliability of the data analyzed in the special health examination laboratory. We evaluated the results of analysis by Korean analytical quality assurance program from the second half 2007 to the first half 2009. The number of participants for analytical quality assurance program for both mandatory item and one of optional items, hippuric acid and methylhippuric acid were 116-122, 116-122 and 105-115 laboratories, respectively. The proficient rate of the special health examination laboratories analyzed both mandatory item and optional item, hippuric acid and methylhippuric acid were 92-98%, 92-98% and 96-98%, respectively. We can conclude from our data that the analytical quality assurance program is a essential tool for improvement of reliability on the data analyzed in the special health examination laboratories.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.173-187
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• 2005

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.346-353
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• 1999

For the non-destructive multi-elemental analysis of environmental and biological materials, instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) was applied for the determination of toxic and trace elements in a set of three Algae samples provided by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The analytical quality control was evaluated by comparing the analytical results of two standard reference materials of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST); Oyster Tissue (SRM 1566a) and Citrus Leaves (SRM 1572). According to given analytical procedure, the concentration of 15-25 elements including spiked elements such as As, Cd, Cr and Hg in Algae samples were determined. To identify and validate these results, a data intercomparison program using more than 35 analytical methods in 150 laboratories was carried out and the estimated statistical data are summarized. Result of INAA is favorable, therefore, it is illustrated that can be applied for routine analysis of essential and toxic elements in algae samples as well as analytical quality assurance.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.58-66
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• 2020

Objectives: The objective of this study was to develop formaldehyde samples for quality control (QC) and to test the applicability of proficiency analytical testing in Korea. Methods: We made formaldehyde samples with certified standard solutions (formaldehyde in water or acetonitrile) and 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (2,4-DNPH)-coated silicagel tubes. Four levels of formaldehyde concentration were tested for storage stability at room temperature and at 4℃ over three months. Analytical proficiency testing was performed with four or 36 institutes. Results: Formaldehyde sample tubes were easily made through the injection of standard solutions and the average efficiencies of recovery were 95-101%. The coefficients of variation (CV) of the formaldehyde samples were 1.39-2.55%. The recovery efficiencies fell between 90% and 110% at the concentration range of 1-10 ㎍/sample over three months storage at refrigerated and room temperature. The CVs were less than 5% in the proficiency analytical testing. By adjusted proficient ranges, 64% of the results of the second proficiency analytical testing were acceptable. Conclusions: The formaldehyde samples made by injection on 2,4-DNPH-coated silicagel tubes were stable and applicable for quality control.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.194-203
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• 1993

Quality Control programs for industrial hygiene laboratory have successfully been operated since the 1st round was initiated in April 1992. Three rounds have been completed. Overall analytical performance of participants was improved through a subsquent round. The first round had a large variation among analytical results of all participants, 26.34%~504.22% of coefficient of variation. But the variation of analytical performance in the 2nd and 3rd rounds decreased to 40.42%~52.55% and 10.74%~20.98%, respectively. The difference of analytical performance among participants was decreased by operation of subsquent round. By distribution of Running Performance Index (RPI), over 50% of participants belongs to Category 3 in the first round. The average percentage of participants assigned to Category 3 in the 2nd and 3rd round was decreased to 37.2%. A definite analytical performance improvement of participants seems to be obtained. "A" and "B" group have more participants assigned to Category 3 than those of "C" group through the distribution of RPI by group divided to similar participant. By the distribution of RPI all participants, the percent of participant being over 200 RPI in the 1st round was 43%~52%, but decreased to 9%~29% and 9%~27%, in the 2nd and 3rd round, respectively. These results mentioned above indicate that the analytical performance of all participants have been improved by subsquent Quality Control Program although newcomers joined and a few participants droped out. But, there are some participants with poor analytical performance. Industrial Health Research Institute (IHRI) will offer service such as education, communication and visitation to them, and improve quality of their analytical performance in the future.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.1017-1041
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• 1997

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.1110-1124
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• 1996

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.229-233
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• 2000

The study was carried out to confirm the reliability of standard samples, low concentration $0.74mgN(NO_3)/l$, $0.58mgF^-/l$, high concentration $2.14mgN(NO_3)/l$, $1.25mgF^-/l$, on the base of quality control chart. The analytical results had the precise reliability with standard deviation of 0.010, 0.017, 0.056 and 0.019, respectively. When three persons A, B and C, who had different analytical experiences, analyzed the standard samples six times repeatedly, C person, who had more academic career and analytical experience, produced far better reliability for analytical results. Therefore, these standard samples were very suitable for external quality control test, because all persons' average values for analytical results were close to the values of prepared standard samples.