• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.1781-1795
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• 2024

This study investigated the levels of radioactivity in soil surrounding a phosphate fertilizer factory in Egypt, aiming to assess potential risks to the population exposed to radiation. Concentrations of ²³⁸U, ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K were measured in soil samples collected from two subsites: one near the factory (subsite 1) and another further away (subsite 2). Two different systems were used for measuring radioactivity, a high-purity gamma ray spectroscopy system with an HPGe detector for gamma-emitting isotopes and a CR-39 solid nuclear track detector for alpha-emitting radon gas. Subsite 1, located close to the factory, displayed significantly elevated levels of ²²⁶Ra compared to global background levels (514 and 456 Bq/kg vs. 35 Bq/kg). Additionally, the concentrations of ²³⁸U (241.06 Bq/kg vs. global average 35 Bq/kg), ²³²Th (16.15 Bq/kg vs. global average 30 Bq/kg), and ⁴⁰K (146.36 Bq/kg vs. global average 400 Bq/kg) were all above global averages. Furthermore, a high concentration of radon gas (337.06 μSv/y) was measured at subsite 1. The strong positive correlation observed between ²²⁶Ra and ²³⁸U (0.96256) provides further evidence of potentially elevated radioactivity levels near the factory. In contrast, subsite 2, situated farther from the factory, exhibited natural radioactive background levels within international limits. Quantitative analysis revealed that gamma ray absorbed doses for ²²⁶Ra and ²³²Th exceeded global averages in some samples. Specifically, ²²⁶Ra doses ranged from 7.8 to 46.26 ppm (exceeding the 20 ppm global average in some cases), and ²³²Th doses ranged from 1.98 to 9.14 ppm (exceeding the 10 ppm global average in some cases). The concentration of ⁴⁰K, however, remained within the global range (0.07%-0.69 %). The observed imbalances in the ratios of Th/U (0.17-0.24 Bq/kg and 0.73-0.24 ppm) and U/Ra (0.81-0.73 Bq/kg and 0.73-0.17 ppm), both of which are significantly lower than their respective global averages of 4 and 2.4, point towards the presence of fertilizer-derived contamination. This conclusion is further supported by the high phosphate concentrations detected in the samples. Overall, this study suggests that radioactive contamination near the phosphate fertilizer factory significantly exceeds global background levels and international limits in some cases. This raises concerns about potential risks posed to surrounding agricultural land and crops.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.209-220
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• 2004

Adsorption behavior of Cu onto Hwangto, from Pankok-ri, Kosung-gun, suspension was studied using Cu batch adsorftion experiment and computer program MINTEQA2 and FITEQL 3.2. The sorption of copper was investigated as a function of pH, copper concentration and $NaNO_3$ background concentration (0.01 and 0.1 M). The concentration of copper was analyzed using ICP-AES. The sorption of copper onto Hwangto suspension increased with increasing pH and copper concentration. The adsorption percentage of copper drastically increased from pH 5.5 to 6.5, and reached nearly 100% at pH 7.5. Because the amount of copper solution and the ionic strength of background electrolyte may not affect the sorption of copper onto Hwangto, the copper ion may be combined at the surface of Hwangto as an inner-sphere complex. Using the MINTEQA2 program, the speciation of copper was calculated as a function of pH and copper concentration. The concentration of $Cu^{2+}$ decreased and that of $Cu(OH)_2$ increased with increasing pH. The uptake of copper in the Hwangto suspension was simulated by FITEQL3.2 program using two sites-three pKas model, which is composed of silicate reaction site and Fe oxide reaction site. The copper absorption reaction constants were calculated in the case of 2～6 mL of copper solution. The Fe oxide reaction site rapidly adsorbs copper ion between pH 4.5～6.5. Silicate reaction site adsorbs little copper ion at low copper concentration but much at high copper concentration. The removal amount of copper by precipitation was negligible in comparison with that of adsorption. The Fe oxide reaction site may has higher adsorption affinity of copper ion than silicate reaction site.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.117-129
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• 2013

Background: This study was carried out for the purpose of comprehensively evaluating the mercury exposure level of residents in several areas and the correlation between hair mercury concentration and blood mercury concentration. Method: One thousand one hundred ninety seven subjects were sampled from 30 sites using random assignment sampling. We performed a questionnaire survey and measured the level of total mercury in hair and blood samples from all subjects. Results: The geometric mean concentrations of hair and blood mercury in all subjects were 1.27 mg/kg [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.23-1.32 mg/kg] and 5.24 ${\mu}g/L$ [95% CI: 5.07-5.41 ${\mu}g/L$], respectively. Male (1.56 mg/kg in hair, 6.00 ${\mu}g/L$ in blood) was significantly higher than that of female (1.03 mg/kg in hair, 4.56 ${\mu}g/L$ in blood), and the concentrations were elevated as age increased up to the 50s. Education, smoking, alcohol drinking, and using of pesticides were also shown to influence mercury concentrations in hair and blood. The ratio of hair/ blood mercury concentration was 261.3. The total mercury concentration in hair was identified to be significantly related with total mercury concentration in blood (r=0.814, p<0.001). Conclusion: The geometric mean concentrations of hair and blood mercury were higher than the levels provided in international recommendations. The total mercury concentration in hair was positively correlated with the concentration in blood. The results of this study suggest that hair mercury be considered as a useful tool for the evaluation of mercury exposure.

• Journal of The Korean Dental Society of Anesthesiology
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.213-219
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• 2014

Background: Clinical use of propofol along with remifentanil for intravenous sedation is increasing in these days, but there are not enough researches to evaluate proper target concentration when these drugs are infused by using target controlled infusion (TCI) pump in dental treatment cases. In this study, we compared efficacy of TCI conscious sedation and target concentration of propofol when it used with or without remifentanil during conscious sedation with the help of a TCI for the surgical extraction of impacted teeth. Methods: After IRB approval, all the charts of patients who had undergone surgical extraction of impacted teeth under propofol TCI sedation for 6 months were selected and reviewed for this study. After reviewal of charts, we could divide patients in two groups. In one group (group 1), only propofol was selected for sedation and initial effect site concentration of propofol was $1{\mu}g/ml$ (n = 33), and in another group (group 2), both propofol and remifentanil was infused and initial effect site concentration of each drug was $0.6{\mu}g/ml$ and 1 ng/ml respectively (n = 25). For each group, average propofol target concentration was measured. In addition, we compared heart rate, respiratory rate, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure as well as oxygen saturation. Besides, BIS, sedation scores (OAAS/S), and subjective satisfaction scores were compared. Results: Between group 1 and 2, there were no significant differences in demographics (age, weight and height), and total sedation time. However, total infused dose and the effect site target concentration of propofol was $163.8{\pm}74.5mg$ and $1.13{\pm}0.21{\mu}g/ml$ in group 1, and $104.3{\pm}46.5mg$ and $0.72{\pm}0.26{\mu}g/ml$ in the group 2 with $1.02{\pm}0.21ng/l$ of the effect site target concentration of remifentanil, respectively. During sedation, there were no differences between overall vital sign, BIS and OAAS/S in 2 groups (P > 0.05). However, we figured out patients in group 2 had decreased pain sensation during sedation. Conclusions: Co-administration of propofol along with remifentanil via a TCI for the surgical extraction of impacted teeth may be safe and effective compared to propofol only administration.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.19 no.7
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• pp.861-869
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• 2010

The present study aims to evaluate the characteristics of atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) pollution in roadside and residential areas of two Korean metropolitan cities (Seoul and Incheon) and a background area (Seokmolee). This purpose was established by analyzing temporal and spacial concentration distribution of total and 7 individual PAHs, which were extracted from ambient particulate matters, and by utilizing a multivariate statistical method (principal component analysis, PCA) for the qualitative determination of potential PAH sources. Target PAHs included benzo(a)anthracene (BaA), benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), benzo(b)fluoranthene (BbF), benzo(k)fluoranthene (BkF), chrysene (Chr), dibenzo(a,h)anthracene (DahA), and indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene (IcdP). For all surveyed sites, the concentrations of total PAHs were higher in winter season than in other seasons. However, the concentrations of individual PAHs varied with surveyed sites. In both residential and roadside sites of Seoul and Incheon, BbF revealed the highest atmospheric levels. For all 7 target PAHs, the ambient concentrations were higher in Seoul and Incheon than in a background area (Seokmolee). In both residential and roadside areas, the concentrations of 4 target PAHs (BaA, BbF, BkF, DahA) were higher in Incheon than in Seoul. However, both the residential and roadside Chr concentrations were comparable in Seoul and Incheon. In addition, the residential IcdP concentrations were higher in Incheon than in Seoul, whereas the roadside concentrations were higher in Seoul. The roadside and residential BaP concentrations exhibited the reverse result to the IcdP concentrations. An PCA analysis suggested that atmospheric PAHs in both residential and roadside areas would be due to combined effects of several potential sources such as gasoline- and diesel-fueled vehicles, coal/oil combustion, and waste incineration.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.474-486
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• 2019

Objectives: This study was performed to investigate the emission characteristics of aldehydes emitted by the printing industry and to evaluate their impact on adjacent residential areas. Methods: Aldehydes and THC were measured from the front of the control device in the printing and coating process. Aldehydes and ketones were measured by workplace area, residential area, and background area to evaluate their impact. Results: The concentrations of formaldehyde (<0.047 ppm) and acetaldehyde (<0.068 ppm) in the printing and coating process were relatively low, and the methyl ethyl ketone used as the primary solvent was the main carbonyl compound in the printing process. The daily mean concentrations of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde were not significantly different by workplace area, residential area, or background area. However, the concentration of methyl ethyl ketone was high in the order of workplace area, residential area, and background area. Conclusions: The concentrations of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde in the adjacent residential areas are considered to be more influenced by secondary sources of photochemical reactions than by primary sources. Methyl ethyl ketone is considered to be highly influenced by the primary source, which is printing facilities.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.20 no.12
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• pp.1585-1598
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• 2011

Emission reduction program for in-use diesel vehicles (ERPDV) has been enacted since 2004 over the Seoul metropolitan area, and diesel emission reduction is forced to fulfill this regulation. This study was performed to evaluate the ERPDV using $PM_{10}$ concentrations of both road-side monitoring and national background network during the period of 2004-2010. In order to assess the pure road emission, we first eliminated the long range transport effect by deducting the trend of annual national background concentrations from the road-side $PM_{10}$ concentrations, and then analyzed the time series of the resultant $PM_{10}$ concentrations over Seoul metropolitan area. The annual rates of variations of road-side $PM_{10}$ with the deduction of trend of background level show -3.2, +0.4, and -2.4 ${\mu}g/m^3$/year, in Seoul, Incheon, and Gyonggi province, respectively. There are steadily decreasing trend in Seoul with all of statistic parameters such as mean, mediam, 5%ile, 10%ile, 25%ile, 75%ile, 90%ile, and 95%ile concentrations. Incheon shows some fluctuations with positive with no significant trend, and Gyonggi province shows overall decreasing but not consistent. Student-t test shows 95% significant level of ERPDV effect in Seoul, but there exists no significant level greater than 90% in both Incheon, and Kyonggi province. Total annual averaged trend over the whole Seoul metropolitan area is estimated to lie in approximately $-2.9{\mu}g/m^3$/year in this study, implying the intimate involvement of ERPDV to a large extent. This is also suggesting that the further research cost-effectiveness of ERPDV with consideration of the long range transport process would be needed over the Seoul metropolitan area.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.19 no.4 s.54
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• pp.9-18
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• 2004

In this study, the observation data for the yellow sandy dust phenomena from the year 1999 to 2003 at background sites in Korea were collected at Global Atmospheric Observatory at An-Myeon island and its temporal variation were analyzed. The chemical characteristics of the fine particles were also analyzed in order to evaluate sources of the yellow sandy dust particles. The results showed that the monthly average mass concentration of the fine particles was the highest in springtime and the lowest in summertime in general. The magnitude of its variation was also the highest in March in which the occurrence of yellow sandy dust was the most frequent and thus the number of samples was the largest, while the lowest in June through September. The yearly variation of ion components contributions to the total mass concentration of the fine particles was slowly decreasing, showing that $63\%$ in 1999, $59\%$ in 2000 and $56\%$ in 2003. The most prevalent ion components in the fine particles were found to be $NO_3$ and $SO_4^{2-}$, which are known to be source materials of acidic precipitation, and $NH_4^+$, a neutralizing material of the acid precipitation. Relative proportion of metal components in the fine particles was calculated as $14\%$ in average, and their concentrations are in an order of Fe > Al > Na > Ca > Zn > Pb > Cu > Mn > Ni > Cd > Cr > Co > U. The results indicated that main sources of the metals was soil-originated Fe, Al, Ca, and Mg, and the contribution of anthropogenic air Pollution-originated Zn, Pb, Cu, Mn were also high and keep slightly increasing. Statistical analysis showed that the chemical components could be divided into soil-originated group of Mg, Al, Ca, Fe, and Mn and air pollution-originated group of $NO_3$, Zn, Pb, and they are occupying more than $60\%$of all the components in the dusty sand. The results explain that An-Myeon island is more influenced by soil-originated source than ocean-originated one and also the influencing strength of anthropogenic poilution-originated source is less than $50\%$ of that of soil-originated sources. Compared to non-yellow sandy period, the yellow sandy dust period showed that the amounts of soil-originated $Mg^{2+}$ and $Ca^{2+}$ and ocean-originated $Na^+$ and $Cl^-$ were increased to more than double and the metals of Mg, Al, Ca, Fe were also highly increased, while micro metal components such as Pb, Cd, Zn, which have a tendency of concentrating in air, were either decreased or maintained at nearly constant level. In the period of yellow sandy dust, a strong positive correlation was observed between water soluble ions and between metals in terms of its concentration, respectively. Factor analysis showed that the first group being comprised of about $43\%$ of the total inorganic components was affected by soil and they are ions of $Na^+,\;Mg^{2+}\;and\;Ca^{2+}$ and metals of Na, Fe, Mn and Ni. The result also showed that the metals of Mg and Cr were classified as second group and they were also highly affected by soil sources.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.357-365
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• 1995

The use of chlorinated water in swimming pools produces elevated chloroform levels in the water and air of the pools which can cause chloroform body burden of swimming individuals. Present study confirmed the chloroform body burdens from a 40-min swimming and evaluated the decay of chloroform breath concentration after the cessation of a 60-min swimming. Air and water concentrations were measured in the pools. The water and air chloroform concentrations ranged from 18.1 to 25.3 ${mu}g/l$ and from 30.9 to 60.7 ${\mu}g/m3$ for the confirmation study, respectively. The breath level after 40-min swimming was about 64 to 266 folds higher than the corresponding background breath. The breath concentration after the 40-min swimming ranged from 10.5 to 21.3 ${\mu}g/m3$, while that prior to the corresponding swimming ranged from 0.07 to 0.19 ${\mu}g/m3$. In addition, the post-exposure breath level varied with the subjects who swam in the pool on the same visiting day. Breath concentration increased gradually during 60-min swimming, then decreased rapidly within 5 minutes after the cessation of exposure, after that, decreased slowly, and finally approached to a background breath level at 1-2 hr after exposure.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.183-189
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• 2023

Background: The indoor air quality of classrooms, in which the capacity per unit area is high and students spend time together, must be managed for safety and comfort. It is necessary to develop an eco-friendly indoor air quality reduction method rather than biased management that relies solely on air purifiers. Objectives: In this study, plants and air purifiers were installed in middle school classrooms to evaluate the indoor PM_2.5 reduction. Methods: Four middle school classrooms were selected as test beds. Air quality was monitored in real-time every one minute using IoT equipment installed in the classrooms, corridors, and rooftops. After measuring the background concentration, plants and air purifiers were installed in the classroom and the PM_2.5 reduction effect was analyzed through continuous monitoring. Results: After installing the plants and air purifiers, the average PM_2.5 concentration was 33.7 ㎍/m³ in the classrooms without plants and air purifiers, 25.6 ㎍/m³ in classrooms with plants only, and 21.7 ㎍/m³ in classrooms with air purifiers only. In the classroom where plants and air purifiers were installed together, it was 20.0 ㎍/m³. The reduction rates before and after installation were 4.5% for classrooms with plants only, 16.5% for classrooms with air purifiers only, and 27.6% for classrooms with both plants and air purifiers. The I/O ratio, which compares the concentration of PM_2.5 in classrooms with corridors and outside air, also showed the lowest in the order of plants and air purifiers, air purifiers, and plant-only classrooms. Conclusions: The PM_2.5 reduction effect of using plants was confirmed, and it is expected to be used as basic data for the development of environmentally-friendly indoor air quality improvement methods.