• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.384-397
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• 2021

Background: With volatile organic compounds (VOCs) containing aromatic and halogenated hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene, and xylene that can adversely affect the respiratory and cardiovascular systems when a certain concentration is reached, it is important to accurately evaluate the source and the corresponding health risk effects. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to provide scientific evidence for the city of Seoul's VOC reduction measures by confirming the risk of each VOC emission source. Methods: In 2020, 56 VOCs were measured and analyzed at one-hour intervals using an online flame ionization detector system (GC-FID) at two measuring stations in Seoul (Gangseo: GS, Bukhansan: BHS). The dominant emission source was identified using the Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) model, and health risk assessment was performed on the main components of VOCs related to the emission source. Results: Gasoline vapor and vehicle combustion gas are the main sources of emissions in GS, a residential area in the city center, and the main sources are solvent usage and aged VOCs in BHS, a greenbelt area. The risk index ranged from 0.01 to 0.02, which is lower than the standard of 1 for both GS and BHS, and was an acceptable level of 5.71×10^-7 to 2.58×10^-6 for carcinogenic risk. Conclusions: In order to reduce the level of carcinogenic risk to an acceptable safe level, it is necessary to improve and reduce the emission sources of vehicle combustion and solvent usage, and eco-car policies are judged to contribute to the reduction of combustion gas as well as providing a response to climate change.

• Clean Technology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.9-17
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• 2022

Electrochemical carbon dioxide (CO₂) reduction technology, one of the promising solutions for climate change, can convert CO₂, a representative greenhouse gas (GHG), into valuable base chemicals using electric energy. In particular, carbon monoxide (CO), among various candidate products, is attracting much attention from both academia and industry because of its high Faraday efficiency, promising economic feasibility, and relatively large market size. Although numerous previous studies have recently analyzed the GHG reduction potential of this technology, the assumptions made and inventory data used are neither consistent nor transparent. In this study, a comparative life cycle assessment was carried out to analyze the potential for reducing GHG emissions in the electrochemical CO production process in a more transparent way. By defining three different system boundaries, the global warming impact was compared with that of a fossil fuel-based CO production process. The results confirmed that the emission factor of electric energy supplied to CO₂-electrolyzers should be much lower than that of the current national power generation sector in order to mitigate GHG emissions by replacing conventional CO production with electrochemical CO production. Also, it is important to disclose transparently inventory data of the conventional CO production process for a more reliable analysis of GHG reduction potential.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.683-696
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• 2023

The conservation of wetland ecosystems has a significant role in climate change. Notably, the Han River Protected Area, including the Siam-ri wetland and Janghang wetland, provides high biodiversity value. Thus, it is necessary to comprehensively evaluate the function and value of wetland ecosystems. This study evaluated the ecosystem services of Siam-ri and Janghang Wetlands located in the Han River Protected Area using the Rapid Assessment Wetland Ecosystem Services approach, a function-oriented ecosystem analysis. The results were calculated using the Ecosystem Services Index formula to analyze wetland ecosystem services. We also assessed the key ecosystem services based on a focus group interview. We identified that the supporting and cultural services index scores were relatively high in the study area. The results can provide helpful information for sustainable wetland conservation, conservation planning as primary data, and raising awareness for the Han River Protected Area.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.183-200
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• 2019

In this study, the characteristics of seasonal $PM_{2.5}$ behavior in South Korea and other Northeast Asian regions were analyzed by using the $PM_{2.5}$ ground measurement data, weather data, WRF and CMAQ models. Analysis of seasonal $PM_{2.5}$ behavior in Northeast Asia showed that $PM_{2.5}$ concentration at 6 IMS sites in South Korea was increased by long-distance transport and atmospheric congestion, or decreased by clean air inflow due to seasonal weather characteristics. As a result of analysis by applying BFM to air quality model, the contribution from foreign countries dominantly influenced the $PM_{2.5}$ concentrations of Baengnyeongdo due to the low self-emission and geographical location. In the case of urban areas with high self-emissions such as Seoul and Ulsan, the $PM_{2.5}$ contribution from overseas was relatively low compared to other regions, but the standard deviation of the season was relatively high. This study is expected to improve the understanding of the air pollutant phenomenon by analyzing the characteristics of $PM_{2.5}$ behavior in Northeast Asia according to the seasonal weather condition change. At the same time, this study can be used to establish the air quality policy in the future, knowing that the contribution of $PM_{2.5}$ concentration to the domestic and overseas can be different depending on the regional emission characteristics.

• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
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• 2011.05a
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• pp.476-482
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• 2011

Following public expectations from the emergence of an international agreement with greater legal force after the expiration of the 2012 Kyoto Protocol, Korea is also making efforts to effectively and systematically initiate the mitigation policy and enforce the terms of the international climate change agreement. The majority of domestic industries are candidates for greenhouse gas emission regulation, thereby requiring the proposal of a method that effectively reduces environmental contaminate substances released from railway facilities, following the prediction of an increase in railway usage as an environment-friendly transportation method in the future. Accordingly, this study has quantitatively calculated the amount of released environmental contaminates through the life cycle assessment (LCA) on railway facility constructions, and has evaluated the environmental load and the amount of greenhouse gas emissions through the resulting values. The results of the LCA analysis showed that the amount of environmental load was the highest at the early stages of material implementation and construction, and that the value of global warming was viewed as the highest among the effects. As officially announced by the World Meteorological Organization and the United Nations Environment Program that $CO_2$ is the main culprit of global warming, the analytical values confirmed that the amount of $CO_2$ emissions accounted for more than half of the released greenhouse gases at 2.90E+04tons. The environmental load and $CO_2$ emission rates analyzed in this study are judged to be used in the deduction of the optimum environment-friendly method and quantitative environmental effect of railway facility constructions in the future, as the values can be evaluated based on their degree of environment friendliness.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.434-444
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• 2013

In order to evaluate drought risk at upland according to climate change scenario (RCP8.5), we have carried out the simulation using agricultural water balance estimation model, called AFKAE0.5, at 66 weather station sites in 2020, 2046, 2050, 2084, and 2090. Total Drought Risk Index between the first month (f) and last month (l) (TDRI(f/l)) and maximum continuous drought risk index (MCDRI(f/l)) were defined as the index for analyzing pattern and strength of drought simulated by the model. Based on distribution maps of MCDRI (1/12), drought strength was predicted to be most severe in 2084 for all regions. Some regions showed severe risk of drought meaning over 20 days of MCDRI (1/12) in the other years, while MCDRI (1/12) in other regions did not reach 5 days. Even though maximum value of TDRI (1/12) in 2090 was greater than in 2050, more severe drought risk in 2050 than in 2090 was predicted based on MCDRI (4/6). It implies that drought risk should be assessed for each crop with its own growing season.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.293-301
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• 2016

Objectives: This paper presents the current development progress of environmental health indicators (EHIs) in the Republic of Korea and discusses the utilization, limitations and prospects of EHIs. Methods: The development process and assessment criteria of EHIs were established based on the DPSEEA (Driving force-Pressure-State-Exposure-Effect-Action) framework with reference to that of the World Health Organization-Europe. In order to explore the applicability of EHIs, a case study was performed to compare the atmospheric environmental health status between the Republic of Korea and European region countries using six indicators. Results: Through the development process, 23 indicators in five areas including air quality, indoor air quality, climate change, chemicals, and water quality were developed, mostly using national statistical data. As a result of the case study comparing environmental health indicators in air quality between the Republic of Korea and Europe, it could be useful to understand the different situation of air pollution source, emission, exposure and health effects. Conclusion: In order for EHIs to compare environmental health status and be used as an environmental health policy development tool for vulnerable areas and related factors, it is necessary to develop further indicators for various issues other than air quality and conduct additional research on their interpretation and related implications, such as policy implementation effects.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.24 no.12
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• pp.1591-1600
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• 2015

The response of the freshwater microalga, Chlorella vulgaris, to heavy metal stress was examined based on chlorophyll fluorescence analysis to assess the toxic effects of heavy metals in freshwater ecosystems. When toxic effects were analyzed using regular chlorophyll fluorescence analysis, photosystem II activity($F_v/F_m$) decreased significantly when exposed to $Cu^{2+}$ and $Hg^{2+}$ for 12 h, and decreased in the order of $Hg^{2+}>Cu^{2+}>Cd^{2+}>Ni^{2+}$ when exposed for 24h. The effective photochemical quantum yield(${\phi}{\prime}_{PSII}$), chlorophyll fluorescence decrease ratio($R_{Fd}$), minimal fluorescence yield($F_o$), and non-photochemical quenching(NPQ), but not photochemical quenching(qP), responded sensitively to $Hg^{2+}$, $Cu^{2+}$, and $Cd^{2+}$. These results suggest that $F_v/F_m$, as well as ${\phi}{\prime}_{PSII}$, $R_{Fd}$, $F_o$, and NPQ could be used to assess the effects of heavy metal ions in freshwater ecosystems. However, because many types of heavy metal ions and toxic compounds co-occur under natural conditions, it is difficult to assess heavy metal toxicity in freshwater ecosystems. When Chlorella was exposed to heavy metal ions for 12 or 24h, $F_v/F_m$ and maximal fluorescence yield($F_m$) changed in response to $Hg^{2+}$ and $Cu^{2+}$ based on image analysis. However, assessing quantitatively the toxic effects of several heavy metal ions is challenging.

• Journal of Korean Society of societal Security
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.73-78
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• 2008

Recently, large scale natural disasters such as floods and typhoons due to climate change have been occurring all over the world causing severe damages. Among the various efforts to reduce and recover damages, recently, advanced information technology and remote sensing techniques are applied in disaster management. In this study, a real-time automated damage estimation system using information technology and spatial imagery was developed to accomplish prompt and accurate disaster damage estimation. This system is able to estimate the damage amounts of public facilities such as roads, rivers, bridges automatically through spatial imageries including ground based digital images, aerial photos, satellite images of disaster sites. Based on these spatial imageries, the damage amounts are analyzed in the Web-GIS based analysis system. Consequently, the digital damage reports such as digital disaster information sheets and damage maps can be made promptly and accurately. This system can be a useful tool to carry out prompt disaster damage estimation and efficient disaster recovery.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2009.05a
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• pp.366-370
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• 2009

GREEN, ECO and RENEWABLE ENERGY..아마 최근 가장 큰 화두가 되는 단어들일 것이다. 우리나라 역시 이번정부의 경제살리기는 다름 아닌 '녹색성장'이 핵심이다.. 현재 정부가 강력하게 추진 중인 사업인 4대강 살리기 등은 바로 녹색성장의 대표적인 사례이다. 성장은 하되 환경에 대한 중요성을 바탕으로 하자는 것이다. 기후변화에 대한 논의가 시작된 이래 수많은 전문가들에 의해 기후변화에 대한 논리적 그리고 객관적인 근거를 제시하고자 노력하였다. 반면 기후변화가 지나친 우려라고 반론을 제기하는 전문가도 적지 않다. 어떤 논리가 맞는지는 아무도 모른다. 본고에서 역시 어떤 논리가 맞는지에 대한 논의는 피하고자 한다. 지금 현재의 변화(평균온도의 상승, 집중강우의 증가 및 가뭄 등)들이 과연 확실한 기후변화의 징후인지 아닌지는 어느 누구도 증명하기 어렵기 때문이다. 다만 이것들을 장기적인 기후변의 추세로 받아들인다면 과연 우리의 국가 경제에 어떤 영향을 미칠지에 대한 것은 검토는 반드시 되어야 할 것이다. 기후변화에 대비해서 가장 먼저 해야 할 일은 우리나라에 도래할 기후변화 시나리오에 대한 보다 신뢰성 높은 검토이다. 그리고 이를 위해서는 우리나라에 올 수 있는 기후변화 시나리오를 예측하고 증명할 수 있는 기술의 개발 또한 시급하다. 그 다음에 수반되는 것이 바로 시나리오에 따른 사회경제적 파급효과, 즉 기후변화가 초래하는 사회경제적인 비용이 어디서 어떻게 발생할 수 있는 지에 대한 평가이다. 정부의 정책은 결국 기후변화로 인한 사회적인 비용을 최소화하기 위한 것이고 결과적으로 어떤 사회적인 비용이 초래될 것인가를 예측하고 이에 대한 정책과 기술개발의 방향이 설정되어야 하는 것이다. 본 연구는 현재 선진국들이 기후변화를 어떻게 다루고 있는지에 대한 고찰을 통해 향후 우리나라가 기후변화 대비 무엇을 어떻게 해야 하는지에 대한 제안을 하고자 하였다.