• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Sciences Society Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.232-235
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• 2003

In general, the parameters of climate change include aerosol chemical compounds, aerosol optical depth, greenhouse gases(carbon dioxide, CFCs, methane, nitrous oxide, tropospheric ozone), ozone distribution, precipitation acidity and chemical compounds, persistent organic pollutants and heavy metals, radioactivity, solar radiation including ultra-violet and standard meteorological parameters. Over the last ten years, the monitoring activities of Korea regarding to the climate change have been progressed within the WMO GAW and ACE-Asia IOP programs centered at the observation sites of Anmyeon and Jeju Gosan islands respectively. The Greenhouse gases were pointed out that standard air quality monitoring techniques are required to enhance data comparability and that data presentation formats need to be harmonized and easily understood. Especially, the impact of atmospheric aerosols on climate depends on their optical properties, which, in turn, are a function of aerosol size distribution and the spectral reflective indices. Aerosol optical depth and single scattering albedo in the visible are used as the two basic parameters in the atmospheric temperature variation studies. The former parameter is an indicator of the attenuation power of aerosols, while the latter represents the relative strength of scattering and absorption by aerosols. For aerosols with weak absorption, surface temperature decreases as the optical depth increases because of the domination of backscattering. For aerosols with strong absorption, however, warming could occur as the optical depth increases. The objective of the study is to characterize the means, variability, and trends of Greenhouse gases and aerosol properties on a regional basis using data from its baseline observatories in Korea peninsula. A further goal is to understand the factors that control radiative forcing of the greenhouse and aerosol.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.299-314
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• 1996

The purpose of the present study was to validate the use of tissue radioactivity ratios instead of regional metabolic rates for the assessment of regional metabolic changes in Alzheimer's disease(AD) with [$^{18}F$]FDG PET and to examine the correlation of ratio indices with the severity of cognitive impairment in AD. Thirty-seven AD Patients(age $68{\pm}9 yrs$, $mean{\pm}s.d.$; 36 probable and 1 definite AD), 28 patients with dementia of non-Alzheimer type(age $66{\pm}7 yrs$), and 17 healthy controls(age $66{\pm}4 yrs$) underwent [$^{18}F$]FDG PET imaging. Two simplified radioactivity ratio indices were calculated from 37-66 min image: region-to-cerebellar radioactivity ratio(RCR) and a composite radioactivity ratio(a ratio of radioactivity in the most typically affected regions over the least typically affected regions: CRR). Local cerebral metabolic rate for glucose(LCMRglu) was also measured using a three-compartment, five-parameter tracer kinetic model. The ratio indices were significantly lower in AD patients than in controls(RCR in temporoparietal cortex, $0.949{\pm}0.136$ vs. $1.238{\pm}0.129$, p=0.0004; RCR in frontal cortex, $1.027{\pm}0.128$ vs. $1.361{\pm}0.151$, p<0.0001; CRR, $0.886{\pm}0.096$ vs. $1.032{\pm}0.042$. p=0.0024). On the RCR analysis, 86% of AD patients showed a pattern of bilateral temporoparietal hypometabolism with or without frontal involvement; hypometabolism was unilateral in 11% of the patients. When bilateral temporoparietal hypometabolism was considered to be suggestive of AD, the sensitivity and specificity of the RCR analysis for the differential diagnosis of AD were 86% and 73%, respectively. The RCR was correlated significantly with the macroparameter K [$K_1k_3/(k_2+k_3)$] (r=0.775, p<0.0001) and LCMRglu(r=0.633, p=0.0002) measured using the kinetic model. In patients with AD, both average RCR of cortical association areas and CRR were correlated with Mini-Mental Status Examination(r=0.565, p=0.0145; r=0.642, p=0.0031, respectively), Clinical Dementia Rating(r=-0.576, p=0.0124; r=-0.591, p=0.0077), and total score of Mattis Dementia Rating Scale (r=0.574, p=0.0648; r=0.737, p=0.0096). There were also significant correlations between memory and language impairments and corresponding regional RCRs. The results suggest that the [$^{18}F$]FDG PET ratio indices, RCR and CRR, reflect global and regional metabolic rates and correlate with the severity of cognitive impairment in AD. The simplified ratio analysis may be clinically useful for the differential diagnosis and serial monitoring of the disease.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.1109-1116
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• 2019

It is essential to predict the radioactivity distribution around the reactor cooling system (RCS) during obligatory cyclic operation of AP-1000. A home-developed program CPA-AP1000 is upgraded to predict the response of activated corrosion products (ACPs) in the RCS. The program is written in MATLAB and it uses state of the art MCNP as a subroutine for flux calculations. A pair of cyclic power profiles were superimposed after initial full power operation. The effect of cyclic operation is noticed to be more prominent for in-core surfaces, followed by the primary coolant and out-of-core structures. The results have shown that specific activity trends of $^{56}Mn$ and $^{24}Na$ promptly follow the power variations, whereas, $^{59}Fe$, $^{58}Co$, $^{99}Mo$ and $^{60}Co$ exhibit a sluggish power-following response. The investigations pointed out that promptly power-following response of ACPs in the coolant is vital as an instant radioactivity source during leakage incidents. However, the ACPs with delayed power-following response in the out-of-core components are perceived to cause a long-term activity. The present results are found in good agreement with those for a reference PWR. The results are useful for source term monitoring and optimization of work procedures for an innovative reactor design.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.7
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• pp.2388-2394
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• 2023

The radioactivity concentration of environmental radionuclides was analyzed for soil and sand at eight locations within a radius of 255 m centered on the Dongnam Institute of Radiological & Medical Science (DIRAMS), Korea. The average activity concentrations of ⁴⁰K, ¹³⁷Cs, ²²⁶Ra, and ²³²Th were 661.1 Bq/kg-dry, 0.9 Bq/kg-dry, 21.9 Bq/kg-dry, and 11.1 Bq/kg-dry, respectively. The activity of ⁴⁰K and ¹³⁷Cs was lower than the 3-year (2017-2019) average reported by the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety, respectively. Due to the nature of granite-rich soil, the radioactivity of ⁴⁰K was 0.6-fold higher than in other countries, while ¹³⁷Cs was in the normal fluctuation range (15-30 Bq/kg-dry) of the concentration of radioactive fallout from nuclear tests. The activity of ²²⁶Ra and ²³²Th was lower than in Korean soils reported by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR). The average activity concentrations of ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K for the soil and sand samples from DIRAMS were within the range specified by UNSCEAR in 2000. The radium equivalent activity and internal and external hazard index values were below the recommended limits (1 mSv/y). These radionuclide concentration (²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, ⁴⁰K, and ¹³⁷Cs) data can be used for regional environmental monitoring and ecological impact assessments of nuclear power plant accidents.

• Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
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• 1996.11a
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• pp.183-190
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• 1996

Leak-before-break(LBB) approach has been shown to be both cost and risk effective by reducing maintenance cost and occupational exposure when applied to high energy piping in nuclear power plants. For Korean Next Generation Reactor(KNGR) development, LBB is considered for the Main Steam Line(MSL) piping inside containment. Unlike the reactor coolant piping leakages which can be detected by particulate and gaseous radiation monitoring, main steam line leak detection systems must be based on principles that do not involve radioactivity. Ceramics are widely used as humidity sensor materials which can be further developed for nuclear applications. In this paper, we describe the progress in the development of ceramic humidity sensors for use with the main steam lines of KNGR.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.20-25
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• 2010

The gaseous $^{222}Rn$ concentration at the level of clouds was estimated by using the wet scavenging model of its decay products with the observed data of environmental radiation at the ground. And the origin of the $^{222}Rn$ was also discussed. The estimation was done for a precipitation event on Dec. 26-27, 2003, when a large increase of the radiation was observed in Tokai-mura in Ibaraki, Japan. From a backward trajectory analysis, the origin of $^{222}Rn$ atoms for that event was traced back to the northeastern part of China, and it was expected that the large amount of $^{222}Rn$ emitted in the northeastern part of China was transported to Tokai-mura by the Eurasian continental air mass.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.248-256
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• 2021

A total of 120 samples corresponding to 12 categories of dried processed fishery products distributed in Gyeonggi-do were examined for radioactivity contamination (¹³¹I, ¹³⁴Cs, ¹³⁷Cs) and heavy metals (lead, cadmium, arsenic, and mercury). One natural radioactive material, ⁴⁰K, was detected in all products, while the artificial radioactive materials ¹³¹I, ¹³⁴Cs and ¹³⁷Cs were not detected at above MDA (minimum detectable activity) values. The detection ranges of heavy metals converted by biological basis were found as follows: Pb (N.D.-0.332 mg/kg), Cd (N.D.-2.941 mg/kg), As (0.371-15.007 mg/kg), Hg (0.0005-0.0621 mg/kg). Heavy metals were detected within standard levels when there was an acceptable standard, but the arsenic content was high in most products, although none of the products had a permitted level of arsenic. In the case of dried processed fishery products, there are products that are consumed by restoring moisture to its original state, but there are also many products that are consumed directly in the dry state, so it will be necessary to set permitted levels for heavy metals considering this situation in the future. In addition, Japan has decided to release contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean, so there is high public concern about radioactivity contamination of food, including fishery products. Therefore, continuous monitoring of various food items will be necessary to ease consumers' anxiety.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.373-378
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• 2011

Our aim was to investigate the genotoxicity of ambient air in the Krak$\acute{o}$w area after Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) accident and compare with results from Chernobyl fallout. For the detection of ambient air genotoxicity the technique for screening gene mutation frequency in somatic cells of the $Tradescantia$ stamen hairs ($Trad$-SH assay) was used. Since 11th of March 2011 (Fukushima NPP accident), several pots containing at least 15 shoots of bioindicating plants were exposed to ambient air at 2 sites in the Krak$\acute{o}$w surrounding area, one in the city center, and about 100 pots in a control site (in the glasshouse of the Institute of Nuclear Physics) Continuous screening of mutations was performed. Progenies of 371,090 cells exposed were analyzed. Mutation frequency obtained in the first 10 days has shown a mean control level (GMF*100=$0.06{\pm}0.01$). At scoring period related to influence of a potential Fukushima fallout, a significant increase of gene mutation frequencies above the control level was observed at each site in the range, 0.10~0.33 depending on the location, (mean value for all sites GMF*100=$0.19{\pm}0.05$) that was associated with a strong expression of toxic effects. In the reported studies following the Chernobyl NPP accident monitoring $in$ $situ$ of the ambient air genotoxicity was performed in the period since April $29^{th}$ till June $3^{rd}$ 1986 also with Trad-SH bioindicator. In general, mutation frequency increases due to Chernobyl fallout(GMF*100=$0.43{\pm}0.02$) were corresponding to fluctuation of radioactivity in the air reported from physical measures, and to published reports about increase in chromosome aberration levels. Although, recent data obtained from monitoring of the ambient air quality in the Krak$\acute{o}$w and surroundings are lower when compared to results reported after Chernobyl NPP accident, though results express a significant increase above the control level and also are corresponding with increased air radioactivity reported from physical measurements. Statistically significant in comparison to control increase in gene mutation rates and more prolonged than that after Chernobyl fallout increase of GMF was observed during the period following the Fukushima NPP failure.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.83-90
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• 2017

Background: Different cases exist in the measurement of thyroid radiobioassays owing to the individual characteristics of the subjects, especially the potential variation in the counting efficiency. An In situ Object Counting System (ISOCS) was developed to perform an efficiency calibration based on the Monte Carlo calculation, as an alternative to conventional calibration methods. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the applicability of ISOCS to thyroid radiobioassays by comparison with a conventional thyroid monitoring system. Materials and Methods: The efficiency calibration of a portable high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector was performed using ISOCS software. In contrast, the conventional efficiency calibration, which needed a radioactive material, was applied to a scintillator-based thyroid monitor. Four radioiodine samples that contained $^{125}I$ and $^{131}I$ in both aqueous solution and gel forms were measured to evaluate radioactivity in the thyroid. ANSI/HPS N13.30 performance criteria, which included the relative bias, relative precision, and root-mean-squared error, were applied to evaluate the performance of the measurement system. Results and Discussion: The portable HPGe detector could measure both radioiodines with ISOCS but the thyroid monitor could not measure $^{125}I$ because of the limited energy resolution of the NaI(Tl) scintillator. The $^{131}I$ results from both detectors agreed to within 5% with the certified results. Moreover, the $^{125}I$ results from the portable HPGe detector agreed to within 10% with the certified results. All measurement results complied with the ANSI/HPS N13.30 performance criteria. Conclusion: The results of the intercomparison program indicated the feasibility of applying ISOCS software to direct thyroid radiobioassays. The portable HPGe detector with ISOCS software can provide the convenience of efficiency calibration and higher energy resolution for identifying photopeaks, compared with a conventional thyroid monitor with a NaI(Tl) scintillator. The application of ISOCS software in a radiation emergency can improve the response in terms of internal contamination monitoring.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.111-117
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• 1997

Recently, the conclusion of Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty(CTBT) is globally constructing a network system for nuclear test monitoring. The radionuclide experts of the Conference on Disarmament recommended that the detection of nuclear debris in the atmosphere was an essential factor of nuclear test monitoring and proposed the technical requirements. Based on those requirements, atmospheric radionuclide monitoring system to detect nuclear debris generated from the nuclear explosion test was composed. The system is comprised of high volume air sampler(HVAS), filter paper presser and high purity germanium detector(HPGe). Minimum detectable concentrations(MDCs) of the key nuclides requiring in CTBT monitoring strategies are determined by considering of decay time, counting time and flow rate of the high volume air sampler for the rapid explosion and the optimum measurement condition. The results were selected $10{\pm}$2h, $20{\pm}$2h and $850{\pm}50m^3$/h as parameters, respectively. The relation between the natural air-borne radionuclide concentration of $^{212}Pb$ and MDC were calculated which gave effect in the Compton continuum baseline due to those nuclides in the gamma-ray spectroscopy. These results can be used as an actually tool in the CTBT monitoring strategies.