• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.30 no.11
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• pp.1067-1074
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• 2008

In this study, the organic carbon normalized-sorption coefficients (Koc) for the binding affinity of phenanthrene (PHE) to 16 different soil humic and fulvic acids of various origins were determined by fluorescence quenching. The humic and fulvic acids used in this study were isolated from 6 different domestic soils including Mt. Hanla soil, IHSS standard soil and peat as well as Aldrich humic acid and characterized by elemental composition, ultraviolet absorption at 254 nm, composition of main structural fragments determined by CPMAS $^{13}$C NMR. The Koc values($\times$10$^4$, L/kg C) for each of HA and FA samples were in the range of 1.48$\sim$8.65 and higher in HA compared to that of FA(3.13$\sim$8.65 vs 1.48$\sim$2.48) in the experimental condition([PHE]/[HS] = 0.02$\sim$0.2(mg/L)/(mg-OC/L), pH 6). The correlation study between the structural descriptors of humic and fulvic acids and log Koc values of phenanthrene, show that the magnitude of Koc values positively correlated with the UV$_{254}$ absorptivity([ABS]$_{254}$) and two $^{13}$C NMR descriptors (C$_{Ar-H,C}$, $\sum$C$_{Ar}$/$\sum$C$_{Alk}$), while negatively correlated with the independent descriptors of the(N+O)/C atomic ratios and $^{13}$C NMR descriptors (I$_{C-O}$/I$_{C-H,C}$). These results confirmed that the binding affinity for the hydrophobic organic compound, phenanthrene are significantly influenced by the polarity and aromaticity of soil humc and fulvic acids.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.127-136
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• 1994

Diffusional sampling devices offer many advantages for measuring concentration levels of industrial contaminants than the conventional pump and charcoal tubes because they are lightweight, require no power, pump or tubing. This study designed to evaluate and compare the sampling performance of passive sampler to charcoal tube from mixed organic solvent workplace with 181 organic solvent using workers working in different concentration of organic solvents. All study workers kept both devices in their breathing zone simultaneuosly in the workplaces, and the sampling analytical results were compared with those of charcoal tube. The results obtained are as follows: 1. The concentrations of toluene and xylene measured by passive sampler were slightly higher than those of charcoal tube, but there were no significant statistical differences between two methods. 2. The concentrations of MEK and cyclo-hexanone measured by passive sampler in low exposure workplace (below 0.20 of MEK TLV levels and 0.1 of cyclo-hexanone TLV levels) were about 2 times higher than that of charcoal tube sampling. While, absorption efficiency of passive sampler was reduced according to increasing concentration measurements of MEK and cyclo-hexanone in air. 3. The ratios of concentrations of toluene, xylene, MEK and cyc1o-hexanone measured by passive sampler over those measured by charcoal tube were 1.11, 1.07, 1.63 and 3.65 respectively. 4. The percentages of concentration of passive samplers within 0.75 and 1.25 of charcoal tube value as a reference value of 1.0 were 57% in toluene, 74% in xylene, 34% in MEK and 32% in cyclo-hexanone respectively. 5. The correlation coefficients of toluene, xylene, MEK and cyclo-hexanone between passive sampler and charcoal tube sampler were 0.963, 0.957, 0.943 and 0.562 with statistical significance.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.477-487
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• 2019

Objectives: Firefighters are known to be exposed to a variety of toxic substances, but little information is available on the exposure profile of firefighting activities. The aims of this study were to conduct exposure monitoring of toxic chemicals at fire scenes, to compare the concentrations of respective chemicals among firefighting tasks, and to assess the main factors influencing the concentrations of chemicals. Methods: Researchers performed sampling at firefighting scenes during four weeks in 2013. At the scene, we collected samples based on firefighters' own activities and examined the situation and scale of the accident. Collected samples were classified into three categories, including fire extinguishing and overhaul, and were analyzed in the laboratory according to respective analysis methods. Results: A total of fourteen fire activity events were surveyed: five fire extinguishing, six overhaul, and three fire investigations. Although no substance exceeded the ACGIH TLV, PAHs were detected in every sample. Naphthalene ranged from 0.24 to 279.13 mg/㎥ (median 49.6 mg/㎥) and benzo(a)pyrene was detected in one overhaul case at 10.85 ㎍/㎥. Benzene (0.01-12.2 ppm) was detected in every task and exceeded the ACGIH TLV. No significant difference in concentrations between tasks was shown. Conclusions: These results indicate that all firefighting tasks generated various hazardous combustion products, including possible carcinogens.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.95-105
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• 2007

The aim of this study was to determine the residual amounts of PAHs in environmental samples such as crop, soil and water collected from paddy, upland fields and forestlands near industrial zone and/or a thermal power plant in South Korea. All of the samples were analyzed by GC-mass spectrometer. The average contents of total PAHs in soil samples were 140.2 ${\mu}g\;kg^{-1}$ and the range was from 4.3 to $662.9{\mu}g\;kg^{-1}$. The detection of benzo(a)anthracene, chrysene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, benzo(a)pyrene and dibenzo(a,h) anthracene which have strong carcinogenecity was ranged from 14.2 to 167.8 ${\mu}g\;kg^{-1}$. The residual amounts and detection frequency of PAHs in soil samples from the iron and heavy industrial areas near Pohang and Busan were 3-folds more than those of the other areas. Amounts of PAHs in upland soil samples was 1.5 folds higher than those of paddy soil samples, suggesting that it may be related to the content of organic matter in soil. The average contents of total PAHs in crop samples were 9.7 ${\mu}g\;kg^{-1}$ which ranged from 4.5 to 52.2 ${\mu}g\;kg^{-1}$. However, the residual amounts of PAHs in water samples were not detected. These results showed that soils and crops were slightly contaminated with PAHs. Therefore, the investigation should be continued for evaluating a safety or risk assessment through expansion of regions and crops.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.57-65
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• 2005

To investigate the characteristics of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) concentration in the groundwater around Ulsan, Korea, 168 groundwaters, 12 stream waters, and 6 sewage waters were analyzed for 61 VOCs. Results showed that VOCs were not detected in stream waters and total VOCs concentration in 5 sewage waters was in the range of ND-22.3 ${\mu}$g/L. In 78 groundwater samples more than one VOCs were detected and VOCs concentration of the samples ranged from 0.1 ${\mu}$g/L to 387.1 ${\mu}$g/L. However, VOCs concentration of 66 samples out of 78 samples showed less than 10 ${\mu}$g/L and that of only 6 samples exceeded Korea drinking water limit (KDWL). 42 VOCs detected from the 168 groundwaters were 14 aromatic hydrocarbons out of 25, 27 chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons out of 35, and methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE). Detection rate of each VOCs in the groundwaters was as follows: chloroform in 43 samples (25.6%), methylene chloride in 36 samples (21.4%), TCE in 26 samples (15.5%), 1,1-dichloroethane in 19 samples (1.3%), PCE in 16 samples (9.5%), cis-1,2-DCE in 15 samples (8.9%), and toluene in 14 samples (8.3%). Even though VOCs concentration in the groundwaters of the study area is still low, the city is expanding and the drinking water limit is becoming strict, and therefore continuous monitoring is necessary.

• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.701-711
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• 2020

Purpose: In this study, the risk of flammability of a liquid mixture was experimentally confirmed because the purpose of this study was to confirm the increase or decrease of the flammability risk in a mixture of two substances (combustible+combustible) and to present the risk of the mixture. Method: Flash point test method and result processing were tested based on KS M 2010-2008, a tag sealing test method used as a flash point test method for crude oil and petroleum products. The manufacturer of the equipment used in this experiment was Japan's TANAKA. The flash point was measured with a test equipment that satisfies the test standards of KS M 2010 with equipment produced by the company, and LP gas was used as the ignition source and water as the cooling water. In addition, when measuring the flash point, the temperature of the cooling water was tested using cooling water of about 2℃. Results: First of all, in the case of flammable + combustible mixtures, there was little change in flash point if the flash point difference between the two substances was not large, and if the flash point difference between the two substances was low, the flash point tended to increase as the number of substances with high flash point increased. However, in the case of toluene and methanol, the flash point of the mixture was lower than that of the material with a lower flash point. Also, in the case of a paint thinner, it was not easy to predict the flash point of the material because it was composed of a mixture, but as a result of experimental measurement, it was measured between -24℃ and 7℃. Conclusion: The results of this study are to determine the risk of mixtures through experimental studies on flammable mixtures for the purpose of securing the effectiveness of the details of the criteria for determining dangerous goods in the existing dangerous goods safety management method and securing the reliability and reproducibility of the determination of dangerous goods Criteria have been presented, and reference data on experimental criteria for flammable liquids that are regulated in firefighting sites can be provided. In addition, if this study accumulates know-how on differences in test methods, it is expected that it can be used as a basis for research on risk assessment of dangerous goods and as a basis for research on dangerous goods determination.