• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.255-261
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• 2006

Experimental animals have been used to biological and medical purposes and the animals must be, for these purposes, healthy and clean to microbial infection. However, the animals can be easily exposed to pathogenic microorganism via several routes. Of the routes, environmental conditions are the most important factors to keep the animals healthy and clean, especially air condition. Monitoring of air-condition has been required to keep the animal healthy and clean. However, any guideline is not available for experimental conditions with pigs. Therefore, the sampling times and points were compared in different conditions to establish an optimal protocol for monitoring of air borne bacteria. Tryptic soy agar(TSA), blood agar containing 5% defibrinated sheep blood and Sabraud dextrose agar(SDA) were used as media to capture total bacteria, pathogenic bacteria and fungi, respectively. Two methods, compulsive capture using an air-sampler and capturing fall-down bacteria were used to capture the microorganisms in the air. The points and time of capturing were different at each experiment. Air borne microorganisms were captured at three and five points in the open and closed equipments, respectively. Air was collected using an air-sampler for 1 min and 5 min and the agar plates as open status were left from 30 min to 2hr. At first, we monitored an experimental laboratory which dealt with several pathogenic bacteria and then, a protocol obtained from the investigation was applied to open or close experimental conditions with pigs. Number of bacteria was high from 10:00 to 15:00, especially on 13:30-15:30 but sharply decreased after 17:00. The tendency of the number of bacteria was similar between two methods even though the absolute number was higher with air sampler. Critical difference in the number of cells was observed at 5 min with air sampler and 2 hr with fall-down capturing method. However, 1 min with air sampler and 1 hr with fall-down capturing were the best condition to identify bacterial species collected from the air. Number of bacteria were different depending on the sampling points in closed condition but not in opened condition. Based on our results, a guide-line was suggested for screening air-borne microorganism in the experimental conditions with pigs.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.26 no.4 s.73
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• pp.273-275
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• 1987

Changes in the numbers of air-borne spores of Alternaria mali causing the Alternaria leaf spot of apple were investigated in apple orchards, by monitoring their AM- toxin(host-specific toxin) producing ability. Most of the air-borne Alternaria in apple orchards were not AM-toxin producers. In culture, only about 2% of Alternaria isolates from a commercially managed apple orchards produced the toxin that was highly toxic only to susceptible leaves.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.52 no.10
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• pp.2151-2161
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• 2020

The study presents a review of research advancements in the field of gamma radiation detection systems for emergency radiation monitoring, particularly two major sub-systems namely (i) the radiation detector and (ii) the detection platform - air-borne and ground-based. The dynamics and functional characteristics of modern radiation detector active materials are summarized and discussed. The capabilities of both ground-based and aerial vehicle platforms employed in gamma radiation monitoring are deliberated in depth.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.356-365
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• 2018

While social networks have become very popular and powerful way of connecting people and sharing new information, they also effectively spread wrong or biased information to the public. We examine the so-called "Shandong peninsular rumor" that claims Chinese government is responsible for the increased air pollution in South Korea and Japan, by moving pollution-causing industries near Beijing to the Shandong peninsular which is close to South Korea. We demonstrate that the amounts of $NO_x$ and $SO_2$ emissions inferred by space-borne monitoring and regional air quality models show clear declining trends in past several years. We do not have any evidences to support the relation of Shandong peninsular emissions change to South Korean air quality.

• Atmosphere
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.247-261
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• 2022

The importance of ozone monitoring has been growing due to the polar ozone depletion and increasing tropospheric ozone concentration over many Asian countries, including South Korea. In-situ measurement of the vertical ozone structure has advantages for ozone research, but observations are not sufficient. In this study, ozonesonde measurements were performed from October to November in Yongin during the GMAP (The GEMS Map of Air Pollution) 2021 campaign. The procedure for ozonesonde preparation and initial analysis of the observed ozone profile are documented. The observed ozone concentrations are in good agreement with previous studies in the troposphere, and they capture the stratospheric ozone distribution as well, including stratosphere-troposphere exchange event. These balloon-borne in situ measurements can contribute to the evaluation of remote sensing measurements such as Geostationary Environment Monitoring Spectrometer (GEMS). This document focuses on providing essential information of ozonesonde preparation and measurement for domestic researchers.

• 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.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.121-126
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• 2008

Radioactivities of the stack air effluents from the Advance Fuel Science Building (AFSB) at KAERI have been investigated and evaluated. In this AFSB, nuclear fuels for the HANARO research reactor have been fabricated and the advanced nuclear fuels have been studied. A stack air monitoring system has been continuously operating to monitor the stack air effluents from the facility to protect the environment. As the results of the periodical radioactivity measurement and both the gamma and alpha spectrometry for the millipore filters taken from the stack air monitor from January until March 2008, a trace amount of primordial $^{40}K$ and the short-lived decay products of natural borne $^{222}Rn$ and $^{220}Rn$ have been detected. However, the radioactivities have rapidly decayed to the level below the Minimum Detectable Activity (MDA) of the counting system. Therefore, it was evaluated that no uranium isotopes have been released to the atmosphere from the stack of the AFSB at KAERI.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.128-148
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• 2019

Massive environmental monitoring has been conducted continuously since the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power accident in March of 2011 by different monitoring methods that have different features together with migration studies of radiocesium in diverse environments. These results have clarified the characteristics of radiological environments and their temporal change around the Fukushima site. At three months after the accident, multiple radionuclides including radiostrontium and plutonium were detected in many locations; and it was confirmed that radiocesium was most important from the viewpoint of long-term exposure. Radiation levels around the Fukushima site have decreased greatly over time. The decreasing trend was found to change variously according to local conditions. The air dose rates in environments related to human living have decreased faster than expected from radioactive decay by a factor of 2-3 on average; those in pure forest have decreased more closely to physical decay. The main causes of air dose rate reduction were judged to be radioactive decay, movement of radiocesium in vertical and horizontal directions, and decontamination. Land-use categories and human activities have significantly affected the reduction tendency. Difference in the air dose rate reduction trends can be explained qualitatively according to the knowledge obtained in radiocesium migration studies; whereas, the quantitative explanation for individual sites is an important future challenge. The ecological half-lives of air dose rates have been evaluated by several researchers, and a short-term half-life within 1 year was commonly observed in the studies. An empirical model for predicting air dose rate distribution was developed based on statistical analysis of an extensive car-borne survey dataset, which enabled the prediction with confidence intervals. Different types of contamination maps were integrated to better quantify the spatial data. The obtained data were used for extended studies such as for identifying the main reactor that caused the contamination of arbitrary regions and developing standard procedures for environmental measurement and sampling. Annual external exposure doses for residents who intended to return to their homes were estimated as within a few millisieverts. Different forms of environmental data and knowledge have been provided for wide spectrum of people. Diverse aspects of lessons learned from the Fukushima accident, including practical ones, must be passed on to future generations.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.281-292
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• 2014

Objectives: The aim of this case study is to verify the chemical exposure reductions for various chemicals by substituting the ingredients of raw materials in a polyurethane(PU) foaming industry. The PU foaming process was making various passenger car seats from chemicals such as toluene diisocinate(TDI), methylene bisphenyl isocyanate(MDI) and polyols. Methods: Basic process data and workers' health effects could be gathered by interviewing managers and reviewing previous exposure monitoring data. Amine, aldehyde and isocyanate chemicals were analyzed following the NIOSH-NMAM. Area sampling methods rather than personal sampling were introduced for this field investigation. Results: Two amines, triethylene diamine(TEDA) and N,N,N',N'-Tetramethyl-1,6- hexanediamine(TMHDA) were identified in raw polyol, cured PU foam and air. The average concentrations of TEDA and TMHDA showd less than 1 ppm by area sampling; however, that caused halovision among workers in PU-PAD process. Aldehydes and isocyanates were detected in the air while the concentrations were relatively low compare to occupational exposure limits. Successful raw material substitution from nonreactive amine to reactive amine could reduces air-borne amine and aldehyde levels by about 70%. Halovision had been disappeared successfully in the process. Conclusions: Several amines caused halovision among workers in PU-PAD process, especially during summer season in spite of relatively low levels. Combination of reactive amines into urethane foam could reduced vapor generation into air, which resulted in the elimination of eye troubles in the process.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.39-51
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• 2011

Objectives: This study was designed to evaluate exposure levels of various chemicals used in wafer fabrication product lines in the semiconductor industry where work-related leukemia has occurred. Methods: The research focused on 9 representative wafer fabrication bays among a total of 25 bays in a semiconductor product line. We monitored the chemical substances categorized as human carcinogens with respect to leukemia as well as harmful chemicals used in the bays and substances with hematologic and reproductive toxicities to evaluate the overall health effect for semiconductor industry workers. With respect to monitoring, active and passive sampling techniques were introduced. Eight-hour long-term and 15-minute short-term sampling was conducted for the area as well as on personal samples. Results: The results of the measurements for each substance showed that benzene, toluene, xylene, n-butyl acetate, 2-methoxy-ethanol, 2-heptanone, ethylene glycol, sulfuric acid, and phosphoric acid were non-detectable (ND) in all samples. Arsine was either "ND" or it existed only in trace form in the bay air. The maximum exposure concentration of fluorides was approximately 0.17% of the Korea occupational exposure limits, with hydrofluoric acid at about 0.2%, hydrochloric acid 0.06%, nitric acid 0.05%, isopropyl alcohol 0.4%, and phosphine at about 2%. The maximum exposure concentration of propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate (PGMEA) was 0.0870 ppm, representing only 0.1% or less than the American Industrial Hygiene Association recommended standard (100 ppm). Conclusion: Benzene, a known human carcinogen for leukemia, and arsine, a hematologic toxin, were not detected in wafer fabrication sites in this study. Among reproductive toxic substances, n-butyl acetate was not detected, but fluorides and PGMEA existed in small amounts in the air. This investigation was focused on the air-borne chemical concentrations only in regular working conditions. Unconditional exposures during spills and/or maintenance tasks and by-product chemicals were not included. Supplementary studies might be required.