• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.123-130
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• 2000

The performance of an electrometer directly affects on the accuracy and precision in radiation dosimetry. This study is to list of the quality control for maintaining performance and to perform evaluation tests of an electrometer. Performance tests selected include proper polarizing voltages, warm-up and equalization time, leakages, long-term stability, linearity, and effect of ambient conditions. An electrometer connected with a rigid stem ionization chamber was evaluated with a Strontium-90 check device. Bias voltage was measured directly on the input socket. Equalization time is the time required for reaching threshold of charged state after the power is on or the bias voltage is changed. Pre- and post-signal leakages are defined as the accumulation of signal with no exposure and after exposure, respectively. Over three months period, the electrometer's long-term stability was measured by comparison of the temperature-pressure corrected readings. Linearity was expressed as the deviation of readings from multiple short exposures from one continuous exposure. Effect of ambient conditions was expressed as the zero drift of the electrometer over 17-34$^{\circ}C$ temperature ranges. For two nominal values, 300 and 500 volts, measured voltages were lower by 2.5 and 5.8%, respectively. The warm-up time, 20 minutes, was longer than the lamp time by 9 minutes and the equalization time was less than 1 minute. Without exposure, the zero-drift was 0.002 scale-unit in 15 minutes and the leakage after 10 minutes exposure was minimal. The IQ-4 was stable over 99.4% for three-month periods. Deviation from the linearity was 0.9% for measurement scale, 0.000-9.991. Over 17-34$^{\circ}C$ temperature range, the zero-drift was minimal, less than 0.2%. For a clinically-used electrometer, a list for the basic peformance evaluations is proposed. By running this program, the measurement error using an electrometer can be reduced and in turn the improvement in accuracy and precision of radiation dosimetry can be achieved.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.465-476
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• 2010

In this study, a number of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including benzene, toluene, p-xylene, styrene, and methyl ethyl ketone were analyzed from samples collected in ambient air and under the field conditions. These samples were analyzed independently by two different set-ups for VOC analyses, i.e., between [1] gas chromatography/flame ionization detector with tube sampling - (F-T system) and [2] gas chromatography/mass spectrometer with bag sampling (M-B system). The analytical results derived by both systems showed fairly similar patterns in relative sense but with moderately large differences in absolute sense. The results of M-B system were high relative to F-T system with the F-T/M-B ratio below 1. If the relative biases of the two measurement techniques are derived in terms of percent difference (PD) in concentration values, the results were generally above 35% on average. A student t-test was applied to investigate the statistical significance of those differences between the systems. The results of both analytical systems were different at 95% confidence level for toluene, p-xylene, styrene, and methyl ethyl ketone (P < 0.043). However, F-T and M-B systems showed strong correlations for toluene and p-xylene. The observed bias is explained in large part by such factors as the differences in standard phases used for each system and the chemical loss inside the bag sampler.

• 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.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.1-21
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• 2021

Panax species have gained numerous attentions because of their various biological effects on cardiovascular, kidney, reproductive diseases known for a long time. Recently, advanced analytical methods including thin layer chromatography, high-performance thin layer chromatography, gas chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography, ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with tandem ultraviolet, diode array detector, evaporative light scattering detector, and mass detector, two-dimensional high-performance liquid chromatography, high speed counter-current chromatography, high speed centrifugal partition chromatography, micellar electrokinetic chromatography, high-performance anion-exchange chromatography, ambient ionization mass spectrometry, molecularly imprinted polymer, enzyme immunoassay, 1H-NMR, and infrared spectroscopy have been used to identify and evaluate chemical constituents in Panax species. Moreover, Soxhlet extraction, heat reflux extraction, ultrasonic extraction, solid phase extraction, microwave-assisted extraction, pressurized liquid extraction, enzyme-assisted extraction, acceleration solvent extraction, matrix solid phase dispersion extraction, and pulsed electric field are discussed. In this review, a total of 219 articles published from 1980 to 2018 are investigated. Panax species including P. notoginseng, P. quinquefolius, sand P. ginseng in the raw and processed forms from different parts, geographical origins, and growing times are studied. Furthermore, the potential biomarkers are screened through the previous articles. It is expected that the review can provide a fundamental for further studies.