• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.147-155
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• 2010

This study was conducted to investigate the benzene exposure levels in coal chemical and petrochemical refining industries during BTX turnaround (TA) processes where benzene was being produced. Three companies producing benzene were selected, one coal chemical and two petrochemical industries. TA processes were classified into three stages: shut down, maintenance, and start up. Data was analyzed by classifying the refining method into 2 groups (Petrochemistry, Coal chemistry) for 823 workers. Comparing the data from petrochemical industries with data from a coal chemical refining industry, while benzene concentration levels of long-term samples during TA were not statistically different (p> 0.05), those levels of short-term samples were significantly different (p< 0.001). About 4.79 % of data in petrochemical industries exceed the occupational exposure limits (OELs) of benzene, 1 ppm. In a coal refining methods, about 15.7% exceeded the benzene OELs. The benzene concentrations in maintenance and start up stage of TA for petrochemical refineries were higher than those in a coal chemical refinery (p <0.01). These findings suggest that the coal chemical refining site requires more stringent work practice controls compare to petrochemical refining sites during TA processes. Personal protective equipments including organic respirators should be used by TA workers to protect them from benzene overexposure.

• 한국화재소방학회논문지
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.1-8
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• 2006

본 논문의 목적은 Ethyl Benzene 플랜트의 공정에서 과압 현상이 Column 상부의 반응폭주 및 화재 폭발의 원인이 되기 때문에 안전장치시스템의 신뢰도가 압력방출밸브가 요구하는 안전건전성수준으로 설계되어 있는지를 정량적으로 분석한 것이다. 압력방출밸브의 요구시 실패확률은 일반신뢰도 자료 조사결과를 근거로 하여 안전장치시스템에 대한 안전건전성수준의 목표등급을 SIL3으로 설정하였고, 이에 대한 PFD를 1.00E-3에서 1.00E-4로 결정하였다. 신뢰도 모델의 구축 및 결함수 분석기법을 이용하여 SIS의 요구시 실패확률에 대한 정량화를 수행한 결과 SIS에 대한 PFD는 Benzene Prefractionator Column, Benzene Column, EB Column에 대해 각각 8.97E-04, 5.37E-04, 5.37E-04로 계산되었다. 따라서 SIS의 신뢰도가 SIL3 등급에 요구되는 안전건전성수준으로 설계되어 있다고 판단되며 컨트롤밸브에 대한 6개월 주기의 Partial Stroke Test가 수행될 경우 각 Column의 SIS는 약 $22{\sim}27%$의 신뢰도 향상이 기대된다.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• 제49권1호
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• pp.56-61
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• 2011

Methyl vinyl ether, propyl vinyl ether, isopropyl vinyl ether, butyl vinyl ether 그리고 isobutyl vinyl ether 등의 alkyl vinyl ether는 화학 및 의약산업에서 용매와 합성중간체로 널리 사용된다. 최근 들어 alkyl vinyl ether는 고분자 전해질막 연료 전지에 대한 원료와 셀룰로오스의 염색가공에 선호되나, 공정 및 운전변수의 최적화를 위한 alkyl vinyl ether계의 혼합물성은 극히 일부가 보고되고 있고, propyl vinyl ether(PVE)에 대한 상평형과 물성 데이터는 거의 알려진 바가 없다. 따라서 본 연구는 {PVE + ethanol + benzene} 삼성분계 333.15 K에서 기액평형을 headspace gas chromatography (HSGC)을 이용하여 측정하였고 Wilson, NRTL 및 UNIQUAC 식에 상관시켰다. 또한 삼성분계를 구성하는 혼합물성으로써 {PVE + ethanol}, {ethanol + benzene} 그리고 {PVE + benzene}계에 대한 과잉부피($V^E$) 및 굴절율 편차(${\Delta}R$)를 303.15 K에서 측정하였다. 측정된 이성분계 혼합물성은 Redlich-Kister 다항식을 이용하여 매개변수를 상관시켰으며, 이를 이용하여 Radojkovi 식으로 삼성분계 혼합물성을 예측하였다.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• 제4권3호
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• pp.183-191
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• 2008

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are common constituents of cleaning and degreasing agents, paints, pesticides, personal care products, gasoline and solvents. And VOCs are evaporated at room temperature and most of them exhibit acute and chronic toxicity to human. Benzene is the most widely used prototypical VOC and the toxic mechanisms of them are still unclear. The multi-step process of toxic mechanism can be more fully understood by characterizing gene expression changes induced in cells by toxicants. In this study, DNA microarray was used to monitor the expression levels of genes in HepG2 cells and HL-60 cells exposed to the benzene on IC20 and IC50 dose respectively. In the clustering analysis of gene expression profiles, although clusters of HepG2 and HL-60 cells by benzene were divided differently, expression pattern of many genes observed similarly. We identified 916 up-regulated genes and 1,144 down-regulated genes in HepG2 cells and also 1,002 up-regulated genes and 919 down-regulated genes in HL-60 cells. The gene ontology analysis on genes expressed by benzene in HepG2 and HL-60 cells, respectively, was performed. Thus, we found some principal pathways, such as, focal adhesion, gap junction and signaling pathway in HepG2 cells and toll-like receptor signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, p53 signaling pathway and neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction in HL-60 cells. And we also found 16 up-regulated and 14 down-regulated commonly expressed total 30 genes that belong in the same biological process like inflammatory response, cell cycle arrest, cell migration, transmission of nerve impulse and cell motility in two cell lines. In conclusion, we suggest that this study is meaningful because these genes regarded as strong potential biomarkers of benzene independent of cell type.

• 대한예방의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한예방의학회 1994년도 교수 연수회(환경)
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• pp.651-657
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• 1994

To assess quantitatively the association between benzene exposure and leukemia, we examined the mortality rate of a cohort with occupational exposure to benzene. Cumulative exposure for each cohort member was estimated from historical air-sampling data and, when no sampling data existed, from interpolation on the basis of existing data. The overall standardized mortality ratio (a measure of relative risk multiplied by 100) for leukemia was 337 (95 percent confidence interval, 154 to 641), and that for multiple myeloma was 409 (95 percent confidence interval, 110 to 1047). With stratification according to levels of cumulative exposure, the standardized mortality ratios for leukemia increased from 109 to 322, 1186, and 6637 with increases in cumulative benzene exposure from less than 40 parts per million-years (ppm-years), to 40 to 199, 200 to 399, and 400 or more. respectively. A cumulative benzene exposure of 400 ppm years is equivalent to a mean annual exposure of 10 ppm over a 40-year working lifetime; 10 ppm is the currently enforceable standard in the United States for occupational exposure to benzene. To examine the shape of the exposure-response relation, we performed a conditional logistic-regression analysis, in which 10 controls were matched to each cohort member with leukemia. From this model, it can be calculated that protection from benzene induced leukemia would increase exponentially with any reduction in the permissible exposure limit.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제16권3호
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• pp.179-185
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• 2010

Benzene is known as a ubiquitous air pollutant and has a carcinogenic influence on the human body. Benzene is also metabolized to other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the body such as phenol and hydroquinone (HQ). The metabolites are accumulated and further oxidized by myeloperoxidase in bone marrow. They act as toxic agents and cause a variety of diseases, including cancer, atopic dermatitis and asthma. In this study, we examined the effects of benzene and its metabolites on proliferation, differentiation and chemotaxis of EoL-1 cells, the human eosinophilic leukemia cell line. These chemicals had no effect on the proliferation of EoL-1 cells. Benzene decreased the differentiation of EoL-1 cells induced by butyric acid. HQ was induced the cell death during butyric acid-induced EoL-1 cell differentiation. In a chemotaxis experiment, benzene, phenol and HQ enhanced the cell migration induced by Lkn-1 but not by MCP-1, eotaxin, MIP-$1{\alpha}$ and RANTES. These findings provide the effect of VOCs on the regulation of eosinophil-involved immune response.

• 한국환경과학회지
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• 제15권7호
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• pp.635-642
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• 2006

Present study evaluated the low-temperature destruction of n-hexane and benzene using mesh-type transition-metal platinum(Pt)/stainless steel(SS) catalyst. The parameters tested for the evaluation of catalytic destruction efficiencies of the two volatile organic compounds(VOC) included input concentration, reaction time, reaction temperature, and surface area of catalyst. It was found that the input concentration affected the destruction efficiencies of n-hexane and benzene, but that this input-concentration effect depended upon VOC type. The destruction efficiencies increased as the reaction time increased, but they were similar between two reaction times for benzene(50 and 60 sec), thereby suggesting that high temperatures are not always proper for thermal destruction of VOCs, when considering the destruction efficiency and operation costs of thermal catalytic system together. Similar to the effects of the input concentration on destruction efficiency of VOCs, the reaction temperature influenced the destruction efficiencies of n-hexane and benzene, but this temperature effect depended upon VOC type. As expected, the destruction efficiencies of n-hexane increased as the surface area of catalyst, but for benzene, the increase rate was not significant, thereby suggesting that similar to the effects of the re- action temperature on destruction efficiency of VOCs, high catalyst surface areas are not always proper for economical thermal destruction of VOCs. Depending upon the inlet concentrations and reaction temperatures, almost 100% of both n-hexane and benzene could be destructed, The current results also suggested that when applying the mesh type transition Metal Pt/SS catalyst for the better catalytic pyrolysis of VOC, VOC type should be considered, along with reaction temperature, surface area of catalyst, reaction time and input concentration.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• 제17권2호
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• pp.143-148
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• 1974

Aflatoxin $B_1$은 전자수용성(電子受容性)을 높여주는 염화아연(鹽化亞鉛) 존재하(存在下)에서 전자공여성분자(電子供與性分子)인 Benzene과 Charge-transfer Complex를 만들며, 그 생성기구(生成機構)는 Aflatoxin $B_1$이 염화아연(鹽化亞鉛)과 일차적(一次的)으로 배위결합(配位結合)된 화합물(化合物)을 거쳐, 이것이 Benzene과 결합(結合)하여 착물(錯物)을 형성(形成)한다. 이 착물(錯物)의 안정도상수(安定度常數) 즉(卽) 평형상수(平衡常數) 0.198 l/mole이었다. 따라서 Aflatoxin $B_1$은 약(弱)한 전자수용체(電子受容體)이나, Benzene 보다 강(强)한 전자공여체(電子供與體)와는 염화아연(鹽化亞鉛)이 존재(存在)하지 않아도 Charge-transfer Complex를 만들 수 있다는 가능성(可能性)을 제시(提示)해 주는 것이며, Tryptophane, Histidine과 같은 강(强)한 전자공여체(電子供與體)를 함유(含有)한 단백질(蛋白質) 또는 Guanine, Adenine과 같은 전자공여체(電子供與體)를 함유(含有)한 DNA등(等)과의 Aflatoxin $B_1$의 결합(結合)은 그 결합(結合) Mechanism으로서 Charge-transfer Complex 형성(形成)으로 이루어진다는 추정(推定)을 할 수 있다.

• 청정기술
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.256-262
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• 2014

본 연구에서는 ${\gamma}-Al_2O_3$에 구리를 함침시킨 촉매를 고정층 반응기에 충전시킨 후 휘발성유기물질(VOCs)인 벤젠의 촉매산화 반응특성을 살펴보았다. 실험조건은 반응온도 $200{\sim}500^{\circ}C$, 벤젠의 농도 400~650 ppm, 가스유입량 50~100 cc/min, 공간속도 $7,500{\sim}22,500hr^{-1}$의 범위로 적용하였다. BET분석, 주사전자현미경(SEM), 열천칭(TGA) 분석을 통해 제조된 촉매의 물성을 조사하였으며, 벤젠의 촉매산화반응의 전환율에 대하여 고찰하였다. 실험결과, 벤젠의 농도와 공간속도가 낮아질수록 벤젠 산화반응의 전환율은 증가함을 알 수 있었다. 벤젠의 촉매산화반응은 1차 균일반응으로 해석될 수 있었으며, 반응의 활성화 에너지(Ea)는 17.2 kcal/mol, 빈도인자(A)는 $1.33{\times}10^6sec^{-1}$이었다.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제17권4호
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• pp.310-321
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• 2007

Status of benzene exposure was evaluated upon petrochemical workers in the Yeosu Industrial Complex, based on questionnaire responses by workers, review of previous work environment assessment reports between 1996 and 2004, in addition to short-term exposure measurements for unit tasks in the field. Questionnaire results showed that workers in the field were suffering concern on and symptoms of respiratory diseases, cancers or other illnesses of unknown causes. In particular, workers were highly worried about the risk of exposure to chemical hazards including benzene, while conducting specific tasks (e.g. sampling, draining, gauging) among normal operations during which equipments are opened and contents are exposedin the air, as well as periodic turnaround (TA) task. However, the review of previous work environment assessment reports found out that short-term exposure assessment data for unit tasks accounted for less than 1% of total data, and most of them were on 8-hr average exposure level. It also turned out that benzene was not detected in 83% of total samples, suggesting routine but pointless sampling has been repeated. Short-term exposure level was assessed focusing on tasks with high level of complaints on the exposure risk, based on the questionnaire responses. As predicted, a maximum of 741 ppm benzene exposure was reached depending on types and conditions of operations involved. In conclusion, these findings suggest that the evaluation and management on the short-term high exposure tasks including turnaround are crucial in reducing benzene exposure and preventing haematopoietic cancer in workers in the petrochemical industry.