• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.32 no.2 s.89
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• pp.171-178
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• 2006

The objectives of this study were to investigate the formation of trihalomethanes(THMs) and to compare the concentration level of THMs of swimming pools water by different disinfection methods such as chlorine, ozone-chlorine, and salt brine electrolysis generator (SBEG). The concentration of chloroform was the highest in the chlorine system, and the SBEG was the highest in the production of bromodichloromethane (BDCM), dibromochloromethane (DBCM) and bromoform. The average concentration of total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) in three disinfection systems were $64.5{\pm}27.4mg/l(SBEG),\;43.8{\pm}22.3mg/l(chlorine)$, and $30.6{\pm}16.1mg/l(ozone-chlorine)$, respectively. In chlorine and ozone-chlorine disinfection system, chloroform concentration was highest, followed by BDCN, then DBCM. In the SBEG, TTHMs was composed of 42% of chloroform, 28.9% of bromoform, 15.1% of BDCM and 14% of DBCM, respectively. The strongest correlation was obtained in the levels of chloroform and TTHMs in chlorine, and ozone-chlorine disinfection systems from both indoor and outdoor swimming pools ($r=0.989{\sim}0.999$, p<0.01). In the SBEG, the levels of BDCM and TTHMs showed a good correlation (r=0.913, p<0.01). In chlorine and ozone-chlorine disinfection systems at indoor swimming pools, pH, TOC and $KMnO_4$ consumption showed strong correlation with chloroform and TTHMs concentrations (p<0.01). In the SBEG, pH and TOC were also strongly correlated with chloroform (p<0.01). pH and TTHMs were correlated as well (p<0.05).

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2001

The main purpose of applying the chlorination process during water treatment is for disinfection. Research results, however, indicate that disinfection by-products including trihalomethanes, haloacetic acids, haloacetonitriles, haloketones, and chloropicrin can be produced by chlorination process. Some of these disinfection by-products are known to be potential human carcinogens. This three-year project is designed to establish a standard analysis procedure for disinfection by-products in drinking water and investigate the distribution and sources of specific disinfection by-products. The occurrence level of DBPs in drinking water was below 50$\mu\textrm{g}$/L in most cases. THMs in plant effluent accounted for 48% of all DBPs measured, whereas HAAs accounted for 24%, HANs 14%, haloketones 5%, chloral hydrate 7%, and chloropicrin 2%. Chloroform was found to be the major THMs compound (71%), followed by bromodichloromethane (21%), dibro-mochloromethane (7%), and bromoform (3%), The concentration of DBPs formed in distribution systems increased from those detected in plant effluent. Results would play an important role in exposure assessment as a part of the risk assessment process, and would give basic information for establishment of disinfection by-products reduction and management procedures.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.1135-1140
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• 2006

Concentration and speciation of trihalomethanes(THMs) and haloacetic acids(HAAs) that can be created during chlorine disinfection as disinfection by-products(DBPs) in Korean water treatment plants(WTPs) were investigated. 4 WTPs that adopted conventional water treatment processes were chosen for investigation and each represented a typical WTP on the Han, Keum, Sumjin and Nakdong Rivers. The average concentration of THMs was 26.9 ppb, and the maximum and minimum concentrations were 47.6 ppb and 11.0 ppb respectively, while the average concentration of HAAs was 25.4 ppb, and the maximum and minimum concentrations were 57.1 ppb and 9.7 ppb respectively. DBPs concentration was lower in the winter than the summer. The major species of THMs was chloroform and its average percentage was 77%, and the second highest was bromodichloromethane(20%), while the concentration of bromoform was below detection limits. The sum of dichloroacetic acid(DCAA) and trichloroacetic acid(TCAA) was 97% of $HAA_5 $ on average base. But its percentage was 90% in the Han River WTP, especially it was the lowest during the winter. On the other hand, the concentration of DCAA was higher than TCAA except during the summer.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.14 no.1_2
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• pp.35-43
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• 1999

A number of disinfection by-products (DBPs) are formed as a result of the addition of chlorine into the public water supply and some of them have been suggested to cause adverse health effects on humans. However, the estimation of human ingestion exposure to each DBP has been performed simply by multiplying the concentration of a chemical in the cold tap water by the volume of water consumed during a given period of time. However, a questionnaire concerning water consumptions administered to sixty people residing in Chunchon showed that the volume of tap water consumed accounted for approximately 70% of the total volume of water consumed and that of heated water represented approximately 94% of tap water ingested. Heating durations for water-containing foods (e. g., soups and pot stews) and heated beverages (e. g., barley tea) were grouped into 10, 20, 30, and 35 minutes. Based on these time frames, an aluminum pot containing one liter of tap water was heated for the above respective time periods using a gas range to determine the variations of the concentrations of individual DBPs by heating. The pH and total residual chlorine were measured before and after heating. Collected water samples were carried to the laboratory and analyzed for eight DBPs and total organic carbon. Chloroform, bromodichloromethane, chloral hydrate, 1, 2-dichloro-2-propanone, 1, 1, 1-trichloropropanone, and dichloroacetonitrile were not detected following heating for 10 minutes and longer. The concentration of dichloroacetic acid (DCAA) was elevated with heating duration, resulting in the averages of 2.0, 3.1, 4.7, and 12 times the initial concentration, respectively, for 10, 20, 30, and 35 minute heating periods. On the other hand, the concentration of trichloroacetic acid (TCAA) decreased with heating duration, with 0.65, 0.40, 0.34, and 0.19 times lower than the initial concentration. Therefore, it is suggested that ingestion exposure to DCAA increases with heating duration but that ingestion exposure to TCAA decreases. In addition, while the amount of DCAA was elevated at the initial time periods (10 or 20 minutes) and then slowly decreased, that of TCAA was rapidly decreased. In conclusion, water-heating processes during cooking influence the concentrations of individual DBPs in the tap water, with lower levels for volatile DBPs and TCAA, and higher levels for DCAA. Therefore, concentration change needs to be taken into consideration in the estimation of human ingestion exposure to DBPs.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.39 no.9
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• pp.513-518
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• 2017

In this paper, the removal efficiency of THMs (Trihalomethanes) and DOC (Disolved organic carbon) was compared under different GAC (Granual activated carbon) filling methods. One method is "full filling method" in which column is fully filled with GAC at once and the other is "periodic cumulative method" in which column is partially filled with GAC (10, 20, 33 and 50% of total column volume) and added each ratio during 300 days. The effluent concentration of both THMs and DOC under full filling method was low during the initial period, however, steadily increased with operating time. In the contrast, with periodic cumulative method, it maintained (relatively) evenly during the operating period. Periodic cumulative method was more efficient for removing THMs than full filling method. However, when the ratio of chlorodibromomethane or bromoform among THMs was significantly higher than chloroform and bromodichloromethane, full filling method was more efficient than periodic cumulative method. Full filling method had benefit to total DOC removal and control of average DOC concentration in effluent. Overall, periodic cumulative method is more efficient to equalize the removal efficiency of THMs and DOC, so the more frequent refilling of column with small amount of GAC is more advantageous.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.123-128
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• 2008

The Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC) existing in a water includes both hydrophobic and hydrophilic substances however, most of the discussion focuses on hydrophobic substances. The hydrophobic fraction was easily removed by absorption or coagulation more than hydrophilic fraction. Therefore, control of the hydrophilic fraction is very important in water treatment process. This study is to determine the variation of DOC, the removal efficiency of DOC, and Trihalomethane formation potential (THMFP) after each stage of water treatment process by fractionating Natural Organic Matters (NOM) into hydrophobic and hydrophilic substance. DOC from raw water was fractionated at acidic pH (pH<2) using XAD 8 resin column, into two fraction : hydrophobic substance (i.e. humic substance) adsorbed on XAD 8 and hydrophilic substance which represent the organics contained in the final effluent. THMFP was carried out according to the following set condition: Cl2/DOC=4 mg/mg, incubation at $25^{\circ}C$ in darkness, pH 7 adjust with HCl or NaOH as necessary, and 72hour-contact time. THMs analyzed in this study were chloroform, bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethan, and bromoform. Sewage was almost evenly split between the hydrophobic (56%) and hydrophilic fraction (44%). But, Aldrich humic substance (AHS) was found to contain less hydrophilics (14%) than hydrophobics (86%). The formation of THMs may depend on the source which is characterized by the composition of organic matters such as AHS and sewage. The THMFP yield of sewage and AHS were assessed as follows. The value of the THMFP reaction yield, AHS $172.65{\mu}g/mg$, is much higher than that of sewage $41.68{\mu}g/mg$. This illustrates possible significant difference in THMFP according to the component type and the proportion of organic matter existing in water source. Apparently AHS react with chlorine to produce more THMFP than do the smaller molecules found in sewage. Water treatment process may reduce THMFP, nevertheless residual DOC (the more hydrophilic substance) has significant THMFP. Further reduction in organic halide precursors requires application of alternative treatment techniques.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.402-410
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• 2010

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the air quality surrounding an indoor swimming pool, to estimate the cancer risk based on the airborne exposure to trihalomethanes (THMs), and to examine the ventilation efficiency by Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). Chlorine and THMs were measured poolside, and in the staff room and reception area. The indoor swimming pool was modeled using the Airpak program, with ventilation drawings and actual survey data. Temperature, flow and mean age of the air were analyzed. Levels of chlorine poolside, and in the staff room, and reception area were $203\;{\mu}g/m^3$, $5\;{\mu}g/m^3$, and $10\;{\mu}g/m^3$, respectively. Chloroform was the dominant THM in all sampling sites and mean concentrations were $16.30\;{\mu}g/m^3$, $0.51\;{\mu}g/m^3$, and $0.06\;{\mu}g/m^3$ poolside, in the staff room and reception area, respectively. Bromodichloromethane and Dibromochloromethane levels were respectively estimated as $10.3\;{\mu}g/m^3$ and $1.7\;{\mu}g/m^3$ poolside, $1.3\;{\mu}g/m^3$ and $0.1\;{\mu}g/m^3$ in the staff room, and were not detected in the reception area. The cancer risks from inhalation exposure to THMs were estimated between $3.37{\times}10^{-7}$ and $1.84{\times}10^{-5}$. A short circulation phenomenon was observed from the supply air vents to the exhaust air vents located in the ceiling. A high temperature layer was formed within one meter of the ceiling, and a low temperature layer was formed under this layer due to the low velocity and high temperature of the supply air, and the improper locations of the supply air vents and exhaust air vents. The stagnation was evident at the above adult pool and the mean age of the air was 22 minutes. Disinfection by-products in the indoor swimming pool were present in higher concentrations than in the outdoor air. In order to increase the removal of pollutants, adjustment was required of the supply air volume and the supply/exhaust position.