• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.272-281
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• 2022

Background: The constant consumption of chemical products owing to expanding industrialization has led to an increase in public interest in chemical substances. As the production and disposal processes for these chemical products cause environmental problems, regional information on the hazard level of chemical substances is required considering their effects on humans and in order to ensure environmental safety. Objectives: This study aimed to identify hazard contribution and spatiotemporal characteristics by region and chemical by calculating a hazard-based result score using pollutant release and transfer register (PRTR) data. Methods: This study calculated the chemical discharge and hazard-based result score from the Risk-Screening Environmental Indicators (RSEI) model, analyzed their spatiotemporal patterns, and identified hotspot areas where chemical discharges and high hazard-based scores were concentrated. The amount of chemical discharge and hazard-based risk scores for 250 cities and counties across South Korea were calculated using PRTR data from 2011 to 2018. Results: The chemical discharge (high densities in Incheon, Daegu, and Busan) and hazard-based result scores (high densities in Incheon, Chungcheongnam-do, and some areas of Gyeongsangnam-do Province) showed varying spatial patterns. The chemical discharge (A, B) and hazard-based result score (C, D) hotspots were identified. Additionally, identification of the hazard-based result scores revealed differences in the type of chemicals contributing to the discharge. Ethylbenzene accounted for ≥80% of the discharged chemicals in the discharge hotspots, while chromium accounted for >90% of the discharged chemicals in the hazard-based result score hotspots. Conclusions: The RSEI hazard-based result score is a quantitative indicator that considers the degree of impact on human health as a toxicity-weighted value. It can be used for the management of industries discharging chemical substances as well as local environmental health management.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.144-154
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• 2021

Objectives: This study was intended to identify hazard contribution by region, media, and chemical by calculating a hazard-based index using pollutant release and transfer register (PRTR) data. Methods: PRTR data for the period 2011 to 2016 was analyzed to examine the regional trends in toxic releases in terms of quantity and to create a corresponding hazard-based index. For the hazard-based index, the Risk-Screening Environmental Indicators (RSEI) Model was used. Results: The results of the trend analysis show that total releases decreased slightly, but health hazard levels increased consistently. According to the outcome of regional contribution analysis of the hazard-based index, Chungcheongnam-do, Jeollabuk-do and Gyeonggi-do Provinces showed a high ratio in the index for air and water release pollutants, while Gyeongsangbuk-do and Gyeongsangnam-do Provinces showed a high ratio in the index of soil release and waste transfer pollutants. Also, as a result of the analysis of the top ranked substances in the hazard-based index, it was found that chromium, cobalt and its compounds, and ethylene oxide contributed greatly to air release substances, while chromium, benzene, and lead and its compounds contributed greatly to water release substances. Conclusion: These results showed considerable disparities between total release and health hazard levels, especially in the analysis of contribution by regions and by chemical substance. Therefore, the hazard-based index should be used both to support a more comprehensive and robust approach to screening of chemicals for environmental health policy and for management.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.7-17
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• 1998

This study is to develop the consequence modeling methodology for quantitative prediction of the hazard distance(or toxic buffer distance) for two-phase flow continuous releases from the pressurized chlorine saturated liquid storage tank of the chemical plant facilities. The source term modeling was peformed by the refined analysis method based on USEPA's guideline and SuperChems model self-calculation, respectively. The hazard distance was predicted for STEL, IDLH and ERPGs(ERPG-2 and ERPG-3) concentrations being used as the toxic regultaion concentration in hazard estimation. To use as hazard estimation guideline for the establishment of the emergency response planning, the effects of source characteristics and meteorological vaiations on the hazard distance was especially considered for ERPG-2 concentration.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.103-108
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• 2007

HAZOP analysis is a systematic method on the basis of the experts' experience and knowledge and is used for hazard identification and risk assessment by using brainstorming method. So, HAZOP analysis has been applied to major chemical industries efficiently. But it does not apply to small and midium chemical industries because of the insufficiency of the experts. Hence, in this study a new hazard identification method is proposed by modifying complexity and expertise of the HAZOP analysis and will be contributed to improve risk management for small and midium chemical industries.

• 한국가스학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1998.09a
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• pp.103-108
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• 1998

• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
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• 2009.05a
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• pp.206-212
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• 2009

Chemical behaviors of each surface material for interior facilities affect to fire initiation and growth in general fire situation. These chemical behaviors were characterized by thermal properties (Heat release rate, Pyrolysis rate, specific heat, etc) which could be derived from experimental test. Especially, Heat release rate which indicates aspect of fire size is one of the most important property to asses fire hazard and protection needs. The cone calorimeter test (ISO 5660) has recently assumed to a dominant role in bench scale fire testing to obtain the Heat release rate of materials. This value could be calculated by the 'Oxygen Consumption Method' under various producing irradiances to each surface of materials. In this study, Process of the cone calorimeter test was simulated by Pyrolysis model of FDS (Fire Dynamics Simulator by NIST) base on the ISO 5660 international standard. Then, we could estimate the simulation method of FDS in case of single materials through the comparative study with test results.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.97-104
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• 1995

To evaluate readily the effect of unconfined vapor cloud explosion(UVCE) having high possibility of accident and risk in chemical industries, the expert system of UVCE was developed and its applicability on a real accident was analyzed. We found that the hazard of UVCE could be well evaluated from the TNT equivalency model and the empirical loss data produced by overpressure for chemical facilities. By using the developed expert system, the size of vapor cloud, the quantity of vaporization, the released energy, the overpressure range from explosion point, and the impact damage of each installation could be estimated respectively. Also, probable maximum loss and catastrophic loss potential for real accident( cyclohexane release in Flixborough Nypro company) were estimated and compared with damages of the accident. As a result, the developed expert system could be well applicable to real accident.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.61-73
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• 2003

Most of the accidents occurred from the chemical plants are related to the catastrophic gas release events when the large amount of toxic materials is leaked from its storage tank or transmitting pipe lines. In this case, the greatest concerns are how the spreading behaviors of leakages are depended on the ambient conditions such as air stability and other environmental factors. Hence, we have focused on the risk assessments and consequential analysis for chlorine as an illustrative example. As appeared in the result, Fire & Explosion Index depicted it a bit dangerous with presenting the comprehensive degrees of hazard 90.7. And as a result of Phast6.0/ALOHA, the trends of each scenario appeared considerably identical although there are some differences in the resulting effects according to the input data for the Gas Model. The consequence analysis is performed numerically based on the dense gas mode. In the future, using more correct input data, material properties, and topographical configuration, the method of this research will be useful for the guideline of the risk assessment when the release of toxicants breaks out.

• Korean Journal of Hazardous Materials
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.52-58
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• 2015

Since the HF release in 2012 in Korea, it became one of the most significant to evaluate consequence to the vicinity of industry facilities handling hazardous materials. BTX plant is selected to assess off-site risk to check whether the facility satisfies the Chemical Control Law by Korea Government. Accident scenarios were listed using process safety information. The scenarios having effect to the off-site were selected and assessed further according to guideline provided by Korea government. Worst case and alternative scenarios including other interested scenarios were evaluated using ALOHA. Each evaluated scenario was assessed further considering countermeasures. The results showed that the facility handling chloric acid is safe enough and needed no further protections at the moment.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.78-86
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to understand what kinds of chemical substances have been used annually and to investigate incidents that occurred due to chemical hazard release and to analyze statistically clinically chemical injury patients who visited one regional emergency medical center in Gumi city with documented references review. Methods: Annual chemical waste emission quantity (Kg/Year) (Cwep) was reproduced using national web site data governed by the Ministry of Environment and 5 years (from 1 .Jan. 2010 to 31. Dec. 2014) of medical records of chemical injury patients who visited our emergency department were reviewed retrospectively. By applying exclusion criteria, 446 patients of 460 patients were selected. Results: Dichloromethane, Toluene, Trichloroethylene, and Xylene were always included within Top 5 of Cweq. Six cases of chemical incidents were reported and in 3 of 6 cases involving Hydrogen fluoride were included during the study period. Male gender and twenties were the most prevalent group. Injury evoking chemicals were Hydrogen fluoride, unknown, complex chemicals (over 2 substances) in sequence. The most frequent site of wounds and injuries was the respiratory tract. Gas among status, intoxication among diagnosis, and discharge among disposition was most numerous in each group. Conclusion: There have been no uniform clinical protocols for chemical wounds and injuries due to various kinds of chemicophysical properties and ignorance of antidotes. Therefore conduct of a multicenter cohort study and experiments for ruling out chemicals according to chemicophysical priority as well as development of antidotes and clinical protocols for chemical injury patients is needed.