• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.536-544
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• 2013

Even a small amount of hazardous air pollutants could have a harmful influence upon human beings, animals and plants. Hazardous air pollutants have the properties of toxicity, canceration and organism accumulation. They include heavy metals, volatile organic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, dioxin, etc. The Clean Air Conservation Act has defined specific hazardous air pollutants and designated 35 pollutants, distinguishing them from common air pollutants for special control. This study investigates the history of the controls of specific hazardous air pollutants with reference to some relevant laws and regulations in Korea. It investigates the regulations at the permission stage, such as the restrictions on installation of emission facilities, the permission and reporting of installation of emission facilities, and the regulations at the operation stage, such as maintaining permissible emission levels, installation of measuring devices, dues for emission, self-measurement and securing environmental engineers. The current regulatory management is not so satisfactory in regards to the serious effects of specific hazardous air pollutants upon the human body. An advanced new concept, like the maximum available control technology in US, the facilities management standards, which will soon take effect, will be able to lessen the emissions of fugitive hazardous air pollutants. In addition, this study discusses some possible stricter controls on the emission facilities of specific hazardous air pollutants and proposes some measures to maintain and supplement the current systems.

• Journal of the korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.24-35
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• 1986

현재 주요 가스상물질은 미국의 경우 규제전보다 일산화탄소가 96%, 탄화수소 96%, 질소산화물 76%가 개선되어 어느정도 안정단계에 들어 갔다고 볼 수 있다. 그러나, 입자상물질규제는 디이 젤자동차의 증가와 더불어 1986-1994기간동안 대폭적으로 강화되고 있다. 그러나 자동차 배출 가스중에는 수백가지의 화학물질이 존재하고 인체에 유독한 물질은 규제물질외에도 엄청나게 많다. 따라서 1977년 8월에 개정된 미국의 대기정정법(CAA, clean air act)에는 "신규 제작자동 차나 엔진에 사용되는 어떠한 방지장치, 시스템 또는 부품도 공중보건, 복지 및 안전에 부당한 위험을 일으키거나 일으키는 요인이 될 수 없다"(참조, CAA 202 (a) 및 CFR 86.084-5)고 규 정하고 있다. 이에 따라 미국환경청에서는 회람 등을 통하여 가능한 독성물질에 대하여 경우에 따라 측정할 것을 요구하고 있다. 국내 환경보전법에도 자동차연료첨가제 사용할 때 현저하게 유해한 물질이 배출된다고 인정하는 때에는 그 사용을 규제할 수 있게 되어있고 새로 제정될 자동차 배출가스 시험검사방법 및 절차에 관한 규정에 이에 관한 사항을 추가할 움직임이 있다. 물론 미규제물질의 규제하는 인체에 대한 피해정도나 측정방법 등의 여러 가지 문제가 수반되나 장기적인 국민보건과 환경보전 측면에서 신중하게 다루어져야 되리라 봐서 여러 가지 오염물질의 현황이나 분석방법 등에 대하여 기술코자 한다.여 기술코자 한다.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.38 no.8
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• pp.435-443
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• 2016

In this study, MACT (Maximum Achievable Control Technology) application effect was evaluated for minimization of benzene fugitive emission in petrochemical industry. Although fugitive emission for benzene in the nation was regulated by the Clean Air Conservation Act from 2015, the US EPA already has introduced MACT standard to minimize its emission with up-to-date technology since 1995. EPA Emission Factor (AP-42) and EPA MACT Standard Guideline were used to assess MACT application effect. As a result, For MACT application it could reduce benzene emission up to 98% (average) comparing with uncontrolled facility, while the national regulation could achieve about 95% (average) reduction which is slightly lower than MACT. However there is no control measure in the national regulation to reduce benzene emission for vessel loading even though MACT standard requires preventive facility such as VRU (Vapor Recovery Unit). For further reduction of benzene emission, it needs to be mandatory for operation of VRU when benzene product is loaded in vessel. These efforts could contribute to achieve the global level for benzene emission management in national petrochemical industry.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.85-92
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• 2020

Wet Scrubber reacts the incoming pollutant gas with cleaning water (water + absorbent) to absorb pollutants and release the clean air to the atmosphere. Wet scrubbers and packed tower scrubbers using this principle are widely used in businesses that emit acid gases. In particular, in the etching process using hydrochloric acid (HCl), alkaline washing water (NaOH) having a pH of about 8 to 11 is used to absorb a large amount of acid gas. However, These salts are attached to the injection nozzle (nozzle), filling material (packing), and the demister (Demister), causing air pollution, human damage, and inoperability due to clogging and acid gas discharge. Therefore, In this study, an improvement plan was proposed to manage the washing water with pH 3~4 acidic washing water. The test method takes samples from the Wet Scrubber flue measurement laboratory twice a month for 1 year. Hydrogen chloride (HCl) concentration (ppm) was measured, and nozzle clogging and scale conditions were measured, compared, and analyzed through a differential pressure gauge and a pressure gauge. As a result of the check, it was visually confirmed that the scale was reduced to 50% or less in the spray nozzle, filler, and demister. In addition, the emission limit of hydrogen chloride in accordance with the Enforcement Regulation of the Air Quality Conservation Act [Annex 8] met 3 ppm or less. Therefore, even if the washing water is operated in an acidic pH range of 3 to 4, it is expected to reduce air pollution and human damage due to clogging of internal parts, and it is expected to reduce maintenance costs such as regular cleaning or replacement of parts.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.181-190
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• 2011

The air pollutants from vehicle exhaust gas are affected by many factors including fuel qualities, engine and vehicle technologies, driving patterns. In particular, fuel qualities and after-treatment devices could directly affect the emission level of pollutants. The pollutant reduction characteristics that caused by enforced fuel quality standard were analyzed. Three types of test fuel were selected in accordance with Korean automotive fuel standard in 2006, 2009, 2012 and used for vehicle emission test in chassis dynamometer. European COPERT correction equation of fuel impact was considered as reference information to quantify the vehicle emission test results. The contribution rates of exhaust emission by COPERT correction equation showed that aromatic compounds and oxygen contents in gasoline fuel was most important. In case of diesel fuel, cetane index and polycyclic aromatic compounds accounted for the greater part. The exhaust emission effects by COPERT correction equation revealed that CO and VOC was increased 0.86%, 1.57% respectively in after 2009 gasoline when compared to before 2009 gasoline fuel. In case of light-duty diesel vehicle CO, VOC and PM were decreased in range of 3~7%. The result from this study could be provided for developing future fuel standards and be used to fundamental information for Korean clean air act.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.601-614
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• 2013

The commercial charcoal kiln was projected the largest source of biomass burning sector in Korea. Commercial charcoal kiln was operated to emit air pollutants into the air without any air pollution prevention equipment. The object of this field survey was to understand characteristics of air pollutants concentration and emission factors and to provide preliminary data for effective processor from oak charcoal manufacturing process. As result of field survey, TSP, $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ concentration from charcoal kiln were 400~37,000 $mg/m^3$. These values were over the 100 $mg/m^3$ in TSP, this value was effluent quality standard of Clean Air Conservation Act. The average concentration of CO, $SO_2$ and TVOC were 2~5%. 0~110 ppm and 820~10,000 ppm respectively. The emission factors were 42.4 g-PM/kg-oak in TSP, 40.3 g-PM/kg-oak in $PM_{10}$, 38.2 g-PM/kg-oak in $PM_{2.5}$, 182.5 g-CO/kg-oak, 1.0 g-NO/kg-oak, $SO_2$ 0.2 g-$SO_2/kg$-oak and 104.4 g-TVOC/kg-oak. The part of commercial charcoal kiln had air pollution prevention equipment but it was difficult to work properly. Much wood tar excreted in exhaust emissions from oak charcoal manufacturing process. This wood tar was cause of many troubles sticking in the air pollutant prevention equipment. For handling particulate matters and gaseous air pollutants from oak charcoal manufacturing process in biomass burning, air pollutant prevention equipment design and management needs preprocessor for removal wood tar.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.393-430
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• 2009

This study uses a computable partial-equilibrium model of the U.S. energy industry to evaluate sulfur dioxide concentrations under two environmental policies. The policies, generator-level emission caps and tradable allowances, are selected to yield identical aggregate emissions. Regional concentrations are found to vary across the two policies significantly. These variations translate into different losses for individual states, and, nationwide, to differences of hundreds of millions of dollars in aggregate health damages. Emission caps outperform allowances by $452 million. Caps favor the southwestern, south-central and southeastern states, where they deliver $840 million lower damages than the other policies, while they deliver $390 million higher damages In northern and northeastern states.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.362-369
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• 2014

This study investigated physical properties and combustion gas characteristics for 8 types of wood pellets (4 domestic and 4 imported products) distributed in the domestic market. Results showed that most pellet types were first-grade pellets in the wood pellet quality standards in Korea with the exception of 3 pellet types from K company (second-grade in mechanical durability), G company (off-grade in nitrogen content) and P company (second-grade in ash percentage). Mixed pellets which contained more lignin and sap content were higher in mechanical durability (%) than that of white pellets. From the combustion gas analysis results, NOx emitted from all pellets combustion was at acceptable levels for national emission standard of the Clean Air Conservation Act except for pellets from G company. In addition, CO levels from all types of wood pellets were acceptable except for pellets from D company and domestic pellets were higher CO levels than imported pellets. These results indicate the higher CO levels in domestic pellets due to the usage of forest thinning materials including logging debris which usually had the high content of bark.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.915-961
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• 2010

This study is concerned with health damages from $SO_2$ under different assumptions on the relationship between air concentrations and their marginal health impacts. $SO_2$ concentration profiles resulting under emission caps, and a system of tradable emission allowances are compared. Using slopes and curvatures of the health response function consistent with evidence in medical literature, emission caps are shown to lead to lower aggregate damages under all considered parameters, an advantage of $26~452 million. The benefit of emission caps over tradable allowances increases with the curvature of the response function, but falls with its slope. The advantage of emission caps in terms of environmental damages is never overturned completely for the considered functional forms. The marginal damage function would have to be steeper than what the current medical evidence suggests for price instruments to outperform emission caps in terms of aggregate damages. With other welfare consequences included-emission abatement costs, consumer and producer surpluses, and government revenue-emission caps always lead to a $3.7~4.1 billion greater measure of social welfare.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.517-527
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• 2023

Objectives: We examine cases of chemical poisoning that occurred in the cleaning of metal parts and the regulations on halogenated solvents in other countries and propose regulations necessary to prevent chemical poisoning from halogenated solvents. Methods: We collected cases of chemical poisoning through the website of the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency. A review of the literature was conducted focusing on regulations related to halogenated solvents in the United States and the European Union, particularly for cleaning metal parts. Among the Material Safety Data Sheets submitted to the government, MSDS containing eleven substances were extracted to confirm the composition and product use. We investigated cleaning methods for metal parts used in South Korea. For the hazard classification, the European Chemicals Agency or Japan's NITE's website was used. Results: In the case of poisoning, the cleaning methods involving trichloromethane were dipping and dry, which was not found in the literature. It was confirmed that many halogenated solvents and dimethyl carbonate were used for metal cleaning in South Korea. In vapor degreasing using TCE in the USA, even if the facility is strictly managed, such as by installing cooling coils in open cleaning facilities, the risk of exposure to TCE is considered to be not only carcinogenic but also a concern for acute and chronic effects. In comparison, exposure through Korean work methods such as dipping and drying operations is inevitably much higher. Conclusions: The transition to water-based cleaning with low-hazard chemicals should be a priority in the cleaning process. In the case of metal parts that require precise cleaning, if the use of a halogenated solvent is inevitable, a closed degreasing facility should be used to minimize exposure. The current regulations in the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Chemical Substances Control Act, and the Air Environment Conservation Act do not require cleaning facilities to minimize emissions. To protect the health of workers using halogenated solvents to clean metal parts, regulations that require a fundamental reduction in exposure will be necessary.