• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.51-60
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• 2018

Objectives: Currently, there is only limited knowledge regarding the hazard of low-level exposure to CMR materials in workplaces. To overcome this limitation, a reference concentration for workers($RfC_w$) from among the risk assessment tools proposed by the US EPA is widely used to set a provisional workplace exposure level(PWEL) for CMR materials for which there are no established Korea Occupational Exposure Limits(KOELs) or subjective chemicals for work environment measurements as regulated by Korea Ministry of Employment and Labor(KMOEL). A simple European calculator of derived no effect level(SECO-DNEL) as proposed by REACH can also be used in place of $RfC_w$ to set the PWEL for chemicals. This study was performed to test the acceptability of using SECO-DNEL as an alternative to $RfC_w$ when setting a PWEL for low-level exposures. Methods: The $RfC_w$ and DNEL for the five CMR materials of dinitrogen oxide, catechol, 2-phenoxy ethanol, carbitol, and carbon black were calculated using the dose-response assessments of the US EPA for $RfC_w$ and REACH guidance for SECO-DNEL, respectively. They were compared using paired t-tests to determine the statistical differences between them. Results: For the five chemicals, the $RfC_w$ were 2.53 ppm, 0.10 ppm, 1.73 ppm, 1.66 ppm, and $0.05mg/m^3$, respectively, while the SECO-DNEL were 2.01 ppm, 0.11 ppm, 1.83 ppm, 1.77 ppm, $0.14mg/m^3$, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between $RfC_w$ and SECO-DNEL. Conclusions: This study suggests that the SECO-DNEL could be applied in place of $RfC_w$ to set a PWEL for low-level exposure to chemicals, especially CMR materials. To further ensure the reliability of SECO-DNEL as an alternative tool, more chemicals should be applied for calculation and comparison with $RfC_w$.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.192-202
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• 2019

Objectives: According to the central limit theorem, the samples in population might be considered to follow normal distribution if a large number of samples are available. Once we assume that toxicity dataset follow normal distribution, we can treat and process data statistically to calculate genus or species mean value with standard deviation. However, little is known and only limited studies are conducted to investigate whether toxicity dataset follows normal distribution or not. Therefore, the purpose of study is to evaluate the generally accepted normality hypothesis of aquatic toxicity dataset Methods: We selected the 8 chemicals, which consist of 4 organic and 4 inorganic chemical compounds considering data availability for the development of species sensitivity distribution. Toxicity data were collected at the US EPA ECOTOX Knowledgebase by simple search with target chemicals. Toxicity data were re-arranged to a proper format based on the endpoint and test duration, where we conducted normality test according to the Shapiro-Wilk test. Also we investigated the degree of normality by simple log transformation of toxicity data Results: Despite of the central limit theorem, only one large dataset (n>25) follow normal distribution out of 25 large dataset. By log transforming, more 7 large dataset show normality. As a result of normality test on small dataset (n<25), log transformation of toxicity value generally increases normality. Both organic and inorganic chemicals show normality growth for 26 species and 30 species, respectively. Those 56 species shows normality growth by log transformation in the taxonomic groups such as amphibian (1), crustacean (21), fish (22), insect (5), rotifer (2), and worm (5). In contrast, mollusca shows normality decrease at 1 species out of 23 that originally show normality. Conclusions: The normality of large toxicity dataset was not always satisfactory to the central limit theorem. Normality of those data could be improved through log transformation. Therefore, care should be taken when using toxicity data to induce, for example, mean value for risk assessment.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.299-316
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to analyze landslide susceptibility in the Pyeongchang area using Weight of Evidence (WOE) and Evidential Belief Function (EBF) as probability models and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) as a machine learning model in a geographic information system (GIS). This study examined the widespread shallow landslides triggered by heavy rainfall during Typhoon Ewiniar in 2006, which caused serious property damage and significant loss of life. For the landslide susceptibility mapping, 3,955 landslide occurrences were detected using aerial photographs, and environmental spatial data such as terrain, geology, soil, forest, and land use were collected and constructed in a spatial database. Seventeen factors that could affect landsliding were extracted from the spatial database. All landslides were randomly separated into two datasets, a training set (50%) and validation set (50%), to establish and validate the EBF, WOE, and ANN models. According to the validation results of the area under the curve (AUC) method, the accuracy was 74.73%, 75.03%, and 70.87% for WOE, EBF, and ANN, respectively. The EBF model had the highest accuracy. However, all models had predictive accuracy exceeding 70%, the level that is effective for landslide susceptibility mapping. These models can be applied to predict landslide susceptibility in an area where landslides have not occurred previously based on the relationships between landslide and environmental factors. This susceptibility map can help reduce landslide risk, provide guidance for policy and land use development, and save time and expense for landslide hazard prevention. In the future, more generalized models should be developed by applying landslide susceptibility mapping in various areas.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.91-103
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• 2021

In order to estimate the vertical and horizontal structural in the Yangsan fault core line (Naengsuri area, Pohang), we carried out gravity field measurements and interpretation procedures such as Euler deconvolution method and curvature analysis in addition to the forward modelling technique (i.e. IGMAS+). We found a prominent gravity difference of more than 1.5 mGal across the fault core. This indicates a distinct density difference between the western and eastern crustal area across the Yangsan fault line. Comparing this gravity field interpretation with other existent geologic and geophysical survey data (e.g. LiDAR, trenching, electric resistivity measurements), It is concluded that (1) the prominent gravity difference is caused by the density difference of about 0.1 g/㎤ between the Bulguksa Granite in the west and the Cretaceous Sandstone in the east side, (2) the fault core is elongated vertically into a depth of about 2,000 meters and extended horizontally 3,000 meters to the NNE direction from Naengsuri area. Our results present that the gravity field method is a very effective tool to estimate a three -dimensional image of the active fault core.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.49-60
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• 2021

Objectives: Laboratories have various latent physical, chemical, biological, and ergonomical factors according to the diversification and fusion of research and development activities. This study aims to investigate the chemical exposure concentrations of college laboratories and evaluate their health risks, and use them as basic data to promote the health of college students. Methods: The sampling and analysis of harmful chemicals in the air in laboratories were performed using Method 1500 of the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)의 Method 1500. The harmful chemicals in the laboratories were divided into carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic chemicals. Risk assessment was performed using the cancer risk (CR) for carcinogenic chemicals and using the hazard index (HI) for non-carcinogenic chemicals. Results: The harmful chemicals in college laboratories consisted of acetone, diethyl ether, methylene chloride, n-hexane, ethyl acetate, chloroform, tetrahydrofuran, toluene, and xylenes. They showed the highest concentrations in laboratories A (acetone 0.001~2.34ppm), B (chloroform 0.95~6.35ppm), C (diethyl ether 0.08~8.68ppm), and D (acetone 0.07~14.96ppm). The risk assessment result for non-carcinogenic chemicals showed that the HI of methylene chloride was 2.052 for men and 2.333 for women, the HI of N-hexane was 4.442 for men and 5.05 for women. Thus, the HI values were higher than 1. The risk of carcinogenic chemicals is determined by an excess cancer risk (ECR) value of 1.0×10^-5, which means that one in 100,000 people has a cancer risk. The ECRs of chloroform exceeded 1.0×10^-5 for both men and women, indicating the possibility of cancer risk. Conclusion: College laboratories showed the possibility of non-carcinogenic health risks for methylene chloride, n-hexane, tetrahydrofuran (THF), toluene, and xylenes, and carcinogenic health risks for chloroform, methylene chloride. However, this study used the maximum values of measurements to determine the worst case, and assumed that the subjects were exposed to the corresponding concentrations continuously for 8 hours per day for 300 days per year. In consideration of the nature of laboratory environment in which people are intermittently exposed, rather than continuously, to the chemicals, the results of this study has an element of overestimation.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.743-752
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• 2021

The three-dimensional distribution of the fault was evaluated using gravity field interpretation such as curvature analysis and Euler deconvolution in the Seoul-Gyeonggi region where the Chugaryeong fault zone was developed. In addition, earthquakes that occurred after 2000 and the location of faults were compared. In Bouguer anomaly of Chugaryeong faults, the Pocheon Fault is an approximately 100 km fault that is extended from the northern part of Gyeonggi Province to the west coast through the central part of Seoul. Considering the frequency of epicenters is high, there is a possibility of an active fault. The Wangsukcheon Fault is divided into the northeast and southwest parts of Seoul, but it shows that the fault is connected underground in the bouguer anomaly. The magnitude 3.0 earthquake that occurred in Siheung city in 2010 occurred in an anticipated fault (aF) that developed in the north-south direction. In the western region of the Dongducheon Fault (≒5,500 m), the density boundary of the rock mass is deeper than that in the eastern region (≒4,000 m), suggesting that the tectonic movements of the western and eastern regions of the Dongducheon Fault is different. The maximum depth of the fracture zone developed in the Dongducheon Fault is about 6,500 m, and it is the deepest in the research area. It is estimated that the fracture zone extends to a depth of about 6,000 m for the Pocheon Fault, about 5,000 m for the Wangsukcheon Fault, and about 6,000 m for the Gyeonggang Fault.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.108-114
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• 2022

BACKGROUND: This study was performed to determine residual characteristics of soil-treated metalaxyl-M and dinotefuran in crown daisy and to evaluate the risks from intake of the residual pesticides in the crop. METHODS AND RESULTS: The pesticide granules were treated in soil on two levels, and the plants samples were collected 51 days after seeding. The analytes were extracted and partitioned using the QuEChERS extraction packet (MgSO₄ 4 g, NaCl 1 g). The quantitative methods for metalaxyl-M and dinotefuran were validated in linearity, accuracy, and precision. Risk assessments of the pesticides were performed using Korea national nutrition statistics 2019. CONCLUSION(S): The residual concentrations of metalaxyl-M in crown daisy were 0.09-0.10 mg/kg (for the treatment at 6 kg/10 a) and 0.17-0.19 mg/kg (12 kg/10 a), respectively. The residual concentrations of dinotefuran in the crop were 0.53-0.75 mg/kg (3 kg/10 a) and 1.17-1.26 mg/kg (6 kg/10 a). The amounts of pesticides were less than MRL (Maximum Residue Limits) according to the Korean MFDS (Ministry of Food and Drug Safety). The HI (Hazard Index) of metalaxyl-M and dinotefuran for consumers was 0.0075% and 0.2250%, respectively. For females in the age between 50-64, the major consumer group, the HIs of the pesticides were <3%. Considering the consumption of crown daisy, they are not considered to be of toxicological concern.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.321-333
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• 2022

In this study, the concentration and distribution characteristics of BTEX (benzene toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene) emitted from Daesan Petrochemical Industrial Complex were examined to determine their potential hazards to local residents. Residents living nearby the complex areas may be exposed to the chemicals through various media (air, water, and soil), especially by air. This study evaluated human health risks by inhalation using both deterministic and probabilistic risk assessment approaches. As a result of the deterministic risk assessment, the non-cancer risk was much lower than the regulation limit of hazard index (HI 1.0) for all the points. However, in case of cancer risk evaluation, it was found that the risk of excess cancer for benzene at point A located in the industrial complex was 2.28×10^-6, which slightly exceeded the standard regulatory limit of 1.0×10^-6. In addition, the probabilistic risk assessment revealed that the percentile exceeding the standard of 1.0×10^-6was found to be 45.3%. The sensitivity analysis showed that exposure time (ET) had the greatest impact on the results. Based on the risk assessment study, it implied that ethylbenzene, toluene, and xylene had little adverse effects on potential human exposure, but benzene often exceeded the cancer risk standard (1.0×10^-6). Further studies on extensive VOCs monitoring are needed to evaluate the potential risks of industrial complex areas.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.386-394
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• 2009

Formaldehyde is used in lether manufacture, a dry plate and an explosive. It is by-product of ozonizing process in filtration plant. The effects of exposure are eye pruritus, tickle, runing nose, blocking nasal passages and headache. It also makes a dried throat and causes inflammation. It is classified as B1 group for inhalation by US. EPA, which can cause cancer in human. For analysis of formaldehyde, formaldehydes-DNPH derivative was extracted with solid cartridge and was analyzed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography/Diode Array Detector (HPLC/DAD). The detection limit was $3{\mu}g/L$ and the recoveries were 72.3~109.1% (RSD 2.9~11.5%). Water samples were collected in four Korean rivers, four times per year seasonally for 10 years from 1998 to 2007. The monitoring results were 48.8% (630/1291), $5.15{\sim}101.9{\mu}g/L$ in purified water. Because of non-carcinogen in drinking water, hazard index is calculated with RfD. Results of excess cnacer risk was below 1 and was considered as safe value.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.5-12
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• 2015

Civil engineers have taken the numerous slope monitoring data for an engineering project subjected to hazard potential of slide. However, the topics on how to deal with and draw out proper information from the data related to the slope behavior have not been widely discussed. Recently, several researchers had installed the real-time monitoring system to cope with slope failure; however they are mainly focused on the hardware system installation. Therefore, this study tries to show how the measured data could be grouped and connected each other. The basic idea of analyzing method studied in this paper came from the clustering, which is the part of data mining analysis. Therefore, at the base of classification of time series data, the authors suggest three mathematical data analyzing methods; Average Index of different displacement ($AD_{i,j}$), Difference of average relative displacement ($\overline{RD}_{i,j}$) and Coordinate system of average and relative displacement ($\overline{RD}$, AD). These analyzing methods are based on the statistical method and failure mechanism of slope. Therefore they showed clustering relationships of the similar parts of the slope which makes the same sliding mechanism.