• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.233-239
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• 2007

In the coastal wetland the mud is consist of fine particles, which means that it is characterized by small gap, and heat transfer is obstructed since moisture is found between the gaps. The relationship between net radiation ($R_N$) and soil heat flux($H_G$) shows a counterclockwise hysteresis cycle, which refer to a time lag behind in the maximal soil heat fluxes. The albedo is independent of seasonal variation of the vegetation canopy which plays very important roles to store and control the heat in the atmospheric surface layer.

• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.13-22
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• 2017

In this study, long and short-wave radiations were observed in urban and suburban areas during the summer season, and frequency analysis was performed for each radiation intensity by a new analysis method. The following results were obtained. (1) Long-wave radiation values were found to be larger in the afternoon than in the morning, in both urban and suburban areas, unlike short-wave radiation values. (2) Short-wave radiation showed a right-skewed frequency distribution. In the high energy area greater than $900W/m^2$, the frequency was significantly higher in the suburbs than in the urban areas. (3) Long-wave radiation was in the range of $290{\sim}479W/m^2$, its frequency distribution resembled a normal distribution, and the frequency of 410, $420W/m^2$ was the highest.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.11
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• pp.4191-4203
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• 2023

Robotics applications are greatly needed in hazardous locations, e.g., fusion and fission reactors, where robots must perform delicate and complex tasks under ionizing radiation conditions. The drawback is that some robotic parts, such as active electronics, are susceptible to radiation. It can lead to unexpected failures and early termination of the robotic operation. This paper analyses the ionizing radiation effect from 0.09 to 1.5 Gy/s in robotic components (microcontrollers, servo motors and temperature sensors). The first experiment compares the performance of various microcontroller types and their actuators and sensors, where different mitigation strategies are applied, such as using Radiation-Hardened (Rad-Hard) microcontrollers or shielding. The second and third experiments analyze the performance of a 3-Degrees of Freedom (DoF) robotic arm, evaluating its components' responses and trajectory. This study enhances our understanding and expands our knowledge regarding radiation's impact on robotic arms and components, which is useful for defining the best strategies for extending the robots' operational lifespan, especially when performing maintenance or inspection tasks in radiation environments.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.29-35
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• 2020

The aim of this study was to estimate the microbial metabolic activity of indigenous soil microbes under the radon exposure with different intensity and times in the secured laboratory radon chamber. For this purpose, the soil microbes were collected from radon-contaminated site located in the G county, Korea. Thereafter, their metabolic activity was determined after the radon exposure of varying radon concentrations of 185, 1,400 and 14,000 Bq/㎥. The average depth variable concentrations of soil radon in the radon-contaminated site were 707, 860 and 1,185 Bq/㎥ from 0, 15, and 30 cm in deep, respectively. Simultaneously, the soil microbial culture was mainly composed of Bacillus sp., Brevibacillus sp., Lysinibacillus sp., and Paenibacillus sp. From the radon exposure test, higher or lower radiation intensities compared to the threshold level attributed the metabolic activity of mixed microbial consortium to be reduced, whereas the moderate radiation intensity (i.e. threshold level) induced it to the pinnacle point. It was decided that radon radiation could instigate the microbial metabolic activity depending on the radon levels while they were exposed, which could consequently address that the certain extent of threshold concentration present in the ecosystem relevant to microbial diversity and population density to be more proliferated.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.9-20
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• 2003

A solar radiation model was used to investigate the UV radiation at the surface offing Sejong Station in West Antarctica. The results calculated by this model were compared with the values measured by UV-Biometer and UV-A meter during 1999-2000. In this study, the parameterization of solar radiative transfer process was based on Chou and Lee(1996). The total ozone amounts measured by Breve. Ozone Spectrophotometer and the aerosol amounts by Nakajima et al.(1996) was used as the input data of the solar radiative transfer model. And the surface albedo is assumed to be 0.20 in summer and 0.85 in winter. The sensitivity test of solar radiative transfer model was done with the variation of total ozone, aerosol amount, and surface albedo. When the cosine of solar zenith angle is 0.3, Erythemal UV-B radiation decreased 73% with the 200% increase of total ozone from 100 DU to 300 DU, but the decrease of UV-A radiation is about 1%. Also, for the same solar zenith angle, UV-A radiation was decreased 31.0% with the variation of aerosol optical thickness from 0.0 to 0.3 and Erythemal UV-B radiation was decreased only 6.1%. The increase of Erythemal W-B radiation with the variation of surface albedo was twice that of UV-A increase. The surface Erythemal UV-B and UV-A radiation calculated by solar raditive transfer model were compared with the measured values fer the relatively clear day at King Sejong Station in West Antarctica. The model calculated Erythemal UV-B radiation at the surface coincide well with the measured values except for cloudy days. But the difference between the model calculated UV-A radiation and the measured value at the surface was large because of cloud scattering effect. So, the cloud property data is needed to calculate the UV radiation more exactly at King Sejong Station in West Antarctica.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.31
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• pp.1.1-1.13
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• 2016

Objectives To investigate the accuracy and scientific validity of the current very low risk factor for hereditary diseases in humans following exposures to ionizing radiation adopted by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation and the International Commission on Radiological Protection. The value is based on experiments on mice due to reportedly absent effects in the Japanese atomic bomb (A-bomb) survivors. Methods To review the published evidence for heritable effects after ionising radiation exposures particularly, but not restricted to, populations exposed to contamination from the Chernobyl accident and from atmospheric nuclear test fallout. To make a compilation of findings about early deaths, congenital malformations, Down's syndrome, cancer and other genetic effects observed in humans after the exposure of the parents. To also examine more closely the evidence from the Japanese A-bomb epidemiology and discuss its scientific validity. Results Nearly all types of hereditary defects were found at doses as low as one to 10 mSv. We discuss the clash between the current risk model and these observations on the basis of biological mechanism and assumptions about linear relationships between dose and effect in neonatal and foetal epidemiology. The evidence supports a dose response relationship which is non-linear and is either biphasic or supralinear (hogs-back) and largely either saturates or falls above 10 mSv. Conclusions We conclude that the current risk model for heritable effects of radiation is unsafe. The dose response relationship is non-linear with the greatest effects at the lowest doses. Using Chernobyl data we derive an excess relative risk for all malformations of 1.0 per 10 mSv cumulative dose. The safety of the Japanese A-bomb epidemiology is argued to be both scientifically and philosophically questionable owing to errors in the choice of control groups, omission of internal exposure effects and assumptions about linear dose response.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.35 no.11
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• pp.776-780
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• 2013

TPH degrdation patterns in diesel contaminated soil was investigated with microwave radiation. When microwave radiation on the soil was applied, temperature increment of the aridic soil was quite low, but temperature in the moist soil was dramatically increased even if short period of running time. Up to 20% of the moisture content, the higher moisture content has more increment of temperature, whereas over 20% of the moisture content, temperature in the soil was rather decreased. when 100~700 W power of microwave radiation was applied into the contaminated soil, a lot of TPH removals was observed under 300 W, but negligible increment of TPH removal was detected over 300 W. 60% of TPH removal was achieved with initial 20% moisture content and microwave radiation. Additional 25% removal was accomplished when moisture content was kept constant during radiation period. It indicated that maintaining of constant moisture is an important factor for TPH removal with microwave radiation because moisture and temperature in the soil are decreased with reaction time.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.31
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• pp.7.1-7.6
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• 2016

Objectives The aim of this study is to evaluate radiation exposure resulting from the comprehensive health examinations of selected university hospital programs and to present basic data for research and management strategies on the health effects of medical radiation exposure. Methods Radiation-based diagnostic studies of the comprehensive health examination programs of ten university hospitals in Seoul, Korea, as introduced in their websites, were analyzed. The medical radiation studies of the programs were reviewed by radiologists. Only the effective doses of the basic studies were included in the analysis. The optional studies of the programs were excluded. Results Among the 190 comprehensive health examination programs, 132 programs (69.5%) included computed tomography studies, with an average of 1.4 scans. The average effective dose of radiation by program was 3.62 mSv for an intensive program for specific diseases; 11.12 mSv for an intensive program for cancer; 18.14 mSv for a premium program; and 24.08 mSv for an overnight program. A higher cost of a programs was linked to a higher effective dose (r=0.812). The effective doses of the examination programs for the same purposes differed by as much as 2.1 times by hospital. Inclusion of positron emission tomography-computed tomography was the most critical factor in determining the level of effective dose. Conclusions It was found that radiation exposure dose from comprehensive health exam programs targeted for an asymptomatic, healthy public reached between 3.6 and 24 times the annual dose limit for the general public. Relevant management policies at the national level should be provided to minimize medical radiation exposure.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.311-317
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to investigate Rn concentration and annual radiation exposure level in the basement and first floor. The Rn Cup monitors were placed in different environments such as shopping stage, office building, Apartment, Hospital, house in Seoul from Match 1996 to April 1997 and CR-39 films were collected every two months. The mean radon concentration in the basement of house($88.6\;Bq/m^3$) showed the highest level among the areas, while radon concentration on the first floor of house($50.5\;Bq/m^3$) showed the higher than other areas. The annual radiation exposure dose that person on the floor / in the basement of differential place in the seoul can be exposed during living was estimated from 24.11 to 87.64 mRem/yr. This radiation dose is significantly lower than 130mRem maximum radiation dosage from the radon nuclide prescribed by the ICRP, with respect to the overall average exposure of the working adult. this study indicated that possible radon sources on the first floor / in the basement areas are radon intrusion from soil gas, construction materials, or ground water leaking. Further study is needed to quantitatively assess major contributions of radon-222 and health effect to radon exposure.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.96-102
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• 2020

Objectives: This study identified factors impacting radiation knowledge among aircrew, who are affected by cosmic radiation exposure due to their occupational environment. Methods: In September 2019 we conducted an online survey of aircrew through a Google link. We evaluated the level of radiation knowledge using a ten-item (10 points) questionnaire. The following exploratory variables were evaluated in relationship with the level of radiation knowledge using univariable linear regression models: sex, age, duration of employment, position level, company, marriage, education level, personal/family history of disease, and the number of times acquiring information on radiation through various channels (internet searching, watching television, reading newspaper, conversation about radiation with aircrew/non-aircrew, in-house training). With a p of 0.2 in univariable models, we built a multivariable linear regression model using a stepwise selection method. Results: The average radiation knowledge score of the 356 respondents was 7.22. Univariable linear regression analysis showed that radiation knowledge of the aircrew was associated with their company, position level, age, and number of conversations with other aircrew members. Our multivariable model showed that the radiation knowledge level of aircrew decreased as they had more conversations about radiation with other aircrew members and as their age increased. Conclusions: Korean air crew showed a lower level of radiation knowledge as their age and the number of conversations with colleagues increased. The study suggests that more education is needed in order for aircrew to gain accurate radiation knowledge.