• International Journal of Quality Innovation
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.23-33
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• 2004

In Japan, where ISO14001 certifications have passed the 10,000 mark, the need for environmental management has taken firm root among companies. However, in the small-and medium-enterprise sector, and among tiny businesses, there are firms not obtaining ISO certification due to their concern about human resources and increased work load. On the other hand, among businesses that have already succeeded in gaining ISO certification. one does not sense any growth with regard to the continual improvement. Voices from certain quarters indicate there is a lack of incentive to keep on improving. With this background, we herewith present a new system to evaluate the level of environmental management in a company by means of a 5-step system.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.165-168
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• 2008

Measurements of phosphatase activity in peatlands are made difficult by the low levels of activity and the characteristically high concentrations of dissolved organic matter within the sediments. These materials may cause high background absorbances in colorimetric assays, and quenching interference in fluorimetric assays. This review describes the development of a new approach which allows such problems to be overcome by using HPLC to separate the interferences from the products of enzymic hydrolysis. This approach is applicable to various environmental samples such as peat, wetland sediment, and sludge which may contain a large amount of interfering organic matters.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.34.2-34.2
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• 2016

We study the mid-infrared (MIR) properties of galaxies in compact groups and their environmental dependence using the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer data. We use a sample of 670 compact groups and their 2175 member galaxies with $M_r$ < -19 and 0.01 < z < 0.0741 from Sohn et al. (2016), which were identified through a friends-of-friends algorithm. We find that the MIR [3.4]-[12] colors of early-type galaxies in compact groups are on average bluer than those of early-type galaxies in clusters. Furthermore, we find that when compact groups have both early- and late-type member galaxies, the MIR colors of the late-type galaxies in those compact groups can be bluer than those of late-type galaxies in clusters. We also find that as background galaxy number densities of compact groups increase, compact group galaxies have higher early-type galaxy fractions and bluer MIR colors. These trends are also seen for background galaxies. However, at a given background density, compact group galaxies always have higher early-type galaxy fractions and bluer MIR colors than the background galaxies. Our findings suggest that the properties of compact group galaxies depend on both internal and external environments of the compact groups, and that galaxy evolution is faster in compact groups than in clusters.

• Proceedings of the Acoustical Society of Korea Conference
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• 1994.06a
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• pp.740-745
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• 1994

In the actual situation of measuring the environmental noise, it is very often that only the resultant phenomenon fluctuation contaminated by the additional noise of arbitrary distribution type can be observed. Furthermore, the observed data is usually given in a sound level form the purpose of estimating only the undisturbed objective output response, some estimation method is necessary to reasonably remove the effect of the above additional noise. In this paper, first, a mathematical model of arbitrary sound insulation systems is introduced in the form of a linear system on intensity scale, by using the well-known additive property of energy quantities. Next, some estimation method of the output response under the existence of background noise is derived. Then, based on the expression of the above estimation method, a new prediction method of only the output response probability function form for arbitrary sound insulation systems without. a background noise is proposed by use of observed data contaminated by a background noise. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is confirmed experimentally too by applying it to the actual various type sound wall systems.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.255-268
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• 2015

Single particle soot photometer (SP2) is an advanced instrument capable of real-time measurement of concentration, coating thickness, and size distribution of individual BC particle using laser-induced incandescence. So far, there have been insufficient studies examining the real-time characteristics of BC in Korea. In this study, we examined temporal variations in BC concentration and mass size distribution of BC in volume equivalence diameter at a background site of Aewol, Jeju in May. Average concentration and mass median diameter (MMD) of BC particles measured during the study period (06~ 16 May 2013) were $0.69{\pm}0.48{\mu}g/m^3$ and $196{\pm}17nm$, respectively. The BC concentration measured in Aewol was very similar to that observed in the spring of 2012 in Baengnyeong island, and showed diurnal profiles similar to those in other background areas. MMD of BC ranged from 172 to 222 nm. It was found that the mass size distribution of BC varied depending on the location (ground-based), season, types of air masses, and altitude (aircraft-based).

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.237-242
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• 1998

The goal of this work was to optimize the liquid scintillation counting techniques for the determination of C-14 in environmental samples such as biological and air samples. Carbon-14 activities in most environmental samples were measured with direct $CO_2$ absorption method. The highest figure of merit was found through the variation of Carbosorb $E^{TM}$ and Permatluor $V^{TM}$ ratio, in the measurement windows. The best condition was 1:1 volume ratio. Average 2.35 g of $CO_2$ was reproducibly absorbed in the 20 ml mixture within 40 min. The counting efficiency determined by repeated analysis of NIST oxalic acid standard and the background count rate were measured to be $58.8{\pm}1.4%$ and $1.88{\pm}0.06\;cpm$, respectively in case of saturated solution. The correction curves of counting efficiency for partially saturated solutions and for saturated solutions with quenching were prepared, respectively. The overall uncertainty of the sample specific activity for near background levels was estimated to be about 7 % for 4 hours counting at 95 % confidence level. The long-term stability of samples has been checked for all the counting techniques over a two week periods, and no apparent change in counting efficiency and background level was found at that time.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.324-332
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• 2019

In this study, the possibility of a follow-up study on environmental pollution in domestic freshwater was identified by analyzing fish otoliths using Laser ablation-inductively coupled mass spectrometry (LA-ICP/MS). Fish otolith are known to be affected by the environment in which fish live. As a result, research on this subject is active in many countries; however, this is not the case in Korea. Therefore, in this study, the possibility of tracing environmental pollution using fish otoliths was identified by analyzing the components of metal elements used as indicators for environmental pollution. For the component analysis of metallic elements LA-ICP/MS, which can shorten analysis time by reducing the pretreatment process, was used. Sampling was conducted by dividing the research and the background area and carp, a freshwater species, was selected as the experimental fish species subject. Based on the established LA-ICP/MS conditions, the concentration of the metallic elements in the fish otoliths collected in the research area was 2202.9 mg kg^-1, 2.03 times higher than the 1,086.3 mg kg^-1 in the background area. All elements except for Li and U, were found to be higher in the research area than in the background area. Compared with the sediment measuring net analysis data, the distribution tendency of Zn, Pb, and Cu in sediment metal element concentrations in the two regions and distribution of metal element concentration in fish otoliths were similarly shown. These results confirm that fish otoliths can be used to track environmental pollutants, such as in sediments.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.177-184
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• 2003

Although clay can sorb significant amounts of inorganic contaminants from soils and wastewater, the hydration of exchangeable cations in clay minerals makes it hydrophilic at the clay mineral surfaces and interlayers. Thus, natural clays are often ineffective in complexing and stabilizing toxic organic contaminants in soils and groundwater environment. But, substituting these hydrated cations with cationic surfactant such as QAC(Quaternary ammonium Compound) can change the natural clay from hydrophilic to hydropobic. Furthermore functionalized organoclay can act as a powerful dual function sorbent for both toxic metals and organic compounds. It also can be used as landfill clay liners, slurry walls, nano-composite materials, petroleum tank farms, waste treatment, and filter systems. To use this modified clay minerals effectively, it is required to understand the fundamental chemistry of organoclay, synthetic procedures, its engineering application, bioavailability of sorbed ion-clay complex, and potential risk of organoclay. In this review, we investigate the use, application and historical background of the organoclay in remediation technology. The state-of-the-art of organoclay research is also discussed. Finally, we suggest some future implications of organoclay in environmental research.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.41-47
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• 1993

During the last years it became more and more difficult to deal with environmental conflicts using traditional political instruments in industrialized countries. One reason for the occurring problems might be the citizens' awareness of scarceness of nature. Another reason might be the changing legislation with the introduction of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) as an integral part of a project's licensing procedure. The EIA offers new possibilities for citizens to interfere in decision processes and to obstruct projects. The changing situation requires new instruments for conflict solving. Mediation may be considered an alternative or completion to the traditional political instruments. It is a systematic strategy for conflict treatment and. with the support of an independent mediator, allows to reach an agreement among all parties involved. Mediation may be introduced in the EIA One possibility offers the scoping date, which, if the participation of the public is assured, might avoid heavy disputes in the further process. Another connection between the instrument of mediation and the EIA could be the use of the environmental impact study (EIS) as information background for a mediation process. EIA would then be source of information about all environmental aspects. Thus the role of EIA would be extended to being a part of conflict analysis in the alternative dispute resolution process.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.605-612
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• 2019

Objectives: This study aims to examine receptor-perceived characteristics of environmental and health damage in areas surrounded by industrial workplaces using environmental complaints collected by local governments in Korea. Methods: The environmental complaint data related to workplaces was collected by local governments at each municipality between the years 2015 and 2017. We analyzed the complaint data from the Busan area by the type of business (industry classification), the content of complaints (odor, smoke, noise, and certain health damage), and the frequency of complaints. Results: Among the workplaces examined, industry categories related to retail and service received the highest frequency of complaints related to noise. On the other hand, complaints of dust and odors were raised in higher frequency against manufacturing industries, indicating that air pollution was the main driver of such complaints. Most of the complaints regarding health effects from industries also contained other complaints, such as odor, noise, and dust. Our results indicate that environmental discomfort can lead to more serious health damage, and should be dealt with more seriously. Further management plans for mitigating discomforts such as noise are necessary. Conclusion: This study can be used as background data for identifying the policy priorities related to vulnerable areas polluted by industry and will contribute to improving the environmental health of residents in identified areas.