• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.46-52
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• 1987

There are many factors such as airtighteness and high density of merchandises or passengers that contaminate indoor air in underground commercial floor. So it is very important to know air quality and quantity of contamination in underground market increasing in number lately. It was from these viewpoints that gaseous pollutants, dusts and mutagenicity of organic compounds extracted from dusts in an underground market were investigatd. Organic ompounds (tar) were extracted by Soxhlet extractor with benzene as a solvent. Mutagenicities of these extracts were evaluated by the preincubation method using Salmonella typhimurium TA 100 and TA 98 strains with and without S9mix. The results obtained were as follows: It seemed to be under the influence of outdoor air that the concentrations of $CO, CO_2, NO, NO_2$ and dusts were higher in winter than summer. The concentration of $CO_2$ was higher in indoor than outdoor, but the concentration of NOx was similar in both sampling areas. Metal contents in dusts attached to the ventilation ducts were as follows showing in order of high concentration : Fe (9000-22000ppm), Zn(1200-2300ppm) and Pb (280-590ppm). The contents of tar were 6-33% of dusts, and higher than those from dusts collected by high volume air sampler. The extracts from dusts attached to the inlet duct exhibited lower mutagenicity than those from dusts attached to the outlet duct. This finding seemed to suggest that mutagenic substances were in creasing in underground. There was no seasonal difference of mutagenicity toward TA 98. Toward TA 100 in the presence of S9mix, the mutagenicity was about 3 fold higher in winter than summer. The mutagenicities of tar extracted from dusts collected by high volume air sampler were different from those attached to the ventilation ducts. The former showed 2-3 fold higher mutagenicity than the latter toward TA 100. However no difference showed between the former and the latter toward TA 98 in the absence of S9mix, but the former was 4-5 fold higher than the latter in the presence of S9mix.

• 한국지구물리탐사학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.522-525
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• 2003

Mine waters, surface waters and groundwaters were sampled around seven Au-Ag mine areas (Dongil, Okdong, Dongjung, Songcheon, Ssangjeon, Dogok and Gubong Au-Ag mines). The main contamination sources of As in these abandoned Au-Ag mines can be suggested as mine tailings and waste rocks including the sulfide gangue minerals (arsenopyrite). The relatively high concentration of As in mine waters was shown in the Dongil (524 ${\mu}g/L$) and the Dogok (56 ${\mu}g/L$) mine areas. Arsenic concentrations in stream waters from the Dongil ($0.9\~118{\mu}g/L$), the Songchon ($0.8\~63{\mu}g/L$), the Ssangjeon ($1.6\~109{\mu}g/L$) and the Gubong ($3.6\~63{\mu}g/L$) mine areas exceeded the permissible level for stream water in Korea. Groundwaters collected from the Dongil ($0.9\~64{\mu}g/L$ ), the Okdong ($0.2\~69{\mu}g/L$) and the Gubong ($0.5\~101{\mu}g/L$) mine areas contained high As concentration to cause the arsenicosis in these areas. In As speciation, the concentration ratios of As(III) to As(total) present up to $75\%$ and $100\%$ in stream waters from the Okdong and the Songcheon mines, and $70\%$ in groundwaters from the Okdong and the Dongjung mines. Arsenic concentration decreases downstream from the tailing dump correlatively with pH and Fe concentration. Highly elevated As concentrations are found in the dry season (such as April and March) than in the wet season (September) due to the dilution effect by heavy rain during summer in stream waters from the Dongil and the Songcheon mine areas.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.48-58
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• 2002

As a pilot experiment for developing the monitoring system for oil spill from storage tank, previous approach of monitoring contaminated oil from mixed soil sample had the limitation that it cannot reflect the real situations of the contamination. In this study, more realistic contamination condition and water contents were considered. Fluorescence intensity was not affected by water contents. To acquire the stability of media, sand, Ca-bentonite, alumina, Fe-oxide, bead and silica were tested. Only sand was suitable to our system. These results should provide basic information for constructing reliable monitoring system.

• 한국해양학회지
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.11-16
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• 1978

The contents of heavy metals were studied on sediments collected from the southeastern coastal area of Korea.Concentrations of the elements showed Cu 14∼ 48ppm (av. 18ppm), Pb 14∼49ppm (av. 28ppm), Zn 79∼187ppm (av. 11ppm), Co 11∼ 15ppm (av. 13ppm), Ni 22∼32ppm (av. 29ppm), Fe 3.1∼5.3% (av. 4.3%) and Mn 333 ∼1010ppm (av. 499ppm). When these values are compared with those of the unpolluted near-shore sediments from other countries,there seems to be little environmental contamination of heavy metals in the sediments of the study area. However, from the fact that the nearer to harbor the stations are, the higher the contents of copper, lead and zinc are in the sea off Pusan Bay, it is suggested that heavy metals in the sediments are starting to show some contamination from man's activities.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.83-89
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• 2015

Soil samples collected in an area of Gahak Mine were investigated for the characterization of mineralogical and physicochemical properties of contaminants in soils. It is found that soils in the study area are contaminated by lead (Pb), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), in which their concentrations are 595.3 mg/kg, 184.9 mg/kg, 712.8 mg/kg, and 10.64 mg/kg, respectively. All the concentrations exceed the concern criteria of Korean standard. Upon distribution patterns of metals identified by the sequential extraction procedure, our results show that more than 50% of metals are found as a residual type, and 30% are accounted for the association of Fe/Mn oxides. Interestingly, XRD results show that minium (Pb₃O₄) and cuprite (Cu₂O) are identified in the soil samples, suggesting that the sources of the contaminants for Pb and Cu are these minerals. In SEM images, tens of µm of Pb oxides and Pb silicate-minerals are observed. We, therefore, note that the contamination of metals in the study area results from the direct influx and disturbance of tailings. Our findings indicate that the characterization of physicochemical and mineralogical properties of contaminated soils is a critical factor and plays an important role in optimizing recovery treatments of soils contaminated in mine development areas.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.101-105
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• 2018

In this paper, a neutron moderation system for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) based on a $^{252}Cf$ neutron source is proposed. Different materials have been studied in order to produce a high percentage of epithermal neutrons. A moderator with a construction mixture of $AlF_3$ and Al, three reflectors of $Al_2O_3$, BeO, graphite, and seven filters (Bi, Cu, Fe, Pb, Ti, a two-layer filter of Ti+Bi, and a two-layer filter of Ti+Pb) is considered. The MCNPX simulation code has been used to calculate the neutron and gamma flux at the output window of the neutronic system. The results show that the epithermal neutron flux is relatively high for four filters: Ti+Pb, Ti+Bi, Bi, and Ti. However, a layer of Ti cannot reduce the contribution of ${\gamma}$-rays at the output window. Although the neutron spectra filtered by the Ti+Bi and Ti+Pb overlap, a large fraction of neutrons (74.95%) has epithermal energy when the Ti+Pb is used as a filter. However, the percentages of the fast and thermal neutrons are 25% and 0.5%, respectively. The Bi layer provides a relatively low epithermal neutron flux. Moreover, an assembly configuration of 30% $AlF_3+70%$ Al moderator/$Al_2O_3$ reflector/a two-layer filter of Ti+Pb reduces the fast neutron flux at the output port much more than other assembly combinations. In comparison with a recent model suggested by Ghassoun et al., the proposed neutron moderation system provides a higher epithermal flux with a relatively low contamination of gamma rays.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.2230-2243
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• 2022

The tin tailing processing industry in Malaysia has operated with minimal regard and awareness for material management and working environment safety, impacting the environment and workers in aspects of radiation and heavy metal exposure. RIA was conducted where environmental samples were analyzed, revealing concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K between the range of 0.1-10.0, 0.0-25.7, and 0.1-5.8 Bq/g respectively, resulting in the AED exceeding UNCEAR recommended value and regulation limit enforced by AELB (1 mSv/y). Ra_eq calculated indicates that samples collected pose a significant threat to human health from gamma-ray exposure. Assessment of heavy metal content via pollution indices of soil and sediment showed significant contamination and enrichment from processing activities conducted. As and Fe were two of the highest metals exposed both via soil ingestion with an average of 4.6 × 10^-3 mg/kg-day and 1.4 × 10^-4 mg/kg-day, and dermal contact with an average of 5.6 × 10^-4 mg/kg-day and 6.0 × 10^-4. mg/kg-day respectively. Exposure via accidental ingestion of soil and sediment could potentially cause adverse non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health effect towards workers in the industry. Correlation analysis indicates the presence of a relationship between the concentration of NORM and trace elements.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.275-281
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• 2022

To maintain water quality after water treatment, monitoring whether the quality of treated tap water quality changes is essential. However, current investigations are insufficient to prevent secondary contamination in drinking water supply systems. This study investigated Gyeonggi's e apartment where a red water problem occurred and monitored the water quality and corrosiveness of the overall water supply system to the apartment from June 2021 to April 2022. In a comparison of drinking water quality after water treatment and the influent of the reservoir, turbidity and heavy metal concentrations were increased and residual chlorine was decreased due to increases in temperature. Correlation analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that a low level of residual chlorine may cause the abscission of Mn²⁺ and Fe²⁺ through microorganism activation, which also causes a high level of turbidity. The corrosion index (LI) in the influent of the reservoir tank was increased due to Ca²⁺ and temperature. These results indicate that the corrosiveness of drinking water and the deterioration of drinking water quality were mainly increased between the drinking water treatment plant and the reservoir tank's influent. The findings provide clear evidence that it is essential to manage water supply systems and reservoir tanks to prevent the secondary contamination of drinking water.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.405-420
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• 2014

To investigate geochemical characteristics of soil and atmospheric environments by anthropogenic source, we have analyzed and determined heavy metal concentrations of the surface soils beneath roadside trees and leaves of Platanus occidentalis from 52 points in Seoul during autumn 2001. For comparison of the contents of heavy metal for the soil and leaf, we have analyzed heavy metal contents of the surface soils beneath roadside trees and leaves from 2 points in rural area of Yesan during the same time period. The composition of heavy metals of soils are relatively high for Cd, Co, Cr and Ni in industrial area (IA, Industrial Area) and high for Cu, Pb and Zn in heavy traffic area (HTA, Heavy Traffic Area). The heavy metal contents of rural area in Seoul are higher than those in Yesan. The differences of chemical compositions between the washed and unwashed leaves are high for Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in the HTA. The element couples of Cd-Co, Cr-Ni and Pb-Zn for the soils had shown a good correlation and their contamination sources could be similar. The relationship for Pb-Cu and Cu-Zn showed good correlation in Platanus leaves. The relationship between soils and unwashed leaves show a good correlation for Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn but low correlation for Cd, Co, Fe, Mn and Ni. It is thought that the Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn were derived from contaminants of soils, whereas Cd, Co, Fe, Mn and Ni were originated from atmospheric source. From the spatial variations of elements for soils and leaves, Ni and Cr were dominant in the soils of IA and Cd, Cu and Zn were dominant in those of HTA. The Contamination by Cd-Pb and Cu-Zn in unwashed leaves were analyzed to show similar patterns. Using the enrichment factors (EF) of heavy metals in unwashed leaves, the EF sequences were to be Cu, Zn, Pb, Mn, Co, Ni, Cd and Cr. We identified that Cu, Zn, Pb and Mn were most problematic of environmental hazard in Seoul.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.37 no.6 s.169
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• pp.613-629
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• 2004

Contamination of groundwater by volatile organic compounds (VOCs) was investigated for 168 groundwater wells in Ulsan area to study the natural attenuation of organic compounds in the aquifers. As groundwater contamination by VOCs is closely related to land use, 168 groundwater samples were classified into 4 different groups; agricultural, forestry, industrial, and residential & business. From analysis 65 out of 168 groundwater samples contained more than one VOC. Analysis of samples were performed fir 36 halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbons and 25 petroleum hydrocarbons set up by NAWQA of US geological survey. Twelve petroleum hydrocarbons were detected in 26 groundwater wells, but their concentrations were less than 1.5 g/L except for MTBE. Twenty three chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons, composed of 11 methanes, 6 ethanes and 6 ethenes, were detected in 63 groundwater samples. The range of methanes concentration was $ND\~330\;/gL,\;ethanes\;ND\~84\;gL$, and PCE and their derivatives $ND\~62\;g/L$. As the study area was comprised of the aerobic/denitrification zones and $Fe^{+3}$ redox condition, most of petroleum hydrocarbons were degraded well, while halogenated hydrocarbons were slowly biodegradation.