• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.41-51
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• 2018

Since fire blight disease on apple and pear was produced in Korea in 2015, there were no registered chemicals to control against this disease. Instead, several antibacterial chemicals that were registered for other bacterial diseases such as soft rot and bacterial spot have been authorized by Rural Development Administration (RDA). However, these chemicals are not tested efficacy for fire blight disease except damage by those treatments on apple and pear in Korea. Thus, we evaluated efficiency using in vitro and in planta assays of antibacterial chemicals such as antibiotics and copper compounds including kasugamycin, oxytetracycline, oxolinic acid and streptomycin, and copper hydroxide, copper sulfate, oxine copper and tribasic copper sulfate, respectively. We also tested two kinds of biological agents. As expected, significant antibacterial effect was observed in vitro test of both antibiotics and copper-based chemicals. In planta test based on disease severity including ooze and water-soaked formation on immature pears, bacterial populations on blooms, and blight lesion formation in artificially inoculated shoots, kasugamycin, oxytetracycline and streptomycin have been shown the most efficiency among tested antibiotics. Four copper-based chemicals tested in this study, control effects are little bit lower than agricultural antibiotics but they seem to be available to use in terms of winter season. Biocontrol agents were also shown possibility to treat in eco-friendly farms. In addition, there are no antibiotic resistance genes in Korean isolates against antibiotics, which were selected for suppression of fire blight in this study.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.48-54
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• 2008

Forest fires occur the world over, with large-scale fires constantly breaking out. A suppressant a type of forest fire chemical is widely used to respond to fires rapidly and effectively. In general, suppressants used for fires have been divided into dry powder, liquid, foam, and gel type, according to physical form and use. This study has conducted toxicity tests relating to phytotoxicity(Pinus densiflora seed germination rate and mortality of containerized seedling), and soil organism toxicity(earthworm acute toxicity tests), of these suppressants, with the loaded stream suppressant for direct forest fire extinguishing a Loaded Stream and foam concentrates generally being used in Korea. From the results of the tests, the loaded stream and the foam concentrate had an effect on the toxicity levels. In the case of the loaded stream type, it was observed that toxicity indicating a 100% lethality rate was found among all toxicity test methods. Therefore, it is determined that forest ecology environmental toxicity impact assessments related to the suppressant used to extinguish forest fires are necessary in the near future.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.385-394
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• 2023

Objectives: Firefighters could be exposed to a range of toxic chemicals during firefighting. When tyre burns, various toxic chemicals including volatile organic compounds(VOCs) could be emitted. In this study, the researchers assessed the VOC exposure of firefighters during tyre fire suppression through biomonitoring. Methods: There was a big tyre fire on 12 March 2023. Of the responding firefighters, we recruited 14 participants to collect their urine after firefighting. One week later, researchers collected firefighters' urine again right after their off-duty period. We analyzed each metabolite of benzene, toluene, xylene, and styrene in urine and compared their exposure level based on sampling time. Results: The detection rate for metabolite of benzene, toluene, styrene, and xylene in urine sampled at each time was 43%-64%, 100%, 86%-100%, and 100%, respectively. Except for the benzene, metabolite levels measured in urine after firefighting were similar to that from off-duty period. However, the median concentration of benzene metabolite in urine sampled after firefighting was three times higher compared to that from off-duty period(34.2 ㎍/g crea. and 10.9 ㎍/g crea., respectively.) The estimated airborne concentration of benzene calculated from metabolite level in urine was 0.16 ppm, which exceeded the recommended exposure level set by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Conclusions: This study shows that firefighters could be exposed to the high level of VOCs including benzene during their firefighting especially at tyre fire. These results could be used as a valuable data to prove firefighters' exposure to hazardous chemicals during their duty.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.97-104
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• 2019

Behind the growth of the chemical industry which is a cornerstone of the Korean economy, dozens of hazardous and noxious chemical accidents occur every year, resulting in enormous casualties and environmental damages. Many cases among chemical accidents are caused by the carelessness of workers in handling facilities such as hydrochloric acid and hydrofluoric acid, and the aging of handling facilities. In order to mitigate the damage by such chemical accidents, a safety system for preventing atmospheric diffusion of hazardous and xoxious chemicals in dike was proposed. The atmospheric diffusion prevention safety system consists of leak detection phase, alarm and measurement phase, suppression and blocking phase. Through the proposed the atmospheric diffusion prevention safety system, the need for 2nd chemical accident prevention such as atmospheric diffusion in dike can be posed.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.413-418
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• 2016

Recently, a mega project such as Korea-China or Korea-Japan undersea tunnel project has been emerged for detail discussion and the interest in undersea tunnel is on the rise. More severe damage by train fire is expected in undersea tunnel comparing to ground tunnel and thus the study on more efficient fire extinguishing system, besides existing disaster prevention design is underway. To that end, a full-scale fire tests using CAF fire extinguishing system which has been developed by modifying traditional foam fire extinguishing system for fire suppression at rescue station in timely manner were conducted over 7 times. The test was conducted after setting the rescue station in virtual tunnel with a car of KTX. As a result of using compressed air foam directly to the fire source, 30 liter of Heptane combustibles was extinguished within 1 minutes. Applicability of compressed air foam to train fire at rescue station in undersea tunnel was has been proven and further study is considered required while changing the nozzle angle and location so as to achieve quick and easy extinguishing goal, making use of the advantage of CAF, as well as to reduce the fire water and chemicals required.

• Korean Journal of Hazardous Materials
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.18-26
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• 2014

We analyzed the demand of competent authorities requiring adequate technical information for initial investigation of chemical accidents. Reflecting technical reports on chemical accident response by environmental agencies in the U.S. and Canada, we presented information on environmental diffusion and toxic effects available for the first chemical accident response. Hydrogen fluoride may have the risk potential to corrode metals and cause serious burns and eye damages. In case of inhalation or intake, it could have severe health effects. The substance itself is inflammable, but once heated, it decomposes producing corrosive and toxic fume. In case of contact with water, it can produce toxic, corrosive, flammable or explosive gases and its solution, a strong acid, may react fiercely with a base. In case of hydrogen fluoride leak, the preventive measures are to decrease steam generation in exposed sites, prevent the transfer of vapor cloud and promptly respond using inflammable substances including calcium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, ground limestone, dried soil, dry sand, vermiculite, fly ash and powder cement. The method for fire fighting is to suppress fire with manless hose stanchions or monitor nozzles by wearing the whole body protective clothing equipped with over-pressure self-contained breathing apparatus from distance. In case of transport accident accompanied with fire, evacuation distance is 1,600m radius. In cae of fire, fire suppression needs to be performed using dry chemicals, CO₂, water spray, water fog, and alcohol-resistance foam, etc. The major symptoms by exposure route are dyspnoea, bronchitis, chemical pneumonia and pulmonary edema for respiration, skin laceration, dermatitis, burn, frostbite and erythema for eyes, and nausea, diarrhea, stomachache, and tissue destruction for digestive organs. In atmosphere, its persistency is low, and its bioaccumulation in aquatic organism is also low.