• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.44-54
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• 2018

Objectives: To protect individuals working at the site as well as the surrounding general population from a chemical accident, several emergency exposure guidance levels have been used to set a level of concern for certain chemicals. However, a level of concern has not been established for many substances that are frequently used or produced in large quantities in Korean workplaces. In the present study, we investigated the guidance levels for protecting populations from chemical exposure and the estimation of level of concern using acute inhalation and oral toxicity data. Methods: The number of chemicals to which emergency exposure guidance levels (e.g., ERPG-2, AEGL-2, PAC-2, and IDLH) can be applied were determined among 822 hazardous chemicals according to the 'Technical Guidelines for the Selection of Accident Scenarios (revised December 2016)'. The ERPG and AEGL values were compared across all three tiers for the 31 substances that appeared on both lists. We examined the degree of difference between the emergency exposure guidance levels and the estimates of level of concern calculated from acute inhalation or acute oral toxicity data. Results: Among the 822 hazardous chemicals, emergency exposure guidance levels can be applied to 359 substances, suggesting that the estimates of level of concern should be calculated using acute toxicity data for 56.3% of the hazardous chemicals. When comparing the concordance rates of ERPG and AEGL for 31 substances, the difference between the two criteria was generally small. However, about 40% of the substances have values diverging by more than three-fold in at least one tier. Such discrepancies may cause interpretation and communication problems in risk management. The emergency exposure guidance levels were similar to the estimates of level of concern calculated using acute inhalation toxicity data, but the differences were significant when using acute oral toxicity data. These results indicate that the level of concern derived from acute oral toxicity data may be insufficient to protect the population in some cases. Conclusion: Our study suggests that the development of standardized guidance values for emergency chemical exposure in the Korean population should be encouraged. It is also necessary to analyze acute toxicity data and fill the information gaps for substances that are important in Korean workplace situations.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.433-438
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• 2016

The current study evaluated the air quality of the smoking booth equipped with the air purification system consisting of photocatalysts and air filters by measuring the concentrations of hazardous substances of tobacco smoke such as CO, HCHO, $CH_3CHO$, PM10 and PM2.5. To enhance the removal efficiency of hazardous substances, an infrared ray was exposed to improve the reactivity of OH radical generated from the photocatalyst toward environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) gas phase hazardous materials. It was found that the smoking booth with the air purification system improved the removal efficiency of hazardous substances containing formaldehyde by 85.2% compared to that of the smoking booth without any purification systems. In addition, the removal efficiency of the fine dust after treatment was enhanced up to 89.4%.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.7-16
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• 2000

In the study, three criteria(toxicity, fire & explosion, environment) and damage prediction method for each case was set up, and all these criteria were applied to the subject substance that was selected as hazardous level by integrating all criteria through Algorithm. Particularly, the environment criterion is a comprehensive concept, environment index modeling by combining USCG(United State Coast Guard) & MSDS(Material Safety Data Sheet) environment criteria classifications and the environment part of MFPA's health hazardousnes(Nh). And for damage prediction method of each criterion were adopted and they were applied to hazardous chemical substances in use or stored by chemical substance related enterprises located in each region that made possible to set up total hazard level of used substances(inflammability, poisonousness and counteraction on a unit substance, and hazard level & display modeling on environment) & damage prediction in case of accident & solidity setup(CPQRA: Chemical Process Quantitative Risk Assessment, IAEA: International Atomic Energy Agency, VZ eq: Vulnerable Zone) risk counter. Thus it is deemed that it can be applied to toxic substance leakage that can happen during any chemical processing & storage, application as a tool for prior safety evaluation through potential dangerousness computation of fire & explosion.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.399-404
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• 2016

The applicability of photostimulated-luminescence (PSL) and thermoluminescence (TL) for the detection of 12 food materials (potato, onion, garlic, dried pumpkin, black mushroom, black soybean, Cheongkukjang powder, sea mustard, pepper powder, Ramyun soup, corn tea, and green tea powder) irradiated with an electron beam, gamma ray, and X ray at a range of 0.15 to 10 kGy was investigated. For PSL, negative results (less than 700 photon counts (PCs)) were observed from non-irradiated foods while the irradiated foods showed intermediate (879 to 2,414 PCs) and/or positive (19,951 to 65,919,035 PCs) values. In all irradiated samples, the maximum peak of the TL glow curve was observed between 150 and $250^{\circ}C$. Our findings demonstrate the successful application of PSL and TL to determine whether food items were irradiated or not. However, there were no significant differences among the radiation sources.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.736-742
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• 2014

If an accident occurs at work places that handle 'the accident preparedness substances', it causes more property damage and casualties than accidents of normal chemical substances. Even though various systems and regulations have been operated in order to prevent accidents, techniques for reducing and removing human error, which is one of the main reasons of accidents, are still inadequate. In this paper, hazardous work digitization, potential hazard verification, and work evaluation based on domestic technical guidelines have been performed through a case study of the accident of hydrofluoric acid leakage in Gumi in September 2012, and development of a new risk mapping method has been studied to supplement existing systems.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.155-162
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• 2022

Background: Workers are exposed to several risks in academic laboratories due to the presence of potentially hazardous substances. The main objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of accident occurrence and associated risk factors among laboratory workers at the scientific laboratories of the public university in Lebanon and the impact of safety measures training and availability. Methods: In this observational study, a survey was conducted for one year in scientific laboratories at faculties of the public university. Results: Among the participants (N = 220), 45.0% have had accidents; the main cause was exposure to chemicals (73.7%) and more specifically by inhalation (45.4%). Females (85.9%) were more exposed to accidents than males. Laboratory workers with a master's degree, a full-time schedule, and more than ten years of experience were significantly more exposed to accidents (p < 0.05). A significant association was found between accident occurrence and training on management of hazardous products (p = 0.044), risks related to workplace (p = 0.030), eyewash and emergency shower (p < 0.001), first aid (p = 0.012), and facial protection availability (p = 0.019). In spite of the lack of safety culture and efficient training on laboratory safety, participants have shown a very good perception regarding safety measures to be applied in case of work accidents. Conclusion: Based on our findings, the prevalence of accident occurrence is elevated among lab workers at the public university. The impact of regular training on laboratory safety preventive measures is of great importance to ensure the efficiency of occupational health and safety in scientific laboratories.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.419-429
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• 2016

Objectives: According to the new Chemical Control Act from the Korean Ministry of Environment (2014-259), workers handling hazardous chemicals should wear personal protective equipment (PPE). However the act simply states in basic phrases that every worker handling one or more of the 69 listed chemicals should wear PPE and does not consider the unique hazard characteristics of chemicals and work types. The main purpose of this study is to provide basic data to revise the act to suit particular work processes and situations. Methods: The hazard rank of the substances was classified based on hazardous characteristics such as LC50 and vapor pressure using matrix analysis. The workplace exposure risk of the substances was also determined through a matrix analysis based on the previously determined hazard ranks and the demands of manual handling together with the likelihood of accident frequency of the operation combined with the exposure of workers during spill accidents. Results: To meet the demands for developing subsequent guidelines for the risk-based application of PPE in hazardous workplaces, this study sorted the 69 listed chemicals into five hazardous categories based on their LC50 and vapor pressures, and also assigned exposure categories according to exposure vulnerability for various types of work which are frequently performed throughout the life cycle of the chemicals. Conclusion: In the next study, an exposure risk matrix will be produced using the hazard rank of chemicals and workplace exposure risk, and then PPE will be selected to suit the categories of the exposure risk matrix.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.51-57
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• 2022

This paper investigated catalytic and adsorption equations among the technologies for removing hazardous substances generated in the semiconductor process. As the semiconductor industry develops, harmful substances used and discharged in the semiconductor process are also increasing. Hazardous substances adversely affect the global environment in terms of atmospheric and water quality. As regulations on the emission of harmful substances are strengthened in the 21st century, it is expected that there will be limitations in industrial development in the future. Therefore, technology for removing harmful substances generated in semiconductor processes is essential. In this paper, the goal is to remove PFCs, which are harmful substances, through adsorption technology and catalyst technology. Descriptions from the semiconductor process to the technology in which harmful substances generated are removed were summarized.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Systems Engineering
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.85-96
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• 2021

Radioactive mixed waste (RMW) means waste mixed with radioactive substances and hazardous substances. In Korea, there are definitions and disposal restrictions on RMW in the Nuclear Safety Management Act, but it is difficult to apply because the contents are insufficient, so this paper proposed applicable management standards. The main RMW generated from nuclear power plants is waste oil, waste asbestos, PCB, and waste fluorescent liquid, and their radiation characteristics are mostly at very low levels and some are estimated at low levels. In addition to nuclear power plants, RMW also occurs in research institutes, industries, and hospitals. The acceptance criteria of all disposal facilities in the world basically prohibit disposal of RMW unless the hazardous substances of RMW are removed or mitigated below the standard value. Cases in Korea, the United States, Japan and Europe were reviewed to propose the RMW management standards in Korea. With reference to the results of the above review, this paper clearly defined RMW and proposed detailed management standards for the separation, storage, treatment and disposal of hazardous substances by applying the Waste Control Act. It also mentioned legislation of management standards, regulatory methods, and acceptance criteria of disposal facility operator.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.251-258
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• 2012

Many aquatic ecosystems suffer from anthropogenic disturbances, including the introduction of damaging levels of toxic substances. The effects of disturbances include complex relations with various components involved in the systems, and can include physical, chemical, and hydrological disruption depending of the contaminant. Decision Support Systems (DSSs) are developed to help decision makers to deal with complex management crises, through the systematic structuring and evaluation of decisions, and through providing easy-to-use and integrated tools for information elaboration and display. We reviewed various DSSs developed for toxic substances in aquatic ecosystems, and suggested a conceptual framework which is best suited to the management of such issues within Korea. It may assist stakeholders with their decision making process, and in the achievement of a consensus on water management solutions.