• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.242-256
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• 2017

In this paper, dispersion scenarios concerning various meteorological conditions and real urban structures were made to estimate the impacts of hazardous substance leakage accidents and to reduce damages. Based on the scenario of the hazardous substance dispersion, the characteristics of the risk in the pedestrian environment were analyzed in Gangnam, Seoul. The scenarios are composed of 48 cases according to the meteorological conditions of wind direction and wind speed. In order to analyze the dispersion characteristics of the hazardous substances, simulations were conducted using a computational fluid dynamic (CFD) model with hydrogen fluoride releases. The validation for the simulated wind was conducted at a specific period, and all the calculated verification indices were within the valid range. As a result of simulated dispersion field at pedestrian level, it was found that the dispersion pattern was influenced by the flow, which was affected by the artificial obstacles. Also, in the case of the weakest wind speed of the inflow, the dispersion of the hazardous substance appeared in the direction of the windward side at the pedestrian level due to the reverse flow occurred at lower layers. Through this study, it can be seen that the artificial structures forming the city have a major impact on the flow formed in urban areas. The proposed approach can be used to simulate the dispersion of the hazardous substances and to assess the risk to pedestrians in the industrial complexes dealing with actual hazardous substances in the future.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.430-437
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• 2016

Objectives: The new Chemical Control Act from the Korean Ministry of Environment (2014-259) simply states only in basic phrases that every worker handling the listed chemicals should wear personal protective equipment (PPE) and does not consider the different hazard characteristics of particular chemicals or work types. The purpose of this study was to produce an exposure risk matrix and assign PPE to the categories of this matrix, which would be useful for revising the act to suggest PPE to suit work types or situations. Methods: An exposure risk matrix was made using hazard ranks of chemicals and workplace exposure risks in the previous study. For the 20 categories of exposure risk matrix PPE, levels A, B, C, D as classified by OSHA/EPA were assigned. After 69 hazardous chemicals were divided into 11 groups according to their physiochemical characteristics, respirators, chemical protective clothing (CPC), gloves and footwear were suggested on the basis of the assigned PPE levels. Results: PPE table sheets for the 11 groups were made on the basis of work types or situations. Full facepiece or half-mask for level C was recommended in accordance with the exposure risk matrix. Level A was, in particular, recommended for loading or unloading work. Level A PPE should be worn in an emergency involving hydrogen fluoride because of the number of recent related accidents in Korea. Conclusion: PPE assignment according to the exposure risk matrix made by chemical hazards and work type or situation was suggested for the first time. Each type of PPE was recommended for the grouped chemicals. The research will be usefully used for the revision of the Chemical Control Act in Korea.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2015

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to propose an indirect exposure assessment method using a questionnaire survey at a time when direct exposure assessment would be impossible after a chemical accident. Methods: About two weeks after an accident, a questionnaire survey was performed with 1,264 persons from the local community. Variables related to exposure were extracted from the survey contents, weighted and then graded for comparison with subjective symptoms in order to evaluate the extent of exposure. Survey items suitable for reflecting the previous exposure level during the accident were extracted, weighted and divided into quartile ranges. Subjective symptoms showed an increasing tendency with higher exposure level when compared with final exposure level (p<0.01). Results: For the relationship between the final exposure grade and subjective symptoms, as the exposure grade was increasing the rates complaining of symptom also showed an increasing tendency. However, when adjusted for demographic characteristics, there was a tendency for the eye irritation symptom to appear higher in women, and respiratory organ irritation appeared higher in smokers. Conclusions: When the problem of recall bias is considered, this study may not have completely unraveled exposure and the characteristics of the participants can affect subjective symptoms. Nevertheless, the exposure rating method of using a questionnaire showed a significant relationship with symptom level. It can be deemed that assessment of past exposure may be successfully evaluated by questionnaire in cases such as chemical accidents.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.54-62
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• 2020

Watching the leakage accident of the Gumi Hube Global AHF(Anhydrous fluoric Acid), I experienced how much chemical accidents affect on our society. Since then, many studies have been conducted on chemical accident in many fields. The use department wanted to find improvement plans for the process system and apply them to the field. The safety field wanted to study improvement of safety through the analysis of damage effects and apply them to emergency response to reduce damage effects. In this study, Mechanical safe devices have been applied which can respond quickly to chemical accidents occurring during the charging operation to enhance the safety of the AFH ISO Tank(Anhydrous fluoric Acid International Organization for Standardization Tank). Investigation of similar tanks confirmed that other chlorine tanks with the same working procedure as AHF ISO Tank have a mechanical safety device, EFV(Excess Flow Valve). Applicability and performance for emergency shutdown when EFV is introduced in AHF ISO Tank can be verified by comparing and examining the accident situation of Hube Global Accident and the accident in Ulsan 2018. Comparing accident cases, expected performance and applicability, It is suggested that EFV, a mechanical safety device that can reduce damage from chemical accidents to the tank and handle accidents early, should be introduced to the tank.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.191-199
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• 2015

We conducted this research to observe the changes of surface morphology and composition of clay minerals influenced by various concentrations of fluoric acid. Hydrofluoric acid (HA), a solution of hydrogen fluoride (HF) in water, is a colourless solution that is highly corrosive, capable of dissolving many materials, especially oxides. To do this, we treated several concentrations of HA on the ground soil samples collected from the agricultural experimental station located at Chungnam National University to observe the influence of fluoric acid on the changes of surface structures and elemental composition of clay particles. Generally, microscopic examination showed that the HA can not only attack an edge of clay particles but also start at any point where structural defects and weaknesses predisposed sites to acid. The orderly flake arrangement of clay minerals may reflect certain crystal symmetry elements. The ESEM-EDS results of element composition of clay particles influenced by HA indicated the changes of structures of clay minerals. It is also clear from the formation of etch figures and element composition of clay particles that the product layer at least partially dissolved or disintegrated in the presence of acid. Conclusively, the clay structures can be strongly influenced by concentrations of HA, resulting in changes of physical and chemical properties that can determine the behavior of solute transport as well as mobility of ions in soils.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.1-8
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• 2016

Gu-mi hydrogen fluoride leak accident in 2012 was amplified social anxiety for chemical accidents. To relieve these anxieties Off-site Risk Assessment was introduced in 2015. Off-site Risk Assessment is targeted at most chemicals, and most of the high-pressure-toxic gases which are mainly used in high-tech industries such as semi conductor, display, Photovoltaic panels industry are included in the substance of the Off-site Risk Assessment. Since Korean companies occupy a high market share in high-tech industries, high pressure-toxic domestic gas consumption is constantly increasing. Accordingly, it is expected to increase the possibility of accidents. In accordance with the circumstances, this study was to conducted Consequence Analysis(CA) about high pressure-toxic gases those are high demand in domestic. CA was used for ALOHA developed by US EPA & US NOAA and the CA result of Arsine was the largest at 4,700 m. CA results are expected to be utilized for determining the effective Safety distances when high pressure-toxic gas leak.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.146-154
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• 1980

The effects of various electrodeposition conditions (deposition temperature and cathode current density) on preferred orientation and microhardness of electrodeposited Ni-Sn and Sn-Zn alloys were studied. At deposition temperatures from 25$^{\circ}$ to 95$^{\circ}C$ and constant cathode current density of 270 and 530 A/$m^2$ Ni-Sn and Sn-Zn were codeposited in chloride-fluoride acid and stannate-cyanide alkaline electrolyte bath respectively. Ni-Sn alloy deposited at temperatures from 25$^{\circ}$ to 35$^{\circ}C$ was composed of single phase of $Ni_3Sn_4$ with 73 wt.% Sn and the one deposited at temperatures from 45$^{\circ}$ to 95$^{\circ}C$ was made of multiphase mixture of NiSn, $Ni_3Sn_2$ and $Ni_3Sn_4$ with nearly equiatomic composition (65.5 wt.% Sn). The random orientation of thermody-namically metastable NiSn phase (hexagonal structure) predominated at deposition temperature range 25$^{\circ}$-45$^{\circ}C$, and the strong (110) preferred orientation was found at 65$^{\circ}$-85$^{\circ}C$ and then disappeared again at 95$^{\circ}C$. The microhardness of Ni-Sn deposits increased with deposition temperature up to 85$^{\circ}C$, and then decreased at constant cathode current density. The preferred orientation and the maximum microhardness were discussed in terms of lattice contractile stress which result from desorption of hydrogen atom absorbed in deposit lattice. The Sn content of Sn-Zn alloy deposits increased with deposition temperature up to 75$^{\circ}C$, and then decreased at constant cathode current density of 530 A/$m^2$. It also decreased with cathode current density up to 530 A/$m^2$, and then increased at constant deposition temperature of 25$^{\circ}C$. Sn-Zn alloy deposits were composed of two-phase mixture of ${beta}$-Sn and Zn. The preferred orientations of ${beta}$-Sn (tetragonal structure) changed with deposition temperature. The microhardness of Sn-Zn deposits decreased with deposition temperature. It also increased with cathode density up to 530 A/$m^2$, and then decreased at constant deposition temperature of 25$^{\circ}C$. The microhardness of Sn-Zn deposits was observed to be determinded more by the Sn content than by the preferred orientation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.13-21
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• 2019

Leakage accidents in businesses dealing with hazardous chemicals can have a great impact on the workers inside the workplace, as well as residents outside the workplace. In fact, there were cases where hazardous chemicals leaked from many businesses. As a result, the Chemicals Control Act(CCA) was enacted in 2015, the Ministry of Environment introduced an Off-site Risk Assessment(ORA). The purpose of the ORA is to secure safety from the installation of the design of the workplace facilities so that chemical accidents of hazardous chemical handling facilities do not cause human or physical damage outside the workplace. In general, the ORA qualitatively determines where a protected facility is within the scope of the accident scenario. However, elderly who belong to the sensitive group is more sensitive than the general group under the same chemical accident effect, and the extent of the damage is serious. According to data from the Korea National Statistic Office, the number of elderly people is expected to increase steadily. Therefore, a quantitative risk analysis considering the elderly is necessary as a result of a chemical accident. In this study, accident scenarios for 14 locations were set up to perform emergency evacuation due to toxic gas leakage of Cl₂(Chlorine) and HF(Hydrogen Fluoride), and the effects of exposure were analyzed based on the evacuation velocity difference of age 20s and 60s. The ALOHA(Areal Locations of Hazardous Atmospheres) program was used to calculate the concentration for assessing the effects. The time of exposure to toxic gas was calculated based on the time it took for the evacuation to run from the start point to the desired point and a methodology was devised that could be applied to the risk calculation. As a result of the study, the relative risk of the elderly, the sensitive group, needs to be determined.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.189-197
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• 2012

Geochemical composition of fracture filling minerals and groundwater was investigated to characterize geochemical characteristics of groundwater system at the KURT site. Minerals such as calcite, illite, laumontite, chlorite, epidote, montmorillonite, and kaolinite, as well as I/S mixed layer minerals were detected in the minerals extracted from the fracture surfaces of the core samples. The groundwater from the DB-1, YS-1 and YS-4 boreholes showed alkaline conditions with pH of higher than 8. The electrical conductivity (EC) values of the groundwater samples were around $200{\mu}S/cm$, except for the YS-1 borehole. Dissolved oxygen was almost zero in the DB-1 borehole indicating highly reduced conditions. The Cl- concentration was estimated around 5 mg/L and showed homogeneous distribution along depths at the KURT site. It might indicate the mixing between shallow groundwater and deep groundwater. The shallow groundwater from boreholes showed $Ca-HCO_3$ type, whereas deep groundwater below 300 m from the surface indicated $Na-HCO_3$ type. The isotopic values observed in the groundwater ranged from -10.4 to -8.2‰ for ${\delta}^{18}O$ and from -71.3 to -55.0‰for ${\delta}D$. In addition, the isotope-depleted water contained higher fluoride concentration. The oxygen and hydrogen isotopic values of deep groundwater were more depleted compared to the shallow groundwater. The results from age dating analysis using $^{14}C$ indicated relatively younger (2000~6000yr old) groundwater compared to other european granitic groundwaters such as Stripa (Sweden).

• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.449-461
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• 2013

As the hydrofluoric acid leak in Gumi-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do or hydrochloric acid leak in Ulsan, Gyeongsangnam-do demonstrated, chemical related accidents are mostly caused by large amounts of volatile toxic substances leaking due to the damages of storage tank or pipe lines of transporter. Safety assessment is the most important concern because such toxic material accidents cause human and material damages to the environment and atmosphere of the surrounding area. Therefore, in this study, a hydrofluoric acid leaked from a storage tank was selected as the study example to simulate the leaked substance diffusing into the atmosphere and result analysis was performed through the numerical Analysis and diffusion simulation of ALOHA(Areal Location of Hazardous Atmospheres). the results of a qualitative evaluation of HAZOP (Hazard Operability)was looked at to find that the flange leak, operation delay due to leakage of the valve and the hose, and toxic gas leak were danger factors. Possibility of fire from temperature, pressure and corrosion, nitrogen supply overpressure and toxic leak from internal corrosion of tank or pipe joints were also found to be high. ALOHA resulting effects were a little different depending on the input data of Dense Gas Model, however, the wind direction and speed, rather than atmospheric stability, played bigger role. Higher wind speed affected the diffusion of contaminant. In term of the diffusion concentration, both liquid and gas leaks resulted in almost the same $LC_{50}$ and ALOHA AEGL-3(Acute Exposure Guidline Level) values. Each scenarios showed almost identical results in ALOHA model. Therefore, a buffer distance of toxic gas can be determined by comparing the numerical analysis and the diffusion concentration to the IDLH(Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health). Such study will help perform the risk assessment of toxic leak more efficiently and be utilized in establishing community emergency response system properly.