• Title/Summary/Keyword: National Disaster

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Fingerprint of Carcinogenic Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds (SVOCs) during Bonfire Night

  • Pongpiachan, Siwatt
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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    • v.14 no.5
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    • pp.3243-3254
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    • 2013
  • It is well known that increased incidences of lung, skin, and bladder cancers are associated with occupational exposure to PAHs. Animal studies show that certain PAHs also can affect the hematopoietic and immune systems and can produce reproductive, neurologic, and developmental effects. As a consequence, several studies have been attempted to investigate the fate of PAHs in atmospheric environment during the past decades. However, there is still a lack of information in regard to the atmospheric concentration of PAHs during the "Bon Fire Night". In this study, twenty-three polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and twenty-eight aliphatics were identified and quantified in the $PM_{10}$ and vapour range in Birmingham ($27^{th}$ November 2001-$19^{th}$ January 2004). The measured concentrations of total particulate and vapour (P+V) PAHs were consistently higher at the BROS in both winter and summer. Arithmetic mean total (P+V) PAH concentrations were $51.04{\pm}47.62$ ng $m^{-3}$ and $22.30{\pm}19.18$ ng $m^{-3}$ at the Bristol Road Observatory Site (BROS) and Elms Road Observatory Site (EROS) respectively. In addition arithmetic mean total (P+V) B[a]P concentrations at the BROS were $0.47{\pm}0.39$ ng $m^{-3}$ which exceeded the EPAQS air quality standard of 0.25 ng $m^{-3}$. On the other hand, the arithmetic mean total (P+V) aliphatics were $81.80{\pm}69.58$ ng $m^{-3}$ and $48.00{\pm}35.38$ ng $m^{-3}$ at the BROS and EROS in that order. The lowest average of CPI and $C_{max}$ measured at the BROS supports the idea of traffic emissions being a principle source of SVOCs in an urban atmosphere. The annual trend of PAHs was investigated by using an independent t-test and oneway independent ANOVA analysis. Generally, there is no evidence of a significant decline of heavier MW PAHs from the two data sets, with only Ac, Fl, Ph, An, 2-MePh, 1+9-MePh, Fluo and B[b+j+k]F showing a statistically significant decline (p<0.05). A further attempt for statistical analysis had been conducted by dividing the data set into three groups (i.e. 2000, 2001-2002 and 2003-2004). For lighter MW compounds a significant level of decline was observed by using one-way independent ANOVA analysis. Since the annual mean of $O_3$ measured in Birmingham City Centre from 2001 to 2004 increased significantly (p<0.05), it may be possible to attribute the annul reduction of more volatile PAHs to the enhanced level of annual average $O_3$. By contrast, the heavier MW PAHs measured at the BROS did not show any significant annual reduction, implying the difficulties of 5- and 6-ring PAHs to be subject to photochemical decomposition. The deviation of SVOCs profile measured at the EROS was visually confirmed during the "Bonfire Night" festival closest to the $6^{th}$ November 2003. In this study, the atmospheric PAH concentrations were generally elevated on this day with concentrations of Fl, Ac, B[a]A, B[b+j+k]F, Ind and B[g,h,i]P being particularly high.

Determination of Optimal Pressure Monitoring Locations for Water Distribution Systems using Entropy Theory (엔트로피 이론을 이용한 상수관망의 최적 압력 계측 위치 결정)

  • Chung, Gun-Hui;Chang, Dong-Eil;Yoo, Do-Guen;Jun, Hwan-Don;Kim, Joong-Hoon
    • Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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    • v.42 no.7
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    • pp.537-546
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    • 2009
  • Determination of optimal pressure monitoring location is essential to manage water distribution system efficiently and safely. In this study, entropy theory is applied to overcome defects of previous researches about determining the optimal sensor location. The previous studies required the calibration using historical data, therefore, it was difficult to apply the proposed method in the place where the enough data were not available. Also, most researches have focused on the locations to minimize cost and maximize accuracy of the model, which is not appropriate for the purpose of maintenance of the water distribution system. The proposed method in this study quantify the entropy which is defined as the amount of information calculated from the pressure change due to the variation of discharge. When abnormal condition is occurred in a node, the effect on the entire network is presented by the entropy, and the emitter is used to reproduce actual pressure change pattern in EPANET. The optimal location to install pressure sensors in water distribution system is the nodes having the maximum information from other nodes. The looped and branched networks are evaluated using the proposed model. As a result, entropy theory provides general guideline to select the locations to install pressure sensors and the results can be used to help decision makers.

Estimation of Flood Risk Index for the Nakdong River Watershed (낙동강 유역의 홍수위험지수 산정)

  • Song, Jae Ha;Kim, Sangdan;Park, Moo Jong;Choi, Hyun Il
    • Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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    • v.46 no.1
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    • pp.35-45
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    • 2013
  • The aim of study is to present how to estimate and use the FRI (Flood Risk Index) for classifying area zones based on regional flooding risk in terms of the integrated flood risk management. To estimate the FRI at a spatial resolution of city/county/town units for the Nakdong River Watershed, the 17 representative flood indexing factors are carefully selected for the three flood indexes, such as PI (Pressure Index), SI (State Index), and RI (Response Index) under the P-S-R (Pressure-State-Response) classification system. Because flood indexing factors are measured at different scales and units, they are transformed into a common domain by the T-Score normalization technique. The entropy weight coefficient method is also applied to calculate the weight of flood indexing factors in order to reduce subjective judgement on the effect of weight coefficients. The three flood indexes of PI, SI, and RI are integrated for an overall value of the FRI to evaluate the flood risk of districts. To examine the practical application of the proposed FRI, the FRI results with/without the weight coefficients are compared with flooding zones of natural disaster risk areas officially announced in 2010. It is expected that the FRI ensured by full verification can make regional protection plans against flooding disasters with respect to causes and characteristics of past floods.

Typhoon Researches Using the Ieodo Ocean Research Station: Part I. Importance and Present Status of Typhoon Observation (이어도 종합해양과학기지를 활용한 태풍연구: Part I. 태풍관측의 중요성 및 현황)

  • Moon, Il-Ju;Shim, Jae-Seol;Lee, Dong Young;Lee, Jae Hak;Min, In-Ki;Lim, Kwan Chang
    • Atmosphere
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    • v.20 no.3
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    • pp.247-260
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    • 2010
  • A recent dramatic increase of natural hazards in the Korean peninsular (KP) due to typhoons have raised necessities for the accurate typhoon prediction. Ieodo ocean research station (IORS) has been constructed in June 2003 at the open ocean where typhoons pass frequently, aiming to observe typhoons before the landfall to the KP and hence to improve the prediction skill. This paper investigates the importance of measurements at the IORS in the typhoon research and forecast. Analysis of the best track data in the N. W. Pacific shows that about one typhoon passes over the IORS per year on the average and 54% of the KP-landfall typhoons during 59 years (1950-2008) passed by the IORS within the range of the 150-km radius. The data observed during the event of typhoons reveals that the IORS can provide useful information for the typhoon prediction prior to the landfall (mainland: before 8-10 hrs, Jeju Island: before 4-6 hrs), which may contribute to improving the typhoon prediction skill and conducting the disaster prevention during the landfall. Since 2003, nine typhoons have influenced the IORS by strong winds above 17m/s. Among them, the typhoon Maemi (0314) was the strongest and brought the largest damages in Korea. The various oceanic and atmospheric observation data at the IORS suggest that the Maemi (0314) has kept the strong intensity until the landfall as passing over warm ocean currents, while the Ewiniar (0603) has weakened rapidly as passing over the Yellow Sea Bottom Cold Water (YSBCW), mainly due to the storm's self-induced surface cooling. It is revealed that the IORS is located in the best place for monitering the patterns of the warm currents and the YSBCW which varies in time and space.

Projection of Future Snowfall and Assessment of Heavy Snowfall Vulnerable Area Using RCP Climate Change Scenarios (RCP 기후변화 시나리오에 따른 미래 강설량 예측 및 폭설 취약지역 평가)

  • Ahn, So Ra;Lee, Jun Woo;Kim, Seong Joon
    • KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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    • v.35 no.3
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    • pp.545-556
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    • 2015
  • This study is to project the future snowfall and to assess heavy snowfall vulnerable area in South Korea using ground measured snowfall data and RCP climate change scenarios. To identify the present spatio-temporal heavy snowfall distribution pattern of South Korea, the 40 years (1971~2010) snowfall data from 92 weather stations were used. The heavy snowfall days above 20 cm and areas has increased especially since 2000. The future snowfall was projected by HadGEM3-RA RCP 4.5 and 8.5 scenarios using the bias-corrected temperature and snow-water equivalent precipitation of each weather station. The maximum snowfall in baseline period (1984~2013) was 122 cm and the future maximum snow depth was projected 186.1 cm, 172.5 mm and 172.5 cm in 2020s (2011~2040), 2050s (2041~2070) and 2080s (2071~2099) for RCP 4.5 scenario, and 254.4 cm, 161.6 cm and 194.8 cm for RCP 8.5 scenario respectively. To analyze the future heavy snowfall vulnerable area, the present snow load design criteria for greenhouse (cm), cattleshed ($kg/m^2$), and building structure ($kN/m^2$) of each administrative district was applied. The 3 facilities located in present heavy snowfall areas were about two times vulnerable in the future and the areas were also extended.

Development of U-Service Priority Model Based on Customer and Provider's View (수요·공급자를 통합한 u-서비스 우선순위 평가모형 개발)

  • Jang, Jae-Ho;Um, Jung-Sup
    • Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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    • v.11 no.2
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    • pp.132-147
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    • 2008
  • So far ubiquitous service (u-service) priority has seldom been empirically examined based on the customer's view. It is usual to prioritize the relative importance of u-service variables by the supplier's intuition and a few specialist's experienced knowledge. Such approaches have the disadvantage that they provide only limited empirical information on the field practices in relation to u-service since customer demand of u-service is poorly defined despite abundant interest in this problem. Therefore, the aim of this research was to develop u-service priority model in the context of multi-criteria framework integrating customer and supplier's view, using high technology acceptance theory as major controlling factors. An important question was how to measure or represent criteria that is important to u-service and should be included in a priority model. The selection criteria for the model variables were derived from high technology acceptance theory and AHP approach through the analysis of frequency count, elimination of overlapping factors and brainstorming with specialists. Daegu showed top-rankings in transportation-aid service, guidance service for the eyesight disabled and u-telematics service. In contrast, disaster prevention service and industrial specialized town service ranked highly in the typical supplier's approach were not a dominant determining factor in the u-service priority. The model identified the fact that typical high priority service in terms of supplier's view did not necessarily accompany the important predictor for the u-service priority.

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Natural Background and Enrichment Characteristics of the Stream Sediments from the Hamyang-Sancheong Area (함양-산청지역 하상퇴적물의 자연배경치 및 부화특성)

  • Park, Young-Seog;Park, Dae-Woo;Kim, Jong-Kyun
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
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    • v.42 no.3
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    • pp.195-206
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    • 2009
  • We investigated natural background and enrichment characteristics and predicted geochemical disaster for stream sediments in the Hamyang-Sancheong area. Stream sediments samples were collected 95 ea in study area. The stream sediments were well known that had not possibility of contamination effect and represented drainage basins. We got the major and hazardous elements concentrations by XRF, ICP-AES and NAA analysis methods. Acid decomposition for the ICP-AES has been used $HClO_4$ and HF with $200^{\circ}C$ heating at 1st and after that $HClO_4$ HF and HCl with $200^{\circ}C$ heating at 2nd stage. We could know the characteristics that concentration of Cu and Co decreased when concentration of $SiO_2$ increased in correlation analysis. The enrichment factor of the stream sediments was below 2 in study area. This result indicated that study area belonged to moderate enrichment. The stream sediments of Hamyang area were enriched in order of Pb>Th>Cr>V>Co>Cu and those of Sancheong area were enriched in order of Pb>Th>Cr>Co>V>Cu. The enrichment factor(E.F.) of the Pb, Cr, Co and V was similar between Hamyang and Sancheong area. The enrichment factor of the Th was higher in Hamyang area and that of the Cu was higher in Sancheong area. The enrichment factor of the Pb was highly enriched in all study area than earth crust mean. But we could know that study area was not exposed to the pollution of the Pb through the tolerable level.

The Characteristics and Improvement Directions of Regional Climate Change Adaptation Policies in accordance with Damage Cases (지자체 기후변화 적응 대책 특성 및 개선 방향)

  • Ahn, Yoonjung;Kang, Youngeun;Park, Chang Sug;Kim, Ho Gul
    • Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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    • v.25 no.4
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    • pp.296-306
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    • 2016
  • There is a growing interest in establishing a regional climate change adaptation policy as the climate change impact in the region and local scale increases. This study focused on the analysis of 32 regions on its characteristics of local climate change adaptation plans. First, statistic program R was used for conducting cluster analysis based on the frequency and budgets of adaptation plan. Further, we analyzed damage frequency from newspapers regarding climate change impacts in eight categories which were caused by extreme weather events on 2,565 cases for 24 years. Lastly, the characteristics of climate change adaptation plan was compared with damage frequency patterns for evaluating the adequacy of climate change adaptation plan on each cluster. Four different clusters were created by cluster analysis. Most clusters clearly have their own characteristics on certain sectors. There was a high frequency of damage in 'disaster' and 'health' sectors. Climate change adaptation plan and budget also invested a lot on those sectors. However, when comparing the relative rate among regional governments, there was a difference between types of damage and climate change adaptation plan. We assumed that the difference could come from that each region established their adaptation plans based on not only the frequency of damage, but vulnerability assessment, and expert opinions as well. The result of study could contribute to policy making of climate change adaptation plan.

Flame Retardant Property of PU by the Addition of Phosphorous Containing Polyurethane Oligomers (폴리우레탄을 인계화합물로 해중합한 올리고머의 난연성)

  • Jung, Sunyoung;Kang, Sungku;Cho, Ilsung;Koh, Sungho;Kim, Younhee;Chung, Yeongjin;Kim, Sangbum
    • Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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    • v.18 no.4
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    • pp.376-380
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    • 2007
  • Used polyurethane (PU) was chemically degraded by the treatment with flame retardants such as tris(1,3-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TCPP), triethyl phosphate (TEP), and trimethyl phosphate (TMP). Analysis of FT-IR and P-NMR showed that the degraded products (DEP) contained oligourethanes. Rigid polyurethane foam was produced using the DEP as flame retardants. The flammability and thermal stability of recycled rigid polyurethane were investigated. The mechanical properties such as compressive strength of recycled polyurethane were also studied. The recycled polyurethane reduced flammability and enhanced thermal stability over intrinsic polyurethane. Mechanical strength of recycled polyurethane also shows as high as that of intrinsic polyurethane. In order to evaluate flame retardant properties of the recycled polyurethane foams with various amounts of DEP, heat release rate (HRR) of the foam was measured by cone calorimeter. Scanning electron micrograph of recycled PU showed a uniform cell morphology as a intrinsic PU.

Study on Guideline of Water Supply System for Forest Fire (산불방지 급수시설 설치 기준 마련에 관한 연구)

  • Kim, Dong-Hyun;Nam, Song-Hee;Keum, Si-Hoon
    • Fire Science and Engineering
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    • v.27 no.3
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    • pp.38-46
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    • 2013
  • Permanent water supply and water sprinkling systems are essential to protect major forests and facilities from forest fire. Back in 2005, Naksan Temple, a valuable cultural asset of Korea, was burned down in a forest fire that took place in Yangyang. This started a series of movements including installing water supply facilities and managing forests near important cultural assets. As for the existing facilities, however, they were installed without any standard guidelines for management and installation according to each constructor's specifications, which were based on the National Fire Safety Code 109. Unfortunately, this is not effective in protecting facilities from forest fires such as they have a small protection area, limited simultaneous sprinkling, and a difficult the movement of fire hose. Against this background, the study examines the condition of water supply facilities currently in use, identifies their deficiencies, and suggests how to improve the criteria for water supply service to effectively prevent forest fire. Specifically, three systems were proposed: Water Sprinkler Tower System for preventing spread of crown fires, and Forest Fire Hydrant System and Portable Water Spray System to be effective for suppressing surface fires. In addition, the standards on the performance and components of water pumps are also suggested.