• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.195-207
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• 2021

Background and objective: While response measures to particulate matters in rural areas are limited due to poor inventory record keeping in the agricultural sector, it is necessary to control agricultural waste vinyl and the emission of precursors released from open burning and the secondary generation of particulate matters. Currently, the open burning emission calculation method uses the definition prescribed in CAPSS by the National Institute of Environmental Research. Methods: This study presented an open burning emission calculation formula for agricultural waste vinyl, which is included as agricultural waste. As for activity data, the open burning ratio of agricultural waste vinyl, and the annual incineration volume provided in the Status Survey by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs were applied. The emission factor was generated through incineration tests on three agricultural plastic film samples collected by the Korea Environment Corporation. Results: Among precursors, SOx and NOx were selected and their emission features were monitored with incineration experiment infrastructure based on the EPA 5G method. The highest emission concentration by agricultural waste type was concentrated in the first and second quarters. As for emission factor of SO₂, it was calculated at 98.25 g/kg for mulching-use LDPE, 52.31 g/kg for greenhouse-use LDPE, and 14.40 g/kg for HDPE. As for NOx, it was calculated at 18.21 g/kg for mulching-use LDPE, 16.49 g/kg for greenhouse-use LDPE, and 10.67 g/kg for HDPE. Conclusion: This test confirmed the incineration features of PE-based plastics, ascertained the SOx emission factor that had not been included in open burning in the past, and established that low NOx emission concentration is interfered by soil mixed with livestock excretions. The findings from this study are expected to contribute to improving the system for controlling air pollutants in rural environments.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.83-91
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• 2015

Biomass burning is known to be one of the main sectors emitting greenhouse gases as well as air pollutants. Unfortunately, the inventory of biomass burning sector has not been established well. We estimated greenhouse gas (GHG) and air pollution (AP) integrated emissions from biomass burning sector in Seoul during year 2010. The data of GHG and AP emissions from biomass burning, classified into open burning, residential fireplace and wood stove, meat cooking, fires, and cremation, were obtained from Statistics Korea and Seoul City. Estimation methodologies and emission factors were gathered from reports and published literatures. Estimated GHG and AP integrated emissions during year 2010 were $3,867tonCO_{2eq}$, and 2,320 tonAP, respectively. Major sources of GHG were forest fires ($1,533tonCO_{2eq}$) and waste open burning ($1,466tonCO_{2eq}$), while those of AP were meat cooking (1,240 tonAP) and fire incidence (907 tonAP). Total emissions by administrative district in Seoul, representing similar patterns in both GHG and AP, indicated that Seocho-gu and Gangseo-gu were the largest emitters whereas Jung-gu was the smallest emitter, ranged in $2{\sim}165tonCO_{2eq}$ and 0.1~8.31 tonAP. GHG emissions per $km^2$ showed different results from total emissions in that Gwanak-gu, Jungnang-gu, Gangdong-gu and Seodaemun-gu were the largest emitters, while Seocho-gu and Gangseo-gu were near-averaged emission districts, ranged in $0.2{\sim}21tonCO_{2eq}/km^2$. However, AP emissions per $km^2$ revealed relatively minor differences among districts, ranged in $2.3{\sim}6.1tonAP/km^2$.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.33 no.1 s.94
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• pp.30-35
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• 2007

Waste policies with waste metering system and recycling in 1995 have contributed to the reduction of solid waste generation. Now rural areas as well as urban areas produce less amount of solid wastes in terms of per capita. However most policies in relation to waste issue have been concentrated in urban areas. Large portion of agricultural waste in rural region are being illegally treated such as open incineration or burned out on the road. In this study, we assessed the atmospheric air quality and health risk by illegal open incineration in rural region. In case of benzene level, worst concentration during illegal open incineration was 0.23 ppm and cancer risk by exposure was estimated to $2.29{\times}10^{-3}$.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.65 no.4
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• pp.11-23
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• 2023

In Korea, open burning of agricultural residues is prevalent due to inadequate collection systems, which have caused environmental impacts such as GHGs and particulates. This illegal treatment of agricultural residues also results in economic loss, considering that agricultural residues can be utilized as resources such as pellets and energy sources. To understand the effect of avoiding open burning, this study evaluated the economic, environmental, and social effects of two alternative management options for agricultural residues: incineration and pelletizing. The study estimates the potential amount and dry weight by region for 18 items, taking various factors into account. Regarding the economic aspect, pelletizing facilities in all regions in Korea create economic benefits. This study shows that most regions have an environmental advantage by pelletizing residues. However, incineration creates more environmental benefits than pelletizing in metropolitan cities with relatively low density of residues. It is expected that the environmental, economic, and social findings of this study can be used to inform policies for bioenergy as the need for agricultural residue increases.

• Advances in environmental research
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.237-249
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• 2016

The management of municipal solid waste (MSW) is essential for every community; and, it is currently a major challenge in Nigeria. This paper provides an overview of the current MSW management trends in Nigeria and proposes new sustainable MSW management systems. Across Nigerian cities, MSW management is characterized by inefficient collection and transportation to disposal sites. Collection services do not reach some unplanned areas and slums due to poor street network. Even some planned areas are not reached by collection services. The informal sector contributes to waste collection, resource recovery and recycling; however, their activities are not recognized by the governments. Markets exist for recovered materials but more efforts need to be geared towards intensive recovery of materials and expansion of these markets. Despite the high proportion of putrescible matter in MSW, the only form of treatment commonly used currently is open burning for volume reduction. The high organic fraction presents a great opportunity for composting and anaerobic digestion. Ultimate disposal is currently done in open dumpsites. This needs to be upgraded to engineered landfills that are properly sited and adequately operated by well trained personnel. There is an emerging waste stream of concern, electronic-waste (e-waste), that requires urgent sustainable management as e-waste are currently co-disposed with other waste streams or burnt in the open posing detrimental health impacts.

• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.585-593
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• 2021

Background and objective: Illegal open-air incineration, which is criticized as a leading source of air pollutants among agricultural activities, currently requires constant effort and attention. Countries around the world have been undertaking studies on the emission of heavy metal substances in fine dust discharged during the incineration process. A precise analytical method is required to examine the harmful effects of particulate pollutants on the human body. Methods: In order to simulate open-air incineration, the infrastructure needed for incineration tests complying with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Method 5G was built, and a large-area analysis was conducted on particulate pollutants through automated scanning electron microscopy (SEM)-energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). For the test specimen, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) waste collected by the DangJin Office located in Choongcheongnam-do was used. To increase the identifiability of the analyzed particles, the incineration experiment was conducted in an incinerator three times after dividing the film waste into 200 g specimens. Results: Among the metal particulate matters detected in the HDPE waste incineration test, transition metals included C (20.8-37.1 wt%) and O (33.7-37.9 wt%). As for other chemical matters, the analysis showed that metal particulate matters such as metalloids, alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, and transition metals reacted to C and C-O. Si, a representative metalloid, was detected at 14.8-20.8 wt%, showing the highest weight ratio except for C and O. Conclusion: In this study, the detection of metal chemicals in incinerated particulate matters was effectively confirmed through SEM-EDS. The results of this study verified that HDPE waste adsorbs metal chemicals originating from soil due to its own properties and deterioration, and that when incinerated, it emits particulate matters containing transition metals and other metals that contribute to the excessive production and reduction of reactive oxygen species.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.48-58
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• 2014

It is very important to investigate air pollutants emissions emitted from open burning in order to control nonpoint sources effectively. In this study, we utilized incineration simulator proposed by U.S EPA and investigated emissions of CO, OC/EC, from household waste and biomass burning to estimate pollutant emissions by illegal incineration of biomass wastes. Emission factor of OC was estimated as 17.1 g/kg for rice strew, 23.5 g/kg for barley, 10.3 g/kg for corn stover, 4.3 g/kg for unseasoned wood, respectively. In case of EC, it was calculated as 1.6 g/kg for rice strew, 4.3 g/kg for barley, 1.4 g/kg for corn stover, 0.6 g/kg for unseasoned wood, respectively. Most of the pollutants emissions were emitted at the stage 1 and 2. In the stage 3, the pollutants concentration decreased gradually. To estimate emissions and build inventory for biomass burning, we need to know accurate activity data. We, therefore, used activity data of both survey results of previous study and statistical data of National Statistical Office. However, we need to perform additional experiments in the future to obtain more accurate activity data for various cases.

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Sciences Society Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.79-84
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• 2003

The main objective of this study was to investigate the chemical characteristics of post-harvest biomass burning aerosols from field burning of barley straw in late spring and rice straw in late fall in rural area in Korea. 12-hr integrated intensive sampling of $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ biomass burning aerosols had been conducted continuously at Gwangju, Korea 4-15 June 2001 and 8 October-14 November 2002. The fine and coarse particles of biomass burning aerosols were collected for mass, ionic, elemental, and carbonaceous species analysis. Average fine and coarse mass concentrations of biomass burning aerosols were measured to be 129.6, 24.2 ${{\mu}gm}^{-3}$ in June 2001 and 47.1, 33.2 ${{\mu}gm}^{-3}$ in October to November 2002, respectively. Exceptionally high level of $PM_{2.5}$ concentration up to 157.8 ${{\mu}gm}^{-3}$ well above 24-hour standard was observed during the biomass burning event days under stagnant atmosphere condition. During biomass burning periods dominant ionic species were $Cl^{-}$, ${NO_3}^{-}$, ${SO_4}^{2-}$, and ${NH_4}^{+}$ in fine and coarse mode. In the fine mode $Cl^{-}$ and ${KCl}^{+}$ were unusually rich due to the high content of the semiarid vegetation. High OC values and OC/EC ratios were also measured during the biomass burning periods. Increased amount of fine aerosols with high enrichment, which were originated from biomass burning of post-harvest agricultural waste, resulted in extremely severe particulate air pollution and visibility degradation in the region. Particulate matters from open field burning of agricultural wastes cause great adverse impact on local air quality and regional climate.

• Clean Technology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2023

Waste explosives such as useless ammunition discharged from the military and coproduced useless explosives during the manufacturers production process have been continuously produced. These are difficult to dispose with normal waste treatment facilities due to the dangers of fire and explosion. An open burning or an open detonation at military designated disposal facilities is a classical treatment method for the dangerous explosives. The classical method raises various environmental problems by the emission of hazardous materials. An air pollution by the emission of hazardous gases such as SO_x and NO_x, soil and water contaminations by the accumulation of non-biodegradable heavy metals, are representative pollution examples. To overcome these problems, various processes for eco-friendly waste treatment methods have been developed, and some processes have already been operated in some countries. In the current report, various eco-friendly disposal processes for waste explosives or harmful materials, and their advantages and disadvantages are documented to suggest future development directions for reducing the hazardous substances by the treatment processes.

• Proceedings of the IEEK Conference
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.122-131
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• 2001

Pakistan being the 6$^{th}$ largest sugar producer has over 75 sugar mills with annual production capacity of about 2.4 million tons during 1996-97. The contribution of Sindh with 27 sugar mills is recorded over 50% of the total sugar production. The majority of the mills in Pakistan use the Defecation-Remelt-Phosphitation (DRP; 24 mills), Defecation-Remelt-Carbonation (DRC; 21 mills) and Defecation-Remelt Carbonation and Sulphitation (DRCS; 11 mills) process. Seven of the 75 sugar mills in Pakistan also produce industrial alcohol from molasses, a by- product of sugar manufacturing process. These sugar industries also produce fly ash, which have been found to contain unburned carbon and reach as far as four-kilo meter area with the wind direction, threatening the community health of people living around, besides posing other aesthetic problems. The untreated wastewater, in many cases, finds its way to open surface drains causing serious threat to livestock, flora and fauna. One study showed that fly ash emitted from the chimneys contain particle size ranging from 38 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ to 1000 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$. About 50 per cent of each fly ash samples were above 300 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ in size and were mostly unburned Carbon particles, which produced 85% weight loss on burning in air atmosphere at 1000${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$. This fly ash (mostly carbon) was the main cause of many health and aesthetic problems in the sugar mill vicinity. The environmental challenge for the local sugar mills is associated with liquid waste gaseous emission and solid waste. This paper discusses various waste recycling technologies and practices in sugar industries of Pakistan. The application of EM technology and Biogas technology has proved very successful in reusing the sugar industry wastewater and mud, which otherwise were going waste.