• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2021

The purpose of this study is to assess respirable crystalline silica (RCS) exposure levels in workers who collect and dispose used coal briquette ash (CBA) in sanitation companies that are subcontracted by one medium-sized local government on the collection of municipal household waste (MHW), and to analyze the quartz content in CBA. When the CBA powder that undergone specialized pretreatment in several steps were subjected to mineral identification and quantitative analysis using X-ray diffraction (XRD), it was found that quartz represented 18%, and in addition, mullite, and plagioclase were included. For two CBA collectors, samples were collected by the personal sampling evaluation method. After respirable dust was collected in accordance with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 7500 method, the concentration of quartz was analyzed using XRD. Meanwhile, a portable real-time dust monitor (Sidepak AM520, TSI Inc., USA) was also used to observe the dust exposure level for each time zone and job task. The RCS exposure level of one worker was as high as 0.024 mg/㎥, which was the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Values (TLV) level. The other worker also exhibited a concentration of 0.013 mg/㎥, which was more than half of TLV. The Sidepak results revealed that the work of collecting CBA and loading it onto a vehicle was hardly exposed to the dust of a significant level. It was found, however, that the work of transferring the collected CBA to a container through a conveyor belt was exposed to a very high average respirable dust concentration of 2.238 mg/㎥. The results of this study confirmed that quartz, which is crystalline silica and a carcinogen, is contained in CBA, one of municipal household waste (MHW), in high concentration. It was also confirmed that workers are exposed to high RCS concentrations while transferring collected CBA into a container. Although each local government in South Korea handles CBA in different ways, it is imperative to investigate the CBA exposure level of sanitation workers and improve their working conditions.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.55-63
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• 2014

Objectives: The use of indium compounds, especially those of small size, for the production of semiconductors, liquid-crystal panels, etc., has increased recently. However, the role of particle size or the chemical composition of indium compounds in their toxicity and distribution in the body has not been sufficiently investigated. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the effects of particle size and the chemical composition of indium compounds on their toxicity and distribution. Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to two different-sized indium oxides (average particle sizes under 4,000 nm [IO_4000] and 100 nm [IO_100]) and one nano-sized indium-tin oxide (ITO; average particle size less than 50 nm) by inhalation for 6 hr daily, 5 days per week, for 4 weeks at approximately $1mg/m^3$ of indium by mass concentration. Results: We observed differences in lung weights and histopathological findings, differential cell counts, and cell damage indicators in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid between the normal control group and IO- or ITO-exposed groups. However, only ITO affected respiratory functions in exposed rats. Overall, the toxicity of ITO was much higher than that of IOs; the toxicity of IO_4000 was higher than that of IO_100. A 4-week recovery period was not sufficient to alleviate the toxic effects of IO and ITO exposure. Inhaled indium was mainly deposited in the lungs. ITO in the lungs was removed more slowly than IOs; IO_4000 was removed faster than IO_100. IOs were not distributed to other organs (i.e., the brain, liver, and spleen), whereas ITO was. Concentrations of indium in the blood and organ tissues were higher at 4 weeks after exposure. Conclusions: The effect of particle size on the toxicity of indium compounds was not clear, whereas chemical composition clearly affected toxicity; ITO showed much higher toxicity than that of IO.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.753-759
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• 2000

Photoelectric charging is a very efficient way of charging small particles. This method can be applied to combustion measurement, electrostatic precipitator, metal separation and control of micro-contamination. To understand the photoelectric charging mechanism, particle charging of silver by exposure to ultraviolet is investigated in this study. Average charges and charge distributions are measured at various conditions, using two differential mobility analyzers, a condensation nucleus counter, and an aerosol electrometer. The silver particles are generated in a spark discharge aerosol generator. After that process, the generated particles are charged in the photoelectric charger using low-pressure mercury lamp that emits ultraviolet having wavelength 253.7 nm. The results show that ultra-fine particles are highly charged by the photoelectric charging. The average charges linearly increase with increasing particle size and the charge distribution change with particle size. These results are discussed by comparison with previous experiments and proposed equations. It is assumed that the coefficient of electron emission probability is affected by initial charge. The results also show that the charge distribution of a particle is dependent on initial charge. Single changed particle, uncharged particle and neutralized particle are compared. The differences of charge distribution in each case increase with increasing particle size.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.7-10
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• 2002

Iron nitride magnetic fluid was oxidized by exposing it to the air under normal atmospheric conditions. After exposure of 3.2 hours, the relative saturation magnetization of the iron nitride magnetic fluid is less than 0.4 compared to the value of the unexposed sample, and it is nearly zero after exposure for 1008 hours. The structure of the oxidized iron nitride is considered to be a non-magnetic hematites. The thickness of the oxidation layers of the iron-nitride particles are nearly the same, about 3 nm, regardless of the different particle sizes.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.29-34
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• 2020

Purpose: The interaction of various substances inserted into the human body and radiation can confirm the radiation enhancement effect. A Leksell frame inserted into the human body for gamma knife treatment will cause not only pain and inconvenience to the patient, but also additional exposure to the patient's normal tissues. In this study, we attempt to confirm the additional exposure caused by the interaction of the Leksell frame and thermoplastic mask, and ⁶⁰Co used for gamma knife treatment. Methods: A ⁶⁰Co energy of 1.17, 1.33 MeV is applied using Monte Carlo simulation, and fixation screws and thermoplastic mask are fabricated using aluminum and titanium alloy, and Carbon compounds. Results: Results show a dose enhancement of up to 396.27% higher compared with that without a Leksell frame and up to 391.25% in thermoplastic mask. Conclusions: Hence, appropriate treatment methods and materials must be used to reduce additional exposure to normal tissues.

• Atmosphere
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.337-355
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• 2018

Ultrafine particles (< 100 nm in diameter, UFP) are known to be more toxic per unit mass than larger particles and contribute to more than 90% in particle number concentrations in urbanized cities but much less in mass. The major sources of UFP are vehicle emissions in urban areas. Due to their tiny size (the sizes of UFP from vehicle emissions range from 10 to 60 nm depending on engine and fuel types), inhaled UFP can reach the deepest area of respiratory track (e.g., pulmonary alveoli) as well as all of the body via lymph and blood circulation causing various adverse health effects. This article reviews the sources and emission factors of UFP, temporal and spatial distributions in urban areas and their health effects reported by toxicological and epidemiological studies. We also compared the levels of UFP concentrations measured in other countries with those in Korean cities to evaluate the public exposure to UFP in Korea. Ultimately, we expect this study can contribute to developing the risk assessment techniques for public exposure to UFP in the urbanized cities in Korea.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.43-52
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• 2017

Policy direction for the management of air quality in Korea has been on the reduction of the average concentrations of the criteria air pollutants such as sulfur dioxide and fine particles. However, recently, risk based management of air pollutants becomes an important issue. In this study, to develop an effective air quality management policy direction in Korea, (1) the fourth Multiple Air Toxics Exposure Study (MATES IV) carried out in the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SQAQMD) in the USA is reviewed and (2) the results are compared with in these in Seoul and (3) policy directions are suggested. It was found that (1) systematic integrated study comprising of measurement, modeling, emission inventory estimation, and risk assessment was essential to estimate the health risk of air pollutants reliably, (2) cancer risk of diesel particle was dominant over other air pollutants, and (3) health risk based emissions were different from amount based emissions. It was suggested that (1) reducing the exposure from hot spots might important to reduce health risk from air pollutants and (2) an integrated air quality management administration system is important for the efficient management of air pollution.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.159-166
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• 2016

The microstructural evolution of a cast Ni base superalloy, IN738LC, has been investigated after long term exposure at several temperatures. Most of the fine secondary ${\gamma}^{\prime}$ particles resolved after 2000 hour exposure at $816^{\circ}C$. At higher temperatures of $871^{\circ}C$ and $927^{\circ}C$, secondary ${\gamma}^{\prime}$ resolved after 1000 hours of exposure, and cuboidal primary ${\gamma}^{\prime}$ grew with exposure time. During the thermal exposure, ${\sigma}$ phase formed at all tested temperatures, and ${\eta}$ phase was observed around interdendritic regions due to carbide degeneration. The influence of microstructural evolution during thermal exposure on the mechanical properties has been analyzed. The effects of ${\gamma}^{\prime}$ particle growth are more pronounced on the high temperature creep properties than on the room temperature tensile properties.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.225-232
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• 2022

Fine dust threatens human health in various forms, depending on the particle size, such as by causing respiratory, cardiovascular, and brain diseases, after entering the body via the lungs. The aim of this study was to correlate fine dust exposure with changes in brain blood flow in Sprague Dawley rats by using micro-positron emission tomography and elucidate the possibility of developing cerebrovascular diseases caused by fine dust. The subjects were exposured to an average fine dust (particulate matter 2.5) of 206.2 ± 7.74 to ten rats four times a day, twice a day for 90 min. Before the experiment, they were maintained at NPO to the maximize the intake of ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxy glucose(¹⁸F-FDG) and minimize changes in the ¹⁸F-FDG biomass depending on the ambient environment and body temperature of the rats. PET images were acquired in the list mode 40 min after injecting ¹⁸F-FDG 44.4 MBq into the rats tail vein using a micro-PET scanner pre and post exposure to fine dust. We found that the whole brain level of ¹⁸F-FDG standardized uptake value in rats averaged 5.21 ± 0.52 g/mL pre and 4.22 ± 0.48 g/mL post exposure to fine dust, resulting in a statistically significant difference. Fine dust was able to alter brain activity after entering the body via the lungs in various forms depending on the particle size.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.150-154
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• 2015

Negative staining electron microscopy facilitates the visualization of small bio-materials such as proteins; thus, many electron microscopists have used this conventional method to visualize the morphologies and structures of biological materials. To achieve sufficient contrast of the materials, a number of imaging parameters must be considered. Here, we examined the effects of one of the fundamental imaging parameters, electron beam exposure time, on electron densities generated using transmission electron microscopy. A single site of a negatively stained biological sample was illuminated with the electron beam for different times (1, 2, or 4 seconds) and sets of micrographs were collected. Computational image processing demonstrated that longer exposure times provide better electron densities at the molecular level. This report describes technical procedures for testing parameters that allow enhanced evaluations of the densities of electron microscopy images.