• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.20-28
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• 1992

The x-ray fluorescence(XRF) is one of the most convenient and widely used techniques for analyzing trace elements in ambient particulate matters. The objects of the study were to estimate the optimum exposure time using the XRF, to investigate the distributions of heavy metal levels in particulate matters, and finally to study seasonal variation for the concentrations of total suspended particulate matters(TSP) and size fractionated particulate matters. The suspended particulate matters had been collected by a cascade impactor having 9 size fragnated stages for 3 years(Dec. 1988 to Nov. 1991) in Kyung Hee University-Suwon Campus. The particulate matters were then collected on each stage by membrane filters. The weight concentrations were determined by the XRF system. Thus, seasonal variations and relationship between concentration and particle size could be investigated. Resulting distribution was bimodal with the coarse and the fine particle groups minimum occurring around 2.1 to 3.3 $\mu$m as an aerodynamic diameter. To determine optimum exposure time of the XRF for various trace inorganic elements, membrane filters and the NIST standard filters were extensively studied. Using a statistical technique, optimum exposure time was estimated for each trace element and overall elements. The time was then determined as 20 seconds for the XRF system. The concentration of TSP was 123.9$\mum/m^3$ on an arithmatic average. The levels of each inorganic metal were Si 2420.0ng/$m^3$, Fe 977.1ng/$m^3$, and so on. The Pb. Zn, and Cu abounded in the fine mode group, while Ca, Fe, Si, Al, and K in the coarse group. Marked seasonal variation of TSP and metal concentrations was observed. The concentration of heavy metals in the fine mode was highest in winter : on the other hand, that in the coarse mode was highest in spring.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.7-14
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• 2023

We attempted to provide an overview of the laws and current state of the 3D printing industry in South Korea and around the world, using the annual industry surveys and the Wohler report. Additionally, we reviewed articles relating to the potential exposure to hazards associated with 3D printing using metal materials. In South Korea, there were 406 3D printing-related businesses, employing 2,365 workers, and the market size was estimated at 455.9 billion won in 2021. Globally, the average growth rate of the 3D printing industry market over the past 10 years was 27.4%, and the market size was estimated at $11.8 billion in 2019. The United States had the highest cumulative installation ratio of industrial 3D printers, followed by China, Japan, Germany, and South Korea. A total of 6,168 patents related to 3D printing were registered in the US between 2010 and 2019. Harmful factors during metal 3D printing was mainly evaluated in the powder bed fusion and direct energy deposition printing types, and there is a case of material extrusion type with metal additive filaments. The number, mass, size distribution, and chemical composition of particles were mainly evaluated. Particle concentration increases during the opening of the chamber or post-processing. However, operating the 3D printer in a ventilated chamber can reduce particle concentration to the background level. In order to have a safe and healthy environment for 3D printing, it is necessary to accumulate and apply knowledge through various studies.

• Journal of the Semiconductor & Display Technology
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.45-48
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• 2013

The electronic device, such as flat panel display (FPD), is very important in our life as a means of communication between humans. Liquid crystal display (LCD), which is categorized as a flat panel display, has been used in many display products, especially in TV industry. An LED TV is composed of several electrical components, such as liquid critical module (LCM), analog to digital convertor (AD), power supplier, and inverter board. These modules are very vulnerable to particulate contamination, and causing malfunction or visibility degradation. In this study, we developed a test method for prediction of LCM's lifetime. The test system consists of carbon particle generation flame, dilution system, test chamber, and particle concentration monitoring instrument. Since the carbon particles are the most abundant in the atmosphere and easily absorb light, soot particles are used as a challenging material for this test. The concentration of generated soot particles is set around 4,000,000 #/cc, which is 400 times higher than that of usual atmospheric particles. Through this experiment, we deduced the relationship between the dust concentration and life time of the test specimen.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.106-110
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• 2003

Nano-sized powders of Indium Tin Oxide(ITO) were synthesized by a coprecipitation method. In order to investigate the gas sensing characteristics in the nanocrystalline ITO thick films with various particle sizes, ITO powders with the average particle diameter of 15, 30, and 70 nm respectively were synthesized. And the sensitivity of ITO thick films was measured upon exposure to a target gas($C_2$$H_{5}$ /OH) and some other Volatile Organic Compounds(VOCs), such as, toluene, methanol, benzene, chloroform. As a result, ITO thick films had high sensitivity for ethanol and higher sensitivity with smaller particle size.

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.183-186
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• 2003

To evaluate the effect of air pollution on respiratory health in children, we conducted a longitudinal study in which children were asked to record their daily levels of peak expiratory flow rate using potable peak flow meter (mini-Wright) far 4 weeks. The relationship between daily PEFR and ambient air particle levels was analyzed using a mixed linear regression models including gender, age in you, weight, the presence of respiratory symptoms, and relative humidity as an extraneous variable. The daily mean concentrations of PM$\_$10/ and PM$\_$2.5/ over the study period were 64.9$\mu\textrm{g}$/㎥ and 46. l$\mu\textrm{g}$/㎥, respectively. The range of daily measured PEFR in this study was 170-481 l/min. Daily mean PEFR was regressed with the 24-hour. average PM$\_$10/ (or PM$\_$2.5/) levels, weather information such as air temperature and relative humidity, and individual characteristics including sex, weight, and respiratory symptoms. The analysis showed that the increase of air particle concentrations was negatively associated with the variability in PEFR. We estimated that the IQR increment of PM$\_$10/ or PM$\_$2.5/ were associated with 1.5 l/min (95% Confidence intervals -3.1, 0.1) and 0.8 l/min (95% Cl -1.8, 0.1) decline in PEFR. Even though this study shows negative findings on the relationship between respiratory function and air particles, it is worth noting that the findings must be interpreted cautiously because exposure measurement based on monitoring of ambient air likely results in misclassification of true exposure levels and this is the first Korean study that PM$\_$2.5/ measurement is applied as an index of air particle quality.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.78-86
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• 2018

Filter-based sampling techniques are the conventional way to collect particulate matter, but particles collected and entangled in the filter fibers are difficult to be removed and thus not suited for the following cell- and animal-based exposure experiments. Collecting aerosol particles in powder form using a cyclone instead of a filter would be a possible way to solve this problem. We developed a hybrid virtual-impactor/cyclone high-volume fine and coarse particle sampler and assessed its performance. The developed system achieved 50% collection efficiency with components having the following aerodynamic cut-off diameters: virtual impactor, $2.4{\mu}m$; fine-particle cyclone, $0.18-0.30{\mu}m$; and coarse-particle cyclone, $0.7{\mu}m$. The virtual impactor used in our set-up had good $PM_{2.5}$ separation performance, comparable to that reported for a conventional real impactor. The newly developed sampler can collect fine and coarse particles simultaneously, in combination with exposure testing with collected fine- and coarse-particulate matter samples, should help researchers to elucidate the mechanism by which airborne particles result in adverse health effect in detail.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.1942-1946
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• 2021

Gadolinium oxysulfide (GOS) is regarded as a novel scintillator for the realization of ultra-high spatial resolution in neutron imaging. Monte Carlo simulations of GOS scintillator show that the capability of its spatial resolution is towards the micron level. Through the time-of-flight method, the light output of a GOS scintillator was measured to be 217 photons per captured neutron, ~100 times lower than that of a ZnS/LiF:Ag scintillator. A detector prototype has been developed to evaluate the imaging solution with the GOS scintillator by neutron beam tests. The measured spatial resolution is ~36 ㎛ (28 line pairs/mm) at the modulation transfer function (MTF) of 10%, mainly limited by the low experimental collimation ratio of the beamline. The weak light output of the GOS scintillator requires an enormous increase in the neutron flux to reduce the exposure time for practical applications.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.85-97
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• 2024

Objectives: This study was intended to investigate the revision status of the occupational exposure standards for aluminum at home and abroad; to investigate worker exposure at domestic aluminum manufacturing and handling workplaces; to conduct social and economic evaluation for the revision of domestic aluminum exposure limits. Methods: We investigated the current status of occupational exposure limits for aluminum at home and abroad, and analyzed supporting data. An exposure survey was conducted targeting domestic aluminum manufacturing and handling workplaces. Based on these, revised aluminum occupational exposure limits were proposed. Results: The major aluminum exposure limits at home and abroad show a notable difference. The toxicity of aluminum, which was revealed through animal experiments and epidemiological investigations. The average concentration of aluminum in the air at 12 workplaces was 0.016 mg/m³, and the maximum was 0.0776 mg/m³. When total dust and respiratory dust were measured side by side and simultaneously for the same process, 12.1% of the total mass concentration of aluminum dust was respiratory dust. As a result of measuring and comparing the size distribution of dust with an optical particle counter in real time, 48.1% of the total dust in the form of welding fume and pyro-powder was respiratory dust. Based on the literature review and workplace survey, three proposals for changing the aluminum exposure limit were proposed. Proposal (1): For all types, 10 mg/m³ is unified as the exposure limit except for soluble salts and alkyls. Proposal (2): 1(R) mg/m³ as the exposure limit for all forms except soluble salts and alkyl. Proposal (3): 1(R) mg/m³ for pyro-powder and welding fume, and 10 mg/m³ for metal dust, aluminum oxide, and insoluble compounds as exposure standards. A pyro-powder was defined as dry aluminum powder of 200 mesh size (74 ㎛) or smaller (larger size classified as metal dust). Reason for setting: In the workplace survey, the ratio of respiratory dust to total dust was analyzed to be about 1:10, so it was judged that the domestic standard and the ACGIH standard were compatible. Conclusions: In all scenarios according to the revision of the exposure standard, the B/C ratio was greater than 1 or only benefits existed, so it was evaluated as sufficiently reasonable as a result of the socio-economic evaluation.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.217-224
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• 2012

In recent decades, titanium dioxide ($TiO_2$) nanoparticles have been used in various applications, including paints, coatings, and food. However, data are lacking on the toxicological aspects associated with their use. The aim of this study was to assess the inhalation toxicity of $TiO_2$ nanoparticles in rats by using inhalation exposure. Male Wistar rats were exposed to $TiO_2$ nanoparticles for 2 weeks (6 hr/day, 5 days/week) at a mean mass concentration of $11.39{\pm}0.31mg/m^3$. We performed time-course necropsies at 1, 7, and 15 days after exposure. Lung inflammation and injury were assessed on the basis of the total and individual cell counts in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and by biochemical assays, including an assay for lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Furthermore, histopathological examination was performed to investigate the lungs and nasal cavity of rats. There were no statistically significant changes in the number of BALF cells, results of biochemical assays of BALF and serum, and results of cytokine analysis. However, we did observe histopathological changes in the nasal cavity tissue. Lesions were observed at post-exposure days 1 and 7, which resolved at post-exposure day 15. We also calculated the actual amounts of $TiO_2$ nanoparticles inhaled by the rats. The results showed that the degree of toxicity induced by $TiO_2$ nanoparticles correlated with the delivered quantities. In particular, exposure to small particles with a size of approximately 20 nm resulted in toxicity, even if the total particle number was relatively low.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.462-470
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• 2014

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate quartz concentrations in airborne respirable dust and particle size-related quartz concentrations. Methods: Respirable dust samples were collected using a 10 mm Dorr-Oliver nylon cyclone equipped with a 37 mm, $5{\mu}m$ pore size PVC filter. Dust samples were collected with a Marple's personal cascade impactor from stone grinding operations in five stone-related business located in the Gyeongsangbuk-do area. Results: The geometric mean of quartz concentration in the respirable dust was $0.170mg/m^3$, and the rate of exceeding the Korean Occupational Exposure Limit(KOEL) was 93.3%. The quartz concentration by particle size shows that it was the highest($0.115mg/m^3$) in stage 5($3.50-6.00{\mu}m$), which corresponds with the size of respirable particle. The smaller the particle sizes were, the higher quartz the content became. The mass fractions of inhalable, thoracic, and respirable dust were 72.1%, 36.0%, and 14.4%. Conclusions: The rate of the quartz concentration in respirable dust from stone grinding operations exceeding the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists Threshold Limit Values was 100%, which means proper work environmental management is required through regular working environmental measurements. Given that the stone grinding operations had a higher small size dust concentrations, there is a need to reduce respirable dust, such as through wet operation and local exhaust ventilation.