• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.25 no.2_spc
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• pp.1-15
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• 2020

Monitoring and assessing terminal electron accepting processes (TEAPs) are one of the most important steps to remediate contaminated sites via various in-situ techniques. TEAPs are a part of the microbial respiration reactions. Microorganisms gain energy from these reactions and reduces pollutants. Monitoring TEAPs enables us to predict degradability of contaminants and degradation rates. In many countries, TEAPs have been used for characterization of field sites and management of groundwater wells. For instance, US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provided strategies for groundwater quality and well management by applying TEAPs monitoring. Denmark has also constructed TEAPs map of local unit area to develop effective groundwater managing system, particularly to predict and assess nitrogen contamination. In case of Korea, although detailed soil survey and groundwater contamination assessment have been employed, site investigation guidelines using TEAPs have not been established yet. To better define TEAPs in subsurface environments, multiple indicators including ion concentrations, isotope compositions and contaminant degradation byproducts must be assessed. Furthermore, dissolved hydrogen concentrations are regarded as significant evidence of TEAPs occurring in subsurface environment. This review study introduces optimal sampling techniques of groundwater and dissolved hydrogen, and further discuss how to assess TEAPs in contaminated subsurface environments according to several contamination scenarios.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.303-313
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• 2003

General information is summarized, that is necessary to introduce a scientific assessment of the human health and exposure issue concerning dioxin and dioxin-like compound. Scientific literatures were reviewed to assess the background exposures to the dioxin-like compounds for normal residents. Epidemiologic studies were also reviewed to assess malignant and nonmalignant sweets of dioxins. In 1997, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) as a human carcinogen, primarily based on occupational cohort studies. The US Environmental Protection Agency made the same decision in it's Draft Dioxin Reassessment. Epidemiologic evidences point to a generalized excess of all cancers, without any pronounced excess at specific sites. Reported non-cancer effects included a range of conditions affecting most systems. Among them, chloracne, elevation in gamma glutamyl transferase(GGT), and alterations in reproductive hormones are related to TCDO, Other adverse outcomes, such as lipid concentrations, diabetes, circulatory and heart diseases, immunologic disorders, neurobehavioral effects, and developmental outcomes require further study before their respective relationships to TCDD can be more definitively assessed.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.271-279
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• 2010

We conducted a quantitative human health risk assessment with respect to inhalation of heavy metals for residents of housing developments in "new towns" where an incinerator will be operated within the area scheduled for construction thereof. To assess potential human health risk we calculated the amount of heavy metals emitted from the incinerator, and then forecasted the potential health impact on adjoining areas where new housing is to be developed (i.e. "new towns") at different altitudes by a using SCREEN-3 model. We assessed Cancer Risk (CR) caused by known carcinogens using the Inhalation Unit Risk criteria developed by the US Environmental Protection Agency. Notably, we assessed risk by determining concentrations of heavy metals on a floor by floor basis, as apartment buildings are to be constructed near the incinerator according to a pre-devised plan. Results indicated that cancer risk for most carcinogens exceeded US EPA standards for the highest locations at each collection point. This result indicates that construction of high buildings in areas adjoining incinerators is undesirable, and that measures to lower carcinogens are needed. The results of this study, which assessed health risk from exposure to heavy metals emitted from a nearby incinerator, can be useful in land use planning with respect to the location of housing developments in new towns, as well as the heights of any buildings constructed. Furthermore, the methodology deployed herein with respect to risk assessment can be helpful for policy makers and the general public in the event of conflicts regarding incinerator projects in the future. The results herein may also be of merit in determining priorities when establishing harm reduction measures for carcinogens at incinerators. However, the study does contain several limitations. The SCREEN-3 model, a kind of screening model that provides conservative results, can provide higher forecasted concentrations of air pollutants than other models. Moreover, although the incinerator in question is set to be a thermoselect type, domestic data for emissions from these incinerators is not available, and assumptions were based on a stoker type incinerator. Insufficient domestic data likewise compelled the use of data of USA, resulting in possible errors in results. Continued research will thus be required to develop systematic methodologies that address the foregoing factors and produce more reliable outcomes.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.1-13
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• 2006

The aim of the study is to assess groundwater pollution hazard of Pohang city using the DRASTIC system developed by the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). Hydrogeological spatial databases of the system include information on depth to groundwater, net recharge, aquifer media, soil media, topographic slope, hydraulic conductivity, lineament and potential pollution source. With GIS based on these hydrogeological databases and the DRASTIC system, the regional groundwater vulnerability of the study area was assessed. Then the vulnerability was overlaid with potential pollution source and the regional groundwater pollution hazard was assessed by administrative district. From the results of the study, areas where need the counter plan for groundwater pollution and where should be managed for the groundwater pollution, are identified.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.39-46
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• 2005

This study was performed to investigate the concentration of $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ in inside train and platform of subway 1, 2, 4 and 5 in Seoul, KOREA. $PM_{10}$, $PM_{2.5}$, temperature, humidity and carbon dioxide were monitored using Portable Aerosol Spectrometer at afternoon (between 13:00 and 16:00). The concentrations of $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ in inside train were monitored to be higher than those measured in platform. In addition, $PM_{10}$ concentration in both platform and inside train were found to be greatly higher than range of from 35 ${\mu}g/m^3$ to 81${\mu}g/m^3$ in ambient air reported by Ministry of Environment. This study found that there were many inside train in subway 1, 2, 4 line where exceeded 150 ${\mu}g/m^3$ of Korean PM10 standard. The average percentage that exceeded PM10 standard was 83.3% in line 1, 37.9% in line 2 and 63.1% in line 4, respectively. In particular, most of inside train in subway line 1 were over PM10 limit. PM2.5 concentration ranged from 77.7 ${\mu}g/m^3$ to 158.2 ${\mu}g/m^3$, which were found to be greatly higher than ambient air PM2.5 standard promulgated by United States Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA) (24 hours arithmatic mean : 65 ${\mu}g/m^3$, year average : 15 ${\mu}g/m^3$). The percentage of $PM_{2.5}$ in $PM_{10}$ was 86.2% in platform, 81.7% in inside train, 80.2% in underground and 90.2% in ground. These results indicated that fine particles ($PM_{2.5}$) accounted for most of $PM_{10}$.

• Water for future
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.85-95
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• 1993

Three purposes of this study are as follows: The first was the development of the extention method for the limited data observed in an urban drainage basin. The second was the analysis of the correlation between storm water runoff and NPS(non-point source) pollutant discharge, The last was the calculation of the monthly and annual specific NPS loads using the established correlation. the selected model was the SWMM monthly and annual specific NPs loads using the established correlation. The selected model was the SWMM (Storm Water Management model) developed by the US EPA(environmental Protection Agency). As a result of this study, the best correlation between storm wate runoff and NPS pollutants discharge was produced by the non-linear correlation between runoff rate(mm/hr)and specific loads rate(g/ha/sec)for all pollutants studied ; SS, COD, BOD, and TN. The best correlation through the analysis based on evently total mass was made by the linear correlation between the specific accumulated runoff(mm) and the specific accumulated loads(kg/ha) for CASE 1., and by the non-linear correlation for CASE 2. The NPS annual specific loads for the urban basin studied were 4933 kg/ha/year for SS, 775kg/ha/year for BOD, 3094kg/ha /year for COD,257kg/ha/year for TN, respectively. And the proportion of the NPS annual specific loads to the total annual specific loads were 42 % for SS, 13 % for BOD, 29% for COD, and 21 % for TN.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.261-276
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• 2016

The occurrence of natural radioactive materials such as uranium and radon-222 in groundwater was examined with hydrogeochemistry and geology at ○○ village in the Yongin area. Two rounds of 19 groundwater and 5 surface water sampling were collected for analysis. The range of pH value in groundwaters was 5.81 to 7.79 and the geochemical types of the groundwater were mostly Ca(Na)-HCO₃ and Ca(Na)-NO₃(Cl)-HCO₃. Uranium and radon-222 concentrations in the groundwater ranged from 0.06 to 411 μg/L and from 5.56 to 903 Bq/L, respectively. Two deep groundwaters used as common potable well-water sources exceeded the maximum contaminant levels of the uranium and radon-222 proposed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). Three groundwater samples from residential areas contained unsuitable levels of uranium, and 12 groundwater samples were unsuitable due to radon-222 concentrations. Radioactive materials in the unsuitable groundwater are naturally occurring in a Jurassic amphibole- and biotite-bearing granitic gneiss. High uranium and radon-222 groundwater concentrations were only observed in two common wells; the others showed no relationship between bedrock geology and groundwater geochemical constituents. With such high concentrations of naturally occurring radioactive materials in groundwater, the affected areas may extend tens of meters for uranium and even farther for radon-222. Therefore, we suggest the radon-222 and the uranium did not originate from the same source. Based on the distribution of radon-222 in the study area, zones of higher radon-222 concentrations may be the result of diffusion through cracks, joint, or faults. Surface radioactivity and uranium concentrations in the groundwater show a positive relationship, and the impact areas may extend for ~200m beyond the well in the case of wells containing high concentrations of uranium. The highest uranium and thorium concentrations in rock samples were detected in thorite and monazite.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.276-293
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• 2011

In this study a modeling system consisting of Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF), Sparse Matrix Operator Kernel Emissions (SMOKE), the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model, and the CMAQ-Model of Aerosol Dynamics, Reaction, Ionization, and Dissolution (MADRID) model has been applied to estimate enhancements of $PM_{10}$ during Asian dust events in Korea. In particular, 5 experimental formulas were applied to the WRF-SMOKE-CMAQ (MADRID) model to estimate Asian dust emissions from source locations for major Asian dust events in China and Mongolia: the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) model, the Goddard Global Ozone Chemistry Aerosol Radiation and Transport (GOCART) model, and the Dust Entrainment and Deposition (DEAD) model, as well as formulas by Park and In (2003), and Wang et al. (2000). According to the weather map, backward trajectory and satellite image analyses, Asian dust is generated by a strong downwind associated with the upper trough from a stagnation wave due to development of the upper jet stream, and transport of Asian dust to Korea shows up behind a surface front related to the cut-off low (known as comma type cloud) in satellite images. In the WRF-SMOKE-CMAQ modeling to estimate the PM10 concentration, Wang et al.'s experimental formula was depicted well in the temporal and spatial distribution of Asian dusts, and the GOCART model was low in mean bias errors and root mean square errors. Also, in the vertical profile analysis of Asian dusts using Wang et al's experimental formula, strong Asian dust with a concentration of more than $800\;{\mu}g/m^3$ for the period of March 31 to April 1, 2007 was transported under the boundary layer (about 1 km high), and weak Asian dust with a concentration of less than $400\;{\mu}g/m^3$ for the period of 16-17 March 2009 was transported above the boundary layer (about 1-3 km high). Furthermore, the difference between the CMAQ model and the CMAQ-MADRID model for the period of March 31 to April 1, 2007, in terms of PM10 concentration, was seen to be large in the East Asia area: the CMAQ-MADRID model showed the concentration to be about $25\;{\mu}g/m^3$ higher than the CMAQ model. In addition, the $PM_{10}$ concentration removed by the cloud liquid phase mechanism within the CMAQ-MADRID model was shown in the maximum $15\;{\mu}g/m^3$ in the Eastern Asia area.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.116-122
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• 2010

This study was carried out to estimate the risk of pesticide operators who use high toxicological pesticides. The class II (highly hazardous) pesticides registered in korea were 15 products, and 11 products were spray type pesticides at orchard file in 2009. The using information based on the pesticide label and the data searched through survey of actual condition on pesticides were used for calculate the pesticide operator exposure dose. The risk quotients of these pesticides against the pesticides operator were calculated as devide pesticide exposure dose by reference dose which were presented by EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), JMPR (Joint FAO Meeting on Pesticide Residues), and US/EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency). Omethoate showed the highest risk quotient and the values were 338 and 75 when the operator spray using speed sprayer and motor sprayer respectively. Risk quotients of all class II pesticide were above 1. This result means that the risk potential of these pesticides are very high.

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.377-393
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• 2016

Vehicle emissions have been known as a critical factor to give a negative impact on the public health. In particular, particulate matters(PM) and NOx are highly related with respiratory diseases such as asthma. This study aimed at analyzing spatio-temporal patterns of PM and NOx generated from urban freeway traffic. MOVES, which is a well-known emission analysis tool presented by US Environmental Protection Agency(EPA), was applied to estimate PM and NOx based on traffic volume and speed data obtained from Seoul Outer Ring Expressway during January~June, 2012. K-means clustering analysis was used for categorizing the Level of Vehicle Emissions(LOVE) to support more systematical identification of the significance of emissions. Then, spatio-temporal analyses of estimated emissions were conducted by LOVE. Finally, this study proposed a set of strategies to reduce both PM and NOx to enhance public health based on analysis results.