• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.113-121
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• 2014

Objectives: This study is intended to seek credible and efficient measurements on airborne asbestos concentrations that allow immediate action by establishing complementary data through comparative analysis with existing PCM and KF-100 method real-time monitoring equipment in working areas in Seoul where asbestos-containing buildings are being demolished, including living environment surroundings. Materials: We measured airborne asbestos concentrations using PCM and KF-100 at research institutes, monitoring networks, subway stations and demolition sites of asbestos-containing buildings. Through this measurement data and KF-100 performance testing, we drew a conversion factor and applied it via KF-100. Finally we verified the relationship between PCM and KF-100 with statistical methods. Results: The airborne asbestos concentrations by PCM for the objects of study were less than the detection limit(7 fiber/$mm^2$) in three (20%) out of 15 samples. The highest concentration was 0.009 f/cc. The airborne asbestos concentrations by PCM in laboratories, monitoring networks, subway stations and demolition sites of asbestos-containing buildings were respectively $0.002{\pm}0.000$ f/cc, $0.004{\pm}0.001$ f/cc, $0.009{\pm}0.001$ f/cc, and $0.002{\pm}0.000$ f/cc. As a result of KF-100 performance testson rooftops, the conversion factor was 0.1958. Applying the conversion factor to KF-100 for laboratories, the airborne asbestos concentrations ratio of the two ways was nearly 1:1.5($R^2$=0.8852). Also,the airborne asbestos concentration ratio of the two ways was nearly 1:1($R^2$=0.9071) for monitoring networks, subway stations, and demolition sites of asbestos-containing buildings. As a result of independent sample t-tests, there was no distinction between airborne asbestos concentrations monitored in the two ways. Conclusions: In working areas where asbestos-containing buildings are being demolished, including living environment surroundings, quickly and accurately monitoring airborne asbestos scattered in the air around the working area is highly important. For this, we believea mutual interface of existing PCM and a real-time monitoring equipment method is possible.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.8-19
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• 2008

The physicochemical properties of soils having high uranium content, located around Duckpyungri in Korea, were investigated and the lab scale soil washing experiments to remove uranium from the soil were preformed with several washing solutions and on various washing conditions. SPLP (Synthetic Precipitation Leaching Procedure), TCLP (Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure), and SEP (Sequential Extraction Procedure) for the soil were conducted and the uranium concentration of the extracted solution in SPLP was higher than Drinking Water Limit of USEPA (30 ${\mu}g$/L), suggesting that the continuous dissolution of uranium from soil by the weak acid rain may generate the environmental pollution around the research area. For the soil washing experiments, the uranium removal efficiency of pH 1 solution for S2 soil was about 80 %, but dramatically decreased as pH of solution was > 2, suggesting that strong acidic solutions are available to remove uranium from the soil. For solutions with 0.1M of HCl and 0.05 M of ${H_2}{SO_4}$, their removal efficiencies at 1 : 1 of soil vs. washing solution ratio were higher than 70%, but the removal efficiencies of acetic acid, and EDTA were below 30%. At 1 : 3 of soil vs. solution, the uranium removal efficiencies of 0.1M HCl, 0.05 M ${H_2}{SO_4}$, and 0.5M citric acid solution increased to 88%, 100%, and 61% respectively. On appropriate washing conditions for S2 soil such as 1 : 3 ratio for the soil vs. solution ratio, 30 minute for washing time, and 2 times continuous washing, TOC (Total Organic Contents) and CEC (Cation Exchange Capacity) for S2 soil were measured before/after soil washing and their XRD (X-Ray Diffraction) and XRF (X-Ray Fluorescence) results were also compared to investigate the change of soil properties after soil washing. TOC and CEC decreased by 55% and 66%, compared to those initial values of S2 soil, suggesting that the soil reclaimant may need to improve the washed soils for the cultivated plants. Results of XRF and XRD showed that the structural change of soil after soil washing was insignificant and the washed soil will be partially used for the further purpose.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.403-407
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• 2018

Currently, the highest cancer death rate in Korea is lung cancer, which is a typical cancer that is difficult to detect early. Low-dose chest CT is being used for early detection, which has a greater lung cancer diagnosis rate of about three times than regular chest x-ray images. However, low-dose chest CT not only significantly reduces image resolution but also has a weak signal and is sensitive to noise. Also, air filled lungs are low-density organs and the presence of noise can significantly affect early diagnosis of cancer. This study used Visual C++ to set a circle inside a large circle with a density of 2.0, with a density of 1.0, which is the density of water, in which five small circle of mathematics have different densities. Gaussian noise was generated by 1%, 2%, 3%, and 4% respectively to determine the effect of noise on the mean value, the standard deviation value, and the relative noise ratio(SNR). In areas where the density difference between the large and small circles was greatest in the event of 1 % noise, the SNR in the area with the greatest variation in noise was 4.669, and in areas with the lowest density difference, the SNR was 1.183. In addition, the SNR values can be seen to be high if the same results are obtained for both positive and negative densities. Quality was also clearly visible when the density difference was large, and if the noise level was increased, the SNR was reduced to significantly affect the noise. Low-density organs or organs in areas of similar density to cancers, will have significant noise effects, and the effects of density differences on the probability of noise will affect diagnosis.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.443-454
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• 2010

Phthalate compounds are widely used as plasticizers in polyvinyl chlororide (PVC) resins and other industrial consumer products, and some of them are known to be endocrine disruptors. In Korea, a number of studies have been carried out for the measurement of phthalates in consumer products and drinking water. However, no data are available for those compounds in the ambient air where the general public are routinely exposed. In this study, we evaluated sampling and analytical methods for the determination of phthalates in the ambient atmosphere. A wide range of phthalates compounds were included in the target analytes, which are dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), and di-n-octyl phthalate (DOP). Most of samples were collected using a high volume sampler with a PUF/XAD-2 column/quartz fiber filter and then analyzed by GC/MS. Some of samples were simultaneously collected on XAD-2 using a low-volume sampler, together with high-volume samples. The analytical method applied in this study showed good repeatability and linearity. Quantitative detection limits were estimated from 0.60 to 17.84 ng/$m^3$ in air, depending on individual compounds. The field measurements were carried out at 3 sites located in Sihwa- Banwall industrial areas and a suburban area from January 2007 to November 2007. From the field experiments, DEHP, DMP and DBP appeared to be the most abundant compounds in the ambient air. It was also found that DMP, DEP and DBP were mainly distributed in the vapor phase, while BBP, DEHP and DOP were predominantly associated with the particulate phase. The concentrations of DEHP and DMP in the industrial areas ranged from 45.7 to 1,012.7 ng/$m^3$ and from 7.7 to 375.1 ng/$m^3$, respectively. Overall, the high-volume sampling method was demonstrated to be superior to the low-volume method for the determination of phthalates in the ambient atmosphere.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.188-194
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• 2007

The relationships between pine mushroom emergence and meteorological factors were analyzed with three years (from 2003 to 2005) of measurement data at Yangyang site, in order to evaluate the effect of micrometeorological environment on pine mushroom production. fine mushroom was daily monitored and collected in the survey area during the its producing period (approximately one month). Pine mushroom production was highest in 2005 with the meteorological conditions of high temperature and frequent rainfalls in October. The production was lowest in 2004 due to dry conditions from mid September to late October, The meterological factors related to humidity (i.e., relative humidity, soil water content, and precipitation) were better correlated than those related to temperature (i.e., air and soil temperature, soil heat flux and solar radiation) with pine mushroom production. However, all of the correlation coefficients were statistically insignificant with values ranging from 0.15 to 0.46. Such poor correlations may be attributed to various other environmental conditions (e.g., topography, soil, vegetation, other fungi, the relationship between pine mushroom and pine forest) affecting pine mushroom production. We found that a mycelium requires a stimulation of low temperature (of three-day moving average) below $19.5^{\circ}C$, in order to farm a mushroom primordium which grows to pine mushroom after 16 days from the stimulation. We also found that the pine mushroom production ended when the soil temperature (of three-day moving average) fell below $14.0^{\circ}C$.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.77-82
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• 2005

This study was conducted to identify the characteristics of non-point pollutants discharge in a small agricultural watershed during farming season. for this purpose, the Neoungchon watershed in Goesangun was selected as a typical agricultural area. Runoff and water quality data in the stream, the domestic sewage and the precipitation of the watershed were analyzed periodically from June 1 to November 6 in 2004 and pollutant loads were estimated. As a result the mean concentrations of BOD, SS, TN and TP in the stream were 3.0, 76.7, 8.7, 0.16 mg/L in rainy season and 2.4, 10.0, 3.5, 0.11 mg/L in dry season respectively. Daily discharge of non-point pollutant occurred above of 95% in rainy period. Measured pollutant loads in the watershed were $26.63kg/km^2/day$ of T-N and $0.62kg/km^2/day$ of T-P, within the range of other research results. Effluent loads based on guideline of total pollutant to stream management of MOE (Ministry of Environment) were less than delivery loads since the guideline could not reflect the agricultural practices, geomorphic and meteorological characteristics in an agricultural watershed.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.11-20
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• 2018

In planktonic ecosystems, the microplastics are considered as a potential food source for the zooplankton. To study a relationship between the zooplankton and the neustonic microplastics, a research experiment was carried out during May in the surface layers of the Yeosu coastal areas including Yeoja Bay, Gamak Bay, Yeosuhae Bay, and Botdol Sea. A neustonic zooplankton net (mesh size $300{\mu}m$; mouth area $30cm{\times}18cm$) was towed from the side of the ship in the event that it would not be affected by waves crashing by the ship at a speed of ca. 2.5 knots. All of the microplastic particles were separated from the zooplankton. The zooplankton and microplastics were appearing in a range of 61 to $763indiv.m^{-3}$ and 0.0047 to $0.3471particle\;m^{-2}$, respectively. It was noted that the Acartia omorii, Paracalanus parvus s. l., Labidocera euchaeta, A. hongi, decapod larvae, and cirriped larvae were predominantly seen in the experiment. For verifying relationships between zooplankton and environmental factors in addition to microplastics, a model redundancy analysis (RDA) was performed. The zooplankton were divided into two groups on the basis of feeding types (i.e. particle feeders, and carnivores), and the associated zooplankton larvae were also separately considered. A review of the additional environmental factors such as water temperature, salinity, turbidity, chlorophyll-${\alpha}$ concentration, diatom density, and dinoflagellate density were also contained in the analysis. The results showed that a noted zooplankton abundance had no close relation with the occurring number of microplastic particles, but rather was significantly related with other noted environmental factors such as temperature, salinity, turbidity, and chlorophyll-${\alpha}$ concentration. This fact implies that most zooplankton can feed themselves as a unit, by selecting the most likely available nutritious foods, rather than microplastics under the circumstance of food-richness areas, such what food resources are available as in the location of coastal waters.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.293-308
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• 2003

New results about the crustal structure down to a depth of 60 km beneath North Korea were obtained using the seismic tomography method. About 1013 P- and S-wave travel times from local earthquakes recorded by the Korean stations and the vicinity were used in the research. All earthquakes were relocated on the basis of an algorithm proposed in this study. Parameterization of the velocity structure is realized with a set of nodes distributed in the study volume according to the ray density. 120 nodes located at four depth levels were used to obtain the resulting P- and S-wave velocity structures. As a result, it is found that P- and S-wave velocity anomalies of the Rangnim Massif at depth of 8 km are high and low, respectively, whereas those of the Pyongnam Basin are low up to 24 km. It indicates that the Rangnim Massif contains Archean-early Lower Proterozoic Massif foldings with many faults and fractures which may be saturated with underground water and/or hot springs. On the other hand, the Pyongyang-Sariwon in the Pyongnam Basin is an intraplatform depression which was filled with sediments for the motion of the Upper Proterozoic, Silurian and Upper Paleozoic, and Lower Mesozoic origin. In particular, the high P- and S-wave velocity anomalies are observed at depth of 8, 16, and 24 km beneath Mt. Backdu, indicating that they may be the shallow conduits of the solidified magma bodies, while the low P-and S-wave velocity anomalies at depth of 38 km must be related with the magma chamber of low velocity bodies with partial melting. We also found the Moho discontinuities beneath the Origin Basin including Sari won to be about 55 km deep, whereas those of Mt. Backdu is found to be about 38 km. The high ratio of P-wave velocity/S-wave velocity at Moho suggests that there must be a partial melting body near the boundary of the crust and mantle. Consequently we may well consider Mt. Backdu as a dormant volcano which is holding the intermediate magma chamber near the Moho discontinuity. This study also brought interesting and important findings that there exist some materials with very high P- and S-wave velocity annomoalies at depth of about 40 km near Mt. Myohyang area at the edge of the Rangnim Massif shield.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.275-285
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• 2010

Present state of nationwide marine facilities reported to 12 regional maritime affairs and port offices of MLTM in Korea for two years 2008 and 2009 was analyzed based on region and type of facilities, and national management plan was proposed in this study. As of the end of 2009, 8 types of marine facilities were reported to Yeosu regional maritime affairs and port office, while only 3 types of facilities were reported to Pohang, Daesan and Jeju regional offices, respectively. Oil and noxious liquid substances storage facilities belonged in the type of facility which was reported to all of 12 regional offices, and ranged from 11 facilities reported to Pyeongtaek regional office to the respective 38 facilities to Yeosu and Masan regional offices. In pollutants storage facilities, 4 facilities were reported to Masan regional office, 2 facilities to Donghae and Mokpo regional offices, respectively, 1 facility to Yeosu, Gunsan and Pyeongtaek regional offices, respectively, and none of facilities to the other regional offices. Ship construction, repair and scrap facilities belonged in the type of facility which was reported to all of 12 regional offices, and 45% of the facilities were concentrated in Southeastern Sea of Korea centering around Busan and Masan. In cargo handling facilities, 3 facilities were reported to Busan and Masan regional offices, respectively, 1 facility to Daesan regional office, and none of facilities to the other regional offices. In wastes storage facilities, 5 facilities were reported to Ulsan regional office, 4 facilities to Gunsan regional office, 2 facilities to Incheon regional office, 1 facility to Yeosu regional office, and none of facilities to the other regional offices. 65% of nationwide water intake and drainage facilities were concentrated in the areas of Pohang and Mokpo, and 78% of nationwide fishing spots at play were concentrated in the area of Masan. In other marine facilities, 4 facilities were reported to Donghae regional office, 3 facilities to Masan regional office, 2 facilities to Yeosu and Pyeongtaek regional offices, respectively, 1 facility to Incheon and Ulsan regional offices, respectively, and none of facilities to the other regional offices. In integrated marine science base facilities, 3 facilities were reported to Jeju regional office, 1 facility to Yeosu, Ulsan and Gunsan regional offices, respectively, and none of facilities to the other regional offices. The management based on the circumstances of regional offices, the management based on the characteristics of the type of facilities, the amendment of the relevant rules and regulations, facility owner's full knowledge and observance of the relevant rules and regulations with regard to the relevant type of facilities, and positive management actions from national point of view were proposed for national management plans of marine facilities.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.420-430
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• 2005

This study was performed to change the hydrophilic $NH_4Y$-zeolite to the hydrophobic one for removal of VOCs by removing the $Al^{3+}$ in the zeolite-structure to increase the Si/Al ratio, for which the three pelleted $NH_4Y$-zeolite samples were contacted separately with the steam of $400^{\circ}C$, $500^{\circ}C$ and $600^{\circ}C$, respectively, in a stainless steel column for 4 hours. Then extraction of the ex-structure aluminum of the hydrolyzed zeolites with the nitric acids of 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, and 0.10 M at $90^{\circ}C$ in 500 mL-flasks, respectively, according to steam temperature were followed. XRD analysises of the dealuminated zeolites showed that the peaks of the zeolites that had been hydrolyzed with the steams of both $500^{\circ}C$ and $600^{\circ}C$ are distorted more with the increase of the concentration of nitric acid used for extraction of the ex-structure aluminums, however, those hydrolyzed with steam of $400^{\circ}C$ became amorphous phase when treated with the all nitric acids of four concentrations. Also the EDX analysises showed that the BET surface areas and TPVS of the zeolites that had been hydrolyzed with the steam of $600^{\circ}C$ were increased with the concentration of the nitric acid when the nitric acids of 0.25 M and 0.5 M had been used but decreased when the nitric acids of 0.75 M and 1.0 M had been used. These results led to the conclusion that both the $600^{\circ}C$ and $500^{\circ}C$-steam and the 0.5 M-nitric acid are appropriate to change the hydrophilic $NH_4Y$-zeolites to the hydrophobic one, which were proven by the measurement of the benzene and tolune-adsorbing capacities showing the same trend as the BET surface area and TPV The Si/Al ratios and water-adsorbing capacities of the dealuminated zeolites were increased and decreased, respectively, with the concentration of the nitric acids so that it showed that the hydrophobicity is increased.