• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.240-247
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• 1994

To identify normal levels of ethanol, acetaldehyde and alcohol dehydrogenase(ADH) activity in blood of Koreans, ethanol and acetaldehyde levels, activity of ADH in blood of Koreans, ethanol and acetaldehyde levels, activity of ADH in blood were measured in 97 subjects(male : 36, female : 61), 45 subjects(male : 21, female : 24) were not exposed to organic solvents and any other chemicals. Fifty two subjects(male : 15, female : 37) were exposed to organic solvents including toluene and xylene. The results were summerized as follows : 1. The blood ADH was not detected in exposed and non-exposed group. 2. The average blood ethanol level of non-exposed group was 0.0490 mg/dl, and exposed group was 0.0363 mg/dl. They were statistically significant(p<0.05). 3. The blood acetaldehyde levels in exposed group were significantly higher than that of non-exposed group was not statistically significant (p>0.05). 4. The average blood ethanol level of males in both groups was significantly higher than that of females, however, they were not statistically significant (p>0.05).

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.370-380
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• 2009

Reliable hazard and risk communication is needed to prevent the safety accident & occupational disease through right use of chemicals and MSDS(Material Safety Data Sheet) is mainly used as such a tool of communication. MSDS policy has been put into effect in order to prevent the safety accident & occupational disease through right use of chemicals and fulfill workers' right to know. If information on MSDS lacks reliability due to its inaccuracy, prevention of the various effects related with environmental safety & health in advance is not possible to achieve. The most essential thing regarding authoring MSDS is to exactly evaluate the composition and ingredients of the chemical and include reliability-guaranteed information. Therefore, in this study reliability was evaluated on MSDSs in 15 aromatic hydrocarbons(benzene, toluene, xylene, etc.) manufacturers and ways to secure reliability of MSDS were suggested. The results showed 93.5% of composition agreement rate and 89% of reliability on each section in MSDSs. In order to curb MSDSs with low reliability, examination on CBI(confidential business information) in MSDS, certification of MSDS, collection and verification of MSDS are suggested.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.95-102
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• 2017

Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate the emission of VOCs from clothing that had been dry cleaned. Methods: In order to ensure the same conditions, f100% wool scarves were selected as the fabric type. Four identical tests were conducted on the option of either removing the plastic bags which came from the dry cleaning shop or not. The scarf was located inside a closet or room for one or two days. Small chamber tests were conducted to determine the VOC emission characteristics under the same conditions such as temperature, humidity, loading factor, and air exchange rates. Air from the chamber for VOCs was sampled by Tenax TA tube and analyzed by thermal desorption and GC/MSD. Results: Assuming that test represented dry cleaning and consumer's conditions well enough, we can conclude that immediate emissions after the dry cleaning of the scarfs caused elevated levels of TVOC, five VOCs (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, stylene), and decane group compounds. Conclusions: By removing the plastic bags which came from the dry cleaning shop or not, the storage conditions of dry cleaned scarfs by consumers during the storage time periods (one to three days) would be significant for reducing VOC emissions.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.457-466
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• 2017

Objectives: This study was carried out to investigate the characteristics of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from sewerage facilities such as a sanitary sewers, outlets, and catch basins. In addition, the dominant malodorous VOCs among the compounds in this study were studied. Methods: Waste gas samples were collected at 27 points in a sanitary sewer in commercial and residental areas. The concentrations of seven volatile organic compounds, including benzene and toluene, in the samples were analyzed by gas chromatograph mass spectrophotometer (GC/MS). Odor concentrations were estimated using the concentration data of the VOCs and each compound's threshold limit value. Results: As a result, it appeared that the average concentration of total observed data for acetaldehyde was 15.98 ppb and benzene 1.87 ppb, toluene 82.31 ppb, ethyl benzene 63.12 ppb, m+p-xylene 15.66 ppb, oxylene 18.73 ppb, and styrene 4.39 ppb. VOC concentrations in the commercial area were higher than those in the residential area. VOC concentrations of waste gas emitted from sewer lines was also higher than those at the outlet and in the catch basins. It was estimated that the main malodorous VOC among the seven VOCs was acetaldehyde. Conclusions: As there is little data on VOC concentrations inside sewer facilities in Korea, these data will be helpful for estimating impact assessment of VOCs and establishing a counter-plan for the abatement of VOCs from sewer facilities in the future.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.18 no.10
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• pp.1123-1134
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• 2009

This study was designed to evaluate qualitatively and quantitatively the pollutant compositions, which were emitted from three types of mosquito repellents(MRs)(mat-, liquid-vaporized, and coil-type) by utilizing a 50-L environmental chamber. A qualitative analysis revealed that 42 compounds were detected on the gas chromatography/mass spectrometer system, and that the detection frequency depended upon chemical types. Nine of the 42 compounds exhibited a detection frequency of 100%. Four aromatic compounds(benzene, ethyl benzene, toluene, and xylene) were detected in all test MRs. The concentration equilibriums in the environmental chamber were achieved within 180 min after sample introduction. The coil-type MR represented higher chamber concentrations as compared with the mat- or liquid-vaporized-type MR, with respect to the target compounds except for naphthalene. In particular, the chamber concentrations of ethyl benzene, associated with the use of coil-type MR, were between 0.9 and $65\;mg\;m^{-3}$ whereas those of mat- and liquid-vaporized-type MRs we~e between 0.5 and $2.0\;mg\;m^{-3}$and 0.3 and $1.4\;mg\;m^{-3}$, respectively. However, naphthalene concentrations in the chamber, where a liquid-vaporized-type MR was placed, were measured as between 17.8 and $56.3\;mg\;m^{-3}$, but not detected in the chamber, where a mat- or coil-type MR was placed. The empirical model fitted well with the time-series concentrations in the environmental chamber(in most cases, determination coefficient, $R^2$ ≿ 0.9), thereby suggesting that the model was suitable for testing emissions. In regards to the target compounds except for benzene, although they were emitted from the MRs, health risk from individual exposure to them were estimated not to be significant when comparing exposure levels with no observed adverse exposure levels or lowest observed adverse exposure levels of corresponding compounds. However, it was concluded that the use of MRs could be an important indoor source as regards benzene.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.12-21
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• 2012

The purpose of this study is to understand distribution of ozone concentration in the south coastal region of Korea by evaluating ozone spatial distribution in the upper air using aircraft. Sampling was carried out from May to August in 2009. The average concentration of ozone in the upper air was ranged from 32.3~90.8 ppb with its maximum concentration of 132 ppb. When it comes to the spatial distribution of ozone, ambient concentration was high in the air, 1,000 m and 500 m above the southern sea near the Gwangyang Bay area and emission sources, respectively. Daily mean concentration of NOy was 6.7~24.2 ppb and that of CO was 0.152~0.487 ppm. In addition, the concentration was appeared to be relatively high in the upper air of industrial regions and the southern seas. Meanwhile, the concentration of both $NO_y$ and CO was high in the upper air of the emission sources regardless of latitude. As for PAN, its daily mean concentration ranged between 0.1 and 0.6 ppb with overall mean concentration of 0.2 ppb. The average concentration of VOCs was 48 ppb, and the concentration of toluene and m,p-Xylene were higher than other components.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.1215-1224
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• 2008

This research has measured the indoor environment of thirty hair salons, which are located on Gunsan-Si, Jeonlabbuk-Do, from April 1st to April 30th 2005, to examine the related factors on a work environment of hairdressers and a revelation of respiratory symptom, and has polled 260 hairdressers and 350 office workers. After measuring the physical environment of hair salons, the room temperature, the relative humidity and the illumination was in an agreeable range, and 60 percent of hair salons depended on the natural ventilation through the windows. The levels of acetone, toluene and xylene, which were measured at the hair salons, were all under the safety standards (p<0.05), but these are still harmful and volatile matters, so they can be bad for your health by the contact of skin and respiration. The harmful factors that affect a revelation of respiratory symptom were the group who has many exposures of permanent wave or bleaching/dyeing and not many experiences of hairdressing work, the group who smokes every day, and the group who never exercises at all (p<0.05). This result shows that there are possibilities of health problem for hairdressers from the constant and repeating hairdressing works with the exposure of chemicals such as the permanent, bleaching and dyeing. so that hairdressers recognize that they need appropriate ventilation facilities for their agreeable indoor-environments. And also, to prevent the direct exposure of chemicals as much as they can, they need to have an active management of an individual health care by wearing gloves, mask or something like that.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.415-420
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• 2011

Urethane coating agent was made up in order to prevent corrosion on metal relics. This urethane coating agent was designed to solve problems linked to gloss and discoloration caused by existing acrylic coating agent which is mainly applied to metal relics. For the purpose, the urethane coating agent was made up which has lower gloss and slight color change. This coating agent formed thinner coating layer with excellent adhesion compared to the existing agent and has outstanding resistance to the surface oxidization of metal relics and water repellent on the surface. In addition, the agent is considered a stable coating agent replacing current acrylic coating agent with showing easy dissolution in organic solvents such as acetone, toluene and xylene with excellent result in reversible reaction.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.145-152
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• 2008

A cell-based in vitro exposure system was developed to determine whether oxidative stress plays a role in the cytotoxic effects of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as benzene, toluene, xylene, and chlorobenzene, using human epithelial HeLa cells. Thin films based on cysteine-terminated synthetic oligopeptides were fabricated for immobilization of the HeLa cells on a gold (Au) substrate. In addition, an immobilized cell-based sensor was applied to the electrochemical detection of the VOCs. Layer formation and immobilization of the cells were investigated with surface plasmon resonance (SPR), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The adhered living cells were exposed to VOCs; this caused a change in the SPR angle and the VOC-specific electrochemical signal. In addition, VOC toxicity was found to correlate with the degree of nitric oxide (NO) generation and EIS. The primary reason for the marked increase in impedance was the change of aqueous electrolyte composition as a result of cell responses. The p53 and NF-${\kappa}B $ downregulation were closely related to the magnitude of growth inhibition associated with increasing concentrations of each VOC. Therefore, the proposed cell immobilization method, using a self-assembly technique and VOC-specific electrochemical signals, can be applied to construct a cell microarray for onsite VOC monitoring.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Environmental Toocicology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.171-171
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• 2003

전국 주요 산단 지역에서 현재 유통되고 있는 화학물질의 스크리닝 수준에서의 생태 위해성 평가를 수행하고 체계적인 위해도 분석 시스템을 구축하기 위한 생태 위해성 예측 모형을 개발하였으며, 모형의 분석과 모니터링을 통하여 모형을 검증하고 수정, 보완하는 연구를 수행하였다. 전국 118개 공단중에서 10개의 산단 (시화반월, 전주, 대전, 대구, 청주, 울산, 구미, 여천, 대구 성서, 신평장림공단)을 대상 지역으로 하였고 이들 공단에서 사용되고 있는 약 1900 여종의 화학물질들의 물리화학적 특성 자료와 생태 독성값의 문헌치, 추정치를 포함한 database를 구축하였다. 모형 결과의 정확성을 높이기 위해서는 배출량의 정확한 산출이 필요하므로 본 연구에서는 유럽의 우선순위 선정 프로그램인 EURAM의 방법에 근거하여 화학물질의 산업 및 용도별 분류로부터 각각의 배출계수를 적용하여 사용량을 배출량으로 산출하는 방법을 이용하였다 구축된 database를 활용하여 산단별, 화학물질별 생태 위해도를 비교한 결과 어류 급성의 위해도는 울산>여천>대전의 순이었고, 물벼룩 급성의 위해도는 울산>여천>시화반월>청주의 순이었다. 울산을 제외한 대부분의 지역의 위해도는 1이하로 나타나 스크리닝 수준에서의 오염은 우려할 정도가 아닌 것으로 나타났다. 생태 위해성 프로그램의 validation을 위하여 대구 지역을 대상으로 문헌치 독성값을 위주로 하는 RQ가 0.1 이상인 물질들의 검출 가능성과 화학물질들의 특성을 파악하였고, Butylacrylate, Xylene, N,N-Dimethylformamlde, 1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid dibutylester, 2-Amino-4-methylphenol, Toluene, 2,2-Oxybisethanol의 7가지 물질들을 분석대상물질로 선정하여 분석을 수행할 예정이다. 본 연구에서는 분석 대상 지역을 확대하여 모형의 신뢰성과 타당성을 확인하고 모형을 수정, 보완하여 생태 위해성 예측 프로그램의 신뢰도를 높이고자 한다.