• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.35 no.7
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• pp.543-553
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• 2014

The environmental behavior of $SO_2$ was investigated in terms of the factors affecting the temporal variabilities by analyzing the data sets obtained from the Yongsan district in Seoul from 2004 till 2013. To this end, the relationship between $SO_2$ and relevant parameters including particulate matters (such as $PM_{2.5}$, $PM_{10}$, and TSP (total suspended particulates)) and gaseous components ($CH_4$, CO, THC (total hydrocarbon), NMHC (non-methane hydrocarbon), NO, $NO_2$, NOx, and $O_3$) was investigated in several aspects. Over a decade, the annual mean concentrations of $SO_2$ varied in the range of $4.36-5.86nmole\;mole^{-1}$ (min-max) which was about five times lower than the regulation guideline set for the air quality management in Korea. In fact, this pattern greatly contrasts with some other air pollutants of which concentrations exceeded their guideline values significantly. According to our analysis, $SO_2$ was strongly correlated to the temperature and other relevant parameters. The overall results of this study confirm that the administrative regulation of $SO_2$ levels has been made effectively relative to other airborne pollutants.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.269-280
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• 2018

This paper reports the results of field evaluation to determine the levels of heavy metals in major industrial complexes in Korea over a seven year period (2007~2013). The measurement of heavy metal was conducted using quartz fiber filter sampling and ICP-AES analysis. In order to validate the analytical performance of these methods, studies were also carried out to investigate data quality control(QC) parameters, such as the method detection limit (MDL), repeatability, and recovery efficiencies. The average concentrations of total suspended particulates (TSP) for the nine industrial complexes in Korea were $104{\sim}169{\mu}g/m^3$, which was higher than other industrial complexes and urban areas. The Sihwa and Banwol industrial complexes were shown to be the biggest contributing sources to high TSP emission ($159{\mu}g/m^3$ and $169{\mu}g/m^3$, respectively). The concentrations of heavy metals in TSP were higher in the order of Fe>Cu>Zn, Pb, Mn>Cr, Ni, As and Cd. It was observed that Fe was the highest in the Gwangyang and Pohang steel industrial complexes. The concentrations of Zn and Pb were high in Onsan, Sihwa and Banwol industrial complexes, and this was attributed to the emission from the nonferrous industry. Additionally, Cr and Ni concentrations were high in the Sihwa and Banwol industrial complexes due to plating industry. On the other hand, Ulsan and Onsan industrial complexes showed high Cr and Ni concentrations as a response to the emission of metal industry related to automobile. The correlation analysis revealed the high correlation between Cr and Ni in plating industry from Sihwa and Banwol industrial complexes. Adding to this, components related to coal combustion and road dust showed high correlation in Pohang and Gwangyang industrial complexes. Then Onsan and Ulsan industrial complexes showed high correlation among components related to the nonferrous metals.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 1990

Total suspended particulate (TSP) in the atmosphere was collected and size-fractionated by Andersen high volume air sampler for the past two years (Mar. 1987-Feb. 1989) in Seoul. The concentrations of several polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heavy metals were determined to investigate the atmospheric concentrations, seasonal variations and its relationship with the size distribution of suspended particulate matter. The arithmetic mean concentration of total suspended particulate was $229.48\;{\mu}g/m^3$. The concentrations of heavy metals were $2971.94\;ng/m^3$ for Fe, $767.75\;ng/m^3$ for Zn, $765.80\;ng/m^3$ for Pb, $218.40\;ng/m^3$ for Cu, $129.91\;ng/m^3$ for Mn, respectively. And the concentration of PAHs were $3.23\;ng/m^3$ for benzo(a)pyrene, $2.71\;ng/m^3$ for benzo(k)fluoranthene, $4.53\;ng/m^3$ for benzo(ghi)perylene, respectively. The mass-size distribution of TSP was lowest in the particle size range $1.1-3.3\;{\mu}m$ increased as the particle size increased or decreased. But PAHs, Pb and Zn abounded in particles below $2.0\;{\mu}m$, while Fe and Mn abouned in particles above $2.0\;{\mu}m$. TSP and its chemical compositions showed the seasonal variations. The concentrations of anthrophogenic origin like TSP, PAH and heavy metals in the fine particles were highest in winter and lowest in summer. PAH and Ph analyzed showed significant correlations with each other and with TSP concentration in fine particles, indicating that the particles in which they are contained have a similar behavior in the atmosphere.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.173-179
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• 2016

Coals and coal ashes, raw materials and by-products, in coal-fired power plants contain naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM). They may give rise to internal exposure to workers due to inhalation of airborne particulates containing radioactive materials. It is necessary to characterize radioactivity concentrations of the materials for assessment of radiation dose to the workers. The objective of the present study was to analyze radioactivity concentrations of coals and by-products at four coal-fired plants in Korea. High purity germanium detector was employed for analysis of uranium series, thorium series, and potassium 40 in the materials. Radioactivity concentrations of $^{226}Ra$, $^{228}Ra$, and $^{40}K$ were $2{\sim}53Bq\;kg^{-1}$, $3{\sim}64Bq\;kg^{-1}$, and $14{\sim}431Bq\;kg^{-1}$ respectively in coal samples. For coal ashes, the radioactivity concentrations were $77{\sim}133Bq\;kg^{-1}$, $77{\sim}105Bq\;kg^{-1}$, and $252{\sim}372Bq\;kg^{-1}$ in fly ash samples and $54{\sim}91Bq\;kg^{-1}$, $46{\sim}83Bq\;kg^{-1}$, and $205{\sim}462Bq\;kg^{-1}$ in bottom ash samples. For flue gas desulfurization (FGD) gypsum, the radioactivity concentrations were $3{\sim}5Bq\;kg^{-1}$, $2{\sim}3Bq\;kg^{-1}$, and $22{\sim}47Bq\;kg^{-1}$. Radioactivity was enhanced in coal ash compared with coal due to combustion of organic matters in the coal. Radioactivity enhancement factors for $^{226}Ra$, $^{228}Ra$, and $^{40}K$ were 2.1~11.3, 2.0~13.1, and 1.4~7.4 for fly ash and 2.0~9.2, 2.0~10.0, 1.9~7.7 for bottom ash. The database established in this study can be used as basic data for internal dose assessment of workers at coal-fired power plants. In addition, the findings can be used as a basic data for development of safety standard and guide of Natural Radiation Safety Management Act.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.50-63
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• 1985

A derivation of new release limit, named Derived Release Limit(DRL), into the atomsphere from a reference nuclear power plant has been performed on the basis of the new system of dose limitation recommended by the ICRP, instead of the (MPC)a limit which has been currently used until now as a general standard for radioactive effluents in Korea. In DRL Calculation, a Concentration Factor Method was applied, in which the concentrations of long-term routinely released radionuclides were in equilibrium with dose in environment under the steady state condition. The analytical model used in the exposure pathway analysis was the one which has been suggested by the USNRC and the exposure limits applied in this analysis were those recommended by the USEPA lately. In the exposure pathway analysis, all of the pathways are not considered and some may be excluded either because they are not applicable or their contribution to the exposure is insignificant compared with other pathways. In case, the environmental model developed in this study was applied to the Kori nuclear power plant as the reference power plant, the highest DRL value was calculated to be as $9.10{\times}10^6Ci/yr$ for Kr-85 in external whole body exposure from the semi-infinite radioactive cloud, while the lowest DRL value was observed 3.64Ci/yr for Co-60 in external whole body exposure from the contaminated ground, by the radioactive particulates. The most critical exposure pathway to an individual in the unrestricted area of interest (Kilchun-Ri, 1.3 km to the north of the release point) seems to be the exposure pathway from the contaminated ground and the most critical radionuclide in all pathways appears to be Co-60 in the same pathway. When comparing the actual release rate from KNU-l in 1982 with the DRL's obtained here the release of radionuclides from KNU-1 were much lower than the DRL's and it could be conclued that the exposure to an individual had been kept below the exposure limits recommended by the USEPA.