• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.454-468
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• 2014

Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate the actual condition of the farm work environment and personal protective equipment as part of the effort to improve livestock work for the safety and health of poultry farmers and provide basic data for establishing plans to improve and develop personal protective equipment. Methods: For this purpose, a questionnaire survey on general information about stables, the poultry work environment, accidents, the wearing of work clothes and personal protective equipment, and the level of awareness related to personal protective equipment was conducted among 148 poultry farmers. Results: As a result, it was found that poultry workplace environment was exposed to such risks as fine dusts; organic dusts; poisonous gases; odorous substances; chicken excrement; contact with chickens, bacteria or viruses; and accidents related to machine operation. Thirteen percent of respondents suffered severe respiratory diseases, and the most frequently injured sites due to accidents were the hands (25.7%), knees (23.8%), arms (17.3%), and head (10.9%). The most frequent type of accident was collisions between the body and obstacles or machinery during movement (36.4%), followed by erroneous machine operation such as feeders and electric shocks (8.5%). Regarding the wearing of work clothes and personal protective equipment, 51.7% of the respondents wore worn-out clothing or everyday clothes, whereas only 32.0% wore work clothes. The percentage of farmers who wore proper protective equipment for the work environment during poultry work was 48.4%. The most frequently used type of protective equipment was boots (38.9%), followed by mask (36.7%), gloves (36.3%), appropriate work clothes (22.6%), quarantine clothes (17.6%), helmets (13.4%), and goggles (12.6%). The rate of wearing goggles was low because they were considered inconvenient and lowered work efficiency. Furthermore, they purchased everyday products available on the market for their personal protective equipment which were not appropriate for maintaining safety in an actual harmful environment and its consequent risks. As a result of the survey of the awareness level related to personal protective equipment, their levels of awareness of accidents and attitude proved to be average or higher, but the practice of wearing protective equipment and the level of knowledge and management of personal protective equipment were lower. Conclusion: This survey found that the wearing status of personal protective equipment among poultry farmers was insufficient even though they were exposed to risks. Most respondents were aware of the necessity of wearing personal protective equipment and of the potential for accidents, but they did not wear proper protective equipment. Their wearing rate was low due to a lack of knowledge about protective equipment, as well as the inconvenience of wearing it. Therefore there is a need to improve and develop specialized personal protective equipment for respiration, hands, and eyes, as well as work clothes that can protect farmers from major harmful matter that is generated in the poultry workplace. Based on the results of this investigation, we will conduct further studies on the required performance and design directions of personal protective equipment while collecting more objective data through field-oriented assessments.

• 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.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.110 no.2
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• pp.129-140
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• 2021

The study investigates the correlation between the seasonal changes in the absorption of fine dusts and the fine structure of surface on each type of street tree, such as Quercus myrsinifolia, Quercus glauca, Quercus salicina, Camellia japonica, and Prunus × yedoensis in the southernareas of Korea. The absorption ranges of fine dust were 31.51~110.44 ㎍/cm² in January, 23.20~79.30 ㎍/cm² in November, 22.68~76.90 ㎍/cm² in May, and 9.88~49.91 ㎍/cm² in August. The absorption value was about 54.4% higher in January than in May. With the grooves and hairs on the leaf surface and lots of wax, Q. salicina seems related to the high absorption rate of fine dust for each fine dust particle size. The one with gloss and smooth leaf surface has a low amount of wax. C. japonica Prunus × yedoensisshowed a low absorption rate of fine dust in each season. Whereas the increase in porosity density, length, and leaf area size can be related to the reduced PM and increasedabsorption rate, the leaf surface roughness, total wax amount, and porosity width can be related to the increase in the PM absorption rate. There was also a high correlation between the total wax amount and absorption rate of the leaf surface at the size of PM_0.2 than PM₁₀ and PM_2.5. These results imply that the quantitative and qualitative trais of leaf, such as wax amounts and leaf surface,can increase the absorption of fine dusts, and the small-sized particles seem to be highly adsorbed with the high wax amounts.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.217-223
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• 2010

In general, fiber-reinforced plastics (FRP) wastes are simply buried or burned. Landfill brings about a permanent contamination of soil due to the inability of FRP to decompose and incineration causes an issue of generating toxic gases and dusts. There have been several ways to treat the FRP wastes such as landfill, incineration, chemical recycling, material recycling and the utilization of energy from combustion. Most methods excluding material recycling are known to have critical limitations in economic, technical and environmental manners. However it is known that material recycling is most desirable among the methods handling FRP wastes. In this study, to investigate the purpose of feasibility of material recycling, various bulk molding compound (BMC) specimens were prepared with the various contents of unsaturated polyester resin binder (25, 30, 35 wt%) and the various replacement ratios of FRP wastes powder (0, 25, 50, 75, 100 wt%) substituted for filler. To evaluate the physical properties BMC specimens, various tests such as tensile strength, flexural strength, impact strength, hot water resistance and SEM imaging were conducted. As a results, mechanical strengths decreased with an increase of replacement ratio of FRP waste powder and physical properties of BMC specimens were deteriorated in the hot water resistance. The fluidity of BMC with more than 50 wt% of the replacement ratio of FRP wastes powder decreased remarkably, causing a problem in the BMC composite.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.327-332
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• 2005

Interstitial lung disease refers to a group of pulmonary disorders characterized by inflammation of the interstitium, derangements and loss of alveolar capillary units leading to disruption of alveolar gas exchange, which induces symptoms of restrictive lung disease. Cases of interstitial pneumonia in children are uncommon and mostly have unknown causes. We have experienced an 8-year old boy who had symptoms of cyanosis, dry cough, dyspnea and abrupt weight loss. He had not been exposed to organic dusts, allergens or any other systemic disease infections. Chest radiology showed diffuse ground glass opacity in both lung fields. High resolution computed tomography(HRCT) showed multiple small patchy areas of consolidation with an underlying ground glass appearance in both lungs. The pathologic findings of lung biopsy tissue showed patchy areas of interstitial fibrosis, alveolar obliteration and nodular fibrotic areas, strongly suggesting interstitial pneumonia. No specific finding of viral inclusion or any other evidence of infection was found under electromicroscopy. We used peak flow meters to compare functional improvement. Forced expiratory volume in one second ($FEV_1$) was decreased to 25 percent of predicted value. The boy was given treatment with prednisone and showed improvements in HRCT findings after two months. He was able to tolerate easy exercise in school and showed clinical improvements after one year of follow up.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.71 no.6
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• pp.431-437
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• 2011

Background: We tried to examine the small airway diseases which can be found early, in workers exposed to inorganic dusts. This is measured in normal breath by using the impulse oscillometry (IOS). Methods: The Pulmonary function test (forced vital capacit [FVC], forced expiratory volume in one second [$FEV_1$], forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of vital capacity [$FEF_{25-75}$]), IOS resistance (Rrs at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 35 Hz) and reactance (Xrs at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 35 Hz) were measured for 454 workers. The subjects were classified into 173 workers of normal (38.1%) and 281 patients with pneumoconiosis (61.9%). Results: There were significant differences between normal and patients with FVC ($3.82{\pm}0.61$ vs. $3.53{\pm}0.56L$), $FEV_1$ ($2.67{\pm}0.63$ vs. $2.35{\pm}0.48L$), and $FEF_{25-75}$ ($1.88{\pm}0.95$ vs. $1.47{\pm}0.80L/sec$) between groups (p<0.05). And as for IOS, there was no significant difference in resistance (Rrs) (p>0.05), and there were significant differences between normal and patients with reactance (Xrs) 15 Hz ($0.003{\pm}0.05$ vs. $-0.006{\pm}0.04kPa/L/s$), 20 Hz ($0.043{\pm}0.05$ vs. $0.031{\pm}0.04kPa/L/s$), and 35 Hz ($0.141{\pm}0.05$ vs. $0.131{\pm}0.05kPa/L/s$) between groups (p<0.05). Conclusion: We could find out that 15 Hz, 20 Hz, and 35 Hz values of reactance were significantly influenced by pneumoconiosis. When usefulness and reproducibility to carry out the IOS are considered, it is thought that in future work will be required to draw the reference values for normal Korean persons.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.84-91
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• 2017

Recent years have witnessed the increased usage of flammable metals, such as aluminum or magnesium, in wide range of high-tech industries. These metals are indispensable for the improvement of physical properties of materials as well as the design capability of the final product. During the process, unwanted metal dusts could be released to the environment. This can lead to an occupational health and safety issues. Due to their flammable nature, more serious problem of an explosion can happen in extreme cases. The explosion is the combustion of tiny solid particles and vapor mixture, caused by pyrolysis. This complex composition makes engineering analysis more difficult, compared to simple gas explosions or vapor cloud combustions. The study was conducted to assess this light metal dust explosion in an effort to provide the bases for a risk assessment. Dust explosion characteristics of each material was carefully evaluated and an appropriate analysis tool was developed. A comprehensive database was also constructed and utilized for the calibration of the developed response model and the verification for its accuracy. Subsequently, guidelines were provided to prevent dust explosions that could occur in top-notch industrial processes.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.69-78
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• 1976

There have been increasing reports of mycobacterioses in man and animals caused by "atypical" or "opportunist" mycobacteria. At the presnt, "opportunist mycobacterioses" are not generally responsive to antituberculosis drugs, and therefore, create considerable problems with regard to chemotherapy and control measures. In recent years studies have been made to isolate opportunist mycobacteria from soil, house-dusts and tap-water. It seemed quite interesting to define the extent of circumstantial presence of "opportunist" mycobacteria and nocardia in the soils of school-ground of primary schools and middle-high schools. This communication is the results of pilot study to isolate and identify "opportunist" mycobacteria and nocardia from 504 soil specimens of 72 schools in Seoul City. 1. Of a total of 59 isolates from 504 soil specimens tested, 32 strains were identified as opportunist mycobacteria and 27 strains as nocardia. 2. Isolation rates of opportunist mycobacteria by the areas(of specimen collection) were as follows: 36.4% in the southern area of Han-River, 33.3% in the central area, 22.7% in the outskirt area and 16.6% in the intermediate area. There observed no apparent difference in the isolation rates both-between the areas and between primary schools and middle-high schools. However, a significant difference was noted in the isolation rates between the places of soil sampling in a given school(P<0.05), i.e., the highest was the soil of refuge heaps(15.2%), and tap-water pole area(11.1%), the school-lavatory entrance(9.7%), the school gate entrance(5.5%), and iron-bar play ground(2.7%). The soil specimens from the center of school ground and from school building entrance yielded none of mycobacterial isolates. 3. Isolation rates of nocardia by the areas were as follows: 33.3% in the central area, 31.8% in the outskirt area, 27.3% in the southern ares of Han-River and 11.1% in the intermediate area. As in the case of mycobacteral isolates, there observed no apparent differences in the isolation rates both between the areas and between primary schools and middle-high schools, but a significant difference was noted between the places of soil sampling(P<0.05), i.e., the highest was the soil of school building entrance(15.2%), and of school gate entrance(6.9%), refuge heaps(5.5,%), iron-bar play ground(4.1%), the school-lavatory entrance(2.7%) and tap-water pole area(2.7%), respectively. The soil specimens from the center of, school ground yielded none of nocardia isolates. 4. Of the 32 strains of isolated mycobacteria. 15 strains were slow-growing mycobacteria and the remaining 17 strains belonged to the rapid growers. Of the 15 slow-growers. 4 strains were M. scrofulaceum-szulgai complex, 3 M. gordonae, 4 M. terrae-triviale complex, 2 M. avium-intracellulare-xenopi complex, and 2 unclassified schotochromogens. Of the 17 strains of rapid growers, 12 were M. diernhoferi, 2 M. fortuitum-peregrinum complex, 2 M. vaccae and one M. flavescens. 5. Of the 27 strains of nocardia isolated, 11 strains were N. transvalensis, 5 N. convoluta, 5 N. erythropolis, one N. vaccinii, one N. polychromogens-paraffinae complex and 4 untypable strains of orange-pigmented nocardia spp.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.939-942
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• 2007

Vacuum cleaner is a close life product that can remove various dusts from our surroundings. However well vacuum cleaner clean our environments, many people are looking away from it, due to its loud noise. Its noise causes a big trouble in the usual life, for example, catch calls, TV watching and discussing etc. To reduce these inconveniences, noise reduction methods and systematic design of low noise vacuum cleaner are studied in this paper. At first, sound quality investigation is performed to get the noise level and quality that make people TV watching and catch calls available. Based on the European and domestic customer SQ survey result, sound power, peak noise level and target sound spectrum guideline are studied and introduced. As a second, precise product sound spectrums are designed into each part based on the sound quality result. Fan-motor, brush, mainbody, cyclone spectrums are decided to get the final target sound based on the contribution level. Fan-motor is the major noise source of vacuum cleaner. Specially, its peak sound, RPM peak and BPF Peak, cause the people nervous. To reduce these peak sounds, high rotating impeller and diffuser are focused due to its interaction. A lot of experimental and numerical tests, operation points are investigated and optimization of flow path area between diffusers is performed. As a bagless device, cyclones are one of the major noise sources of vacuum cleaner. To reduce its noise, previous research is used and adopted well. Brush is the most difficult part to reduce noise. Its noise sources are all comes from aero-acoustic phenomena. Numerical analysis helps the understanding of flow structure and pattern, and a lot of experimental test are performed to reduce the noise. Gaps between the carpet and brush are optimized and flow paths are re-designed to lower the noise. Reduction is performed with keeping the cleaning efficiency and handling power together and much reduction of noise is acquired. With all above parts, main-body design is studied. To do a systematic design, configuration design developments technique is introduced from airplane design and evolved with each component design. As a first configuration, fan-motor installation position is investigated and 10 configuration ideas are developed and tested. As a second step, reduced size and compressed configuration candidates are tested and evaluated by a lot of major factor. Noise, power, mass production availability, size, flow path are evaluated together. If noise reduction configuration results in other performance degrade, the noise reduction configuration is ineffective. As a third configuration, cyclones are introduced and the size is reduced one more time and fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh configuration are evolved with size and design image with noise and other performance indexes. Finally we can get a overall much noise level reduction configuration. All above investigations are adopted into vacuum cleaner design and final customer satisfaction tests in Europe are performed. 1st grade sound quality and lowest noise level of bagless vacuum cleaner are achieved.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.42-47
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• 1987

4 strains of the oak mushroom Lentinus edodes including the strain ASI 3046 were collected home and abroad to investigate the characterics of mycelial growth on synthetic media and sawdust media. The possibility of artificial culture of Lentinus edodes on media composed of different saw dusts and adding materials was investigated. Results were as follows: The optimum temperature for growth ranged from $22^{\circ}C$ to $26^{\circ}C$ among the lineages of Lentinus edodes. The optimal growth temperature for ASI 3046 strain and ASI 3047 strain was $26^{\circ}C$ and $22^{\circ}C$, respectively. The optimal carbon source for ASI 3046 strain was glucose, and peptone and ammoinum tartrate were proved excellent as nitrogen sources. When Lentinus edodes was cultured on sawdust media by varying the mixing ratio of different sawdusts and adding materials, mixed sawdust media composed of oak sawdust(50%, v/v), poplar sawdust(50%, v/v), acorn powder(5%, v/v) and rice bran(10%, v/v) showed higher yields of fruit bodies. Results showed that the ideal strain of Lentinus edodes for artificial culture on sawdust media was strain ASI 3046.