• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2005.10a
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• pp.382-388
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• 2005

Soil vapor extraction(SVE) is an effective and cost efficient method of removing volatile organic compounds(VOCs) and petroleum hydrocarbons from unsaturated soils. However, soil vapor extraction becomes ineffective in soils with low gas permeability, for example soils with air permeabilities less than 1 Darcy. Prefabricated vertical drains(PVDs) have been used for dewatering fine-grained soils for more than 25 years. Incorporating PVDs in and SVE system can extend the effectiveness of SVE to lower permeability soils by shortening the air flow-paths and ultimately expediting contaminant removal. The objective of the work described herein was to effectively incorporate PVDs into a SVE remediation system and to demonstrate a PVDs enhanced SVE system at full scale. The finding from this research will facilitate the design of field PVD-SVE systems in terms by providing insight into the optimal spacing between PVDs, the radius of influence of the wells and the flow rates to be used to capture and extract gas phase contaminants.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.72-80
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• 2007

Experiments were conducted to identify the emissions from the car air freshener and to identify the formation of ultra-fine particles and secondary gaseous compounds during the ozone-initiated oxidations with emitted VOCs. The identified primary constituents emitted from the car air freshener in this study were $\alpha$-pinene, $\beta$-pinene, $\rho$-cymene and limonene. Formation of ultra-fine particles (4.4-160 nm) was observed when ozone was injected into the chamber containing emitted monoterpenes from the air freshener. Particle number concentrations, particle mass concentrations, and surface concentrations were measured in time dependent experiments to describe the particle formation and growth within the chamber. The irritating secondary gaseous products formed during the ozone-initiated reactions include formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acrolein, acetone, and propionaldehyde. Ozone concentration (50 and 100 ppb) and temperature (30 and $40^{\circ}C$) significantly affect the formation of particles and gaseous products during the ozone-initiated reactions. The results obtained in this study provided an insight on the potential exposure of particles and irritating secondary products formed during the ozone-initiated reaction to passengers in confined spaces.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.433-440
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• 2007

The photodegradation and by-products of the gaseous toluene with $TiO_2$ (P25) and short-wavelength UV ($UV_{254+185nm}$) radiation were studied. The toluene was decomposed and mineralized efficiently owed to the synergistic effect of photochemical oxidation in the gas phase and photocatalytic oxidation on the $TiO_2$ surface. The toluene by the $UV_{254+185nm}$ photoirradiated $TiO_2$ were mainly mineralized $CO_2$ and CO, but some water-soluble organic intermediates were also formed under severe reaction conditions. The ozone and secondary organic aerosol were produced as undesirable by-products. It was found that wet scrubber was useful as post-treatment to remove water-soluble organic intermediates. Excess ozone could be easily removed by means of a $MnO_2$ ozone-decomposition catalyst. It was also observed that the $MnO_2$ catalyst could decompose organic compounds by using oxygen reactive species formed in process of ozone decomposition.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.20 no.4 s.58
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• pp.69-75
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• 2005

Professional taxi driver exposure to indoor air pollutants has been a subject of concern in recent years because of higher levels of air pollutants, comparing to the surrounding atmosphere. This study evaluated the potential exposure to respirable suspended particulate (RSP), nitrogen dioxide $(NO_2)$ and volatile organic compounds (VOCs; benzene and toluene) for professional taxi drivers inside each of 10 vehicles in Pusan, comparing weekday (Monday and Thursday) and weekend (Saturday). Indoor mean concentrations of RSP inside vehicle were $53.88\;ug/m^3\;and\;75.52\;ug/m^3$ on weekday and weekend, respectively. Measured indoor $NO_2$ concentrations were 28.32ppb and 40.69 ppb, respectively. Benzene and toluene mean concentrations inside vehicle were 5.41 ppb and 11.36 ppb, respectively. Considering no smoking of taxi drivers inside vehicle, closed window in winter, and increased usage of taxi on weekend, source of indoor air pollutants inside taxi might be mainly suggested from the number of passenger's carried, faulty exhaust systems, and engine and carburetor evaporative emissions.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.25-39
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• 2003

Risk and exposure assessment for subsurface environment is very important for both aspects of health and environmental protection as well as making decision of remedial goal for engineering activities. Exposure due to hazardous chemicals in the subsurface environment is essential to assess risk lev121 to individual person, especially from soil and groundwater environmental media. In this paper, the status of soil and groundwater contamination is presented to discuss on the problem for environmental risk assessment. The methodologies of fate and exposure models are also discussed by conducting the case studies of exposure assessment for heavy metals, organic compounds, and dioxin compounds. In addition, the structure of exposure models and available data for model calculation are examined to make clear more realistic exposure scenarios and the application to the practical environmental issues. Three kinds of advanced remediation techniques for soil and groundwater contamination are described in this paper, The most practical method for VOCs is the bio-remediation technique in which biological process due to consortium of microorganisms can be applied. For more effective remediation of soil contaminated by heavy metals we have adopted the soil flushing technique and clean-up system using electro-kinetic method. We have also developed the advanced techniques of geo-melting method for soil contaminated by DXNs and PCB compounds. These techniques are planed to introduce and to apply for a lot of contaminated sites in Japan.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.482-492
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• 2012

Objectives: The main purpose of this study is to produce background data which can be compared with data on vulnerable areas such as industrial complexes in Ulsan, SihwaBanwol, Gwangyang, Yeosu, Pohang, Cheongju and Daesan in Korea. Methods: This study was performed on 1,007 local residents in Gangneung using personal questionnaires and medical check-up. Environmental pollutants including heavy metals in blood and urine were analyzed and the results are as follows. Results: According to the results of medical check-up, 705 subjects were "Normal (A and B)", 232 subjects were "Disease doubtful (R1)" and 70 subjects were "High blood pressure or Diabetes doubtful (R2)". Regarding geometric mean concentration, blood lead was 1.57 ${\mu}g/dL$, urine cadmium was 0.82 ${\mu}g/g-cr$, urine mercury was 0.98 ${\mu}g/g-cr$ and urine arsenic was 15.78 ${\mu}g/g-cr$. In the analysis of 11 kinds of VOCs in blood, vinyl chloride, 1,3-butadiene and dichloroethylene were not detected, while the detection rate of other chemicals was above 70% except chloroform(49.7%) and trichloroethylene(19.0%). In analysis of 16 kinds of PAHs in blood, 10 kinds showed more than 80% in detection rate. Also, detection rate of 4 kinds of PCBs in blood ranged 52 to 78%. Conclusions: Compared with industrial compelxes, the concentration of blood lead was lower, while urine cadmium and mercury levels were similar. Also, urine arsenic ranged at a significant level. Further study is required to find the cause of regional differences in concentrations of environmental pollutants.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.10 no.1_2
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• pp.37-46
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• 1995

The purpose of this research is to estimate a safe environmental level of human exposure to thresholding-acting toxicants in drinking water and recommend the acceptable levels and management plans for maintaining good quality of drinking water' and protecting health hazard. This research has been funded as a national project for three years from 1992 to 1995. This study(the second year, 1993-1994) was conducted to monitor 39 species of noncarcinogenic chemicals such as volatile organic compounds(VOCs), polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbens(PAHs), pesticides and heavy metals of drinking water at some area in six cities of Korea, and evaluate health risk due to these chemicals through four main steps (hazard identification, exposure assessment, dose-response assessment and risk characterization) of risk assessment in drinking water. In hazard identification, 39 species of non-carcinogenic chemicals were identified by the US EPA classification system. In the step of exposure assessment, sampling of tap water from the public water supply system had been conducted from 1993 to 1994, and 39 chemicals were analyzed. Inclose-response assessment for non-carcinogens, reference doses(RfD) and lifetime health advisories(HAs) of lifetime acceptable levels were calculated. In risk characterization of detected chemicals, the hazard quotients of noncarcinogens were less than one except those of manganese and iron in D city.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.59-66
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• 2005

[ $TiO_2$ ] was deposited by DC magnetron sputtering on glass surface under various sputtering parameters such as discharge power($0.6{\sim}5.2\;kW$, substrate temperature($R.T{\sim}350^{\circ}C$), Ar and $O_2$ flow ratio with $0{\sim}50\;sccm$($Ar+O_2$ 90 sccm) and about 1 mtorr of pressure. TiO-N thin film was prepared under same sputtering conditions for $TiO_2$ thin film except flow ratio($Ar+O_2+N_2$ 90 sccm). The sheet resistance of thin films deposited under these parameters was measured to analyze electronic characteristic and thin film's thickness(${\alpha}$-step), surface roughness(AFM) and formation construction(FE-SEM, XRD) were also measured to draw optimal sputtering parameters. In order to evaluate photo-activity of thin film($TiO_2$, TiO-N) made in optimal parameters for removal of pollutants, toluene among VOCs and Suncion Yellow among reactive dyes were chosen to probe organic compounds for photo-degradation. It was shown that the photo-catalytic thin films had a significant photo-activation for the chosen contaminants and especially TiO-N thin film showed maximum efficiency of 33% for toluene(5 ppm) removal in visible-light range.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.14 no.12
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• pp.6610-6617
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• 2013

This study examined the current and future Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) control device markets and analyzed the recent studies on indoor air pollutantr emoval to develop a new technology for fine dust control. Currently, the mechanical filter technique occupies the bulk of the IAQ control market but the electronic technique is emerging as an alternative to control fine dust efficiently. Among the gaseous VOCs and fine dust particles contaminating the indoor air quality, fine dust particles are more problematic because they threaten human health by penetrating deep into the body and producing secondary contaminants by chemical reaction with VOCs. The electronic IAQ control device using dielectrophoretic and electrostatic forces is a good option for public spaces where many people pass, and at the same time, it needs to consider temperature, humidity, and the particle properties of specific areas to highlight the control efficiency. Electronic-related technology is expected to be used widely in many public/private spaces wherever a dust-free environment is required.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.293-301
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• 2008

A study on the operational variables of the UV-TiO$_2$ based photocatalytic air cleaning system was tried. In this study, to examine effects as various air cleaning system conditions, a duct-type reactor was made, and TiO$_2$ was immobilized on a stainless mesh. Benzene was chosen as a target compound. Removal experiments for benzene were done under different initial benzene concentration, air velocity, TiO$_2$ loading, area coated TiO$_2$ as the same TiO$_2$ loading, and UV light intensity conditions. During the experiments, relative humidity was 55%, and reactor temperature was 45$^{\circ}C$. As a result, the photocatalytic degradation of benzene decreased as the inlet concentration increased. But the photocatalytic degradation increased as the concentration boundary layer thickness, amount of TiO$_2$, area coated TiO$_2$ as the same amount of TiO$_2$, and UV light intensity increased. Based on results of current study, they can be applied to the design of air cleaning system over low level VOCs in the indoor air.