• Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.14-27
• /
• 2006

The proper management of discarded electronic devices (often called electronic-waste) is an emerging issue for solid waste professionals throughout the world because of the large growth of the waste stream, and the content of toxic metals in them, most notably heavy metals such as lead. Notebook computers are becoming one of the major components of discarded computer devices and will continue to increase in the waste stream in the future. While the computers hold great promise for recycling, a substantial amount of this waste is often disposed in municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills. The toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) is commonly used to simulate worse case leaching conditions where a potentially hazardous waste is assumed to be disposed along with municipal solid waste in a landfill with actively decomposing materials overlying an aquifer. The objective of this study was to examine leaching potential of lead from discarded notebook computers using the scale-up TCLP, other standard leaching tests such as California waste extraction test (Cal WET), and the synthetic precipitation leaching procedure (SPLP) and actual landfill leachates as leaching solution. The scale-up TCLP is a modified TCLP (where the device was disassembled and leached in or near entirety) to meet the intent of the TCLP. The results showed that the scale-up TCLP resulted in relatively high lead found in the leachate with an average of 23.3 mg/L. The average level was less than those by the standard TCLP and WET (37.0 mg/L and 86.0 mg/L, respectively), but much greater than those by the SPLP and the extractions with the landfill leachates (0.55 mg/L and 1.47 mg/L, respectively). The pH of the leaching solution and the ability of the organic acids in the TCLP and WET to complex with the lead were identified as major factors that controlled the amount of lead leached from notebook computers. Based on the results obtained by a number of leaching tests in this study, notebook computers may present a potential leaching risk to the environment and human health upon land disposal. However, further investigation is still needed to assess the true risk posed by the land disposal of discarded notebook computers.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.38 no.2
• /
• pp.37-45
• /
• 2023

The surge in food delivery systems during the coronavirus 2019 pandemic necessitated this study of heavy metal migration from food contact materials (FCMs). A total of 104 samples of FCMs, comprising 51 polypropylene (PP), 21 polyethylene (PE), and 32 polystyrene (PS) samples of six different types of FCMs (containers, covers, table utensils, cups, pouches, and wrappers) used for food delivery distributed in Korea, were collected and investigated for migration of three heavy metals (Pb, Cd, and As) using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to determine whether they complied with Korea's Standards and Specifications for Utensils, Containers, and Packages. Acetic acid (4%, v/v) was used as the food simulant, and tests were performed at 100℃ (in harsh conditions) for 30 min. Linearity of Pb, Cd, and As showed acceptable results with a coefficient of determination (R²) value of 0.9999. Limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) of Pb, Cd, and As were 0.001, 0.001, and 0.001 ㎍/L and 0.002, 0.003, and 0.003 ㎍/L, respectively. Accuracy and precision results complied with the criteria presented in the European Commission Joint Research Centre guidelines. The average concentration of Pb, Cd, and As migration detected in a total of 104 samples was 0.009-0.260 ㎍/L, which was very low compared with the migration specification set in the Standards and Specifications for Utensils, Containers, and Packages. The maximum level of Pb corresponded to 0.23% of the migration limit. There were no samples exceeding the limit. Thus, this study confirmed that the heavy metal contents of FCMs used for delivery food distributed in Korea were safely managed. The data from this study represent an invaluable source for science-based safety management of hazardous heavy metals migrating from FCMs used in the food delivery industry.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.1-12
• /
• 2007

This study was investigated hazardous substances in agricultural products of baggage by Incheon Port from chinese. We tested 293 kinds of dried red pepper, cereal, sesame, bean, nut, herbal medicine and sesame oil for pesticides residue, mold, tar color, sudan I, II, III, IV, aflatoxin, Pb, Cd, Hg, As and sulfur dioxide residues. Violated samples over standard limits by Korean Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) were 76 dried red pepper over the number of mold and 1 dried red pepper detected red 102 tar color and 1 dried red pepper over the number of mold and detected red 102 tar color simultaneously. And 2 rice, 1 sticky rice, 1 adlay and 1 millet were over lead. Violated herbal medicine were 2 Zizyphi Furctus and 2 Zingiberis Rhizoma over sulfur dioxide residue and 1 Zingiberis Rhizoma over sulfur dioxide residue and cadmium simultaneously. The contents of heavy metals in cereal were as follow; $Pb\;0.000{\sim}0.740mg/kg(0.191{\pm}0.209),\;Cd\;0.000{\sim}0.108mg/kg(0.007{\pm}0.020),\;Hg\;0.000{\sim}4.201mg/kg(0.162{\pm}0.319)$. The contents of heavy metals in herbal medicine were as follow; $Pb\;0.000{\sim}2.480mg/kg(1.130{\pm}0.730),\;Cd\;0.000{\sim}0.761mg/kg(0.044{\pm}0.122),\;Hg\;0.000{\sim}0.157mg/kg(0.022{\pm}0.033),\;As\;0.000{\sim}0.560mg/kg(0.040{\pm}0.082)$. Contents of $SO_2$ ranged $2.0{\sim}1459.4ppm(303.1{\pm}324.2)$.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.301-311
• /
• 2015

Objectives: Operators of overhead traveling crane in a ship assembly factory perform work to transmit large vessel blocks to an appropriate working process. Hazardous matters such as metal dusts, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, ozone, loud noise and fine particles are generated by variable working activities in the factory. The operators could be exposed to the hazardous matters during the work. In particular, welding fumes comprised of ultra fine particles and heavy metals is extremely hazardous for humans when exposing a pulmonary through respiratory pathway. Occupational lung diseases related to welding fumes are increasingly on an upward tendency. Therefore, the objective of this study is to assess properly unknown occupational exposure to the welding fumes among the operators. Methods: This study intended to clearly determine an equivalence check whether or not chemical constituents and composition of the dusts, which existed in the driver's cab, matched up with generally known welding fumes. Furthermore, computational fluid dynamics program(CFD) was used to identify a ventilation assessment in respect of a contamination distribution of welding fumes in the air. The operators were investigated to assess personal exposure levels of welding fumes and respirable particulate. Results: The dust in an operation room were the same constituents and composition as welding fumes. Welding fumes, which caused by the welding in a floor of the factory, arose with an ascending air current up to a roof and then stayed for a long time. They were considered to be exposed to the welding fumes in the operation room. The personal exposure levels of welding fumes and respirable particulate were 0.159(n=8, range=0.073-0.410) $mg/m^3$ and 0.138(n=8, range=0.087-0.178) $mg/m^3$, respectively. They were lower than a threshold limit value level($5mg/m^3$) of welding fumes. Conclusions: These findings indicate that an occupational exposure to welding fumes can exist among the operators. Consequently, we need to be keeping the operators under a constant assessment in the operator process of overhead traveling crane.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
• /
• v.20 no.7
• /
• pp.61-69
• /
• 2015

This study was performed to provide fundamental data to establish the new soil pollution standards and the soil contamination management plans in a rational manner. The distribution characteristics of new soil contaminants such as barium (Ba) and chromium (Cr) in soils (n=140) were investigated in relation to land-use classification and geological features. Also, the sequential extraction test was conducted to evaluate fate and mobility of new soil contaminants. The soil samples taken from 140 sites were analyzed to survey distribution levels of selected new soil contaminants. The average concentration and range for hazardous metals (Ba, Cr) were Ba 128.946 (26.757~489.587) mg/kg, Cr 30.121 (2.579~132.783) mg/kg. Based on land use classification, the highest Ba concentration was found in factory soils, followed by dry field and park soils, while Cr concentration was highest in rice paddy soils, followed by dry field and factory soils. Within 10 geological units investigated the highest Ba and Cr concentrations were observed in the soils from Okcheon group and metamorphic rocks, respectively. The BCR (European Community Bureau of Reference) sequential extraction was conducted to identify chemical distributional existence of 2 elements of soils from each geological unit. Ba in soils is mainly assumed to exists as reducible form (such as BaSO₄, BaCO₃) and Cr in soils mainly is assumed to exist as residual form (such as Cr₂O₃, Cr_xFe_1-x(OH)₃(x < 1)).

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.93-100
• /
• 2010

1. Objectives: To compare the contents of hazardous substances such as crude, washing solution, crude after washing, decoction and remnant. 2. Methods: The heavy metal contents of each step were measured by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) spectrometer and mercury analyzer (MA-2). In order to analyze pesticides in Yanggyeoksanhwa-tang we used simultaneous multi- residue analysis of pesticides by GC/ECD, which was followed by GC/MSD analysis to confirm the identity of the detected pesticide in each sample. In addition, the contents of sulfur dioxide (SO2) were performed by Monier-Williams distillation method. 3. Results: 1) The mean values of heavy metal contents (mg/kg) for each steps in Yanggeoksanhwa-tang were as follows: crude (Pb; 1.87, As; 1.29, Cd; 0.28 and Hg; N.D.), washing solution (Pb; 1.98, As; 1.13, Cd; 0.10 and Hg; N.D.), crude after washing (Pb; 1.90, As; 1.40, Cd; 0.22 and Hg; N.D.), decoction (Pb; 1.90, As; 1.14, Cd; 0.11 and Hg; N.D.) and remnant (Pb; 2.39, As; 1.29, Cd; 0.25 and Hg; 0.01). 2) Contents (mg/kg) of residual pesticides in crude and decoction were not detected. 3) Contents (mg/kg) of sulfur dioxide (SO2) in crude, crude after washing and remnant exhibited 3.00, 2.00 and 2.00 mg/kg, respectively. However, contents of sulfur dioxide in washing solution and decoction were not detected. 4. Conclusions: These Results: will be used to establish a criterion of heavy metals, residual pesticides and sulfur dioxide of each step in Yanggeoksanhwa-tang.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.130-137
• /
• 2005

This research programme include investigation of the adsorption behavior of heavy metals and VOCs by Pyrolysis char for using landfill cover material. The volatile potions in the sludge gasified during the pyrolysis period and gave birth to porosity throughout the matrix. The result of the ad/desorption experiment of nitrogen to find out the formation of some pore by the gasification of the volatile matter, we can certify that the pyrolysis char($14.56\;m^2/g$) has increased twice more than the organic wasted sludge($6.68\;m^2/g$) in specific surface area. The pyrolysis char has the adsorption characteristic of medium type of Type II and V in BDDT classification, and showed a little micro pore. In the adsorption experiment of ethylbenzene and toluene, as a result of applying the Freundlich adsorption isotherms, the pyrolysis char was higher in the adsorptivity of ethylbenzene and toluene than the granite and the organic wasted sludge. The results of the heavy metal adsorption test for the char indicated that it had some ability of adsorption. It is suggest that pyrolysis char has some advantages for utilizing as landfill covers because the pyrolysis char can adsorb/absorb hazardous substances from the landfill sites and inhibit the ground water and soil contamination.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.120-125
• /
• 2001

Generally, hydroxyapatite(HAp), zeolite, carbon molecular sieve , activated carbon and alumina are used as heavy metal ions adsorption materials. Among those adsorption materials, HAp which has good positive ion-exchange ability with metal ion, and zeolite are utilized in wastewater treatment. Most of water pollutions are caused by hazardous heavy metals ions as well as bacteria in waste water. In this study, a adsorption materials (HAP and zeolite) are ion-exchanged with a well known antimicrobial metal ions, such as $Ag^+,\;Cu^{2+},\;and\;Zn^{2+}$, in order to give a adsorption of heavy metal ions and a killing effects of bacteria. The antimicrobial effects of adsorption materials are observed using by E. Coli. The results show that there is a complete antimicrobial effect in the adsorption materials with $Ag^+$ at the concentration of $1{\times}10^{-4}$cell/$m\ell$ of E. Coli until 24 hours. However, there is not good antimicrobial effects in the adsorption materials with $Cu^{2+},\;and\;Zn^{2+}$ substitution. Feng et. al. showed the denaturation effects of silver ions which induces the condensed DNA molecules and losing their replication abilities.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Groundwater Environment
• /
• v.2 no.1
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 1995

Wastes produce groundwater contamination, offensive odor, and hazardous gases. This study investigates the contamination of groundwater at the Seokdae waste landfill area and seeks the desirable ways to minimize the groundwater contamination. Groundwater levels, water chemistry and aquifer characteristics of wells were examined around the Seokdae waste landfill. The water chemistry of the Dong stream, the groundwater distribution and flow were also studied. The results of this research show that the estimated quantity of the percolation from the landfill base to the ground is 520 ㎥/day and the extent of groundwater contamination is about 1-1.5 km from the center of the waste landfill. The groundwater contains heavy metals and other toxic elements. The conservation and management of the groundwater of the waste landfill need several monitoring wells to check the quantity and quality of groundwater, pumping wells to extract the contaminated groundwater, and slurry walls to protect the movement of contaminated groundwater.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.41-55
• /
• 2010

The aims of this study were to develop the suitable "system software" in chemical ranking and scoring (CRS) for the food hazardous chemicals associated with environmental emission and to suggest the priority lists of food contamination by environmental-origined pollutants. Study materials were selected with reference to the priority pollutants list for environment and food management from domestic and foreign research and the number of study materials is 103 pollutants (18 heavy metals, 10 PBTs, 10 EDs, and 65 organic compounds). The Food-CRS-Korea system consisted of the environmental fate model via multimedia, transfer environment to food model, and health risk assessment by contaminated food intake. We have established that health risks of excess cancer risks, hazard quotients (HQs) by chronic toxicity and HQs by reproductive toxicity convert to score, respectively. The creditable scoring system was designed to consider uncertainty of quantitative risk assessment based on VOI (Value-Of-Information). The predictability of the Food-CRS-Korea model was evaluated by comparing the presumable values and the measured ones of the environmental media and foodstuffs. The priority lists based on emissions with background-level-correction are 15 pollutants such as arsenic, cadmium, and etc. The priority lists based on environmental monitoring date are 17 pollutants including DEHP, TCDD, and so on. Consequently, we suggested the priority lists of 13 pollutants by considering the several emission and exposure scenarios. According to the Food-CRS-Korea system, arsenics, cadmium, chromes, DEHP, leads, and nickels have high health risk rates and reliable grades.