• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.21 no.6 s.78
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• pp.55-63
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• 2006

Rapid economic growth in Korea, on the other side, has generated increase of multiple complex dangers. To take off dangers scattered in the Korean society and to conduct safe society for better life, it is needed to develop social safety index. Social safety index analyzed by time series could compare and estimate various social disasters, thus it act as the foundation to set up safety policy. The research has focused on 8 social safety indexes; natural disaster, fire, traffic accident, crime, industry accident, forest fire, collapse and explosion, and environmental pollution. To find out Korean society safety index analyzed by time series, the research analyzed changes of each safety indexes in 10 years since 1994. Looking at the changes of each indexes, traffic accident showed the most improvement overall the nation, with industrial accident and collapse and explosion rating second and third place. However, crime, fire and natural disaster get worse, and especially crime has turned worsened than any other divisions.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.149-158
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• 2023

Background: Injury is one of the major health problems in South Korea. Few studies have evaluated both intentional and unintentional injury when investigating the association between exposure to air pollutants and injury. Objectives: We aimed to explore the association between short-term exposure to ambient air pollution and years of life lost (YLLs) due to injury. Methods: Data on daily YLLs for 2002~2019 were obtained from the the Death Statistics Database of the Korean National Statistical Office. This study estimated short-term exposure to particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of <10 ㎛ (PM₁₀), particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of <2.5 ㎛ (PM_2.5), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), and ozone (O₃). This time series study was conducted using a generalized additive model (GAM) assuming a Gaussian distribution. We also evaluated a delayed effect of ambient air pollution by constructing a lag structure up to seven days. The best-fitting lag was selected based on smallest generalized cross validation (GCV) value. To explore effect modification by intentionality of injury (i.e., intentional injury [self-harm, assault] and unintentional injury), we conducted stratified subgroup analyses. Additionally, we stratified unintentional injury by mechanism (traffic accident, fall, etc.). Results: During the study period, the average daily YLLs due to injury was 307.5 years. In the intentional injury, YLLs due to self-harm and assault showed positive association with air pollutants. In the unintentional injury, YLLs due to fall, electric current, fire and poisoning showed positive association with air pollutants, whereas YLLs due to traffic accident, mechanical force and drowning/submersion showed negative associations with air pollutants. Conclusions: Injury is recognized as preventable, and effective strategies to create a safe society are important. Therefore, we need to establish strategies to prevent injury and consider air pollutants in this regard.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Navigation
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.33-44
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• 2001

Tankers have somewhat different shapes in construction and working condition compared with normal merchant ship. If an accident occurs, normal merchant ship's damages will mostly be confined to ship and cargo, but those of tankers will result in oil spills and catastrophic loss beyond our imagination. So, first we must understand risk factors, pre-loss control and post-loss control, legal regulations about its indemnification and marine insurance for oil tanker operation. When unexpected accidents happen, despite pre-loss control, it is possible to cover those kinds of losses by insurance. To control these losses, however, it is important to establish compensation for oil pollution and arrange for oil pollution preventing system. In spite of these oil pollution preventing systems, we have rarely seen that pollution from oil tankers could be solved. So this paper was studied more fundamental and overall control measures for the risk management of oil tanker operation.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.155-165
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• 2021

Objectives: Acute exposure to high concentrations of chemicals can occur when a chemical accident takes place. As such exposure can cause ongoing environmental pollution, such as in the soil and groundwater, there is a need for a tool that can assess health effects in the long term. The purpose of this study was assessing the health risks of residents living near a chemical accident site due to long-term exposure while considering the temporal concentration changes of the toxic chemicals leaked during the accident until their extinction in the environment using a multimedia environmental dynamics model. Methods: A health risk assessment was conducted on three cases of formaldehyde chemical accidents. In this study, health risk assessment was performed using a multimedia environmental dynamics model that considers the behavior of the atmosphere, soil, and water. In addition, the extinction period of formaldehyde in the environment was regarded as extinction in the environment when the concentration in the air and soil fell below the background concentration prior to the accident. The subjects of health risk assessment were classified into four groups according to age: 0-9 years old, 10-18 years old, 19-64 years old, and over 65 years old. Carcinogenic risk assessment by respiratory exposure and non-carcinogenic risk assessment by soil intake were conducted as well. Results: In the assessment of carcinogenic risk due to respiratory exposure, the excess carcinogenic risk did not exceed 1.0×10-6 in all three chemical accidents, so there was no health effect due to the formaldehyde chemical accident. As a result of the evaluation of non-carcinogenic risk due to soil intake, none of the three chemical accidents had a risk index of 1, so there was no health effect. For all three chemical accidents, the excess cancer risk and hazard index were the highest in the age group 0-9. Next, 10-18 years old, 65 years old or older, and 19-64 years old showed the highest risk. Conclusion: This study considers environmental changes after a chemical accident occurs and until the substance disappears from the environment. It also conducts a health risk assessment by reflecting the characteristics of the long-term persistence and concentration change over time. It is thought that it is of significance as a health risk assessment study reflecting the exposure characteristics of the accident substance for an actual chemical accident.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.465-473
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• 2019

Objectives: A variety of industries handling hazardous chemicals emit odorous substances. Based on the emission characteristics of major odor substances from the results of hazardous chemical substance emissions, we will define basic data for improving the management methods of odorous substances. Methods: A survey of hazardous pollutant emissions for 2010-2016 was conducted through the Pollutant Release and Transfer Register homepage. Eight kinds of designated odor substances (ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, dimethyl disulfide, acetaldehyde, styrene, toluene, xylene, methyl ethyl ketone) provided the study subjects. The status of chemical accidents for the target substances was analyzed using the Chemistry Safety Clearing-house system. Results: From 2010 to 2016, it was found that more than 30% of businesses that emitted odorous substances accounted for more than 50% of the total emissions of the eight substances. Emissions of xylene, toluene, methyl ethyl ketone, and ammonia were found, in that order, and they made up more than 90% of the total emitted. By region, about 70% of odorous substances were emitted in the top-four regions: Gyeongsangnam-do Province, Ulsan, Gyeonggi-do Province, and Jeollanam-do Province. Conclusion: Recently, the amount of chemical emissions has been continuously increasing, including those that can cause odor. Odorous substances can be a serious risk to the lives of local residents. Systematic research is needed for the health protection of residents.

• Korean Journal of Hazardous Materials
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.31-37
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• 2014

Since the unprecedented hydrogen fluoride leak accident in 2012, there has been growing demand for customized technical information for rapid response and chemical accident management agencies including the Ministry of Environment, the National Emergency Management Agency, and the National Police Agency need more information on chemicals and accident management. In this regard, this study aims to provide reliable technical data and guidelines to initial response agencies, similar to accident management technical reports of the US and Canada. In this study, we conducted a questionnaire survey and interviews on initial response agencies like fire stations, police stations, and local governments to identify new information items for appropriate initial response and improvements of current guidelines. We also collected and reviewed the Canada's TIPS, US EPA's hydrogen fluoride documents, domestic and foreign literature on applicability tests of control chemicals, and interview data, and then produced items to be listed in the technical guidelines. In addition, to establish database of on-site technical information, we carried out applicability tests for accident control data including ① emergency shut down devide, safety guard, shut down valve, ground connection, dyke, transfer pipe, scrubber, and sensor; ② literature and field survey on distribution type and transportation/storage characteristics (container identification, valve, ground connection, etc.); ③ classification and identification of storage/transportation facilities and emergency management methodslike leak prevention, chemicals control, and cutoff or bypass of rain drainage; ④ domestic/foreign analysis methods and environmental standards including portable detection methods, test standards, and exposure limits; and ⑤ comparison/evaluation of neutralization efficiency of control chemicals on toxic substances.

• Journal of Environmental Policy
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.31-49
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• 2003

It is difficult to examine the causal relation of pollution damages because the time gap between pollution cause and effect is large and new pollutants are continuously being produced. Their many environmental effects are not promptly studied. As both the study of causal relation about pollution and the pollutant treatment are becoming highly advanced by the development of science and environmental technology, both the economy and balance on environmental regulation may be discussed. It is reasonable to decide environmental policy in consideration of close relation between both the generation and resolution of environmental problems and of technological developments because environmental problems are related to complicated social problems and scientific technologies. First item in policy decision about environmental control and management is preferentially to consider the way of prevention. It is necessary to prevent pollution by regulating the installment of environmental pollution facility into the environmentally sensitive areas, like water supply source and to regulate land utilization as a method to achieve pollution prevention. Second is a consideration of environmental technology development. This is a solution which can accomplish the development of environmental technology and the reinforcement of economic competition. Third is the coexistence of environment and economy. It is necessary to consider economy in connection with environmental problems and environment in economic problem. Then, we can enjoy a healthy life as well as economic affluence. Fourth is the enlargement of environmental management means. Environmental management means must be diversified because environmental cause and effect are varied. For Improving the land use regulation system, it is necessary to consider both land use regulation status and pollutant toxicity with the development of environmental technology. Land use must be approached by classifying land to 3 levels; water source protection zone and water front zone, special zone 1 and 2, rancus and other zones. Land regulation policy to prevent any accident in water source protection zone, waterfront zone, and special zone must be continuously upgraded. However, economical consideration in other zones is required by the development of environmental technology.

• Proceedings of the Korea Air Pollution Research Association Conference
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.103-104
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• 2002

산업의 발달에 따라 국내에 유통되는 화학물질의 종류 및 취급량이 최근 급증하고 있으며 이에 비례해서 유해화학물질과 연관된 사고 사례도 매년 증가하고 있다(산업자원부, 2001). 이러한 화학사고의 체계적인 대응을 위해 국립환경연구원의 화학물질안전관리센터에서는 2002년 초부터 주요 화학 공단을 중심으로 국가차원의 실시간 화학물질 사고대응 정보시스템 (CARIS : Chemical Accident Response Information System)을 구축하여 유해화학물질을 체계적으로 관리·운영하고 있다 (국립환경 연구원, 2002). (중략)

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.25-31
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• 2001

Gas accidents are increasing every year, whereas the amount of using gas has been sharply increased due to conveniences, low-pollution, thermal efficiency of the gas. Gas accident has been recognizing serious social unstable elements as well as incredible economic damages of casualties of men and properties. For the prevention of the accidents, basic pre-countermeasure must be arranged to reduce gas accidents. The purpose of this study is to find out the strength of preliminary preventable functions against gas accidents throughout reformation of laws and regulations for insurance related in gas laws.

• Asian Journal for Public Opinion Research
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.172-195
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• 2015

Multiple nationwide opinion surveys, carried out by the government (cabinet office), major media (national newspapers and NHK), the National Institute for Environmental Studies, and the Atomic Energy Society of Japan, have revealed that the Fukushima nuclear accident has heightened people's perception of disaster risks, fear of nuclear accidents, and increased recognition of pollution issues, and has changed public opinion on nuclear energy policy. The opinion gap on nuclear energy policy between specialists and lay people has widened since the disaster. The results of the Japanese General Social Survey data show that objections to the promotion of nuclear energy are strong among females, and weaker among young males and the supporters of the LDP. These findings are similar to the data collected after the Chernobyl accident. People who live in a 70km radius of nuclear plants tend to evaluate nuclear disaster risks higher. Distance from nuclear plants and the perception of earthquake risk interactively correlate with opinions on nuclear issues. Among people whose evaluation of earthquake risk is low, those who live nearer to the plants are more likely to object to the abolishment of nuclear plants. It was also found that the nuclear disaster has changed people's behavior; they now try to save electricity. The level of commitment to energy saving is found to relate to opinions on nuclear issues.