• Title/Summary/Keyword: toxic chemical substance

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Principles of Chemical Risk Assessment: The ATSDR Perspective

  • Johnson Barry L.
    • 대한예방의학회:학술대회논문집
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    • 1994.02a
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    • pp.405-411
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    • 1994
  • Hazardous wastes released into the general environment are of concern to the public and to public health authorities. In response to this concern, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, as amended (commonly called Superfund), was enacted in 1980 to provide a framework for environmental, public health, and legal actions concerning uncontrolled releases of hazardous substances. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) was created by Superfund to address the public health issues of hazardous wastes in the community environment. Two key Agency programs, Public Health Assessments and Toxicological Profiles, are designed to assess the risk to human health of exposures to hazardous substances that migrate from waste sites or through emergency releases (e.g., chemical spills). The Agency's public health assessment is a structured process that permits ATSDR to identify which waste sites or other point sources require traditional public health actions (e.g.. human exposure studies, health studies, registries, health surveillance, health advisories). The ATSDR qualitative public health assessment complements the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's quantitative risk assessment. For Superfund purposes, both assessments are sitespecific. ATSDR's toxicological profiles are prepared for priority hazardous substances found most frequently at Superfund sites. Each profile presents the current toxicologic and human health effects information about the substance being profiled. Each profile also contains Minimal Risk Levels (MRLs), a type of risk assessment value. This paper covers ATSDR's experience in conducting public health assessments and developing MRLs, and it relates this experience to recommendations on how to improve chemical risk assessments.

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Characteristic Analysis of Casualty Accidents in Chemical Accidents (화학사고에 의한 인명사고 특성 분석에 관한 연구)

  • Lee, Tae-Hyung;Lee, Deok-Jae;Shin, Chang-Hyun
    • Fire Science and Engineering
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    • v.31 no.1
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    • pp.81-88
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    • 2017
  • This study analyzed chemical accidents each year according to the status, type of accident, accident place, business size, and chemical substance. The results of the chemical accident investigation were 16 cases in 2013, 27 cases in 2014, 46 cases in 2015, and 23 cases in 2016. According to the type of chemical accident, number of accidents, and casualty accidents, leakage was found to be the major cause. As a result of accidents and casualties caused by chemical accidents, workplaces had the highest numbers in all survey items. An examination of the top 10 accident materials revealed 9 substances to be hazardous chemicals. These materials were accident preparedness substances, and toxic substances.

Electrochemical Determination of As(III) at Nanoporous Gold Electrodes with Controlled Surface Area

  • Seo, Min Ji;Kastro, Kanido Camerun;Kim, Jongwon
    • Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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    • v.63 no.1
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    • pp.45-50
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    • 2019
  • Because arsenic (As) is a chemical substance toxic to humans, there have been extensive investigations on the development of As detection methods. In this study, the electrochemical determination of As on nanoporous gold (NPG) electrodes was investigated using anodic stripping voltammetry. The electrochemical surface area of the NPG electrodes was controlled by changing the reaction times during the anodization of Au for NPG preparation, and its effect on the electrochemical behavior during As detection was examined. The detection efficiency of the NPG electrodes improved as the roughness factor of the NPG electrodes increased up to around 100. A further increase in the surface area of the NPG electrodes resulted in a decrease of the detection efficiency due to high background current levels. The most efficient As detection efficiency was obtained on the NPG electrodes prepared with an anodization time of 50 s. The effects of the detection parameters and of the Cu interference in As detection were investigated and the NPG electrode was compared to flat Au electrodes.

Development of Accident Response Information Sheets for Hydrogen Fluoride (불화수소에 대한 사고대응 정보시트 개발)

  • Yoon, Young Sam;Park, Yeon Shin;Kim, Ki Joon;Cho, Mun Sik;Hwang, Dong Gun;Yoon, Jun heon;Choi, Kyung Hee
    • Korean Journal of Hazardous Materials
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    • v.2 no.1
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    • pp.18-26
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    • 2014
  • We analyzed the demand of competent authorities requiring adequate technical information for initial investigation of chemical accidents. Reflecting technical reports on chemical accident response by environmental agencies in the U.S. and Canada, we presented information on environmental diffusion and toxic effects available for the first chemical accident response. Hydrogen fluoride may have the risk potential to corrode metals and cause serious burns and eye damages. In case of inhalation or intake, it could have severe health effects. The substance itself is inflammable, but once heated, it decomposes producing corrosive and toxic fume. In case of contact with water, it can produce toxic, corrosive, flammable or explosive gases and its solution, a strong acid, may react fiercely with a base. In case of hydrogen fluoride leak, the preventive measures are to decrease steam generation in exposed sites, prevent the transfer of vapor cloud and promptly respond using inflammable substances including calcium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, ground limestone, dried soil, dry sand, vermiculite, fly ash and powder cement. The method for fire fighting is to suppress fire with manless hose stanchions or monitor nozzles by wearing the whole body protective clothing equipped with over-pressure self-contained breathing apparatus from distance. In case of transport accident accompanied with fire, evacuation distance is 1,600m radius. In cae of fire, fire suppression needs to be performed using dry chemicals, CO2, water spray, water fog, and alcohol-resistance foam, etc. The major symptoms by exposure route are dyspnoea, bronchitis, chemical pneumonia and pulmonary edema for respiration, skin laceration, dermatitis, burn, frostbite and erythema for eyes, and nausea, diarrhea, stomachache, and tissue destruction for digestive organs. In atmosphere, its persistency is low, and its bioaccumulation in aquatic organism is also low.

Comparison of Domestic Chemical Accident Investigation System (국내 화학사고 조사제도 비교 연구)

  • Kim, Sungbum;Lim, Myunghee;Choi, Sungwoon
    • Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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    • v.11 no.4
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    • pp.515-519
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    • 2015
  • 87 and 104 cases of chemical accidents in 2013 and 2014 respectively have brought enormous damages to people and environment. Also, the industry has significant damages the company reputation and a lot of expense to repair the damage handling. Toxic substance has spread out rapidly in the atmosphere at chemical accidents and that affect to workers as well as neighborhood. In order to analyze the causes of chemical accidents throughly, reliable and systematic investigation procedure should be considered. In this study, the chemical accident investigation system of each government agency in charge of the accident investigation is compared and analysed.

Chemical Properties of Co(II) Compound Containing Endocrine Disrupter, Bis-Phenol A

  • Park, Chil-Nam
    • Journal of Environmental Science International
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    • v.11 no.2
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    • pp.131-137
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    • 2002
  • The chemical behavior and properties on the redox state of environmental pollutant has been investigated by electrochemical methods. We carried out to measure the variations in the redox reaction of differential pulse polarogram and cyclic voltammogram. The results observed the influences on redox potential and current of various factors with temperature and pH. These were established factors as the effect of the redox reaction. It can be clearly recognized that the electrode reaction are from qusi-reversible to irreversible processes. Also, it was mixing with reaction current controlled. The bits-phenol A in the waste water was made to compound with cobalt ion and it take away from the separation into compound. The $Co(BPA)_2$ compound was not found to be dissociation in waste water. However, this compound is avery unstable(K=1.02) and for a while, it was to be a dissociation. Therefore, we believed that it was likely to a toxic substance.

Characteristics of Harmful Cyanobacteria Occurrence and Toxin Residual in Agricultural Reservoirs of Southern Gyeonggi (경기남부권 농업용 저수지의 유해 남세균 발생 및 독소물질 잔류 특성)

  • Kim Minju;Kim Young-Kee
    • Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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    • v.40 no.1
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    • pp.1-10
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    • 2024
  • Algal blooms occur seasonally in the eutrophicated rivers or reservoirs, and some harmful cyanobacteria species produce toxic substances, which are directly or indirectly harmful to the ecosystem and terrestrial animals. So, the monitoring and control of harmful cyanobacteria occurrence and toxins residual in the aquasystem are important to preserve the water environment and secure public health. In this study, the four harmful cyanobacteria occurrences and toxic substance concentrations of two agricultural reservoirs in the southern part of Gyeonggi Province were investigated from August to October 2022. Among four harmful cyanobacteria (Microcystis sp., Anabaena sp., Oscillatoria sp., Aphanizomenon sp.), three kinds of cyanobacteria except Oscillatoria sp. were observed, and Microcystis sp. was the dominant cyanobacteria except for Anabaena sp. dominant result of a sample collected on October at reservoir B. The cell density of cyanobacteria was influenced by season and weather due to the length of daytime and concentrations of organic carbon and nitrogen. Three kinds of microcystin and anatoxin-a were quantitatively analyzed as total (in the cell body and water) and extracellular (in water) concentrations. The maximum total concentrations of anatoxin-a, microcystin-LR, microcystin-RR, and microcystin-YR were 0.1291 ㎍/L, 0.2776 ㎍/L, 0.3721 ㎍/L, and 0.0306 ㎍/L, respectively, in reservoir A and 0.3274 ㎍/L, 0.1495 ㎍/L, 0.2037 ㎍/L, and 0.0153 ㎍/L, respectively, in reservoir B.

A Study on the Effect of Damages on the Conditions of Dike in the Leakage of Hydrochloric Acid Storage Tank (염산 저장탱크 누출 시 방류벽 조건에 따른 피해영향 연구)

  • Kang, Jungchun;Kim, Seungha;Kim, KyuHwan;Kim, YeonSoo;Kwon, Donguk
    • Korean Journal of Hazardous Materials
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    • v.6 no.2
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    • pp.7-12
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    • 2018
  • Hydrochloric acid is a highly corrosive toxic substance and requires proper safety to minimize damage in case of leakage. Among the various risk-reduction facilities, the dike is a typical safety facility installed to protect the surrounding buildings and facilities by preventing the external spread of hazardous materials from the storage tank. In this study, the KORA program was used to assume leakage accident of hydrochloric acid storage tank. At this time, the extent of the damage effects of ERPG-2 were assessed for each of the three separation distance between the storage tank and the dike. The study found that the smaller the separation distance between the dike and the storage tank, the smaller the extent of damage caused by hydrochloric acid leakage, and the greater the impact of indoor conditions under the same conditions. Through this process, we are going to assist in selecting locations and installing facilities for new and existing businesses.

Task-Specific Hazardous Chemicals Used by Nail Shop Technicians (네일 샵 종사자들의 직무 형태별 취급 유해화학물질)

  • Choi, Sangjun;Park, Sung-Ae;Yoon, Chungsik;Kim, Sunju
    • Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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    • v.25 no.4
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    • pp.446-464
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    • 2015
  • Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate the task-specific hazards of chemicals used by nail technicians in Daegu Metropolitan City. Materials: A total of 30 nail shops located in Daegu City were surveyed to investigate the major tasks and practices performed by nail technicians and the ingredients listed in nail care products used in shops. We also collected instructions for use and material safety data sheets(MSDSs) of nail care products and compared CAS Nos. of ingredients with the lists of chemicals regulated by the Industrial Safety and Health Act(ISHA) and Chemical Substances Control Act(CSCA). Results: A total of 125 chemical ingredients were found in 468 nail care products used at the 30 nail shops. The most frequently found ingredients were ethyl acetate(72%), followed by n-butyl acetate(71.8%), isopropanol(56%), benzophenone(51.1%), nitrocellulose(46.4%) and ethanol(45.3%). Comparing six tasks, the task of manicuring used the most products at 222 products containing 91 ingredients. Among the 125 ingredients, there are 31 chemicals with occupational exposure limits(OEL) designated by the Ministry of Employment and Labor(MoEL), eight categorized as carcinogens, one mutagen and two reproductive toxic chemicals. In terms of carcinogens, formaldehyde was identified as the only confirmed human carcinogen(1A). We found that there was one chemical with a permissible limit, one special management substance, 18 workplace monitoring substances and ten special health diagnosis substances regulated by ISHA. For CSCA, nine poisonous substances, six substances requiring preparation for accidents and one restricted substance were identified. Conclusions: Based on these findings, formaldehyde was identified as one of the chemicals that should most strictly be controlled for the protection of the health of nail technicians and customers. At the same time, it is necessary to distribute materials with detailed hazardous information of nail care products for nail shop technicians.

Record Keeping of Employee Exposure to Chemical Hazards under Industrial Safety and Health Law (근로자의 화학물질 노출관련 기록 보존에 관한 연구)

  • Oh, Sangmin;Park, Donguk;Yu, SeoungJae;Jung, Jin Woo;Lim, KyungTaek;Lee, Jaehwan;Ha, Kwonchul
    • Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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    • v.23 no.4
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    • pp.367-373
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    • 2013
  • Objectives: Employee exposure record refers to a record containing information about environmental (workplace) monitoring or measuring of a toxic substance or harmful physical agent. The aims of this study were to examine problems related to exposure records and provide some amendments to the Korean Industrial Safety & Health Act for the effective management of chemical substances under the law. Methods: This study performed a literature search and review on legal provisions related to exposure records of a number of different countries, including Korea, the USA, Japan, EU, Germany, and the UK. They were compared and investigated and the amendment of articles was suggested. Results: The results of this study were provided as suggested amendments to the related act. There were a variety of ways of improvement, including a 30-year retention period and the introduction of new access methods, contents, transfer, and maintenance methods. All exposure data elements have to be standardized, including reference to a similar exposure group (SEG), sampling strategy, and circumstances of exposure (e.g., date, shift length, use of personal protective equipment, etc.). The SEGs are described by process, job, task, and environmental agent. Conclusions: This study is expected to provide for the amendment of the related act in order to ensure effective management of exposure records and is helpful for solving the cause and result of occupational disease by keeping exposure records according to the Industrial Safety & Health Act.