• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.222-226
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• 2011

This study was conducted to identify the characteristics of analytical errors shown in the Korean quality control program on bulk asbestos analyses using polarized light microscopy (PLM). 179 participating laboratories were required to analyze 4 samples respectively and asked to classify each test sample as asbestos-containing (positive) or non-asbestos-containing (negative). For positive samples, participants were also asked to identify the type and semiquantitate the contents of asbestos present. The test results showed 21 (4%) false negative errors among 562 samples, 9 (6%) false positive errors among 154 samples and 53 (9%) asbestos identification errors among 562 samples. Most of false negative and positive errors were observed in a few types of samples. Higher frequencies of asbestos identification errors were shown in samples containing two or more types of asbestos and samples containing anthophyllite, tremolite or actinolite asbestos. For semiquantitative analyses, the ratios of mean to nominal weight contents were 2.1 for chrysotile and 2.9 for amphiboles. A tendency of over-estimation was observed in semiquantitative analyses using the visual estimation technique and higher in case of analyzing samples containing amphiboles than chrysotile. Coefficients of variation (CVs) of semiquantitative analytical results were 0.44~0.83 and 0.5~1.14 for samples containing chrysotile and amphibole asbestos, respectively.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.55-76
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• 1981

Southwestern contact zone of the Boeun granodiorite occurs near the thrust fault between the Ogcheon Group and Majeonri Limestone Formation. Ogcheon Group, metasediments composed of the Munjuri Formation, Changri Formation, and unconformably overlying Hwanggangri Formation, belongs to greenschist facies of regional metamorphism accompanied with deformation of two fold axes, $N10^{\circ}E$ and $N45-65^{\circ}E$ directions. Basic metamorphic rocks occurring in the Changri and Limestone Formations are the meta-basalts and meta-diabases of tholeiitic basalt series. The meta-basalts intruded in the Changri Formation as sills, whereas the meta-diabases in the Changri and Limestone Formations as stocks in appearance. They are considered to have emplaced before the formation of two fold axes and related with the thrust fault, based on the geologic setting of the area. The metamorphic facies are identified to be greenschist facies to epidote-amphibolite facies for the meta-basalt, and epidote-amphibolite facies for the meta-diabases. It is interpreted that such a variety of facies was related from the combination of earlier deuteric alteration and later regional metamorphism. The metasediments in southwestern contact zont of the Boeun granodiorite which is a product of later syntectonic intrusion of middle Jurassic in age, show pyroxene-hornfels facies near the contact and amphibole-horenfels facies away from the contact to the mineral zoning in the contact metamorphic aureole of the Limestone Formation, based on the paragenetic analysis of mineral assemblages. The Limestone in the area appears to be considerably $SiO_2-CaO-MgO-CO_2-H_2O$ can be adopted to evaluate equilibrium conditions of the mineral assemblages in each mineral zone. It is revealed that a temperature gradient was existed accross the contact aureole ranging from the higher igneous side to lower sedimentary side, whereas no clear trend of $XCO_2$ variation appears but high mole fraction. The tremolite diopside-quartz-calcite assemblages occurs in common through the most mineral zones of contact aureole that is in good agreement with the equivalent reaction curve which extends over a wide range of $T-XCO_2$ conditions.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.3025-3029
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• 2012

The aim of this study was to investigate the possible relationship between antioxidant vitamin levels and malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). For this purpose, we measured the serum levels of 4 antioxidant vitamins, ${\beta}$-carotene, ${\alpha}$-tocopherol, retinol, and ascorbic acid, in patients with environmentally induced MPM and in healthy controls from one tremolite village (Kureysler), the biggest erionite village (Tuzkoy) and Ankara. A total of 160 subjects were enrolled in the study, 42 (26.3%) diagnosed with MPM and 118 (73.7%) healthy subjects. A comparison was made between the MPM group and three control groups of which two were exposed and one was unexposed to mineral fibers. The study population consisted of 82 males (51%) and 78 females (49%) with a mean of age of $44.8{\pm}14$ years (range; 20-65 years). Lowest levels of ${\beta}$-carotene, ascorbic acid, and ${\alpha}$-tocopherol were found in MPM patients (MPM vs control groups combined, p<0.0001 for each antioxidant vitamin), without any relation to age or sex. There was no significant difference between the antioxidant levels of healthy controls of Tuzkoy and Ankara. In conclusion; our findings suggested an increased risk of MPM being associated with low levels of ${\alpha}$-tocopherol and ascorbic acid in patients with MPM.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.718-726
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• 2007

There are many varieties of asbestos: chrysotile, crocidolite, amosite, tremolite, actinolite, and anthophylite. These are widely used in construction materials, brake lining, textile, and so on. Even though non-asbestos fibers such as glassfiber and rockwool have manufactured because asbestos causes asbestosis, lung cancer, mesothelioma, etc., some bad effects of non-asbestos have been also reported. PCM (phase contrast microscopy) and PLM (polarized light microscopy) have been used to qualitatively analyze asbestoses. These techniques have serious drawbacks when identifying and separating various asbestoses. Recently scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) has been known as an useful tool to analyze airborne particle since it provides physical and chemical information simultaneously. The purpose of the study was to classify both asbestos and non-asbestos fibers and finally to develop their source profiles by using the SEM/EDX. The source profiles characterized by 6 different types of asbestos fibers and 2 types of non-asbestos fibers had been developed by analyzing a total of 380 fibers. Analytical parameters used in this study were length, width, aspect ratio, and shape as physical information, and Na, Mg, Al, Si, K, Ca, Cr, Mn, Fe, and Cu as chemical information. All the parameters were intensively reviewed.

• Journal of the Speleological Society of Korea
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• v.34 no.35
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• pp.32-42
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• 1993

The Paektu-san mountains are geographically situated in the Korea strait to the north of the main peninsula, coordinated between the longitudes of W(127$^{\circ}$15'~128$^{\circ}$00')and E(128$^{\circ}$15'~129$^{\circ}$00'), and between the latitudes of S(41$^{\circ}$15'~42$^{\circ}$00') and N(42$^{\circ}$10'~42$^{\circ}$40'). The volcanic group of the Paektu-san mountains can be devided into 2 main kinds of volcanos by the method investigation, The ashes are mainly made of tremolite, trachte, basalt and pumice, or, a little quartz, labradorite and volcanic glass. These sorts, ratios and forms of the rocks are respectively similar. The Haeven lake is surrounded by 19 peaks. The central volcanic cone is a secant cone in shape, with an altitude of the 1800m to 2749,2m (Chang-kun-bong), an average diameter of 10km, and a shape of an ellipse seen high from the plane. They say there were several eruptions in 1668, 1700 and 1702 A. D. The crystal structure of the rock sample collected at the cave of Mt. Paektu-san is monoclinic. The quantitative analysis of the rock samples in the cave is done by using XRF this time. The chemical compositions by XRF fundamamental parameter analysis is : SiO$_2$: 50.72Wt%, TiO = 2.422Wt%, $Al_2$O$_3$= 17.65Wt%, Fe$_2$O$_3$= 9.371Wt%, CaO = 8.711Wt%, MgO = 4.l19Wt%, MnO = 0.l15Wt%, $K_2$O = 1.369Wt%, Na$_2$O : 3.028Wt% and P$_2$O$_{5}$ = 0.365Wt%. The K-Ar age of the rock sample is also determined to be 0.16Ma. This paper describes some problems experienced in dating young volcanic rocks, and then discusses chemical compositions, X-ray fluorescence analyses and the age of the formation of a lava tunnel such as in Mt. Paektu-san.n.

• Journal of odor and indoor environment
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.330-336
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• 2018

The objective of this study was to determine whether crops and fruits absorb the naturally occurring asbestos (NOA). The concentration of asbestos in various crops and fruits grown in NOA areas was analyzed and background levels of asbestos in ambient air and soil samples were assessed. Actinolite/Tremolite asbestos were detected in all soil samples. Among 21 ambient air samples, 2 samples were recorded to contain 0.0005 f/cc (fiber per cubic centimeter) but no asbestos was detected in the other samples using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). However, no evidence suggesting that the crops and fruits could be contaminated by NOA was found in this study. The excess lifetime cancer risks (ELCRs) of ABS scenarios (agricultural activities) used in this study were calculated by using the Arithmetic (AM) and Geometric mean (GM) of ELCRs. The AM and GM of ELCRs estimated from digging soil and weeding activities did not exceed $1{\times}10^{-4}$, which was defined as the general acceptable risk range for exposure. The results of this study would be informative to NOA managers and related policy makers to make plans to prevent unexpected exposure to asbestos to residents living in an NOA area.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.122-147
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• 2017

The Jungsandong sites are distributed across quartz and mica schist formations in Precambrian, and weathering layers include large amounts of non-plastic minerals such as mica, quartz, felspar, amphibole, chlorite and so on, which form the ground of the site. Neolithic pottery from Jungsandong exhibits various brown colors, and black core is developed along the inner part for some samples, and sharp comb-pattern and hand pressure marks can be observed. Their non-plastic particles have various composition, size distribution, sorting and roundness, so they are classified into four types by their characteristic mineral compositions. I-type (feldspar pottery) is including feldspar as the pain component or mica and quartz. II-type (mica pottery) is the combination of chloritized mica, talc, tremolite and diopside. III-type (talc pottery) is with a very small amount of quartz and mica. IV-type (asbestos pottery) is containing tremolite and a very small amount of talc. The inner and outer colors of Jungsandong pottery are somewhat heterogeneous. I-type pottery group shows differences in red and yellow degree, depending on the content of feldspar, and is similar to III-type pottery. II-type is similar to IV-type, because its red degree is somewhat high. The soil of the site is higher in red and yellow degree than pottery from it. The magnetic susceptibility has very wide range of 0.088 to 7.360(${\times}10^{-3}$ SI unit), but is differentiated according to minerals, main components in each type. The ranges of bulk density and absorption ratio of pottery seem to be 1.6 to 1.7 and 13.1 to 26.0%, respectively. Each type of pottery shows distinct section difference, as porosity and absorption ratio increase in the order as follows: I-type (organic matter fixed sample) < III-type and IV-type < I-type < II-type (including IV-type of IJP-15). The reason is that differences in physical property occur according to kind and size of non-plastic particles. Although Jungsandong pottery consists of mixtures of various materials, the site pottery has a geological condition on which all mineral composition of Jungsandong pottery can be provided. There, it is thought that raw materials can be supplied from weathered zone of quartz and mica schist, around the site. However, different constituent minerals, size and rock fragments are shown, suggesting the possibility that there can be more raw material pits. Thus, it is estimated that there may be difference in clay and weathering degree.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.8-15
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• 2009

This study was examined to find out asbestos exposure level the factors which affected the level at asbestos abatement sites. We visited a total of thirteen building demolition sites(3 apartments, 3 schools, 4 stores, and 3 houses) were visited to collect samples and related data from August to November, 2006. The results of this study were as follows 1. The results of an analysis of bulk samples to identify types of asbestos at the asbestos abatement sites showed that the kinds of the asbestos detected were chrysotile by 50.0%, were tremolite by 2.6%, and were the contents of chrysotile by 3 to 20%. 2. The geometric mean concentration of asbestos was 0.007 f/cc(range 0.001-0.34 f/cc) and its geometric standard deviation was 5.83. Of the samples, however, 12 exceeded the Korean Occupational Exposure Limit(0.1f/cc). 3. Of the materials, textile material had the highest concentration with geometric mean of 0.016 f/cc. When asbestos-containing materials were removed using T type tools, the geometric mean concentration of asbestos was 0.061 f/cc. The level by this method was much higher than by other removal methods. In analysis by the type of building, the geometric mean concentration of asbestos in stores was 0.042 f/cc and was higher than in other buildings. 4. The Poisson regression analysis was applied to find out the factors that affect the airborne asbestos concentration. As a result of the analysis, removal using a T type tool was the most important factor affecting the asbestos concentration(p<0.01). In conclusion, the airborne asbestos concentration(geometric mean) in asbestos abatement sites was 0.007 f/cc(0.001~0.34 f/cc), and 12(14.6%) of all samples were over the 0.1 f/cc. These results showed that asbestos abatement workers have been exposed to the high level of airborne asbestos because they have not been keeping asbestos removal rule. In accordance with increases of the number of building demolition sites, the better government regulation on asbestos abatement methods should be made and be performed well at building demolition sites.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.346-356
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• 2008

Asbestos is the name of a group of minerals with long and thin fibers that originate naturally in the environment. Asbestos mainly affects lungs and the membrane that surrounds the lungs. In general, PCM (phase contrast microscopy) and PLM (polarized light microscopy) have been used to analyze asbestos fibers. However, these methods have often problems to over-estimate number concentration when counting real asbestos fibers. Moreover, there are many difficulties when separating and identifying various asbestos and non-asbestos fibers. In order to determine quantitative information on fibrous particles, source profiles for asbestos and non-asbestos fibers must be initially developed on the basis of their chemical compositions and physical parameters. In our study, a SEM/EDX was used to develop source profiles from known asbestos samples as reference samples. We could make the source profile matrix consisting of 6 types of asbestos fibers and 2 types of non-asbestos fibers by analyzing 380 fibers. Based on these profiles, a rule building expert system was developed by using the visual basic application (VBA). Various fibers were successfully classified by 2 simple rules in the EXCEL environment based on several visual steps such as inserting data, viewing results, and saving results. For a case study to test the expert system, samples from a construction materials and from various indoor environments such as a residental area, a preschool classroom, and an underground store were collected and analyzed. As a result of the survey, a total of 76 individual test fiber particles was well classified into 5 different types of particle classes; 9.3% of chrysotile, 15.4% of amosite, 0.8 of crocidolite, 4.2% of tremolite, 5.8% glass fiber, 21.1% of other fibers, and 43.5% of unknown fibers in terms of number concentration. Even though unknown portion was high, it will be decreased markedly when expanding fiber source profiles.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 1969

In the Sangdong Mine area, Taebaegsan series (Pre-Cambrian) and Chosun System (Cambro-ordovician) are widely distributed. The Chosun System consists of Yangdug Series (Jangsan Quartzite and Myobong Slate) and The Great Limestone Series (Pungchon Limestone, Shesong Shale, Hwajeol Formation and Dongjeom Quartzite). The mineralized zone containing the main ore body of the Sangdong Mine was developed in the Myobong Slate formation. The result of the field and microscopic study on the mineral paragenesis and it's wall rock alteration in the tungsten ore deposit shows the following features. The orogenic movements of the Post-Chosun System in the Hambaeg Geosyncline are closely related to the tungsten ore deposition in the area, the ore minerals are composed mainly of scheelite, powelite molybdenite and sulfide minerals, and gangue minerals are hornblende, diopside, garnet, quartz, phlogopite, tremolite, biotite, muscovite, fluorite, etc., main ore body was enriched by scheelite bearing quartz vein filling into interstices of formerly mineralized zones, and the minor faults, faults of N $60^{\circ}-70^{\circ}W$, $45^{\circ}-60^{\circ}NE$ and joints, which were formed at the end of the mineralization and the slate. Country rock of the ore body was altered into the following several zones from the outside to the inside; lowgrade recrystalline aureole, silicified sericite zone, and diopside-hornblende zone. Under the microscopic observation of 195 samples taken from throughout ore body can be classified into 10 different groups by their mineral paragenesis as shown in table 2. The garnet-diopside group is primary skarn and it shows gradational change to the groups of later stage by the successive processes of metasomatism. From the stage of quartz-bearing group, the dissemination of scheelite is seen. The crystallization of scheelite in the bed started with the quartz deposition and continued to the last stage when quartz vein intruded into the main ore body. In the field and the under ground investigation a durable limestone bed in thickeness about 20 meters and their remnants in ore body are observed and under microscope calcite remnants are recognized. Hence it is posturated that the ore material moved up through the faults, shear zones or feather cracks and was assimilated with the interbeded limestone, after that the body was affected by the successive differentiated ore solution by gradational increasing in $SiO_2$, $K_2O$ and $H_2O$. Evidently this ore deposit shows the features resulted from pyrometasomatic processes.