• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.10 no.1_2
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• pp.1-14
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• 1995

The purpose of this research is to assess the health risk of pollutants in drinking water and recommend the guidelines and management plans for maintaining good quality of drinking water. This study 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 32 species of carcinogenic chemicals such as volatile organic compounds(VOCs), polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons(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 of risk assessment in drinking water. In hazard identification, 32 species of carcinogenic chemicals were identified by the US EPA classification system. In the step of exposure assessment, sampling of raw, treated and tap water from the public water supply system had been conducted from 1993 to 1994, and 32 chemicals were analyzed. In dose-response assessment, cancer potencies, unit risk estimates and virtually safe doses of carcinogens were obtained by TOX-RISK (Version 3.1). In risk characterization of detected chemicals, health risk due to carcinogens such as vinyl chloride, carbon tetrachloride, dichloromethane, 1, 2-dichloromethane, chloroform, benzene and arsenic of tap water in several cities exceeded 10$^{-5}$ level. We suggest that non-regulated chemicals which exceed 10$^{-5}$ excess cancer risk level, such as vinyl chloride, carbon tetrachloride and 1, 2-dichloroethane, should be monitored periodically and be regulated by the Drinking Water Management Act, and database for exposure parameter of our own situation should be established.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.30 no.12
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• pp.1218-1224
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• 2008

A liquid culture of yeast "Candida tropicalis" was used in a fluidized bioreactor to achieve high removal efficiencies of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In this study, granular activated carbon (GAC) was used as a fluidized material to improve adsorptive capacity as well as mass transfer of gaseous toluene, the model VOC. The GAC fluidized bioreactor demonstrated toluene removal efficiencies ranging from 50 to 80%, when inlet toluene loading varied in a range between 13.1 and 37.4 g/m$^3$-hr. The maximum elimination capacity determined in the GAC fluidized bioreactor was 172 g/m$^3$-hr at a toluene loading of 291 g/m$^3$-hr. Transient loading experiments revealed that the removal efficiency was remained unchanged during an increased loading period, and toluene introduced to the bioreactor was first absorbed to GAC and then slowly desorbed and became available to the yeast culture. Hence the fluidized GAC helped to achieve an improved mass transfer between the gas and liquid phases, resulting in high toluene removal capacity. Consequently, the GAC fluidized bioreactor using C. tropicalis can be successfully applied for the removal of VOCs, and is a feasible alternative over conventional processes such as packed-bed biofilters.

• 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.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.357-363
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• 2014

Isoprene is a one of the biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) and it is known as a source of the tropospheric ozone and formaldehyde. In addition, isoprene is a trace component of the exhaled breath and it is a potential biomarker for the diagnosis of diseases such as lung cancer. In these regards, isoprene gas standards are required for the accurate measurement of isoprene in air samples. To establish a standard for isoprene gas, gravimetric preparation and characterization of primary gas standards were studied. The primary gas standards were produced independently in 4 aluminum cylinders and concentrations were examined by GC-FID. As a result, the uncertainty of the gravimetric preparations including purity of the raw material was 0.01% and reproducibility of the preparation of independent 4 cylinders was 0.08%. The primary gas standards for isoprene showed 14 months of long-term stability. The relative expended uncertainty of 2.8% (95% of confidence level, k=1.96) was assigned to the certified value of 10 ${\mu}mol$/mol level of isoprene based on the quantitative evaluation of the purity, weighing, reproducibility, adsorption and long-term stability.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.177-190
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• 2013

Air pollution trends in Japan between 1970 and 2012 were analyzed, and the impact of air pollution countermeasures was evaluated. Concentrations of CO decreased from 1970 to 2012, and in 2012, the Japanese environmental quality standard (EQS) for CO was satisfied. Concentrations of $SO_2$ dropped markedly in the 1970s, owing to use of desulfurization technologies and low-sulfur heavy oil. Major reductions in the sulfur content of diesel fuel in the 1990s resulted in further decreases of $SO_2$ levels. In 2012, the EQS for $SO_2$ was satisfied at most air quality monitoring stations. Concentrations of $NO_2$ decreased from 1970 to 1985, but increased from 1985 to 1995. After 1995, $NO_2$ concentrations decreased, especially after 2006. In 2012, the EQS for $NO_2$ was satisfied at most air quality monitoring stations, except those alongside roads. The annual mean for the daily maximum concentrations of photochemical oxidants (OX) increased from 1980 to 2010, but after 2006, the $98^{th}$ percentile values of the OX concentrations decreased. In 2012, the EQS for OX was not satisfied at most air quality monitoring stations. Non-methane hydrocarbon (NMHC) concentrations generally decreased from 1976 to 2012. In 2011, NMHC concentrations near roads and in the general environment were nearly the same. The concentration of suspended particulate matter (SPM) generally decreased. In 2011, the EQS for SPM was satisfied at 69.2% of ambient air monitoring stations, and 72.9% of roadside air-monitoring stations. Impacts from mineral dust from continental Asia were especially pronounced in the western part of Japan in spring, and year-round variation was large. The concentration of $PM_{2.5}$ generally decreased, but the EQS for $PM_{2.5}$ is still not satisfied. The air pollution trends were closely synchronized with promulgation of regulations designed to limit pollutant emissions. Trans-boundary OX and $PM_{2.5}$ has become a big issue which contains global warming chemical species such as ozone and black carbon (so called SLCP: Short Lived Climate Pollutants). Cobeneficial reduction approach for these pollutants will be important to improve both in regional and global atmospheric environmental conditions.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2018

Nation-wide systematic and comprehensive measurements of air quality criteria species have been made over 340 sites currently in Korea since 1990. Using these data, temporal and spatial trends of $SO_2$, $PM_{10}$, $NO_2$, $O_3$, CO and $O_x(NO_2+O_3)$ were analyzed to characterize and evaluate implementing efficiency of air quality policy and regulations. Due to strict and effective policy to use cleaner fuels in late 1980s and 1990s, the primary pollutants, such as $SO_2$, CO, and $PM_{10}$ decreased sharply by early 2000s in all parts of Korea. After this period, their concentrations declined with much lower rates in most parts of Korea. In addition, isolated but noticeable numbers of places, especially in major ports, newly developing towns and industrial parks, sustained high levels or even showed further degradation. Despite series of emission control strategies were enforced since early 1990s, $NO_2$ concentrations haven't changed much till 2005, due to significant increase in number of automobiles. Nevertheless, we confirmed that the staggering levels of $NO_2$ and $PM_{10}$ improved evidently after 2005, especially in Seoul Metropolitan Area (SMA), where enhanced regulations for $NO_2$ and $PM_{10}$ emissions was imposed to automobiles and large emission sources. However, their decreasing trends were much lessened in recent years again as current air quality improvement strategies has been challenged to revise further. In contrast to these primary species, annual $O_3$, which is secondary product from $NO_2$ and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), has increased consistently with about 0.6 ppbv per year in every urban part of Korea, while yearly average of daily maximum 8-hour $O_3$ in summer season had a much higher rate of 1.2 ppbv per year. Increase of $O_3$ can be explained mainly by reductions of NO emission. Rising background $O_3$ in the Northeast Asia and increasing oxidizing capacity by changing photochemistry were likely causes of observed $O_3$ increase. The future air quality policy should consider more effective ways to lower alarming level of $O_3$ and $PM_{10}$.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.221-229
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• 2011

Due to the increase of oil price and the environmental issue such as the emission of volatile organic compounds, the necessity for developing alternative resins of petroleum-based adhesive resins, which have extensively been used for the manufacture of wood-based products, has been speculation since the early 1990. In our study, rapeseed flour (RSF), which is the by-product of bio-diesel produced from rapeseed, were hydrolyzed by enzymes. As a crosslinking agents of the RSF hydrolyzates, phenol-formaldehyde prepolymers (PF) were prepared. The RSF hydrolyzates and PF were mixed to complete the formulation of RSF-based adhesive resins, and the resins were applied to make the laminated veneer lumber (LVL). The physical and mechanical properties of the LVL were measured to examine whether RSF can be used as raw materials of adhesive resins for the fabrication of LVL or not. The average moisture content and soaking delamination rate of the LVL bonded with RSF-based adhesive resins exceeded the minimum requirement of KS standard. Moreover, thermal analysis of the RSF-based resins showed similar tendencies except for the RSF-based adhesive resins formulated with pectinase-hydrolyzed RSF. The bending strengths of the LVL were higher than that of the LVL made with commercial PF resins. These results showed the potential of RSF as a raw material of alternative adhesives for the production of LVL. Further works on the optimal conditions of RSF hydrolysis and spreading characteristics for RSF-based adhesive resins is required to improve the adhesive performance of RSF-based resins.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.569-573
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• 2016

The effectiveness of various additives in reduction of an unpleasant odor and inhibition of Bacillus cereus growth in Cheonggukjang (CKJ) was investigated. Sensory evaluations of unpleasant odor intensity and taste preference for CKJ were conducted with a 5-point scale. Raw CKJ was rated to have the highest unpleasant odor intensity, followed by CKJ-salt, CKJ-wood vinegar salt, CKJ-red pepper seed oil, and CKJ-bamboo salt in the given order. The test panel had a greater preference for CKJ-red pepper seed oil than for the other CKJ products. The addition of bamboo salt to CKJ was the most effective in inhibition of B. cereus growth in comparison to the other three additives. Volatile compounds in CKJ and CKJ-bamboo salt were identified by GC/MS analysis. 1-Ethoxy-1-methoxy-ethane was responsible for the pleasant odor and its level significantly increased in CKJ-bamboo salt. Consequently, adding bamboo salt to CKJ not only masked and reduced the unpleasant odor, but also inhibited B. cereus growth in CKJ.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.107-111
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to develop a Eco smoking booth that can effectively reduce hazardous pollutants generated during smoking and evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of removing hazardous pollutants. The design and manufacture of an eco-friendly automatic smoking booth equipped with deodorizing facilities, such as inlet - HEPA filter - electrostatic precipitator (EP) - impregnated activated carbon - exhaust port, etc., and the efficiency of removing hazardous pollutants from inside and outside was measured and evaluated. The complex odor removal efficiency was 95.37% inside the smoking booth, and 97.38% at the exit of the preventive facility. The carbon monoxide removal efficiency was 94.25% in the inside and 98.32% in the outlet. In addition, the removal efficiency of particulate matter, (PM1, PM2.5, and PM10) inside the smoking booth was 98.59%, and 98.85% at the outlet. The total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) decreased from $26,000{\mu}g/m^3$ to $5,203{\mu}g/m^3$ in the smoking booth, resulting in 79.99% removal efficiency. After the ventilator was operated, the measured effluent concentration was $5,019{\mu}g/m^3$, and the removal efficiency was 80.70%. Therefore, the smoking booth designed and manufactured through this study can be applied to the removal of harmful pollutants even in the small working environment in the future.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.943-951
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• 2004

As storing ginger roots under optimum conditions takes high cost, ginger roots are commonly stored in underground tunnels where the maintenance of optimum temperature and humidity is difficult. One of the methods fur long term storage of ginger roots is freezing. The objective of this research was to evaluate effect of storage temperatures and packaging methods on the quality of minced ginger prepared with frozen stored ginger. The minced ginger prepared with frozen stored ginger at $-20^{\circ}C$ was packed in bags, glass bottles and tubes, and then stored at 5 and $-20^{\circ}C$ for quality evaluation at 4 and 15 week-intervals. The changes of surface color, total free sugars, free amino acids and volatile compounds were less in the combined treatment samples than in control during storage, regardless of the storage temperature. The tube packing was the best for maintaining quality of minced ginger during storage among tested packaging methods. Sensory results showed that the minced ginger with the combined treatment and packed in tubes could be stored at 5 and $-20^{\circ}C$ for 12 and 45 weeks, respectively, without a significant drop in palatability.