• Advances in environmental research
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.277-288
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• 2012

This study investigated exposure to air pollutants in rooms in low-income houses at Shomolu (R1), Mafoluku (R2) and Mushin (R3) in Lagos state. The concentrations of most measured exceeded limits of Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) for indoor air quality. Air quality index (AQI) in rooms studied was unhealthy for sensitive people in terms of CO, unhealthy in terms of $SO_2$ and very unhealthy in terms of $NO_2$ while moderate air quality was obtained in terms of $PM_{10}$ in most rooms. High concentrations of carbontetrachloride, formaldehyde and xylene measured could have been responsible for some of the health complaints of the occupants. Factor analysis shows that cooking with kerosene, use of gasoline generator and insecticide were the major contributors to indoor air pollution in these rooms. Therefore, there is need to urgently tackle poverty as all affected by these pollutants were poor who live in substandard houses without kitchens.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.488-496
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• 2002

SPME techniques have proven to be very useful tools in the analysis of wide VOCs in the air. In this study, we estimated VOCs in ambient and workplace air using a Tedlar ba /SPME/GC/MS system. The calibration curve was set to be linear over the range of 1-30 ppbv. The detection limits ranged from 10 pptv to 0.93 ppbv for all VOCs. Reproducibility of TO-14 target gas mixtures by SPME/GC/MS averaged at 8.8 R.S.D (%). Air toxic VOCs (hazardous air pollutants, HAPs) containing a total of forty halohydrocarbons, aromatics, and haloaro-matic carbons could be analyzed with significant accuracy, detection limit and linearity at low ppbv level. Only reactive VOCs with low molecular weight, such as chloromethane, vinylchloride, ethylchloride and 1,2-dichloro-ethane, yielded relatively poor results using this technique. In ambient air samples, ten VOCs were identified and quantified after external calibration. VOC concentration in ambient and workplace air ranged from 0.04 to 1.85 ppbv. The overall process was successfully applied to identify and quantify VOCs in ambient/workplace air.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.205-224
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• 2023

The emission of off-gas streams from used fuel recycling is a concern in nuclear energy usage as they contain radioactive compounds, such as, ³H, ¹⁴C, ⁸⁵Kr, ¹³¹I, and ¹²⁹I that can be harmful to human health and environment. Radioactive iodine, ¹²⁹I, is particularly troublesome as it has a half-life of more than 15 million years and is prone to accumulate in human thyroid glands. Organic iodides are hazardous even at very low concentrations, and hence the capture of ¹²⁹I is extremely important. Dynamic adsorption experiments were conducted to determine the efficiency of sodium mordenite, partially exchanged silver mordenite, and fully exchanged silver mordenite for the removal of methyl iodide present at parts per billion concentrations in a simulated off-gas stream. Kinetic analysis of the system was conducted incorporating the effects of diffusion and mass transfer. The possible reaction mechanism is postulated and the order of the reaction and the values of the rate constants were determined from the experimental data. Adsorbent characterization is performed to investigate the nature of the adsorbent before and after iodine loading. This paper will offer a comprehensive understanding of the methyl iodide behavior when in contact with the mordenites.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.381-389
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• 2009

Confined spaces are inherently dangerous workplace and many fatal and nonfatal accidents have been reported. Even though these accidents occur in various kinds of confined spaces, there has rarely been reported on the health hazard agent, i.e., the types of gases and their concentration ranges. Therefore in this study, we evaluated several toxic and asphyxiating gas concentrations in various confined spaces. We surveyed 57 manholes, 3 sewage treatment plants, 2 yellow radish manufacturing companies and 7 barges to measure the concentrations of oxygen($O_2$), hydrogen sulfide($H_2S$), carbon monoxide(CO), ammonia($NH_3$). Lower Explosion Limits(LEL) and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). Those four types of confined spaces occupies 56% of accidents during last 9 years in Korea. In 57 manholes, the concentration varied according to the types of manholes; rainfall and sewage, and by location; residential and industrial areas. Sewage manhole in industrial area was evaluated as the most hazardous than other types of manhole like rainfall manholes, residential sewage manholes. The highest $H_2S$ concentration and the lowest $O_2$ concentration at sewage manhole in industrial area were 300 ppm, 8.7% respectively. In 3 sewage treatment plants, $H_2S$ and $NH_3$ concentrations were reached up to the 500 ppm and 200 ppm respectively. Two yellow radish manufacturing companies showed the concentrations of 316 ppm, 505.2 ppm, 90 ppm and 15.7% for $H_2S$, CO, VOCs and $O_2$, respectively. Seven barges showed 15.9%~20.9% oxygen concentration. Gas species and concentration ranges varied by the types and location of confined spaces; CO, $H_2S$, $O_2$ could be hazardous in manhole, especially manhole connected to sewage plants. CO, $H_2S$, LEL, $O_2$, $NH_3$ should be controlled in sludge silo and sluge pumping confined spaces in sewage treatment plant. The activity of lifting out radish from the storage tank was evaluated more hazardous rather than the other activities in yellow radish manufacturing industry. The employers must conduct the survey to identify all possible confined spaces in their local workplace prior to performing the tasks. At the national level to reduce the accidents in the confined spaces, we suggest that systemic approach and active education program including possible hazards, standard operation procedures, ventilation plan, and personal protective equipment in confined spaces should be implemented.

• 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.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.22 no.E2
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• pp.49-56
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• 2006

This pilot study focuses on emissions characterization of air pollutants produced from incineration of some municipal solid wastes (MSWs). The MSWs incinerated by an electric furnace maintained up to $600^{\circ}C$ included food, paper, and plastic wastes. The pollutants analyzed in this study included concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), bottom ash contents, and heavy metals extracted from the bottom ash of each waste. The VOCs identified were classified based on their chemical structure. The total emissions of VOCs produced from incineration of the papers were identified as the highest followed by those from the plastics and the food wastes. Aliphatic alkenes were major VOC compounds produced from incineration of plastic or food wastes, while furans were major VOCs produced from incineration of papers. The second major VOCs produced from incineration of food, plastics, and papers were aromatics. In particular, hazardous air pollutants such as benzene were produced with considerable amount of emission concentration. The bottom ash contents of papers were usually much higher than those of food or plastic wastes. The bottom ash contents produced from incineration of food and plastics were much lower than those of other MSWs. In analysis of heavy metals extracted by an ultrasonic method from the bottom ashes of the papers, high concentrations of heavy metals were identified from incineration of newspapers and box (cardboard). In addition, it was identified that the general public might be exposed to considerable amounts of lead concentrations during incineration processes and uses of paper cup and from ashes.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.233-244
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• 2006

Of many volatile organic detergents for metals, benzine(CAS No. 8030-30-6), of which the toxicity has not yet been proven, has been used as an alternative of the halide compounds in the consideration of toxic effects, global warming and the destruction of ozone layer. In order to evaluate the effects of the benzine on human body by investigating the subchronic inhalation toxicity, to obtain the basic data for establishing the criteria of exposure in working environments and to classify the hazardousness in compliance with the Industrial Safety and Health Act by evaluating the hazardousness, repeated inhalation exposure test was carried with SD rats. The rats were grouped by 10 females and males each. The repetitive inhalation exposures were carried out at 4 levels of concentration of 0 ppm, 60 ppm, 300 ppm, and 1,500 ppm, for 6 hours a day, 5 days a week, for 13 weeks. The results are described hereunder. 1. No death of the animals of the exposed and controlled groups in the test period. Not any specific clinical symptoms, change in feed intake quantity, abnormality in eye test, or change in activity were observed. 2. In the 300 ppm and 1,500 ppm groups, weight reduction in the female groups and weight increase of liver and kidney in the male groups compared with control group were observed with statistical significance(p<0.05). 3. In the blood test, the HCT increased in the male 300 ppm group and the number of hematocyte increased, MCV and MCH decreased in the male 1,500 ppm group. In the female 1,500 ppm group, the HB decreased and the distribution width of the hematocyte particle size increased. In the blood biochemistry test, the TP in the male 1,500 ppm group and the LDH in the female 1,500 ppm group were increased with statistical significance(p<0.05). 4. Under the test conditions of the present study with SD rats, the NOEL was evaluated to be from 60 ppm to 300 ppm for both male and female groups. By extrapolation, the NOEL for human who work 8 hours a day was evaluated to be from 128 ppm to 640 ppm 5. Since the NOEL evaluated in this study do not exceed 60ppm(0.184 mg/L) the test material does not belong to the classification of the hazardous substance "NOEL${\leq}$0.5mg/L/6hr/90day(rat), for continuous inhalation of 6hours a day for 90 days" nor to the basic hazardous chemical substance class 1(0.2 mg/L/6hr/90day(rat) defined by the GHS which is a criteria of classification and identification of chemical compounds. However, considering the boiling point($30-204^{\circ}C$), flashing point($-40^{\circ}C$), vapor pressure(40 mmHg), and the inflammable range(1.0 - 6.0 %), sufficient care should be taken for handling in the safety aspects including fire or explosion.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.294-302
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• 2015

BACKGROUND: Chemical accidents have increased owing to chemical usage, human error and technical failures during the last decades. Many countries have organized supervisory authorities in charge of enforcing related rules and regulations to prevent chemical accidents. A very important part in chemical accidents has been coping with comprehensive first aid tool. Therefore, the present research has provided information with the initial applications concern to the rapid analysis of hazardous material using instruments in vehicle of field mode after chemical accidents. METHODS AND RESULTS: Mobile measurement vehicle was manufactured to obtain information regarding field assessments of chemical accidents. This vehicle was equipped with four instruments including gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC/MS), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Ion Chromatography (IC), and UV/Vis spectrometer (UV) to analyses of accident preparedness substances, volatile compounds, and organic gases. Moreover, this work was the first examined the evaluation of applicability for analysis instruments using 20 chemicals in various accident preparedness substances (GC/MS; 6 chemicals, FT-IR; 2 chemicals, IC; 11 chemicals, and UV; 1 chemical) and their calibration curves were obtained with high linearity ( r ² > 0.991). Our results were observed the advantage of the high chromatographic peak capacity, fast analysis, and good sensitivity as well as resolution. CONCLUSION: When chemical accidents are occurred, the posted measurement vehicle may be utilized as tool an effective for qualitative and quantitative information in the scene of an accident owing to the rapid analysis of hazardous material.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.398-409
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• 2021

Background: The types and effects of hazardous pollutants in indoor air may vary depending on the characteristics of the sources and pollutants caused by physical and chemical properties of buildings, the influence of outdoor air, and the exposure and use characteristics of residents. Objectives: This study was conducted to provide basic data on the establish of indoor air quality management for different classes of public-use facilities by presenting the characteristics of concentration distribution of hazardous pollutants by different public-use facilities and the status of the excess proportion of exceeding standards. Methods: This study analyzed self-measurement data from public-use facilities taken from 2017 to 2019 A total of 133,525 facilities were surveyed. A total of 10 types of pollutants that have maintenance and recommended standards stipulated in the Indoor Air Quality Control Act from the Ministry of Environment were investigated. The excess proportion and the substances exceeding the criteria for each type of public-use facilities for these pollutants were investigated. Results: As a result of the analysis of the proportion of exceeding the standard for each type of public-use facility, the facilities with the highest excess proportion of the standards for each hazardous pollutant were: PM₁₀ in railway stations (8.93%), PM_2.5 in daycare centers (7.36%), CO₂ in bus terminals (2.37%), HCHO in postpartum care centers (4.11%), total airborne bacteria in daycare centers (0.69%), CO in museums (0.1%), NO₂ in postpartum care centers (1.15%), Rn in museums (0.78%), total volatile organic compounds in postpartum care centers (7.20%) and mold in daycare centers (1.44%). Conclusions: Although uncertainty may arise because this study is a result of self-measurement, it is considered that this study has significance for providing basic data on the establishment in the future of indoor air quality management measures customized for each type of public-use facility.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.323-330
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to examine the occurrence level of harmful chemical substance and the riskiness caused by it at university laboratory, which had been faintly interested in safe health management. It measured and analyzed indoor pollutants by academic department targeting K university where is located in Seoul Metropolis for 6 days starting from May 26, 2010. As a result, the appearance of being furnished with MSDS, the appearance of installing the exposure-reduction facilities, and the present status of supplying protective equipment in order to grasp the present status of managing harmful chemical substance at university laboratory were relatively good in management at the Dept. of Chemistry, the Dept. of Physics, and the Dept. of Medical Science, which are basic science laboratories. The activity for managing harmful chemical substance in the Dept. of Dental Medicine and the Dept. of Fine Arts was surveyed to be insufficient. Also, the concentration of formaldehyde and TVOCs(total volatile organic compounds) inside laboratory was detected noticeably highly in the Dept. of Fine Arts compared to other laboratories. The concentration of formaldehyde in a group, which was collectivized by similar academic department, was indicated to be higher in other academic departments including the Dept. of Fine Arts and the Dept. of Life Science, thereby having shown significant difference. The concentration of formaldehyde and TVOCs showed significant difference at the laboratory without installation compared to the laboratory with installation of fume hood. Seeing the above results, it could be known that a whole drop in recognition on influence of chemical upon health leads to being able to increase occurrence level of hazardous factor due to being insufficient in activity of protecting exposure to chemical substance.