• 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 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 $PM_{10}$.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.287-293
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• 2007

Pervaporation separation of toluene from water were studied using hydrophobic copolyimide membranes. The copolyimide membranes were prepared from 4,4'-(hexafluoroisopropylidene)diphthalic anhydride (6FDA) and two diamines (polysiloxane diamine (SIDA)/2-(perfluorohexyl) ethyl-3,5-diaminobenzene (PFDAB)). The pervaporation properties for toluene/water were investigated in terms of mol ratio of SIDA/PFDAB in polyimide membranes. Sorption- and diffusion-related properties were measured to analyze the permeation properties in solution-diffusion theory, It was found that as the SIDA content in the membranes increased, sorption of toluene and sorption selectivity of toluene/water increased due to high affinity of siloxane moiety toward toluene. Diffusion coefficient of toluene and diffusion selectivity of toluene/water also increased with SIDA content due to high free volume of siloxane moiety. As the results, the permeation flux and pervaporation selectivity increased markedly from 0.005 $kg/m^2h$ to 049 $kg/m^2h$ and from 9 to 6380, respectively.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2011.10a
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• pp.807-810
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• 2011

The sensor network technology for core technology of ubiquitous computing is in the spotlight recently, the research on sensor network is proceeding actively which is composed many different sensor node. USN(Ubiquitous Sensor Network) is the network that widely applies for life of human being. It works out to sense, storage, process, deliver every kind of appliances and environmental information from the stucktags and sensors. And it is possible to utilize to measure and monitor about the place of environmental pollution which is difficult for human to install. It's studied constantly since it be able to compose easily more subminiature, low-power, low-cost than previous one. And also it spotlights an important field of study, graft the green IT and IT of which the environment and IT unite stragically onto the Network. The problem for the air pollution in the office or the indoor except a specific working area is the continuously issue since the human beings have lived in the dwelling facilities. Measures for that problem are urgently needed. It's possible to solve for the freshair of outside with enough ventilation but that is the awkward situation to be managed by person. This study is the system engineering to management for indoor air condition under the sensor network. And research for efficiently manage an option.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.200-208
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• 2012

Objectives: This study investigated the performance of three separate units of a portable photoionization detector (PID, ppb-RAE 3000) for measuring volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in a laboratory. Methods: A laboratory evaluation of the accuracy, precision, and inter-instrumental variance of three separate units of a portable PID (ppb-RAE 3000) was performed. The evaluation was based on the preparation of a test air sample of known toluene or ethylacetate concentration in a Tedlar$^{(R)}$ bag. The test air sample was monitored and data were logged consecutively by the three PIDs. A certified gas of 50 ppm toluene was also monitored during the test to ensure the reliability of the generated test air sample. Four different concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 2 TLV were used and a series of five measurements for each concentration level was performed. The accuracy was evaluated using National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) criteria. Results: The results from the oldest ppb-RAE3000 unit among the three test units generally fell outside the NIOSH recommended accuracy criteria of ${\pm}25%$, whereas the other two units produced results which were acceptable at, or greater than, 25 ppm of toluene, or 0.5 TLV. These units also met the NIOSH criteria for some ethylacetate measurements but the results were not consistent. Conclusions: Considering the inconsistent performance of these ppb-RAE 3000 units, this device may not be appropriate for use as an alternative to the standard measurement methods. However, it can serve good survey instruments to identify exposure sources or concentration profiles. For all applications, the ppb-RAE 3000 should be used with frequent calibration checks, additional validation using a reference material, and careful maintenance.

• Clean Technology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.79-84
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• 2021

In this study, the waste activated carbon used in the painting process was filled into a cylindrical cartridge and the characteristics of desorption by low temperature gas were investigated. Adsorption and desorption experiments of toluene with activated carbon were conducted to determine the flow rate of desorption. In an experiment where desorption was performed while changing conditions at flow rates of 1, 2 and 4 ㎥ min-1, it was determined that 2 ㎥ min-1 was appropriate due to the high THC concentration and desorption time. In the early stage of the desorption of waste activated carbon, 2-butanone and MIBK (methyl isobutyl ketone) with a low boiling point were generated at a high rate in the gas component, and after that, the concentration of THC decreased and the BTX was desorbed at a high rate. The total calorific value of the gas component generated during the desorption of waste activated carbon was 316 kcal kg-1. From repeating the regeneration of waste activated carbon with toluene five times, it was observed that the iodine value and the specific surface area were relatively lower than that of new activated carbon. In the desorption experiment where two cylindrical cartridges were connected in series, the maximum THC concentration was about 470 ppm.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.540-547
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• 2021

Background: Indoor air pollutants are caused by a number of factors, such as coming in from the outside or being generated by internal activities. Typical indoor air pollutants include nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide from household items such as heating appliances and volatile organic compounds from building materials. In addition there is carbon dioxide from human breathing and bacteria from speaking, coughing, and sneezing. Objectives: According to recent research results, most indoor air pollution is known to be greatly affected by internal factors such as burning (biomass for cooking) and various pollutants. These pollutants can have a fatal effect on the human body due to a lack of ventilation facilities. Methods: We fabricated a polydopamine (PDA) layer with Ti substrates as a coating on supported glass fiber fabric to enhance its photo-activity. The PDA layer with TiO₂ was covalently attached to glass fiber fabric using the drop-casting method. The roughness and functional groups of the surface of the Ti substrate/PDA coated glass fiber fabric were verified through infrared imaging microscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The obtained hybrid Ti substrate/PDA coated glass fiber fabric was investigated for photocatalytic activity by the removal of ammonia and an epidermal Staphylococcus aureus reduction test with lamp (250 nm, 405 nm wavelength) at 24℃. Results: Antibacterial properties were found to reduce epidermal staphylococcus aureus in the Ti substrate/PDA coated glass fiber fabric under 405 nm after three hours. In addition, the Ti substrate/PDA coated glass fiber fabric of VOC reduction rate for ammonia was 50% under 405 nm after 30 min. Conclusions: An electron-hole pair due to photoexcitation is generated in the PDA layer and transferred to the conduction band of TiO₂. This generates a superoxide radical that degrades ammonia and removes epidermal Staphylococcus aureus.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.24-29
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• 2013

In the present study, the effects of prebiotics and prebiotics+probiotics on intestinal microflora and fermentation products were evaluated in a pig in vitro fermentation model. The substrates used in this study were iso-malto oligosaccharide (IMO), partially digested chicory-inulin (CI), raffinose (RA), and cyclodextrin (CD) as prebiotics and Lactobacillus reiteri as probiotics. For a pig in vitro fermentation, the experimental diet for growing pigs was predigested using digestive enzymes secreted by small intestine and this hydrolyzed diet was mixed with a buffer solution containing 5% fresh swine feces. The mixture was then incubated with either prebiotics or prebiotics+probiotics for 24 h. Samples were taken at 24 h, and viable counts of microflora, gas, pH, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) were analyzed. The viable count of Enterobacteriaceae was significantly decreased (p<0.001) in all treatments containing prebiotics and prebiotics+probiotics when compared to the control. However, the number of lactic acid bacteria increased in the prebiotics and prebiotics+probiotics treatment. The pH values in the fermentation fluid decreased in all treatments when compared to the control, and their effects were greater in the prebiotics+probiotics group than prebiotics group. Fermentation with prebiotics resulted in a reduction in malodorous compounds such as ammonia, hydrogen sulfide and skatole when compared to the prebiotics+probiotics group. Short-chain fatty acid production was also higher for treatment with prebiotics+probiotics than treatment with prebiotics. In conclusion, the results of this study demonstrated that fermentation with prebiotics was effective in reducing the formation of malodorous compounds and prebiotics+probiotics was effective in increasing lactic acid bacteria and SCFA and reducing the pH. Moreover, further studies will be needed to determine whether the results observed in the in vitro model would occur in pigs that ingest these prebiotics or probiotics.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.201-207
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• 2011

Purpose: This study was to find out the influence on eyes of indoor air quality in college students taking course, such as Sick-building syndrome symptoms and effects on the eye in new-built university buildings. Methods: We selected a new building in a university located in Metro Seoul and college students in a department for the study. The number of total participants was 33, to whom questionnaire surveys were conducted in advance to check individual traits (gender, age, whether to smoke, whether to wear contact lenses, or whether to drink). The first questionnaire surveys and checking of ocular symptoms to first indoor hazardous materials were conducted in October and two months later the second surveys and checking were carried out in December. The indoor air quality was measured when conducting the first questionnaire surveys and the second questionnaire surveys; especially measurements of gaseous materials such as aldehydes and VOCs in the indoor air were conducted. Results: Indoor air quality of the new building was as follows: formaldehyde level was 22.90 ${\mu}g/m^3$ in the first measurement and 16.79 ${\mu}g/m^3$ in the second measurement. In addition, most materials showed higher value in the first measurement. The level of TVOC was statistically significant (p<0.05) decreased on 448.54 ${\mu}g/m^3$ in the first and 62.55 ${\mu}g/m^3$ in the second. In clinical assessments to check ocular symptoms caused by eye irritations, dry eye syndrome was found in the first and second exposures. When comparing the first and second assessments, dry eyes deteriorated in the morning of the second attempt compared to the first one. Conclusions: In the survey of ocular symptoms and the measurement of indoor air quality, the level of formaldehyde was measured higher in the second attempt than the first; thus, it was confirmed the influence of indoor air quality in a new building upon ocular symptoms of occupants.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.89-95
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• 2009

Objectives : To assess the protective effects of wearing protective devices among the residents and volunteers who participated in the cleanup of the Hebei Spirit oil spill. Methods : A total of 288 residents and 724 volunteers were surveyed about symptoms, whether they were wearing protective devices and potential confounding variables. The questionnaires were administered from the second to the sixth week following the accident. Spot urine samples were collected and analyzed for metabolites of 4 volatile organic compounds(VOCs), 2 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs), and 6 heavy metals. The association between the wearing of protective devices and various symptoms was assessed using a multiple logistic regression adjusted for confounding variables. A multiple generalized linear regression model adjusted for the covariates was used to test for a difference in least-square mean concentration of urinary biomarkers between residents who wore protective devices and those who did not. Results : Thirty nine to 98% of the residents and 62-98% of volunteers wore protective devices. Levels of fatigue and fever were higher among residents not wearing masks than among those who did wear masks(odds ratio 4.5; 95% confidence interval 1.23-19.86). Urinary mercury levels were found to be significantly higher among residents not wearing work clothes or boots(p<0.05). Conclusions : Because the survey was not performed during the initial high-exposure period, no significant difference was found in metabolite levels between people who wore protective devices and those who did not, except for mercury, whose biological half-life is more than 6 weeks.