Suitability Assessment of Legal Regulation of Chemical Concentrations According to Vapor Pressure and Damage Radius

Hyo Eun Lee, Seok J. Yoon, Jong-Ryeul Sohn, Da-An Huh, Seok-Won Jang and Kyong Whan Moon
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Hyo Eun Lee: Department of Health Science, Korea University, Anam-ro 145, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02841, Korea
Seok J. Yoon: Department of Health Science, Korea University, Anam-ro 145, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02841, Korea
Jong-Ryeul Sohn: Department of Health Science, Korea University, Anam-ro 145, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02841, Korea
Da-An Huh: Department of Health Science, Korea University, Anam-ro 145, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02841, Korea
Seok-Won Jang: Environmental Research Complex, National Institute of Environmental Research, Hwangyeong-ro 42 Seo-gu, Incheon 22689, Korea
Kyong Whan Moon: Department of Health Science, Korea University, Anam-ro 145, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02841, Korea

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 3, 1-17

Abstract: Many chemicals used in the industrial field present risks, which differ depending on their chemical properties. Additionally, their various physicochemical properties change considerably with concentration. Many chemicals are used in customized processes in factories in the form of different aqueous solutions. The Korean Chemicals Control Act evaluates “hazardous chemicals”, describes their risks to the public, and regulates their concentration. To prepare against chemical accidents, factories construct models of potential damage radius, which is greatly influenced by a chemical’s vapor pressure. This study selected substances with widely varying vapor pressures (hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen chloride, aqueous ammonia, and hydrogen peroxide) and compared the results of different modeling programs (KORA, ALOHA, PHAST, and RMP*Comp) for various aqueous solution concentrations. The results showed that damage radius and vapor pressure increased similarly for each substance. Damage radius was negligible at low concentrations for all substances studied. Damage radius of ammonia solution increased with vapor pressure. Hydrogen fluoride is not found in aqueous solution at concentrations of less than 37%, and hydrogen peroxide does not show a large damage radius at low concentrations. However, the Chemicals Control Act strictly regulates hydrogen fluoride concentration beginning at 1%, hydrogen chloride and aqueous ammonia at 10%, and hydrogen peroxide at 6%. To effectively prepare against chemical accidents, we must examine scientifically-based, suitable regulations based on physicochemical properties.

Keywords: Chemicals Control Act; concentration of chemicals; vapor pressure; Areal Location of Hazardous Atmospheres (ALOHA); Process Hazard Analysis Software Tool (PHAST); RMP*Comp; Korea Off-site Risk Assessment Supporting Tool (KORA) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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