Formaldehyde Chemical Substance Flow Analysis in South Korea
Résumé
A chemical substance is any material that has a definite chemical composition. Currently chemical substances and materials are widely used in all kind of industry and household, almost everywhere and in everything. On the other hand, these chemical substances and materials have important issues such as risk related with hazardous and toxic in their life cycle from manufacturing and use to the end of life. Also historically, many chemical accidents and industrial disasters were occurred in the world. In South Korea, recently the number of chemical accidents was significantly increased from 15 cases in 2010 to 104 cases in 2014. Up to date, therefore, related regulation and assessment tools (e.g., REACH, risk assessment, health effect of chemical exposure) are widely applied for chemical substances and materials. In 1996, UNEP published a report on management of industrial accident prevention and preparedness. This report is a training resource package and material. The risk management plan (RMP) from the US EPA helps local fire, police, and emergency response personnel prepare for and respond to chemical emergencies.There have been some studies and regulations on the guiding principles of chemical accident prevention, preparedness and response. However, the study on chemical substance flow analysis in country level and its application was not well conducted. In this study, therefore, formaldehyde (CH2O), which is used mainly to produce resins used in particleboard products and as an intermediate in the synthesis of other chemicals was selected. Formaldehyde is used predominantly as a chemical intermediate. It also has minor uses in agriculture, as an analytical reagent, in concrete and plaster additives, cosmetics, disinfectants, fumigants, photography, and wood preservation [3]. The purpose of this study is quantifying, analysing and mapping of the formaldehyde substance flows by using material flow analysis method in South Korea.