• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.39-46
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• 2005

This study was performed to investigate the concentration of $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ in inside train and platform of subway 1, 2, 4 and 5 in Seoul, KOREA. $PM_{10}$, $PM_{2.5}$, temperature, humidity and carbon dioxide were monitored using Portable Aerosol Spectrometer at afternoon (between 13:00 and 16:00). The concentrations of $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ in inside train were monitored to be higher than those measured in platform. In addition, $PM_{10}$ concentration in both platform and inside train were found to be greatly higher than range of from 35 ${\mu}g/m^3$ to 81${\mu}g/m^3$ in ambient air reported by Ministry of Environment. This study found that there were many inside train in subway 1, 2, 4 line where exceeded 150 ${\mu}g/m^3$ of Korean PM10 standard. The average percentage that exceeded PM10 standard was 83.3% in line 1, 37.9% in line 2 and 63.1% in line 4, respectively. In particular, most of inside train in subway line 1 were over PM10 limit. PM2.5 concentration ranged from 77.7 ${\mu}g/m^3$ to 158.2 ${\mu}g/m^3$, which were found to be greatly higher than ambient air PM2.5 standard promulgated by United States Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA) (24 hours arithmatic mean : 65 ${\mu}g/m^3$, year average : 15 ${\mu}g/m^3$). The percentage of $PM_{2.5}$ in $PM_{10}$ was 86.2% in platform, 81.7% in inside train, 80.2% in underground and 90.2% in ground. These results indicated that fine particles ($PM_{2.5}$) accounted for most of $PM_{10}$.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.282-286
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• 2002

Anemia is prevalent among pregnant women in Korea, and Fe deficiency anemia is a major nutritional problem throughout the world. Because studies of Cu, Mn, and Cr levels excluding Fe are rare, we were interested in changes in the nutritional status of these trace minerals and their relationship to hematogenesis. Accordingly, we determined the changes in plasma Fe, Cu, Mn, and Cr concentrations of maternal and umbilical cord blood during pregnancy, and evaluated the relationships between them at different time points during pregnancy. A total of 81 women participated in the study: 26 subjects in the first trimester, 23 in the second, and 32 in the third trimester. Plasma Fe levels were lower significantly (p<0.05) in the third trimester. Plasma Cu level ($\mu\textrm{g}$/dL) in each trimester were 86.6$\pm$13.8, 111.6$\pm$27.9, and 114.0$\pm$29.7, respectively; with significant increases (p<0.()5) in the second and third trimester. Plasma Mn concentrations (pg/dL) in each trimester were 212.6$\pm$89.0, 234.0$\pm$140.0, and 240.3$\pm$166.0, respectively and tended to increase, though not significantly, as the pregnancies progressed. The plasma concentrations of Cr (pg/dL) in each trimester were 3.7$\pm$2.0, 3.1$\pm$1.0, and 2.4$\pm$1.2, respectively; and was significantly lower (p<0.05) in the third trimester. In umbilical cord blood, the plasma level of Fe was 194.8$\pm$74.6 $\mu\textrm{g}$/dL, Cu was 57.5$\pm$10.9 $\mu\textrm{g}$/dL, Mn was 482.4$\pm$111.1 pg/dL, and Cr was 9.3$\pm$2.8 pg/dL. Plasma concentrations of Fe, Cu, Mn, and Cr of cord blood were 300 %, 50 %, 200 %, and 370% as compared to those of maternal blood in the third trimester. These results suggest that an active transport mechanism for the transport of Fe, Mn, and Cr from mother to fetus may exist, whereas, for Cu, the placenta appears to have a blocking effect on the transport from mother to baby.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.103-112
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• 2000

Elemental carbon(EC) and organic carbon(OC) in fine particles (PM2.5) were collected from October 1995 through August 1996 in the Chongju area. The annual mean concentrations of EC and OC were 4.44 and 4.99 $\mu\textrm{g}$/m3 respectively. EC showed seasonal variation (p<0.01) The magnitude of the seasonal mean EC concen-tration progresses in the following manner : fall>winter>spring>summer. However OC was not statistically seasonal difference(p=0.20) The annual average OC/EC ratio was 1.12 suggesting that organic carbon measured may by emitted directly in particulate form(primary aerosol) The contribution of EC to PM2.5 mass follows a general pattern in which fall(14.6%) > winter (9.8%) >spring(7.8%) =summer(7.8%) and the contribution of OC to the PM2.5 mass varies in order fall(13.8%) >winter(11.3%) >spring(10.5%) >summer (9.4%) Total carbona-ceous particles(EC and OC) accounted for 17-28% of the PM2.5 mass.

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
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• 2004.06a
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• pp.193-196
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• 2004

To evaluate the acute effects of fine particles on pulmonary function, a longitudinal study was conducted. This study was carried out for the schoolchildren (3rd and 6th grades) living in Beijing, China. Children were asked to record their daily levels of peak expiratory flow rate using portable peak flow meter (mini-Wright) for 40 days. The relationship between daily PEFR and fine particle levels was analyzed using a mixed linear regression models including gender, height, the presence of respiratory symptoms, and daily average temperature and relative humidity as extraneous variables. The total number of students participating in this longitudinal study was 87. Daily measured PEFR was in the range of $253{\sim}501L/min$. On the daily basis, a PEFR measured in the morning was shown to be lower than that measured in the evening (or afternoon). The daily mean concentrations of $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ over the study period were $180.2\;{\mu}g/m^3$ and $103.2\;{\mu}g/m^3$, respectively. The IQR (inter-quartile range) of $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ were $91.8\;{\mu}g/m^3$ and $58.0\;{\mu}g/m^3$. Daily mean PEFR was regressed with the 24-hour average $PM_{10}$ (or $PM_{2.5}$) levels, weather information such as air temperature and relative humidity, and individual characteristics including gender, height, and respiratory symptoms. The analysis showed that the increase of fine particle concentrations was negatively associated with the variability in PEFR. The IQR increments of $PM_{10}$ or $PM_{2.5}$ (at 1-day time lag) were also shown to be related with 1.54L/min (95% Confidence intervals -2.14, -0.94) and 1.56L/min (95% CI -2.16, -0.95) decline in PEFR.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.297-305
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• 1996

Aerosol measurements were carried out at Kosan, Cheju Island, Korea for the period from July 20 to August 10, 1994. Total suspended particles were collected by high volume samplers and PM 2.5 particles with gaseous volatile species were collected by a filter pack sampler and their ionic composition are analyzed. The average mass concentration of PM 2.5 particles was comparable to that of PM 3 particles collected during March, 1994 at the same site but the average non sea-salt sulfate concentration was higher that that of PM 3 particles, implying the fraction of anthropogenic air apllutants during this period is higher than that during March, 1994. During the measurement period, two distincitive patterns were observed, high concentrations of mass and water soluble ions were observed between July 20 and August 1 while those during after August 2 were low. Back trajectory analysis results show that air masses arriving at Kosan during the earlier period were mainly from Korea and Japan while those during the later period were from the North Pacific Ocean. It is suggested that the particle ion concentrations during the later period are marine background concentrations at Kosan during the summertime.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.435-447
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• 2016

Anthropogenic emissions of $PM_{2.5}$ in Chuncheon are considered to be low according to the national emissions inventory; however, the atmospheric $PM_{2.5}$ concentrations have been reported to be higher than or at least similar to those measured in metropolitan (e.g. Seoul) and/or in industrial cities (e.g. Incheon, Ulsan). In this study, the concentrations of $PM_{2.5}$ and its ionic and carbonaceous compounds were measured from Jan. 2013 to Dec. 2014 in Chuncheon, Korea to identify the characteristics of high $PM_{2.5}$ concentration event. Average $PM_{2.5}$ concentration was $34.6{\mu}g/m^3$, exceeding the annual air quality standard ($25{\mu}g/m^3$). The most abundant compound was organic carbon (OC), comprising 26% of $PM_{2.5}$ mass, followed by $SO_4{^{2-}}$. Among 14 high concentration events, three events showed clearly enhanced contributions of OC, $SO_4{^{2-}}$, $NO_3{^-}$ and $NH_4{^+}$ to $PM_{2.5}$ under the fog events. One event observed in summer showed high concentration of $SO_4{^{2-}}$ while the high wind speeds and the low $PM_{2.5}/PM_{10}$ ratios were observed for the two high concentration events. These results indicate that the secondary aerosol formation under the fog events and high atmospheric temperature as well as the regional and/or the long-range transport were important on enhancing $PM_{2.5}$ concentration in Chuncheon. Cluster analysis based on back trajectories also suggested the significant impacts of regional transport from China and metropolitan areas of Korea on $PM_{2.5}$ in Chuncheon.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.19-23
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• 2003

Dimethylamine (DMA) is the immediate precursor of carcinogenic N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA). In vitro and in vivo experiments using whole strawberries, and garlic and kale juices were conducted to determine concentrations of DMA and trimethylamine (TMA) in foods and urine. Experimental diets [an amino-rich diet as nitrosatable precursors in combination with added nitrate-containing drinking water without (TD1) or with whole strawberries or garlic or kale juices (TD2, TD3 and TD4, respectively), or a diet of low in nitrate and amino (TD5) were incubated in simulated saliva and gastric juices at 37$^{\circ}C$ for 1 hour. We also studied the urinary excretion of DMA and TMA after consumption of the experimental diets (TD1~TD5). Urine samples were obtained for 18 hrs after consumption of experimental diets and concentrations of DMA and TMA were measured in the digested diet and urine. The DMA concentration after incubation in experimental diets (TD1~TD5) was 4.7$\pm$0.3, 6.7 $\pm$0.2, 7.9$\pm$0.2, 7.1$\pm$0.2 and 0.3$\pm$0.1 mg/kg, respectively. Urinary excretion of DMA (TD1~TD5) was 22.0$\pm$5.0, 28.3$\pm$4.3, 29.2$\pm$4.1, 27.4$\pm$4.5 and 20.4$\pm$3.1 mg/18 hr, respectively. Consumption diets with added strawberries or juices of kale or garlic increased urinary TMA and DMA, suggesting that those precursors were excreted and not converted to the carcinogen, NMDA.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.600-607
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• 2010

In 2008, multiple episodes of large-scale transport of natural airborne particles and anthropogenically affected particles from different sources in the East Asian continent were identified in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) satellite RGB-composite images and the mass concentrations of ground level particulate matters. To analyze the aerosol size distribution during the large-scale transport of atmospheric aerosols, both aerosol optical depth (AOD; proportional to the aerosol total loading in the vertical column) and fine aerosol weighting (FW; fractional contribution of fine aerosol to the total AOD) of Moderate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aerosol products were used over the East Asian region. The six episodes of massive natural airborne particles were observed at Cheongwon, originating from sandstorms in northern China, Mongolia and the loess plateau of China. The $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ stood at 70% and 16% of the total mass concentration of TSP, respectively. However, the mass concentration of $PM_{2.5}$ among TSP increased as high as 23% in the episode in which they were flowing in by way f the industrial area in east China. In the other five episodes of anthropogenically affected particles that flowed into the Korean Peninsula from east China, the mass concentrations of $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ among TSP reached 82% and 65%, respectively. The average AOD for the large-scale transport of anthropogenically affected particle episodes in the East Asian region was measured at $0.42{\pm}0.17$ compared with AOD ($0.36{\pm}0.13$) for the natural airborne particle episodes. Particularly, the regions covering east China, the Yellow Sea, the Korean Peninsula, and the east Korean sea were characterized by high levels of AOD. The average FW values observed during the event of anthropogenically affected aerosols ($0.63{\pm}0.16$) were moderately higher than those of natural airborne particles ($0.52{\pm}0.13$). This observation suggests that anthropogenically affected particles contribute greatly to the atmospheric aerosols in East Asia.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.63 no.2
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• pp.161-168
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• 2020

It is known that different plant species have ability to deposit different amounts of particulate matter (PM) on their leaves and plants can absorb heavy metals in PM through their leaves. Heavy metals in PM can have toxic effect on human body and plants. Therefore, PM on different roadside trees at Chungbuk national University including box tree (Buxus koreana), yew (Taxus cuspidate), royal azalea (Rhododendron yedoense), and retusa fringetree (Chionanthus retusa) was quantified based on particle size (PM_>10 and PM_2.5-10). The metal concentration in PM accumulated on leaves was analyzed using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy. In this study, the mass of PM_>10 deposited on the surface of the tree leaves ranged from 6.11 to 32.7 ㎍/㎠, while the mass of PM_2.5-10 ranged from 0 to 14.8 ㎍/㎠. The royal azaleas with grooves and hair on the leaf surface retained PM particles for longer time, while the yews and box trees with wax on leaf surfaces accumulated more PM. The PM contained elements in crustal material such as Al, Ca, Mg, and Fe and heavy metals including Cu, Pb and Zn. The concentration of elements in crustal material was higher in the coarser size, while heavy metal concentration was relatively higher in the finer size fraction. The Mn, Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn concentrations of leaves and PM_2.5-10 were significantly correlated indicating that PM was taken up through tree leaves.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.51-60
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• 1997

The high radon (Rn222) potentials of soil, groundwater, hotspring and indoor environments in the Taejon city area were delineated by use of an EDA RDA-200 radon detector. The U and Th contents were also analysed using a Multi Channel Analyzer to illustrate the sources of the radon potentials. The average U concentrations in Taejon vary according to the type of granites such as $4.14{\pm}2.36ppm$ in schistose granite (SG), $3.13{\pm}1.70ppm$ in biotite granite (BG) and $3.01{\pm}1.95ppm$ in two mica granite (TG). The U contents in the granites are closely related with the amounts of uraniferous minerals. However, the U contents in the soil are found to be $5.05{\pm}4.75ppm$ in TG, $4.07{\pm}1.69ppm$ in BG and $3.87{\pm}1.91ppm$ in SG which are mainly explained by the different cation exchange capacities (CEC) of the soils from various granites. The levels of soil radon are $552{\pm}656pCi/l$ in SG, in which levels at two locations exceed the level of 1,350 pCi/l established as guideline for follow-up action by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), $443{\pm}284pCi/l$ in TG and $224{\pm}115pCi/l$ in the BG. The soil radon concentrations are found to be proportional to the U content and hardness of the soils. The groundwater radon concentrations in the domestic wells of - 30~-100 m depth show that $6,907{\pm}4,665pCi/l$ in TG, $5,503{\pm}6,551pCi/l$ in SG and $2,104{\pm}1,157pCi/l$ in BG which are positively related with U contents in soils. The radon levels of six groundwater wells in TG and two in SG are greater than guideline for drinking water level, 10,000 pCi/l by EPA (1986). Average radon contents of hotsprings and public bathes in the TG area are $7,071{\pm}1,942pCi/l$ and $1,638{\pm}709pCi/l$, respectively, which are below the EPA standard for remedial action value of the 10,000 pCi/l. The mean indoor radon concentrations of the TG and SG areas are $1.60{\pm}1.20pCi/l$ and $1.60{\pm}0.70pCi/l$, respectively. The elevated indoor radon levels of 5.6 pCi/l and 6.7 pCi/l are found to be particularly in TG area, which exceeds 4 pCi/i guideline, correlating positively with the U contents in the soil and radon concentration in the groundwater.