• 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.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.185-192
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• 2012

The prevalence of allergic diseases has increased worldwide, a phenomenon that can be largely attributed to environmental effects. Among environmental factors, air pollution due to traffic is thought to be a major threat to childhood health. Residing near busy roadways is associated with increased asthma hospitalization, decreased lung function, and increased prevalence and severity of wheezing and allergic rhinitis. Recently, prospective cohort studies using more accurate measurements of individual exposure to air pollution have been conducted and have provided definitive evidence of the impact of air pollution on allergic diseases. Particulate matter and ground-level ozone are the most frequent air pollutants that cause harmful effects, and the mechanisms underlying these effects may be related to oxidative stress. The reactive oxidative species produced in response to air pollutants can overwhelm the redox system and damage the cell wall, lipids, proteins, and DNA, leading to airway inflammation and hyper-reactivity. Pollutants may also cause harmful effects via epigenetic mechanisms, which control the expression of genes without changing the DNA sequence itself. These mechanisms are likely to be a target for the prevention of allergies. Further studies are necessary to identify children at risk and understand how these mechanisms regulate gene-environment interactions. This review provides an update of the current understanding on the impact of air pollution on allergic diseases in children and facilitates the integration of issues regarding air pollution and allergies into pediatric practices, with the goal of improving pediatric health.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.545-564
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• 2016

Recently as fine and ultra fine particles become major environmental issues in Korea, it is very important to develop effective solutions to air pollution. Accordingly this study aims at detecting causes of air pollution by using models and examining if diesel price increases contribute to reduction of diesel consumption and air pollution. TSP, PM10, $NO_X$, $SO_X$, CO, and VOC are included as major air pollutants. As a result, we found invert U shape curve between pollution and income for all air pollutants except CO. Consumer price index, coal power capacity, diesel consumption, frequency of yellow dust, number of natural gas buses, number of transport business, annual average temperature, number of manufacturing businesses are also influential in explaining causes of air pollution. As diesel price increases by 1%, air pollutants decline between 0.07~0.12% in the short run. Simultaneously, the additional revenue from increases in diesel prices might be transferred to support expansion of biofuel market. Also, stronger policy should be developed to mitigate the current air pollution problem.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.33 no.2 s.95
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• pp.92-97
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• 2007

A series of source tests were conducted to characterize emissions of nitrogen oxide(NOx, NO, $NO_2$), carbon mon oxide(CO), carbon dioxide$(CO_2)$ and total VOCs from portable combustion devices in steady-state using well-mixed chamber. Since use of portable gas range is widespread in houses and restaurants in Korea, it is important to characterize the emission of air pollutants and suggest optimum ventilation rate. Ranges of emission rates of air pollutants from portable gas ranges were $NO \;0.551\sim0.939mg/hr,\;NO_2\;0.354\sim1.080mg/hr,\;NO_x\;1.207\sim1.631mg/hr,\;CO\;1.389\sim4.21mg/hr,\;CO_2\;2426.823\sim2973.495mg/hr$, and VOCs $0\sim0.119mg/h$. Mean of personal exposure and indoor environment level of $NO_2$ by combustion of portable gas range were 74.7 ppb and 65.4 ppb, respectively, suggesting persons using portable gas range in houses and restaurants might be highly exposed. Required ventilation rate to control the air pollutants emitted from portable gas range was maximumly $3.131m^3/hr$ on the basis of $NO_2$ indoor air quality standard.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.513-527
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• 2013

Recently, hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) have been of great concern in Korea, largely due to public awareness on the importance of their impacts on environmental health. A group of HAPs includes a large number of various chemicals such as VOCs, PAHs, PCBs, dioxines, furans, organochlorinated pesticides, and some heavy metals. These groups of pollutants are generally known to have genetic toxicity and to be persistent in the environment. In addition, most of chemicals belong to the category of HAPs are widely distributed not only in air, but also in water and soil environments, and has therefore undergone considerable scrutiny for the last three decades. In this article, environmental implications and management of HAPs in Korea will be reviewed, with a particular emphasis on the monitoring of HAPs in the ambient air. A number of field studies will be introduced, which were recently conducted in large urban and industrial areas. Based on the filed studies, eight pollutants have been suggested to be intensively managed as higher priority pollutants, which are benzene, 1,3-butadiene, formaldehyde, acrolein, trichloroethylene, benzo(a)pyrene, hexa-valent Cr, and $PM_{2.5}$. Finally, future directions for a mega scale project for comprehensive monitoring of ambient atmosphere in large urban areas will be suggested. Such an innovative project is believed to provide more realistic information on the nature of the population exposure, which can not be simply identified by emission inventories or source investigations. Therefore, any strategy for the management of HAPs should be developed by not only emission-based approaches, but also observation-based approaches.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.249-256
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• 2013

For the purpose of recording polarization of the earth's atmosphere, the entire sky was photographed using the all-sky camera when the Sun was just above the horizon. The ratio and width of polarization were defined using the photograph, and a method to measure them was developed. Time-series photography of the polarization ratio and its width enabled us to qualitatively analyze the polarization phenomena which changes depending on the weather conditions. Findings indicated that polarization was co-related with air pollutants in a meaningful way. The polarization phenomena of the Earth's atmosphere are influenced by air pollutants. The more air pollutants exist in the air, the lower polarization ratio and the bigger polarization width it has. It is suggested that air pollutants disperses more photons, which makes it possible to observe the polarization phenomena in the vast area of the sky.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.35-42
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• 1998

We compared absorption and adsorption rates of air pollutants by plants to eveluate the difference of absorption capacity of plant species and kinds of air pollutants, when foilage plants were exposed to $O_3$ and $SO_2$ singly and combiningly. Absorption and adsorption rates of three foliage plants exposed to $O_3$ and $SO_2$ singly and in combination varied a little according to plant species and kinds of air pollutants. But total absorption rate of Spathiphyllum patinii and Ficus benjamina was higher, and it was lower in Pachira aquatica. When exposed to $O_3$ and $SO_2$ at the same concentration, Pachira aquatica absorbed more $O_3$ than $SO_2$, in contrast to Ficus benjamina absorbing more $SO_2$. On the other hand, Spathiphyllum patinii absorbed as much $O_3$ as $SO_2$. Physiological activities were measured since absorption rates were affected by physiological characteristics of plants. Spathiphyllum patinii and Ficus benjamina showed higher photosynthetic and transpiration rates, and Pachira aquatica showed lower values. And diffusive and stomatal resistences of Pachira aquatica were higher than those of two other species. These results showed that absorption capacity was affected by the differences of physiological characteristics. Absorption capacity of air pollutants increased in plants, such as Spathiphyllum patinii and Ficus benjamina, which had high $SO_2$ absorption rate. We found that plants showing high $CO_2$ absorption rates absorb a lot of air pollutnats.

• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.445-460
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• 2018

Exposure to indoor air pollution is an emerging world-wide problem, with growing evidence that it is a major cause of morbidity worldwide. Whilst most indoor air pollutants are of outdoor origin, these combine with a range of indoor sourced pollutants that may lead to high pollutant levels indoors. The pollutants of greatest concern are volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and particulate matter (PM), both of which are associated with a range of serious health problems. Whilst current buildings usually use ventilation with outdoor air to remove these pollutants, botanical systems are gaining recognition as an effective alternative. Whilst many years research has shown that traditional potted plants and their substrates are capable of removing VOCs effectively, they are inefficient at removing PM, and are limited in their pollutant removal rates by the need for pollutants to diffuse to the active pollutant removal components of these systems. Active botanical biofiltration, using green wall systems combined with mechanical fans to increase pollutant exposure to the plants and substrate, show greatly increased rates of pollutant removal for both VOCs, PM and also carbon dioxide ($CO_2$). A developing body of research indicates that these systems can outperform existing technologies for indoor air pollutant removal, although further research is required before their use will become widespread. Whilst it is known that plant species selection and substrate characteristics can affect the performance of active botanical systems, optimal characteristics are yet to be identified. Once this research has been completed, it is proposed that active botanical biofiltration will provide a cheap and low energy use alternative to mechanical ventilations systems for the maintenance of indoor environmental quality.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.33-46
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• 2004

Air pollutants were measured eight times from June 1999 to June 2002 on regular ferries cruising across the Yellow Sea between Incheon in Korea and Qingdao or Tianjin in China. PM$_{10}$ and PM$_{2.5}$ were measured as particulate matters and SO$_2$, CO, and NO$_{x}$ were measured as gaseous pollutants. On each route, sampling was made, starting two hour after departure and ending two hour before arrival. Low concentrations of gaseous pollutants that were not much varied according to sampling period and location revealed that atmosphere over the sea was not directly affected by anthropogenic emissions. However, concentrations of fine particles were generally higher than those measured at Deokjeok Island, 50km west of the western seashore, at similar periods. It was believed that considerable influence of China in the form of secondary pollutants was exerted over the sea.a.a.a.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.45-52
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• 1975

Effects of air pollutants on vegetation were reviewed and discussed with special reference to sulfur dioxide. Main contents were on the sources, meteorological factors, injury symptoms, relative sensitivity, growth/yield, indicator/diagnosis, combined effects, injury mechanism and effects on plant metabolism, injury diminishing measures, and future research needs.