• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.45-56
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• 2017

Coal power plants produce electricity for the nation's power grid, but they also produce more hazardous air emissions than any other industrial pollution sources. The quantity is staggering, over 386,000 tons of 84 separate hazardous air pollutants spew from over 400 plants in 46 states. In South Korea also, annual coal ash generation from coal-fired power plants were about 6 million tons in 2015. Pollutants containing particulate matter 10, 2.5 (PM10, PM2.5), heavy metals and dioxins from coal-fired power plant. The emissions threaten the health of people who live near these power plants, as well as those who live hundreds of miles away. These pollutants that have long-term impacts on the environment because they accumulate in soil, water and animals. The present study is to investigate the physical and chemical characteristics of coal-fired power plant fly ash and bottom ash contains particulate matter, whose particulate sizes are lower than $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ and heavy metals. There are wide commercial technologies were available for monitoring the PM 2.5 and ultra-fine particles, among those carbonation technology is a good tool for stabilizing the alkaline waste materials. We collected the coal ash samples from different coal power plants and the chemical composition of coal fly ash was characterized by XRF. In the present laboratory research approach reveals that potential application of carbonation technology for particulate matter $PM_{10}$, $PM_{2.5}$ and stabilization of heavy metals. The significance of this emerging carbonation technology was improving the chemical and physical properties of fly ash and bottom ash samples can facilitate wide re use in construction applications.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.65-70
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• 2014

Recent episodes of severe air pollution in eastern Asia have been reported in the scientific literature and news media. Therefore, there is growing concern about the systemic effects of air pollution on human health. Along with the other well-known harmful effects of air pollution, recently, several animal models have provided strong evidence that air pollutants can induce liver toxicity and act to accelerate liver inflammation and steatosis. This review briefly describes examples where exposure to air pollutants was involved in liver toxicity, focusing on how particulate matter (PM) or carbon black (CB) may be translocated from lung to liver and what liver diseases are closely associated with these air pollutants.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.184-194
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• 2012

Objectives: We investigated the effects of air pollution on allergic diseases (allergic rhinitis, asthma, atopic dermatitis) in metropolitan cities in Korea, adjusting for meteorological factors. Methods: Data on daily hospital visits and hospital admissions for 2003-2010 was obtained from the National Health Insurance Cooperation. Meteorological data was obtained from the Korea Meteorological Administration. We then calculated daily mean temperature, daily mean humidity, daily mean air pressure at sea level, and diurnal temperature range. We used data on air pollution provided by the National Institute of Environmental Research. Maximum daily eight-hour average ozone concentrations and the daily mean $PM_{10}$ were used. We estimated excess risk and 95% confidence interval for the increasing interquatile range (IQR) of each air pollutant using Generalized Additive Models (GAM) that appropriate for time series analysis. Results: In this study, we observed an association between ozone and hospital visits for allergic rhinitis, asthma, and atopic dermatitis in all metropolitan cities, adjusting for temperature, humidity, air pressure at sea level, diurnal temperature range, and day of the week. Ozone was associated with hospital visits for allergic rhinitis, asthma, and atopic dermatitis across all metropolitan cities. However $PM_{10}$ was associated with allergic-related diseases in only select cities. Also, ozone and $PM_{10}$ were associated with hospital admission for asthma in all cities except Gwangju. Hospitalization for the other diseases failed to show consistent association with air pollutants. Conclusion: In the findings of this study, there was a significant association between air pollutants and allergic-related diseases. More detailed research subdivided age group or conducting meta-analyses combining data of all cities is required.

• 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.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.108-119
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• 2024

Objectives: Abrupt changes in air pollution levels associated with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak present a unique opportunity to evaluate the effects of air pollution on influenza risk, at a time when emission sources were less active and personal hygiene practices were more rigorous. Methods: This time-series study examined the relationship between influenza cases (n=22 874) and air pollutant concentrations from 2018 to 2021, comparing the timeframes before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in and around Thailand's Khon Kaen province. Poisson generalized additive modeling was employed to estimate the relative risk of hospitalization for influenza associated with air pollutant levels. Results: Before the COVID-19 outbreak, both the average daily number of influenza hospitalizations and particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 ㎛ or less (PM_2.5) concentration exceeded those later observed during the pandemic (p<0.001). In single-pollutant models, a 10 ㎍/m³ increase in PM_2.5 before COVID-19 was significantly associated with increased influenza risk upon exposure to cumulative-day lags, specifically lags 0-5 and 0-6 (p<0.01). After adjustment for co-pollutants, PM_2.5 demonstrated the strongest effects at lags 0 and 4, with elevated risk found across all cumulative-day lags (0-1, 0-2, 0-3, 0-4, 0-5, and 0-6) and significantly greater risk in the winter and summer at lag 0-5 (p<0.01). However, the PM_2.5 level was not significantly associated with influenza risk during the COVID-19 outbreak. Conclusions: Lockdown measures implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic could mitigate the risk of PM_2.5-induced influenza. Effective regulatory actions in the context of COVID-19 may decrease PM_2.5 emissions and improve hygiene practices, thereby reducing influenza hospitalizations.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.190-202
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• 2012

Emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases (GHGs) by aircraft at the Gimhae International Airport (GIA) were investigated using the Emissions and Dispersion Modeling System (EDMS) version 5.1.3. The number of Landing and Take-Off (LTO) at the GIA for aircraft B737 was dominant, accounting for more than 60% of the total LTOs. For air pollutant emissions, CO was the most dominant pollutant by aircraft, followed by $NO_x$, VOCs, $SO_x$, etc. The emissions of CO, $NO_x$, and VOCs in 2009 (and 2010) at the GIA were 974 (968), 447 (433), 118 (122) ton/yr, respectively. The emissions of GHGs such as $CO_2$, $CH_4$, and $N_2O$ in 2009 (and 2010) were 110,795 (111,114), -0.157 (-0.151), and 1,989 (1,998) ton/yr, respectively. The negative number in $CH_4$ emission represents the consumption of atmospheric $CH_4$ in the engine. In addition, the emissions of most air pollutants (except for $PM_{10}$) and GHGs were estimated to be high in Taxi-Out and Climb-Out modes.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.487-501
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• 2002

The concentrations of gaseous (NO$_{x}$, SO$_2$, and $O_3$) and particulate (Elemental Carbon, EC and Organic Carbon, OC) pollutants were measured to evaluate the air quality of Kosan. Samples were taken at Kosan during ACE-Asia (Asian Pacific Regional Aerosol Characterization Experiment) IOP (Intensive Observation Period) (2001. 3. 21~2001. 5. 5). The mean concentrations of $O_3$(46.3$\pm$10.4 ppb) is higher than those at urban area such as Seoul and Busan in Korea. On the other hand, the mean concentrations of other gaseous species, NO$_{x}$(4.73$\pm$3.42 ppb) and SO$_2$(0.62$\pm$0.63 ppb) are lower than those at great cities. So we concluded that there are a few primary sources emitting atmospheric pollutants. The concentration of EC is higher and the concentration of OC is similar with or higher than those at other background sites. The recent EC concentration is higher than those measured before at Kosan. We concluded that there are more primary sources than other background sites and the amount of primary source have increased recently in Jeju. Backward trajectory and co..elation analysis were used to study where the air masses originated and distinguish the source of pollutants. While NO$_{x}$ and $O_3$ were mainly emitted and formed from Jeju inland area, concentrations of SO$_2$, OC and EC were affected by Asian Dust from China. Using the mean relative standard deviation of ozone, cleanness coefficient was obtained. The cleanness coefficient value, is 1.6 times larger than the value in 1992. Recently, the air quality of Kosan has been contaminated because of the Asian Dust events since spring and the rapid industrialization development.pment.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.24 no.8
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• pp.963-969
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• 2020

Cities in the region have a problem in that they cannot accurately monitor small areas because the number of air pollution is differently observed depending on variables such as population, season, traffic volume, and industrial complexes. In order to solve this problem, in this paper, comparative analysis was performed on small areas where representative air pollutants SO2, PM10, NO2, CO, and O3, which adversely affect the human body, are observed through coefficient of determination. In addition, based on Bonferroni's multiple comparative analysis, the air pollution level by period is shown. The map for the monitoring system was linked with the coordinates of each small city to visualize air pollutants for small cities based on the analysis data. Through this, it is possible to provide the user with a monitoring system of air pollutants for the region more precisely, and to prevent them from accidents that may occur due to air pollution in everyday life.

• The Journal of Sustainable Design and Educational Environment Research
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2010

It is indispensable for child care centers to investigate and manage indoor air quality (IAQ) because they perform education and day care for children who usually have weak immunity. Nevertheless, there is insufficient research being done, given its importance. This study aims to investigate indoor pollutants' concentration and to seek the causes in order to improve the air quality conditions. Also it aims to secure data which can be used for further researches. Measurements were performed for air temperature, relative humidity, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, fine particle mass, formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds. Temperature, humidity, CO and CO2 were measured 30times(1min/time) and PM10 was measured 10times (3min/time). Formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds were measured and analyzed based on The Indoor Air Quality Official Test Method. The results show that the temperatures were within the comfort zone in over half of the centers. CO2 was found to be the main pollutants as its concentration exceeded the IAQ standard. The concentrations of TVOC and PM10 exceeded the standard, by 32% and 24% respectively, whereas those of HCHO and CO were under the standard. HCHO and CO concentrations were under the guideline. 24% of child care centers for education were found to exceed the standard in 2 or more of the pollutants. 82% of were found to exceed the standard by 1 or more. Therefor it is requested for IAQ to manage and improve in child care center for education.

• Advances in environmental research
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.277-288
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• 2012

This study investigated exposure to air pollutants in rooms in low-income houses at Shomolu (R1), Mafoluku (R2) and Mushin (R3) in Lagos state. The concentrations of most measured exceeded limits of Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) for indoor air quality. Air quality index (AQI) in rooms studied was unhealthy for sensitive people in terms of CO, unhealthy in terms of $SO_2$ and very unhealthy in terms of $NO_2$ while moderate air quality was obtained in terms of $PM_{10}$ in most rooms. High concentrations of carbontetrachloride, formaldehyde and xylene measured could have been responsible for some of the health complaints of the occupants. Factor analysis shows that cooking with kerosene, use of gasoline generator and insecticide were the major contributors to indoor air pollution in these rooms. Therefore, there is need to urgently tackle poverty as all affected by these pollutants were poor who live in substandard houses without kitchens.