• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.301-310
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• 2007

For the improvement of air quality in the metropolitan area, Korea has enforced the air pollutant emission cap regulation from the 1st of July, 2007, and the companies that intend to install a new or an enlarged facility in the metropolitan area will be restricted. However, the current regulation on permission does not describe a standard of judgement distinctly. In this study, therefore, a method of permission on the installation of a new or an enlarged facility was developed by supplementing the law in force based on the foreign cases. To develop a specific permit regulation and procedure, the developed nations' cases such as US, Canada, EU were reviewed thoroughly. Also, an appropriate method was suggested to apply domestically for a new or an enlarged facility permit within the regulations of the metropolitan special law. The method consists of first, calculating the possible permit quantity from the difference between an estimated annual emission cap and the annual emission provided by the implementation plan in each region. Second, permitting a new or an enlarged facility construction within the difference of the emission between the regional emission cap and the implementation plan in 2014. Third, distributing emissions allowable to each performance year based on the regional emission cap and the implementation plan in 2014. Fourth, making use of the emission difference between the implementation plan and the performance result in each year. Considering the general domestic conditions, the convenience of the permit authority and permitted companies, the most reasonable method was to use the fourth. To enforce the suggested permit method in a more flexible way, parts of the related regulations need to be revised and continuous research and analysis on the results from the implemented system and on foreign cases is necessary to develop this method a suitable system for domestic conditions and to settle the air pollutant emission cap system.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.362-371
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• 2023

Background: PM_2.5 pollution has been a persistent problem in South Korea, with concentrations consistently exceeding World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. The aging of the population in the country further exacerbates the health impacts of PM_2.5 since older adults are more susceptible to the adverse effects of air pollution. Objectives: This study aims to evaluate how the health impact (premature death) due to long-term exposure to PM_2.5 in South Korea could change in the future according to the trend of change in the country's population structure. Methods: The study employs a relative risk function, which accounts for age-specific relative risks, to assess the changes in premature deaths by age and region at the average annual PM_2.5 concentration for 2022 and at PM_2.5 concentration improvement levels. Premature deaths were estimated using the Global Exposure Mortality Model (GEMM). Results: The findings indicate that the increase in premature deaths resulting from the projected population structure changes up to 2050 would significantly outweigh the health benefits (reduction in premature deaths) compared to 2012. This is primarily attributed to the rising number of premature deaths among the elderly due to population aging. Furthermore, the study suggests that the effectiveness of the current domestic PM_2.5 standard would be halved by 2050 due to the increasing impact of population aging on PM_2.5-related mortality. Conclusions: The study highlights the importance of considering trends in population structure when evaluating the health benefits of air pollution reduction measures. By comparing and evaluating the health benefits in reflection of changes in population structure to the predicted PM_2.5 concentration improvements at the provincial level, a more comprehensive assessment of regional air quality management strategies can be achieved.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.339-349
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• 2012

In order to clarify the impact of emissions reductions on the air quality over Metropolitan area of Korean Peninsula, several numerical experiment and analysis of integrated process rate(IPR) of ozone were carried out. Numerical models used in this study are WRF for the estimate the meteorological elements and CMAQ for assessment of ozone concentration. As result in the sensitive test of VOC/NOx reduction experiments, although VOC reduction tends to induce the different impact on the advection and photochemical reaction rate of ozone in urban area and rural area, the mechanism of ozone appeared to be more sensitive to the reduction of VOC than that of NOx over the metropolitan and its surround area. So the control of VOC emission inventories is an effective means to decrease the ozone concentrations around this area.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.876-887
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• 2006

Recently, there have been a large number of remodeling (or renovation) works in old buildings in urban areas. Compared to new buildings, environmental risk might be more significant in such buildings where remodeling works are going on, since some parts of the building may still be in service for people. This study was carried out to investigate the impacts of remodeling works on the indoor air quality (IAQ) of a large building (a 22 stories university library). Indoor air monitoring was conducted during and after the remodeling works every two weeks for a one year period, and target compounds included BTEX, styrene, TVOC, carbonyl compounds such as formaldehyde and acetaldehyde. $CO,\;CO_2,\;PM_{10}$, and $PM_{2.5}$. Overall, the IAQ appeared to be recovered within two months after the remodeling works. However, in some places, concentrations of formaldehyde, toluene, xylene. and ethylbenzene showed higher levels even after works than those during the works. The results indicate that painting, glues and office furnitures are major sources of aromatic VOCs and formaldehyde. Therefore, in order to decrease the concentrations of toxic VOCs, the use of environmental-friendly building materials is strongly recommended during the remodeling works. In addition, IAQ control and management scheme (for example, baking the inside of the building) should be taken into consideration before reopening the buildings.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.187-202
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• 2021

This study examined the effectiveness of wind corridor construction by analyzing the thermal environment, cold air generation, ventilation, and geographical characteristics to improve urban thermal environment and establish the basis for specialized strategy in Changwon-si, Gyeongsangnam-do. Using spatial analysis and remote sensing techniques, surface temperature, land cover and land use, wind field, and slope were measured and through this, a wind corridor analysis model was constructed. As a result of the analysis as of 2020, Changwon-si generally has land cover characteristics that are advantageous for the generation of cold air, but the temperature in most urban areas is the highest, and the temperature in areas such as north Changwon area, Jinbukmyeon, Ung-dong, and Ungcheon-dong are relatively high. There was a typical trend of high average wind speed in mountain regions and low average wind speed in urban areas. Accordingly, the north Changwon area, the former Changwon downtown area, the Hogye-ri and Pyeongseong-ri areas, and the Changpo Bay area are derived as vulnerable areas to thermal environment, and various measures to reduce temperature and improve air quality that the inflow of cold air into the area considering the characteristics of each area and securing wind ventilation between the surrounding mountains, reservoirs, and park areas were proposed.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.83-94
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• 2022

In this study, DNN-based models were learned using air quality determination data for 2017, 2019, and 2020 provided by the National Measurement Network (Air Korea), and this models evaluated using data from 2016 and 2018. Based on Pearson correlation coefficient 0.2, four items (SO₂, CO, NO₂, PM₁₀) were initially modeled as independent variables. In order to improve the accuracy of prediction, monthly independent modeling was carried out. The error was calculated by RMSE (Root Mean Square Error) method, and the initial model of RMSE was 5.78, which was about 46% betterthan the national moving average modelresult (10.77). In addition, the performance improvement of the independent monthly model was observed in months other than November compared to the initial model. Therefore, this study confirms that DNN modeling was effective in predicting PM_2.5 concentrations based on air pollutants concentrations, and that the learning performance of the model could be improved by selecting additional independent variables.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.417-430
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• 2018

Identification and mangement of ecosystem service hotspots are necessary to set environmental policies that include concepts of ecosystem service. Assessment and mapping of ecosystem service hotspot referring areas with high amount of ecosystem services provide essential information to manage ecosystem services effectively. Assessment of hotspots based on regional environmental stakeholders' perception is an useful approach to identify priority areas where management practices are required. This study estimated weights on regulating ecosystem services from regional environmental stakeholders' surveys in Ansan, and then, identified regulating service hotspots with weights. The result indicated that regulating services are, in order of importance, water quality, air quality, erosion, and climate control. The north-eastern forest of Ansan was mainly revealed as an ecosystem service hotspot. Ecosystem service hotspots were spatially distributed similarly regardless of environmental stakeholders' weights. Identification of ecosystem service hotspot with environmental stakeholders' perception can be applied in decision-support tools for ecosystem service management.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.76-85
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• 2012

Geochemical and ecological properties of remediated soil and gas exhausted from a low-temperature thermal desorption (LTTD) process were analyzed to assess the environmental impact of LTTD treatment. Soil characteristics were examined with regard to the chemical (EC, CEC, and organic matter) and the ecological (dehydrogenase activity, germination rate of Brassica juncea, and growth of Eisenia andrei) properties. The exhaust gases were analyzed based on the Air Quality Act in Korea as well as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and mixed odor. Level of organic Organic matter of the soil treated by LTTD process was slightly decreased compared to that of the original soil because the heating temperature ($200^{\circ}C$) and retention time (less than 15 minutes) were neither high nor long enough for the oxidation of organic matter. The LTTD process results in reducing TPH of the contaminated soil from $5,133{\pm}508$ mg/kg to $272{\pm}107$ mg/kg while preserving soil properties. Analysis results of the exhaust gases from the LTTD process satisfied discharge standard of Air Quality Law in Korea. Concentration of VOCs including acetaldehyde, propionaldehyde, butyraldehyde and valeraldehyde in circulation gas volatilized from contaminated soil were effectively reduced in the regenerative thermal oxidizer and all satisfied the legal standards. Showing ecologically improved properties of contaminated soil after LTTD process and environmentally tolerable impact of the exhaust gas, LTTD treatment of TPH-contaminated soil is an environmentally acceptable technology.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.79-92
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• 2006

Environmental capacity assessment of Busan city was conducted to provide basis for planning on sustainable development and growth of the city. Using Onish model, assessment was carried out on amenities and service facilities for the citizens of Busan city. Ecological Footprint model was used to judge if the city exceeds the its environmental capacity and to estimate the extent of the excess if it exists. The analysis using Onish model revealed that the citizens of Busan city are generally well supported by the infrastructure and service facilities of the city. Water treatment and supply facilities have enough capabilities to support the city, whereas the relatively low rate of sanitary sewer supply (78%) suggests the need for further improvement in the wastewater area. The capacities of sanitary landfills are found sufficient enough to support the city for the next 10 years. The high value for the line length served per capita in the subway sector hints on certain inconvenience of commuters. All the air quality indicators meet the Korean and WHO standards except for $NO_2$. The ecological footprint model analysis produced EF indicators for Busan city of 3.04 ha/person and 2.54 ha/person for the years of 1993 and 2003, respectively. The decrease of the indicator from 1993 to 2003 is mainly due to the incorporation of Gijang area by Busan city in 1995, suggesting the importance of the ecologically productive area in the evaluation using this model. The analysis on the ecological deficit that is based on ecologically productive land shows that the consumption by Busan city exceeds its ecologically available production by 19,600% as of 2003. The area needed to support the consumption of Busan city in 2003 is 123 times as large as the present area of Busan city, which is substantially lower than the multiplier (742) obtained for Seoul city in 1997 but is higher than those observed for Chongju city (71 in 1999) and Ulsan city (39 in 2001).

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.36 no.5_4
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• pp.1267-1276
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• 2020

To quantitatively predict the impacts of large-scale volcanic eruptions of Mt. Baekdu on air quality and damage around the Korean Peninsula, a three-dimensional chemistry-transport modeling system (Weather Research & Forecasting - Sparse Matrix Operation Kernel Emission - Comunity Multi-scale Air Quality) was adopted. A worst-case meteorology scenario was selected to estimate the direct impact on Korea. This study applied the typical worst-case scenarios that are likely to cause significant damage to Korea among worst-case volcanic eruptions of Mt. Baekdu in the past decade (2005~2014) and assumed a massive VEI 4 volcanic eruption on May 16, 2012, to analyze the concentration of PM_2.5 caused by the volcanic eruption. The effects of air quality in each region-cities, counties, boroughs-were estimated, and vulnerable areas were derived by conducting an exposure assessment reflecting vulnerable groups. Moreover, the effects of cities, counties, and boroughs were analyzed with a high-resolution scale (9 km × 9 km) to derive vulnerable areas within the regions. As a result of analyzing the typical worst-case volcanic eruptions of Mt. Baekdu, a discrepancy was shown in areas between high PM_2.5 concentration, high population density, and where vulnerable groups are concentrated. From the result, PM_2.5 peak concentration was about 24,547 ㎍/㎥, which is estimated to be a more serious situation than the eruption of Mt. St. Helensin 1980, which is known for 540 million tons of volcanic ash. Paju, Gimpo, Goyang, Ganghwa, Sancheong, Hadong showed to have a high PM_2.5 concentration. Paju appeared to be the most vulnerable area from the exposure assessment. While areas estimated with a high concentration of air pollutants are important, it is also necessary to develop plans and measures considering densely populated areas or areas with high concentrations of susceptible population or vulnerable groups. Also, establishing measures for each vulnerable area by selecting high concentration areas within cities, counties, and boroughs rather than establishing uniform measures for all regions is needed. This study will provide the foundation for developing the standards for disaster declaration and preemptive response systems for volcanic eruptions.