• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.328-337
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• 2015

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate differences in concentration according to the position at the left or right shoulder within a 30 cm of radius of workers' respirators and provide basic data for the establishment of an industrial health policy. Methods: Personal samples were collected from a total of 65 workers from 27 manufacturing firms in South Gyeongsang-do Province from November 5, 2011 to December 30, 2012 after classifying the laborers into left- and right-side groups. The organic compound samples were collected and analyzed in accordance with the NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods (NMAM) 1501. Results: In terms of the concentration of organic compounds collected from both left and right shoulders at the position of workers' respirators, isobutyl acetate was the highest with 145 ppm at the left shoulder, followed by ethyl acetate (133.5 ppm) and toluene (38.13 ppm). At the right shoulder, on the contrary, ethyl acetate (149.3 ppm) was the highest, followed by toluene (46.26 ppm), xylene (29.63ppm) and isopropyl alcohol (28.06 ppm). Overall, the right shoulder was higher than the left shoulder in terms of concentrations. Conclusions: For the measurement of the working environment, workers' personal samples should be collected at the place closest to the respirator. In terms of the reduction of error, the attachment of two sample media is expected to reduce errors in exposure assessment.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.81-92
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• 1993

A purpose of this study was carried out to investigate the concentrations of four elements of PAHs(Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons) in suspended particulate matters of underground shopping stores in Seoul city. The particulate matters were collected at five underground shopping stores(Yongdungpo, Myongdong, Ulchiro, Express Terminal, Chamshil) in the Seoul area during February-October, 1992. Samples were collected using cascade impactor of low volumn air sampler and were analysed using High Performance Liquid Chromatography(HPLC) with fluorescence detector. Calibration on HPLC analyse is nearly accord with retention time between the standard solution and the samples. Analysed results obtained favorable analysing recovery rate of 97.3% and coefficient of variation of 1.60%. Mean concentrations of suspended particulate matters in five underground shopping stores wre 216.3 g/$m^3$ and observed higher at fine particles(117.2 g/$m^3$) which is respirable particulates than coarse particles(99.2 g/$m^3$). Concentrations of four species PAH were determined with anthracene of 16.8ng/$m^3$, fluoranthene of 72.3ng/$m^3$, benzo(a)pyrene of 0.54ng/$m^3$, and benzo(k)fluoranthene of 0.29ng/$m^3$, respectively. Fluoranthene levels were significantly higher than those levels in other components. PAHs concen-tration at shopping areas showed 21.3ng/$m^3$ in Yongdungpo, 35.1ng/$m^3$ in Myongdong, 23.4ng/$m^3$ in Ulchiro, 11.1ng/$m^3$ in Express Terminal, and 21.4ng/$m^3$ in Chamshil, respectively. Particularly, benzo(a)pyrene and benzo(k)-fluoranthene were detected over 83 percentage in fine particles, while fluoranthene wre highly detected in coarse particles. Also, higher concentrations of benzo(a)pyrene, benzo(k)fluoranthene were found in winter while levels of anthracene and fluoranthene were found higher in summer than other seasons.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.103-106
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• 2012

The effect of continuous humidifier use on the bioaerosol concentration in an indoor environment was investigated. An ultrasonic humidifier was operated for 10 hr per day for 15 days in an apartment room. During this time period, viable bioaerosol samples were taken using a single-stage Andersen sampler containing culture media plates for bacteria and fungi. The culture plates were then incubated at room temperature for 2~7 days depending on the media. The counts for the air sample plates were corrected for multiple impactions using the positive hole conversion method and are reported as the colony forming units per cubic meter of air (CFU/$m^3$). While the bacterial concentration measured using the tryptic soy agar (TSA) did not show any significant change during the first 3 days, the concentration increased from the $6^{th}$ day (6979 CFU/$m^3$) and reached a maximum on the $9^{th}$ day (46431 CFU/$m^3$). The concentration then decreased to 2470 CFU/$m^3$ on the $12^{th}$ day, at which point the fungal concentration increased rapidly to 14424~16038 CFU/$m^3$. Also, while the fungal concentration showed a significant change until the $9^{th}$ day of humidifier use, fungal growth was observed on the wallpaper and increased rapidly from the $12^{th}$ day. However, the bacterial concentration increased rapidly after the fungi were removed by remediation. The major fungal species identified in the samples were Penicillium representing 34%, Aspergillus representing 31%, Cladosporium representing 24%, and Alternaria representing 1%. The results also indicated that a relative humidity over 80% was easily achieved with continuous humidifier use. Yet, maintaining a high humidity in a room can cause a rapid outbreak of microbial growth.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.49-60
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• 2015

Objectives: Pine needles were used as a passive air sampler (PAS) of atmospheric persistent organic pollutants (POPs). This study was performed to investigate concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) deposited on pine needles near a waste incinerator and PCDD/Fs source contributions using principal component analysis (PCA). Methods: Two-year-old pine needles were sampled at 11 points with respect to distance and wind direction from the incinerator. PCDD/Fs deposited on pine needles were analyzed with HRGC/HRMS. The source contribution of PCA was calculated with SPSS. Results: The average concentration of PCDD/Fs deposited on pine needle was 0.79 (0.27-1.76) pg TEQ/g dry, PCDDs with 0.24 (0.01-0.95) pg TEQ/g dry and PCDFs with 0.56 (0.27-0.82) pg TEQ/g dry, respectively. The average concentration fraction of PCDDs was 29.7%, that of PCDFs was 70.3%, and PCDFs were more prevalent than PCDDs. The contributions of PCDD/Fs sources were estimated as incineration at 58.3% and automobiles at 28.4%. However, a relation and regulation between PCDD/Fs concentrations deposited on pine needles and distance from incinerator or wind direction was not shown. Conclusion: It was concluded that atmospheric PCDD/Fs concentrations near an industrial complex with a waste incinerator were affected by multiple sources. However, PCDD/Fs concentrations were lower than in other inland cities with the exception of background area.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.109-124
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• 1996

This study was performed to evaluate the performance of three passive samplers made in U.S.A. Three passive samplers selected for this study included products made by 3M, Gilian, and SKC in U.S.A. Three organic solvents, such as toluene, trichloroethylene, and n-hexane which are used frequently in Korean industry were selected for the study. Conclusions obtained from this study are summarized as follows. 1. For toluene and trichloroethylene, the overall accuracy of the results from all of three products was within 25 %, which is the criteria recommended by the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). For n-hexane, the overall accuracy of the results from two products except 3M was exceeding 25 %. Thus 3M product showed the best accuracy among three products. 2. When passive samplers collected organic vapors were exposed to clean air for two hours, there were 12 - 16 % loss of organic vapors due to reverse diffusion in Gilian products. There was no significant loss in results from other two products. 3. Air velocity affected greatly on the performance of passive samplers which did not have permeation membrane. At high velocity, 100 cm/sec, accuracies of results from Gilian and SKC were 57 - 108 and 128 - 164 %, respectively. However, the results from 3M samplers, which contain permeation membrane, indicated accuracy below 25 %. 4. When passive samplers collected organic vapors for eight hours, the accuracy was reduced. Thus, it is recommended that passive samplers be used for less than four hours.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.133-145
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• 2001

The receptor modeling is one of the statistical methods to achieve reasonable air pollution strategies. The pur-pose of this study was to survey the concentration variability oi inorganic elements and ionic species in the PM-10 particles, to qualitatively characterize emission sources by an advanced algorithm called positive matrix factoriza-tion(PMF) as a receptor model that can strictly provide results in every loading matrix. A total of 254 samples was collected by a PM-10 high volume air sampler from Mar. 1997 to Feb. 1998 in Kyung Hee University at Suwon Campus. Fourteen chemical species(Zn, Cu, Fe, Pb, Al, Mn, $Na^{+}$, NH$_4$+, $K^{+}$, $Mg^{2+}$, $Ca^{2+}$, $SO_4^{2-}$, $NO_{3}^{-}$, and $Cl^{-}$) were determined by AAS and IC methods. The study results showed that the average monthly concentration of PM-10 particles were 86.3$\mu\textrm{g}$/$\textrm{m}^3$ in March (maximum) and 28.5$\mu\textrm{g}$/$\textrm{m}^3$ in August(minimum), respectively. The concentrations of Na+, NH$_4$+, $K^{+}$ and $Cl^{-}$ in winter, $Mg^{2+}$, $Ca^{2+}$ and $NO_{3}^{-}$, in spring, and $SO_4^{2-}$ in summer showed the largest peak concentration for the respective season. Through and app-lication of a PMF program of Pm-10 concentration data of Suwon, 9 sources were qualitatively identified , such as incineration source, oil burning source, soil related source, open burning source automobile source, coal burning sources, secondary sulfate related source, and secondary nitrate related source.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.355-361
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• 2008

Pollen is very important causing factor for allergy such as allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, and asthma, and pollen allergy has a remarkable clinical impact all over Korea. The main pollination period covers about half the year, from spring to autumn, and the distribution of airborne pollen taxa of allergological interest is related to pollen season dynamics. Korean academy of pediatric allergy and respiratory diseases (KAPARD) has evaluated the pollen characteristics and nationwide pollen count for over 10 years since 1997. Airborne particles carrying allergens were collected daily from nationwide 8 stations (Seoul, Guri, Cheongju, Daegu, Kwangju, Busan, Kangneung, and Jeju) by using 7 days-Burkard sampler (Burkard Manufacturing Co Ltd, Hertfordshire, UK) in South Korea (July 1, 1997-June 30, 2007). They were counted and recorded along with the meteorological factors daily. Tree pollen is a major airborne allergen in spring, grass is most common in summer, and weed pollen is major pollen in autumn in Korea. There has two peak seasons for pollen allergy, as summer and autumn. There is some evidence suggesting that the prevalence of allergic diseases in Korea has been on the increase in the past decade. However, recent findings of the phase I and II studies of the international Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) study showed the absence of increases or little changes in prevalence of asthma symptoms and diagnosis rates in Korea, whereas the prevalence of allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis were increased. We reported the evidence that sensitization rate to weed pollen has been increased yearly since 1997 in childhood. Climate change and air pollution must be the major causing factors for the increase of pollen counts and sensitization rate to pollen. Climate change makes the plants earlier pollination and persisting pollination longer. In conclusion, data on pollen count and structure in the last few years, the pathogenetic role of pollen and the interaction between pollen and air pollutants with climate change gave new insights into the mechanism of respiratory allergic diseases in Korea.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.117-132
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• 1998

The main purposes of this study are to investigate the distributional characteristics of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in the vapor and particulate phases in the ambient atmosphere, and to evaluate the effect of ambient temperature on the vapor-particle partitioning during the sampling period. A total of 64 samples were collected during a period of 1995 to 1996, using a medium-volume sampler with XAD-2 adsorbents and quartz fiber filters. Analyses of PAH were carried out using HPLC with UV and Fluorescence detections. In this study, a significant seasonal variation in the distributions was observed, reflecting the effect of ambient temperature on the vapor-particle partitioning of PAH. The relationship between the vapor-particle distributions of the 3 to 5 rings PAH and ambient temperature is considered to be well described using the Langmuir adsorption concept. The estimated empirical constants for each PAH in the relationship, particularly for the more volatile compounds, were also comparable with results from other studies. However, it is still difficult to accurately estimate the initial vapor-particle distribution of PAH in the ambient air, since it is not known to what extent the trapped vapours originated from the particles laden in the filter by being volatilized or from the air samples initially present in the vapour phase. The distribution factors for volatile PAH with 3 to 4 rings appeared to be comparable with those in the literature. It should be noted, however, that these distribution factors give information only about the distribution of PAH between the two phases under a specific sampling condition, and hence may provide only semi -quantitative information on the vapor-particle distributions in the atmosphere.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.233-243
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• 2018

This study was carried out to characterize the ambient levels of PAH concentrations in Pohang city, where steel industry has been intensively developed. A large amount of PAH emissions from steel production and related industries in Pohang are concerned about the environmental health hazards of nearby residents. TSP samples were seasonally collected during 10 days at four sites in Pohang from April to December 2010. Each sample was collected for 24 hours using high-volume air sampler. All samples were extracted by $soxtec^{TM}$ before concentration of 1.0 mL. The concentrates were analyzed by GC/MS. The prevailing wind direction was southwest and west-southwest in Pohang during the measurement period. Variations of TSP concentrations appeared to be similar between four sites. The highest TSP concentration was found in fall, while the lowest in summer. The highest PAH concentration was found at an industrial site, while the lowest at a residential/commercial site. In the case of BaP, the average concentration at the industrial site was $0.63{\pm}0.66ng/m^3$, which was approximately 2 times of the residential/commercial site. The paired t-test (p<0.05) showed significant differences between industrial and residential area. Particulate PAH concentrations were higher in the winter and lower in the summer. The concentrations of BaP in winter were 2~10 times higher than those in the other three seasons. This study clearly demonstrated the impact of steel industry on the elevated levels of PAH in Pohang city.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.117-123
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• 1999

The analytical instrument method was applied to analyze malodorous sulfur compounds emitted from industrial fields. Six factories and two sites which release malodorous substances into ambient air were selected to determine the level of hydrogen sulfide($H_2S$), methylmercaptan(MeSH), dimethyl sulfide($Me_2S$), and dimethyl disulfide($Me_2S_2$) using automated thermal desorption system (STD400) and GC-FPD in summer and fall seasons of 1999. The Air sampler for ATD400 uses a small pump to draw sample and a mass flow controller to adjust sample amount without using a dilution apparatus. The trap temperature of ATD400 reached to $-80^{\circ}$ by supplying liquid nitrogen and $H_2S$ can be analyzed under this condition. The recovery rates of $H_2S$, MeSH, $Me_2S$, and $Me_2S_2$ of odorous sulfur compounds standard were shown 98.2%, 93.6%, 98.2%, 99.4% respectively. The concentrations of $Me_2S$ at outside boundary of G market, L factory, and J factory were 0.018ppm, 0.021ppm, 0.032ppm in summer, respectively. The concentration of $H_2S$ at Nanjido landfill was 1.167ppm in summer, but that of $H_2S$ was not detected in fall because of soil covering. The concentration of H2S and $Me_2S_2$ at inside of Chonggye stream were 0.564ppm and 1.045ppm in summer, while those of H2S and Me2S2 were 0.285ppm and 0.465ppm in fall, respectively.