• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제36권4호
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• pp.288-293
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• 2010

In this study, exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) was evaluated in commercial personal computer (PC) rooms with different separation types of non-smoking areas. The particulate matter less than 2.5 ${\mu}m$ ($PM_{2.5}$) level was simultaneously measured by aerosol spectrometers in the non-smoking and smoking areas of these commercial PC rooms. Average $PM_{2.5}$ concentrations in non-smoking and smoking areas were $75\;{\mu}g/m^3$ and $136\;{\mu}g/m^3$, respectively. Although the $PM_{2.5}$ concentrations in non-smoking areas were significantly less than those in smoking areas (p<0.01), the levels still exceeded the US National Ambient Air Quality Standard of $35\;{\mu}g/m^3$. Average $PM_{2.5}$ concentrations in non-smoking areas were not significantly different with regard to area separation type, with $73\;{\mu}g/m^3$ in the no-wall type, $83\;{\mu}g/m^3$ in the wall-type, and $39\;{\mu}g/m^3$ in the separated-floor-type areas (p>0.1). Separation of the non-smoking area thus did not eliminate SHS exposure in commercial PC rooms, regardless of the type of area separation. This study demonstrates that simple separation of non-smoking areas in commercial PC rooms does not protect users from SHS.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제36권3호
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• pp.182-190
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• 2010

We examined the association of particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter < $10\;{\mu}m$ ($PM_{10}$) with asthma-related hospitalization, stratified by socioeconomic status (SES), among children less than 15 years of age in Seoul, Korea, between 2003 and 2005. In addition, we estimated the reduction in the number of asthma-related hospitalizations that would result from implementing the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline. SES was defined based on data concerning health insurance premium grades, and grouped into two levels: lower-income group and control group. The lower-income group was classified as having an accumulated income which did not exceed the 50th percentile of the median income. Time-series analysis was performed to evaluate the association between $PM_{10}$ and asthma-related hospitalization. The Environmental Benefits Mapping and Analysis Program was used to analyze the impact on children's health. Based upon an increase of $10\;{\mu}g/m^3$ of $PM_{10}$, the asthma-related hospitalization risk for the lower-income group was increased by 1.78% (95% confidence intervals (CI) = 0.79-2.78%), while the risk for the control group was increased by 0.83% (95% CI = 0.34-1.32%). Attaining the WHO guideline, relative to the concentration in 2007, would result in a reduction in asthma-related hospitalizations of 18 cases per 100,000 of the children population in the lower-income group, and 7 cases in the control group. The health benefits of improved air quality for children in the lower-income group were thus 2.5 times greater than for children in the control group. Our results show that the lower-income group is disproportionately burdened with asthma-related hospitalization arising from air pollution. Therefore, biologically- and socioeconomically-disadvantaged populations should be considered in public health interventions in order to protect the children's health.

• 대한방사선기술학회지:방사선기술과학
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• 제45권3호
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• pp.225-232
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• 2022

Fine dust threatens human health in various forms, depending on the particle size, such as by causing respiratory, cardiovascular, and brain diseases, after entering the body via the lungs. The aim of this study was to correlate fine dust exposure with changes in brain blood flow in Sprague Dawley rats by using micro-positron emission tomography and elucidate the possibility of developing cerebrovascular diseases caused by fine dust. The subjects were exposured to an average fine dust (particulate matter 2.5) of 206.2 ± 7.74 to ten rats four times a day, twice a day for 90 min. Before the experiment, they were maintained at NPO to the maximize the intake of ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxy glucose(¹⁸F-FDG) and minimize changes in the ¹⁸F-FDG biomass depending on the ambient environment and body temperature of the rats. PET images were acquired in the list mode 40 min after injecting ¹⁸F-FDG 44.4 MBq into the rats tail vein using a micro-PET scanner pre and post exposure to fine dust. We found that the whole brain level of ¹⁸F-FDG standardized uptake value in rats averaged 5.21 ± 0.52 g/mL pre and 4.22 ± 0.48 g/mL post exposure to fine dust, resulting in a statistically significant difference. Fine dust was able to alter brain activity after entering the body via the lungs in various forms depending on the particle size.

• 환경생물
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• 제39권1호
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• pp.100-107
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• 2021

국내 고농도의 초미세먼지 발생 빈도 증가와 함께 그 전구물질인 NH₃와 관련한 연구가 활발히 진행 중이다. NH₃ 배출에 있어 농업의 기여율이 높은 것은 자명한 사실이다. 그러나 비료 사용이 농경지 대기 중 NH₃ 농도에 장기간 미치는 영향에 관련한 연구는 미비한 실정이다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 수동식 NH₃ 확산형 포집기를 활용해 11개월간 농경지 대기 중 NH₃ 농도를 관측하였다. 그 결과 비료 살포 직후 한 달 동안 NH₃ 배출의 영향이 가장 큰 것으로 나타났다. 그 이후 여름철 기온 상승으로 NH₃ 휘발이 촉진되어 대기 중 농도가 증가할 것으로 예상하였으나, 54일간의 지속적인 강우로 인하여 대기 중 높은 암모니아 농도는 관측되지 않았다. 그 후 NH₃ 농도는 가을과 겨울을 거치면서 점차 감소하였다. 비료의 영향력이 감쇠한 시점 이후에는 기온이 감소할수록, 그리고 강수량이 증가할수록 NH₃ 농도는 감소하는 것을 상관분석을 통해 확인할 수 있었다. 종합해 보면, 국내 NH₃ 배출량에서 비료의 기여율을 연구하는 데 있어 비료 살포 직후 최소 한 달 동안은 집중적으로 살펴보아야 할 것이며, 현장 연구 시 강수량과 무강우 일수 등의 기상 정보도 함께 고려해야 할 것이다.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제32권4호
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• pp.304-315
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• 2006

This study is performed to reexamine the association between ambient air pollution and daily mortality in seven major cities of Korea using a method of meta-analysis with the data filed for the period 1998-2001. These cities account for half of the Korean population (about 23 million). The observed concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO, mean=1.08 ppm), ozone ($O_3$, mean=33.97 ppb), particulate matter less than 10 ${\mu}m$ ($PM_{10},\;mean=57.11\;{\mu}g/m^3$), nitrogen dioxide ($NO_2$, mean=25.09 ppb), and sulfur dioxide ($SO_2$, mean=9.14 ppb) during the study period were at levels below Korea's current ambient air quality standards. Generalized additive models were applied to allow for the highly flexible fitting of seasonal and long-term time trends in air pollution as well as nonlinear associations with weather variables, such as air temperature and relative humidity. Also, we calculated a weighted mean as a meta-analysis summary of the estimates and its standard error. In city-specific analyses, an increase of $41.17{\mu}g/m^3(IQR)\;of\;PM_{10}$ corresponded to $1{\sim}12%$ more deaths, given constant weather conditions. Like most of air pollution epidemiologic studies, this meta-analysis cannot avoid fleeing from measurement misclassification since no personal measurement was taken. However, we can expect that a measurement bias be reduced in district-specific estimate since a monitoring station is better representative of air quality of the matched district. Significant heterogeneity was found for the effect of all pollutants. The estimated relative risks from meta-like analysis increased compared to those relative risks from pooled analysis. The similar results to those from the previous studies indicated existence of health effect of air pollution at current levels in many industrialized countries, including Korea.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제45권6호
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• pp.630-637
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• 2019

Objectives: This study was performed to evaluate the secular changes in indoor airborne dust or endotoxin levels in the dust from swine confinement buildings. Indoor levels were compared with the level at the exhaust outlet in order to examine the contribution potential of indoor dust to nearby ambient air dust. Methods: Comparisons were made on inhalable and respirable dust levels reported in 2002, 2012, and 2017 from 14, 10, and 36 swine fattening confinement buildings in Korea, respectively. This data was produced by the same research group. Levels of endotoxin adsorbed into inhalable or respirable dust were also compared. Samples of inhalable or respirable dust were collected indoors and at exhaust outlets from 17 swine fattening confinement buildings in 2019, and dust levels were compared between the indoor and the outlet. Results: The outlet inhalable dust level (0.111 mg/㎥) was approximately 19% of that from indoors, and the respirable dust level (0.033 mg/㎥) was approximately 74% of that from indoors. The outlet respirable dust levels were lower than the airborne fine dust levels in the towns where those farms are located. No significant difference was observed in the inhalable dust levels among the years examined, but the respirable dust level in 2017 (0.143 mg/㎥) was significantly lower than in 2002 (0.328 mg/㎥). The level of endotoxin in inhalable dust was significantly higher in 2017 (722 EU/㎥) than in both 2002 (75 EU/㎥) and 2012 (171 EU/㎥). Conclusion: Even though no apparent contribution from swine farm indoor dust to nearby ambient air dust was observed in terms of amount, a certain control strategy to reduce the production of airborne dust and endotoxin from swine farms is merited.

• 한국입자에어로졸학회지
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.49-59
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• 2020

Various devices have been developed to the measurement of particulate matter pollutants, and Optical Particle Counter (OPC) that can be easily and quickly measured is widely used lately. The measured value by OPC is converted to weight concentration using the correction factor (CF). The calculation of CF is very important to improve the reliability and accuracy of OPC. In this study, the CF calculation study of light scattering laser photometer (model 8533, TSI) was carried out to measure in the atmospheric environment using 2 gravimetric devices and 3 light scattering laser photometer devices. Regression analysis and Tukey tests were used to significance the test of measurement devices. Measurements were carried out twice. There was a comparative analysis of measurement data between light scattering laser photometer and gravimetric devices in 1st measurement, and then the Evaluation of PM2.5 concentration corrected by CF performed in 2nd measurement. As a result of the significance analysis between light scattering laser photometer and gravimetric devices, the correlation between the same method was high, but the correlation between different methods was low. CF was calculated as 0.4258 based on the measurement results, and it is a similar level to previous studies at home and abroad. It is expected that these results can be used as basic data in the future study for air quality measurement research using light scattering laser photometer. Also, in order to improve the accuracy of the measurement techniques and the development of technology in the atmospheric environment, CF calculation research should be conducted continuously.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제36권5호
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• pp.360-372
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• 2010

Concentrations of ambient air particles such as total suspended particulates (TSP), particulate matter $(PM)_{10}$, and $PM_{2.5}$, were monitored simultaneously from May to June, 2007, at four locations at Alashan and Beijing in China, and Seoul and Gosan in South Korea. These monitoring sites are in the pathway of Asian dust (AD) storms traveling from China to the Korean peninsula. An AD event was observed in the Korean peninsula on May 25-26. During the sampling period, the average concentrations of TSP and PM10 were each higher than $150\;{\mu}g/m^3$ in Alashan and Beijing, but not in Seoul and Gosan. The concentration of TSP in Alashan (where the dust storm originated) on the day of the AD event reached $1824.7\;{\mu}g/m^3$, this being the highest concentration of air particles observed during the sampling period. The level was decreased to 15% of this ($274.7\;{\mu}g/m^3$) in Seoul and to 8.7% ($159.0\;{\mu}g/m^3$) in Gosan when the AD was observed two days later in Korea. Gosan, a representative background site in East Asia, displayed the lowest concentration of particles, with this maximal TSP concentration of $159\;{\mu}g/m^3$. Inorganic element contents in the air particles were also measured, and the concentrations in the four different regions compared. Concentrations of anthropogenically-enriched heavy metals in $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$, such as lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury, were higher in the metropolitan cities of Beijing and Seoul compared to non-industrialized regions of Alashan and Gosan. However, the concentrations of inorganic soil elements including iron, magnesium, aluminum sodium, and manganese, were higher in Alashan compared to those in other sampling sites.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• 제6권3호
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• pp.234-243
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• 2012

The wintertime high loading for atmospheric pollutants is certainly expected in the Byunsan Peninsula of Korea because of a great-scale reclamation project having construction of 33 km tidal sea dike impounding an area of over 40,000 ha and long-range transport. The goal of this study is to trace the origin of this wintertime burden for ambient particulate matter (hereafter called "PM") in the Byunsan Peninsula of Korea. The size-segregated (i.e., cutoff size from 0.01 ${\mu}m$ to 4.7 ${\mu}m$) PM sampling was conducted at a ground-based site of Byunsan Peninsula located in the west coast of Korean Peninsula during the height of dike constructing. Data archived in this study are the mass concentrations of ionic, elemental, and carbonic components in size-fractioned PM. The elemental mass of individual submicrometer particles was also analyzed. The sum of 5-source (i.e., elemental carbon, organic materials, inorganic secondary pollutants, crustal matter, and sea-salts) concentrations shows the bimodal distribution (major and minor peaks formed around $D_p$, 0.65 ${\mu}m$ and $D_p$, 4.7 ${\mu}m$, respectively) by border with 0.19 ${\mu}m$ of cutoff size. The concentrations of EC in $PM_{1.1-0.01}$ in winter and spring times were 4.62 ${\mu}g\;m^{-3}$ and 3.74 ${\mu}g\;m^{-3}$, respectively. Elemental masses of submicron individual particles are classified into two groups, i.e., the major elements (Cl, Al, Si, S, and P) and the minor trace elements. Cluster analysis differentiated the elements in submicron individual particles into 4-cluster. Among them, three clusters are in agreement with the major (Al, Si, S, and P), minor (Fe, Ca, and K), and trace compositions of coal burning. Meanwhile, Cl classified as an independent cluster has different source profile which was mainly due to the Saemangeum seawall project. Some highly toxic elements (e.g., Cr, Mn, and As (and/or Pb)) were also detected in some part of submicron individual PM. As a consequence, the combination of the Saemangeum project and winter monsoon played a considerable part in the double aggravation of wintertime air pollution in the Byunsan Peninsular.

• 한국해양학회지:바다
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• 제8권4호
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• pp.357-368
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• 2003

남극 세종기지 앞에 위치한 마리안 소만의 여름 수층 구조과 부유물질 분산기작을 이해하기 위해 빙벽 앞에서 CTDT 연속측정을 하였으며, 측정기간 동안의 조석, 부유물질농도, 유속, 그리고 기상요인도 함께 분석되었다. 45 시간동안 1시간 간격으로 측정된 연속 수층 특성 분포에 의하면, 수심 0∼20 m에는 저온$.$저염$.$고탁도의 혼합 표층수가 존재하였고, 수심 20∼40 m에 고온$.$고염$.$저탁도의 최대수온층인 맥스웰 만 유입수가 나타난다. 그 아래의 수심 40∼70 m에는 주변 해수에 비해 저온$.$고탁도의 아빙하성 유출수인 중층 플름(빙하기저부)이 위치한다. 마지막으로 수심 70 m 이하에 나타나는 저층수는 저온$.$고염$.$저탁도의 특성을 보였다. 늦여름 (2 월초)에 연안의 높아진 설선에서 녹아 소만으로 유입하는 담수의 특성은 유입지역의 특성(지형, 빙하조건, 퇴적물의 구성 등)에 따라 수온과 부유물질농도에서 차이를 보였으며, 바람이 거의 불지 않는 측정시기 동안에는 저염$.$고탁도의 표층 플름이 유입지역에 제한적으로 나타났다. 지속적으로 강한 바람이 불 경우, 빙벽 앞에서 육성기원의 혼탁한 담수성 플름, 저온의 중빙하성 용승수/조수빙하 융빙수 그리고 맥스웰 만 유입수가 혼합되면서 표층에 혼합층(저온$.$저염$.$고탁도)이 발달하였다. 소만의 강수는 단기간 빙하성 유출 증가의 가장 큰 요인이며, 중빙하성 용승수의 발생은 조수빙하의 상태와 강수량이 크게 좌우하였다. 특히 많은 양의 강수로 인해 아빙하성 중층 플름의 유출량이 커지면서 중층 이하의 수심에 저염화를 초래하였다. 그러나 입자가 거의 없을 정도로 깨끗한 중앙 빙벽에서 나오는 중빙하성 용승수와 중층 플름의 유입량이 클지라도, 낮은 부유물질농도로 인해 육성기원 입자의 소만 퇴적율은 작을 것이다.