• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.108-117
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• 2010

In this study, ambient particulate matter ($PM_{2.5}$ and $PM_{10}$) levels were measured and their chemical and physical properties were characterized. Two sites in Gwangju were sampled once a month from December 2008 to November 2009. The annual mean concentrations of $PM_{2.5}$ and $PM_{10}$ were $26.9\;{\mu}g/m^3$ and $46.3\;{\mu}g/m^3$, respectively, in Nongseongdong and $26.1\;{\mu}g/m^3$ and $44.8\;{\mu}g/m^3$, respectively, in Duam-dong. $PM_{2.5}$ levels were 1.8 times higher than the USA Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) national ambient air quality standard for $PM_{2.5}$ ($15\;{\mu}g/m^3$). The average $PM_{2.5}/PM_{10}$ ratio of 0.58 suggested that $PM_{2.5}$ is a significant component of the ambient particle pollution. The order of concentration of metallic elements in $PM_{2.5}$ and $PM_{10}$ was Si > Al > Fe > Zn > Pb > Cu > Mn. Cd was not detected. The earth crustal enrichment factors for Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn in $PM_{2.5}$ were higher than those in $PM_{10}$. When the earth crustal enrichment factors for Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn were higher than 10, this suggested influence from anthropogenic sources. The soil contribution ratios for $PM_{2.5}$ and $PM_{10}$ were 11.3% and 16.4%, respectively, and were higher in the fall and winter. Anions (${SO_4}^{-2}$, ${NO_3}^-$, and $Cl^-$) comprise 28.7% of $PM_{2.5}$ and 21.4% of $PM_{10}$. The correlation coefficient of Zn-Fe, Mn-Cu, Fe-Cu and Fe-Mn in $PM_{2.5}$ was high in the sampling sites, and metallic elements were primarily from anthropogenic sources such as fuel combustion and vehicle emissions.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.65 no.6
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• pp.504-511
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• 2008

Background: Particulate matter may be toxic to human tissue. Ambient air particulate matter ${\leq}10{\mu}m$ in aerodynamic size ($PM_{10}$), which changes under different environmental conditions, is a complex mixture of organic and inorganic compounds. The Asian dust event caused by meteorological phenomena can also spread unique particulate matter in affected areas. We evaluated production of ROS, $TGF-{\beta}$, fibronectin, and $NF{\kappa}B$ by exposing normal epithelial cells to Asian dust particulate matter. Methods: Bronchial epithelial cells were exposed to 0, 50, ${\leq}100{\mu}g/ml$ of a suspension of $PM_{10}$ for 24 h. ROS were detected by measurement of DCF release from DCF-DA by FACScan. $TGF-{\beta}$, fibronectin, and $NF{\kappa}B$ were detected by western blotting. Results: $PM_{10}$ exposure increased the expression of $TGF-{\beta}$, fibronectin, and $NF{\kappa}B$. ROS production and $TGF-{\beta}$ levels were significantly higher with 50 or ${\leq}100{\mu}g/ml$ $PM_{10}$. Fibronectin and $NF{\kappa}B$ production were significantly higher after ${\leq}100{\mu}g/ml$ of $PM_{10}$. Conclusion: $PM_{10}$ from Asian dust particles might have fibrotic potential in bronchial epithelial cells via ROS induction after $PM_{10}$ exposure.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.60 no.6
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• pp.663-672
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• 2006

Background: $PM_{10}$(Particulate matter with a diameter ($<10{\mu}m$), which is characterized by different environmental conditions, is a complex mixture of organic and inorganic compounds. The Asian dust event caused by meteorological phenomena can also produce unique particulate matter in affected areas. This study investigated the cytokine produced by A549 epithelial cells exposed to particles collected during both the Asian dust pfenomenon and ambient air particles in a non-dusty period. Method: Air samples were collected using a high volume air sampler(Sibata Model HV500F) with an air flow at $500{\ell}/min$ for at least 6 hours. The cytokine messenger RNA(mRNA) was measured using a reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). The A549 cells were exposed to 10 to $500{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ of a suspension containing $PM_{10}$ for 24 hours. Each was compared with those in the non-exposed control cells. Result: The mRNA levels of interleukin(IL)-$1{\alpha}$, $IL-I{\beta}$, IL-8, and the granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor(GM-CSF) increased after veing exposed to $PM_{10}$ in the ambient air particles, compared with those in the non-exposed control cells. The increase in $IL-1{\alpha}$ and IL-8 were dose dependent at a $PM_{10}$ concentration between $100{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ and $500{\mu}g/m{\ell}$. The mRNA level of IL-8 in the A549 epithelial cells was higher during the in the Asian dust period($500{\mu}g/m{\ell}$) than during the non dust period. Conclusion: A549 cells exposed to the $PM_{10}$ collected during the Asian dust period produce more proinflammatory cytokine than during non-dusty period. This cytokine enhances the local inflammatory response in the airways and can also contribute to the systemic component of this inflammatory process.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.322-329
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• 2017

Perturbation in ambient particulate matter ($PM_1$, $PM_{2.5}$, $PM_{10}$) and black carbon (BC) concentrations was studied during a firecracker bursting episode in Diwali (Festival of Lights) celebrations in Nagpur, India. Firecracker bursting resulted in greater escalation in fine particulates over coarse particulates while $PM_{2.5}$ was found to be dominated by $PM_1$ concentration. On the Diwali day, daily mean concentration of $PM_{2.5}$ and $PM_{10}$ exceeded Indian National Ambient Air Quality Standards by over 1.8 and 1.5 times, respectively, while daily mean BC concentration on the same day was almost two times higher than the previous day. The BC/$PM_1$ ratio reduced remarkably from about 0.26 recorded before fire-cracker bursting activity to about 0.09 during fire-cracker bursting on Diwali night in spite of simultaneous escalation in ambient BC concentration. Such aberration in BC/$PM_1$ was evidently a result of much higher escalation in $PM_1$ than BC in ambient air during firecracker bursting. The study highlighted strong perturbations in ambient $PM_1$, $PM_{2.5}$, $PM_{10}$ concentrations and BC/$PM_1$ during the firecracker bursting episode. Altered atmospheric BC/$PM_1$ ratios could serve as indicators of firecracker-polluted air and similar BC/$PM_1$ ratios in local and regional air masses might be used as diagnostic ratios for firecracker smoke.

• Journal of Power System Engineering
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.77-83
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• 2014

As the interest on the air pollution is gradually risen up at home and abroad, their vehicle emission regulations have been reinforcing by steps. PM regulation was also reinforced 4times for the last 13years and has been applied to SI vehicles after EURO 5. Additionally, knowing that small particles of PM can easily penetrate deep into lungs PM number was added on the regulation from EURO5+ and is applied to CI vehicles. Also, PN regulation is going to be applied to SI vehicles. But, because the regulation is appled to only a general test mode of each countries that is performed at $25{\pm}5^{\circ}C$, it is unclear whether the regulation can work on the other ambient temperature conditions or not. In this paper, to know that exhaust emission characteristics at the special conditions CI vehicles(CRDi w, w/o DPF) were tested using 5-cycle mode, NEDC mode at 5-ambient temperatures (35, 25, 0, -7 and -15) and the exhaust emission test results were discussed. The results show that the vehicle with DPF emits much low PM(and PM number) on all of the test mode. However, NOx of the other mode was emitted higher than regulation mode. Also. NOx was sharply increased according to decreasing Ambient Temperature.

• Journal of Power System Engineering
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.52-59
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• 2014

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the performance of after-treatment equipment and thermal storage devices for a heat recovery and combustor-type $CO_2$ generator fuelled a kerosene. To reduce the levels of harmful exhaust gases produced by a $CO_2$ generator, a catalyzed particulate filter(CPF) has been selected as an after-treatment device, by considering back pressure and exhaust gas temperature. The CO conversions of the catalyzed SiC filter(full plugging) were 92%, and the concentration of PM(particulate matter) was near ambient. A thermal recovery device was used to recover 13% of the heat energy from the exhaust gas through heat exchangers installed on the exhaust line of the $CO_2$ generator. 69% of the moisture within the exhaust gases was removed by condensing water, in order to minimize excessive humidity within the greenhouse.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.254-269
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• 2017

The work describes an assessment of the major air pollutants, $NO_2$, $SO_2$, CO, $O_3$, $NH_3$, coarse and fine particulate matter ($PM_{10}$, $PM_{2.5}$) in ambient air in and around a 3 million tonne Petroleum Refinery and the possible impacts on a pristine area marked by the presence of the world-famous Kajiranga National Park, a world heritage site and habitat for the most number of one-horned rhinos in the world. The Refinery is at an aerial distance of 20-25 km from the wildlife habitat. The assessment is based on regular monitoring at four stations around the Refinery and one station near the National Park. Heavy rains during June to August influence the pollutant concentrations while at other times of the year, large traffic volume adds to the pollutant concentrations that peak during November to March, the dry months of the year. Correlation analysis by scatter technique is utilised to obtain the enhancement ratios to predict the variations in the concentrations of the pollutants and their spatial distribution. Computation of air quality index (AQI) indicates that the coarse and the fine particulates in the ambient air could be a major hazard to wildlife in the area.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.24 no.E1
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• pp.24-31
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• 2008

In this study, a new PM (particulate matter) sampler was developed and fabricated to collect fine particles in the atmosphere, and laboratory and field tests were carried out to evaluate the performance of the sampler. The PM sampler, which was based on impingers, employed an aerosol condensation system as a PM magnifier to improve its collection efficiencies. Sodium chloride, ammonium sulfate and ammonium nitrate aerosols were used as test particles, because these components are rich in ambient aerosols. As a result, it was found that the collection efficiency of the novel PM sampler was very high. Thus, it is believed that the PM sampler is an effective device for sampling fine particles. In addition, it was demonstrated that this work could contribute to the collection or removal of fine particles and be applied to the semicontinuous sampling of ambient aerosols for chemical composition analysis.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.294-299
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• 2002

PM (Particulate Matter) samples contained fungal spores were collected in the ambient air of Seosan, west Korea, in springtime of 2000 and 2001. PM concentrations were $199.8\mu{g}\;m^{-3}$ in the 1st Asian Dust Storm period (March, 23 ~ 24) and $249.4\mu{g}\;m^{-3}$ in the 2nd period (April, 7~9), 2000. Compared with the concentrations in 2000, relatively low PM concentration ($157.3\mu{g}\;m^{-3}$ ) was measured in the Asian Dust Storm period (April, 24 ~ 20) of 2001. Although there were somewhat differences for the total PM concentrations among the three periods, majorities of the PM were composed of coarse particles sized about 5 ~ 6 $\mu{m}$ over the periods of the two years. Diverse molds grown from fungal aerosols were observed in the PM samples and identified at the genus level. All the genera, Fusarium, Aspergillus, Penicillium, Basipetospora, Epicoccum and Monotospora are hyphomycetes in the division Fungi imperfecti (Deuteromycota). Especially, morphologically more diversified mycelia of hyphomycetes were grown on the fine PM sample (1.1 ~ 2.1 $\mu{m}$) than coarse PM samples in the periods of 2000. Furthermore, some molds were grown on even the background PM sample less than 0.43 $\mu{m}$ in the period of 2001. It was thought that some kinds of ultra fine sized fungal spores were transported by the Asian Dust Storm and suspended in the ambient air of study area during the events.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.31-38
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• 2015

Due to the heightened ambient $PM_{2.5}$ levels, the whole citizen of Japan, especially dwellers in Fukuoka Prefecture, start to make attention to the particulate matter (PM) of indoor environments. This study was aimed to thoroughly estimate the characteristics of indoor PM collected in five Japanese homes located in Fukuoka Prefecture. Simultaneous indoor measurements of PM were intensively made at five homes using filter-pack samplers, particle counters, and $PM_{2.5}$ monitors for a day in springtime, 2012. Major ionic and carbonaceous components were also analyzed. The time series fluctuation of PM number concentration was gradually decreased by 6 AM and then it was rapidly increased by 8 AM in all indoor sites. The maximum level of $PM_{2.5}$ was measured at the morning time (8 AM-9 AM) when the resident's behavior was fast and strenuous. The Indoor/Out-door (I/O) ratio for the giant PM larger than $5.0{\mu}m$ was 1.16. It was possible to identify PM types and estimate the resident's behavior through the comparison the theoretically calculated and the measured retention times for several types of PM in an indoor site. The theoretically reconstructed mass concentration of $PM_{2.0-0.3}$ suggested that the portion of $PM_{2.5}$ in indoor was quietly occupied by $PM_{0.3}$ or the PM inherently originated from indoor environment.