• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.701-717
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• 2003

The objective of this study was to extensively estimate the air quality trends of the study area by surveying con-centration trends in months or seasons, after analyzing the mass concentration of PM-10 samples and the inorganic lements, ion, and total carbon in PM-10. Also, the study introduced to apply the PMF (Positive Matrix Factoriza-tion) model that is useful when absence of the source profile. Thus the model was thought to be suitable in Korea that often has few information about pollution sources. After obtaining results from the PMF modeling, the existing sources at the study area were qualitatively identified The PM-10 particles collected on quartz fiber filters by a PM-10 high-vol air sampler for 3 years (Mar. 1999∼Dec.2001) in Kyung Hee University. The 25 chemical species (Al, Mn, Ti, V, Cr, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Cd, Ba, Ce, Pb, Si, N $a^{#}$, N $H_4$$^{+}$, $K^{+}$, $Mg^{2+}$, $Ca^{2+}$, C $l^{[-10]}$ , N $O_3$$^{[-10]}$ , S $O_4$$^{2-}$, TC) were analyzed by ICP-AES, IC, and EA after executing proper pre - treatments of each sample filter. The PMF model was intensively applied to estimate the quantitative contribution of air pollution sources based on the chemical information (128 samples and 25 chemical species). Through a case study of the PMF modeling for the PM-10 aerosols. the total of 11 factors were determined. The multiple linear regression analysis between the observed PM-10 mass concentration and the estimated G matrix had been performed following the FPEAK test. Finally the regression analysis provided source profiles (scaled F matrix). So, 11 sources were qualitatively identified, such as secondary aerosol related source, soil related source, waste incineration source, field burning source, fossil fuel combustion source, industry related source, motor vehicle source, oil/coal combustion source, non-ferrous metal source, and aged sea- salt source, respectively.ively.y.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.289-296
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• 1996

Effects of crustal species on the characteristics of ambient particles were studied by applying a gas-particle equilibrium model, SCAPE, to the measurements at Kosan, Cheju Island during the spring and summer, 1994. Two cases were simulated; the measured composition was used without any modification (case 1), and the metal ion concentrations originated from crust were subtracted from the measured particle composition (case 2). Total suspended particles (TSPs) were collected by an automatic high volume tape sampler during spring period and by high volume samplers during summer period. The fine particles, PM 2.5, and gaseous volatile species were collected using a filter pack smapler during summer period. The water soluble ion concentrations were analyzed from all the particle samples. According to the simulation results, the effect of crustal elements on the chemical composition of particles is negligible for both TSP particles and PM 2.5 particles. Acidity of particles measured at Kosan, however, is affected by the change of the concentrations of crustal species, stronger effects for TSP particles than for PM 2.5 particles during summer, and stronger effects during summer than spring for TSP particle. The average pH decrease due to the absence of crustal species was about 0.10 for PM 2.5 particle during summer and 1.51 and 0.85 for TSP particles during summer spring, respectively. Water contents of PM 2.5 particles for both cases are comparable to each other. Estimated water content of TSP particles for case 2 is higher than that for case 1 by about 4 $\sim 6 \mum/m^3$ because salts of metal ions are not hygroscopic.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.46-56
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• 2009

The main purpose of this study was to investigate air quality trends of ambient aerosol with obtaining size-fractionated information. The suspended particulate matters were continuously collected on membrane filters and glass fiber filters by an 8-stage cascade impactor for 2 years (Sep. 2005 $\sim$ Sep. 2007) in Kyung Hee University-Global Campus. 8 ionic species ($Na^+$, ${NH_4}^+$, $K^+$, $Mg^{2+}$, $Ca^{2+}$, $Cl^-$, ${NO_3}^-$, and ${SO_4}^{2-}$) were analyzed by an IC after performing proper pretreatments of each sample filter. The average concentration levels of each ion were $9.24{\mu}g/m^3$ of ${SO_4}^{2-}$, $7.35{\mu}g/m^3$ of ${NO_3}^-$, $2.81{\mu}g/m^3$ of ${NH_4}^+$, $2.11{\mu}g/m^3$ of $Ca^{2+}$, $1.65{\mu}g/m^3$ of $Cl^-$, $1.87{\mu}g/m^3$ of $Na^+$, $0.80{\mu}g/m^3$ of $Mg^{2+}$, and $0.54{\mu}g/m^3$ of $K^+$, respectively. The distribution pattern of $Na^+$, $Mg^{2+}$, $Ca^{2+}$, $Cl^-$, and ${NO_3}^-$ was bi-modal and two peaks appeared in the range of $0.4{\sim}0.7{\mu}m$ and $3.3{\sim}4.7{\mu}m$, respectively. On the other hand, ${SO_4}^{2-}$, ${NH_4}^+$, and $K^+$ showed patterns of uni-modal distribution, mostly abounded in the fine mode group.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.36 no.4
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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.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.23-32
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• 1999

Deposition is one of the important removal mechanisms for the ambient aerosol, and it also leads to adverse environmental and economic impacts. The purpose of this study was to investigate chemical compositions and spatial distributions of fall-out aerosols. A total number of 340 samples were collected at 35 sampling sites in Suwon area from January to November, 1996. Twelve inorganic elements (Al, Ba, Cd, Cr, K, Pb, Sb, Zn, Cu, Fe, Ni, and V) and eight ionic components ($F^-$, Cl, $NO_3^-$, $SO_4^{2-}$, $Na^+$, $NH_4^+$, $Mg^{2+}$, and $Ca^{2+}$) were analyzed by AAS and IC, respectively. The monthly variation showed that the flux of fall-out particles was increased in the spring season(March, April, and May) and decreased from August to October. Arithmetic mean flux of fall-out particles was 176.8 kg/$ extrm{km}^2$/day during the study period. The fluxes of each chemical species were $SO_4^{2-}$ 12.414, $Ca^{2+}$ 7.369, $NO_3^-$ 5.812, $Cl^-$ 3.566, $NH_4^+$ 3.176, Fe 3.107 kg/$\textrm{km}^2$/day, and so on. By using a kriging analysis, spatial distribution pattern of those fluxes was intensively studied. Total fluxes estimated in Suwon city were 8424.72t/y of fall-out particles, 519.27t/y of $SO_4^{2-}$, 336.79t/y of $Ca^{2+}$,267.34 t/y of $NO_3^+$, 155.36t/y of $Cl^-$, 147.79t/y of Fe.

• Atmosphere
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.185-191
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• 2015

Ambient measurements of aerosol light absorption (${\sigma}_a$) and scattering coefficients (${\sigma}_s$) were done at Gosan climate observatory during summer 2008 using a 3-wavelength photoacoustic soot spectrometer (PASS). PASS was deployed photoacoustic method for light absorption and integrated nephelometry for light scattering measurements. The ${\sigma}_a$ and ${\sigma}_s$ from PASS were compared with those from co-located aethalometer and nephelometer measurements. The aethalometer measurements of ${\sigma}_a$ correlated reasonably well with photoacoustic measurements, but the slope of the linear fitting line indicated the PASS measurement values of ${\sigma}_a$ were larger by a factor of 1.53. The nephelometer measurement values of ${\sigma}_s$ correlated very well with PASS measurements of ${\sigma}_s$, with a slope of 1.12 and a small offset. Comparing to the aethalometer measurements, the photoacoustic measurements of ${\sigma}_a$ didn't exhibit a significant (i.e., the ratio between aethalometer and PASS increased) change with increasing relative humidity (RH). The ratio of ${\sigma}_s$ between nephelometer and PASS increased with increasing RH, especially when the RH increased beyond 80%. This apparent increase in ${\sigma}_s$ with RH may be due to the contribution of hygroscopic growth of aerosols.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.642-655
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• 2013

In this study, semi-continuous measurements of $PM_{2.5}$ mass, organic and elemental carbon (OC and EC), black carbon (BC), and ionic species concentrations were made for the period of April 03~13, 2012, at a South Area Supersite at Gwangju. Possible sources causing the high concentrations of major chemical species in $PM_{2.5}$ observed during a haze episode were investigated. The measurement results, along with meteorological parameters, gaseous pollutants data, air mass back trajectory analyses and PSCF (potential source contribution function) results, were used to study the haze episode. Substantial enhancements of OC, EC, BC, $K^+$, $SO{_4}^{2-}$, $NO{_3}{^-}$, $NH{_4}{^+}$, and CO concentrations were closely associated with air masses coming from regions of forest fires in southeastern China, suggesting likely an impact of the forest fires. Also the PSCF maps for EC, OC, $SO{_4}^{2-}$, and $K^+$ demonstrate further that the long-range transport of smoke plumes of forest fires detected over the southeastern China could be a possible source of haze phenomena observed at the site. Another possible source leading to haze formation was likely from photochemistry of precursor gases such as volatile organic compounds, $SO_2$, and $NO_2$, resulting in accumulation of secondary organic aerosol, $SO{_4}^{2-}$ and $NO{_3}{^-}$. Throughout the episode, local wind directions were between 200 and $230^{\circ}C$, where two industrial areas are situated, with moderate wind speeds of 3~5 m/s, resulting in highly elevated concentration of $SO_2$ with a maximum of 15 ppb. The $SO{_4}^{2-}$ peak occurring in the afternoon hours coincided with maximum ambient temperature ($24^{\circ}C$) and ozone concentration (~100 ppb), and were driven by photochemistry of $SO_2$. As a result, the pattern of $SO{_4}^{2-}$ variations in relation to wind direction, $SO_2$ and $O_3$ concentrations, and the strong correlation between $SO_2$ and $SO{_4}^{2-}$ ($R^2=0.76$) suggests that in addition to the impact of smoke plumes from forest fires in the southeastern China, local $SO_2$ emissions were likely an important source of $SO{_4}^{2-}$ leading to haze formation at the site.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.538-555
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to understand $PM_{2.5}$ chemical characteristics on the Suwon/Yongin area and further to quantitatively estimate $PM_{2.5}$ source contributions. The $PM_{2.5}$ sampling was carried out by a high-volume air sampler at the Kyung Hee University-Global Campus from November, 2010 to October, 2011. The 40 chemical species were then analyzed by using ICP-AES(Ag, Ba, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Si, Ti, V and Zn), IC ($Na^+$, $K^+$, $NH_4{^+}$, $Mg^{2+}$, $Ca^{2+}$, $NO_3{^-}$, ${SO_4}^{2-}$ and $Cl^-$), DRI/OGC (OC1, OC2, OC3, OC4, OP, EC1, EC2 and EC3) and GC-FID (acenaphthene, fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene, pyrene, benzo[a]anthracene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[a] pyrene, indeno[1,2,3-cd] pyrene, benzo[g,h,i]perylene and dibenzo[a,h,]anthracene). When applying PMF model after performing proper data treatment, a total of 10 sources was identified and their contributions were quantitatively estimated. The average contribution to $PM_{2.5}$ emitted from each source was determined as follows; 26.3% from secondary aerosol source, 15.5% from soil and road dust emission, 15.3% from vehicle emission, 15.3% from illegal biomass burning, 12.2% from incineration, 7.2% from oil combustion source, 4.9% from industrial related source, and finally 3.2% from coal combustion source. In this study we used the ratios of PAHs concentration as markers to double check whether the sources were reasonably classified or not. Finally we provided basic information on the major $PM_{2.5}$ sources in order to improve the air quality in the study area.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.439-458
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• 2005

An automated analysis system for water soluble constituents in $PM_{2.5}$ has been developed. The system consists of a high capacity multi tube diffusion scrubber (MTDS), a low temperature particle impactor (LTPI), and two ion (anion and cation) chromatography (IC) systems. Atmospheric particles have been collected by passing sample air through a thermostated MTDS followed by a LTPI. This system allows simultaneous measurements of soluble ions in $PM_{2.5}$ at 30 minutes interval. At the air sampling flow rate of 1.0L/min, the detection limits of the overall system are in the order of tens of $ng/m^3$. This system has been successfully used for the measurement of particulate components of Seoul air from April 2003 to January 2004. $SO_4^{2-},\;NO_3^-,\;NH_4^+,\;NO_2^-,\;Cl^-,\;Na^+,\;K^+,\;Ca^{2+},\;and\;Mg^{2+}$ are the major ionic species for $PM_{2.5}$ at Seoul. Among them, $SO_4^{2-},\;NO_3^-\;and\;NH_4^+$ are the most abundant ions, contributed up to $86\%$ of the total and the concentrations were higher than those in any other urban sites in the world except for Chinese cities. There are high pollutant episodes which contribute about $15\~20\%$ of annual average values of the major ions. During the episode, the all parcels were transported from the asian continent and $PM_{2.5}$ were significantly neutralized. This suggests that aged and long range transported pollutants caused the high pollutant episodes. They showed a distinct daily and seasonal variations:they showed a peak in the early morning caused by the night-time accumulation of particulate matters. Atmospheric reactions including gas-to-particle reactions and inter-particle reactions and meteorological parameters including relative humidity and ambient temperature were described with related to the $PM_{2.5}$ 5 concentrations. All of the ionic species showed higher concentrations during the spring than those for summer and winter.