• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.115-125
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• 2014

In this study, particle composition data for $PM_{10}$ samples were collected every 3 days at Seoul, Korea from August 2006 to November 2007, and were analyzed to provide source identification and apportionment. A total of 164 samples were collected and 21 species (15 inorganic species, 4 ionic species, OC, and EC) were analyzed by particle-induced x-ray emission, ion chromatography, and thermal optical transmittance methods. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) was used to develop source profiles and to estimate their mass contributions. The PMF modeling identified nine sources and the average mass was apportioned to secondary nitrate (9.3%), motor vehicle (16.6%), road salt (5.8%), industry (4.9%), airborne soil (17.2 %), aged sea salt (6.2%), field burning (6.0%), secondary sulfate (16.2%), and road dust (17.7%), respectively. The nonparametric regression (NPR) analysis was used to help identify local source in the vicinity of the sampling area. These results suggest the possible strategy to maintain and manage the ambient air quality of Seoul.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.92-97
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• 2007

The present paper deals with gaseous carbon dioxide separation by a commercial adsorbent: X-type zeolite. Experimental work was carried out at an ambient condition focusing on how well meeting to the national guideline. A few types of reactor and material were examined, and practical capability was found in a granular bed type reactor with the flow of 2.5 CMM. An optimum design of reactor and adsorbent could provide the required concentration, less than 2500 ppm, for the continuous operation up to 10 hours. More work including automatic regeneration is now underworking.

• Mycobiology
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.343-353
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• 2023

Lichens play crucial roles in the ecosystems, contributing to soil formation and nutrient cycling, and being used in biomonitoring efforts to assess the sustainability of ecosystems including air quality. Previous studies on heavy metal accumulation in lichens have mostly relied on manipulated environments, such as transplanted lichens, leaving us with a dearth of research on how lichens physiologically respond to heavy metal exposure in their natural habitats. To fill this knowledge gap, we investigated lichens from two of South Korea's geographically distant regions, Gangwon Province and Jeju Island, and examined whether difference in ambient heavy metal concentrations could be detected through physiological variables, including chlorophyll damage, lipid oxidation, and protein content. The physiological variables of lichens in response to heavy metals differed according to the collection area: Arsenic exerted a significant impact on chlorophyll degradation and protein content. The degree of fatty acid oxidation in lichens was associated with increased Cu concentrations. Our research highlights the value of lichens as a bioindicator, as we found that even small variations in ambient heavy metal concentrations can be detected in natural lichens. Furthermore, our study sheds light on which physiology variables that can be used as indicators of specific heavy metals, underscoring the potential of lichens for future ecology studies.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.365-371
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• 2007

To evaluate the effect of air pollution on respiratory health in children, We conducted a longitudinal study in which children were asked to record their daily levels of Peak Expiratory Flow Rate(PEFR) using potable peak flow meter(mini-Wright) for 4 weeks. The relationship between daily PEFR and ambient air particle levels was analyzed using a mixed linear regression models including gender, age in year, weight, the presence of respiratory symptoms, and relative humidity as an extraneous variable. The daily mean concentrations of $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ over the study period were $64.9{\mu}g/m^3$ and $46.1{\mu}g/m^3$, respectively. The range of daily measured PEFR in this study was $182{\sim}481\;l/min$. Daily mean PEFR was regressed with the 24-hour average $PM_{10}(or\;PM_{2.5})$ levels, weather information such as air temperature and relative humidity, and individual characteristics including sex, weight, and respiratory symptoms. The analysis showed that the increase of air particle concentrations was negatively associated with the variability in PEFR. We estimated that the IQR increment of $PM_{10}$ or $PM_{2.5}$ were associated with 1.5 l/min (95% Confidence intervals -3.1, 0.1) and 0.8 l/min(95% CI -1.8, 0.1) decline in PEFR. Even though this study showed negative findings on the relationship between respiratory function and air particles, it was worth noting that the findings must be interpreted cautiously because exposure measurement based on monitoring of ambient air likely resulted in misclassification of true exposure levels and this was the first Korean study that $PM_{2.5}$ measurement was applied as an index of air quality.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.877-888
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• 2016

To project the effects of climate-induced change on aquatic environments, it is necessary to determine the thermal constraints affecting different fish species and to acquire time series of the current and projected water temperature (WT). Assuming that a nonlinear regression between the WT at individual stations and the ambient air temperature (AT) at nearby weather stations could represent the best relationship of air-water temperature, This study estimates future WT using a general circulation model (GCM). In addition, assuming that the grid-averaged observations of AT correspond to the AT output from GCM simulation, this study constructed a regression curve between the observations of the local WT and the concurrent GCM-simulated surface AT. Because of its low spatial resolution, downscaling is unavoidable. The projected WT under global warming scenario A2 (B2) shows an increase of about $1.6^{\circ}C$ ($0.9^{\circ}C$) for the period 2080-2100. The maximum/minimum WT shows an amount of change similar to that of the mean values. This study will provide guidelines for decision-makers and engineers in climate-induced river environment and ecosystem management.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.32 no.2 s.121
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• pp.102-108
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• 2007

Heat pump systems are recognized to be heating and cooing systems. In this study, to check the practical application possibility of heat pump systems as low temperature storage systems and get basic data, apples of a long term storage items were stored and performance of low temperature storage and quality changes of apples were evaluated. Cooling coefficient of performance of the system was from 1.1 to 1.3. Although ambient air temperature varied widely from $-13^{\circ}C$ to $29.6^{\circ}C$ during low temperature storage period from January to June, the average temperature of low temperature storage chamber was $1.1^{\circ}C$ at setting temperature of $1.5^{\circ}C$. Sucrose of apples stored by the heat pump decreased from initial sucrose of 15.4% (Brix number) to final sucrose of 14.3%. Weight loss ratio of apples was 9.7% and internal and external view of apples after low temperature storage were very satisfactory with the naked eye.

• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.233-239
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• 2019

This study was conducted in order to predict the vase life of cut lily 'Woori Tower' flowers using a non-destructive thermal imaging technique. It was found that the temperature of cut lily flowers was maintained at 20℃ and was slightly lower than the air temperature until they bloomed. On the 11th day, when flowers bloomed, the temperature of leaves and flowers was measured to be 18.75±0.38℃ and 19.23±0.32℃ respectively, and their difference with ambient temperature was over 3℃. The flower temperature increased slightly when the vase life of cut lily flowers ended, and the temperature difference between the air and leaf temperature (1.77℃) and between the air and flower temperature (1.39℃) got smaller. No visible aging symptom was observed, but it was found that the temperature had risen due to water losses and less functional stomata. The vase life of cut lily flowers can be predicted based on changes in temperature and it will be also possible to predict the potential quality and vase life of cut flowers before harvesting them in greenhouses.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 2007

This study centered on the quantitative analysis of about 27 trace elements including toxic ones using instrumental neutron activation analysis of fine ambient particulate matter in the third and fourth industrial complex area of Daejeon city, Korea. For analytical quality control, the certified reference material (NIST, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, U.S.A., SRM 2783, air particulate on filter media) was used. The errors relative to SRM values of Sb, Mn, V, Mg, Na, K, Ti, Co, Zn, and Sm fell below 5%, while those of Cr, Fe, Ba, Th, Ce, Al, and Cu were less than 10%. From the results of the quantitative analysis, the concentration of toxic metals such as As, Mn, Se, V, and Zn were $3.26{\pm}2.72$, $9.86{\pm}4.71$, $2.18{\pm}1.25$, $4.91{\pm}2.41$, $158{\pm}78ng/m^3$, respectively. And the results of factor analysis indicated that there are no more than six factors of sources of fine ambient particulate with statistical significance in the study area.

• 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.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.84-90
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• 2018

Chemical accidents occur in various forms, such as explosions, leaks, spills, and fires. In particular, chemical accidents caused by fires seriously affect the surrounding air environment due to soot, causing anxiety to the residents. Therefore, it is important to identify the causative substances quickly and examine the influence of air quality in the surrounding area. In this paper, proton transfer reaction-time of flight mass spectrometry(PTR-ToFMS) was used to identify the causative material in a fire and monitor the air quality in real time. This analyzer is capable of real-time analysis with a rapid response time without sample collection and pretreatment. In addition, it is suitable for quantitative and qualitative analysis of most volatile organic compounds with high hydrogen affinity, to identify the cause of fire and examine the influence of ambient air. In April 2018, when a local fire occurred, methanol, acetone, and methyl ethyl ketone were the main causative agents in PTR-ToFMS.