• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.77-85
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• 2012

In this study, emission rates (ER) of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) were measured by varying levels of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). An appropriate plan for ozone reduction according to increasing ecology area ratio in future metropolitan areas was suggested. Several trees were selected as representative tree species in urban areas. Emission rates and composition ratios of monoterpene and isoprene emitted from these trees were estimated and compared. As a result, it was found that emission rates of BVOCs were considerably different depending on tree species. Especially, BVOCs emitted from Platanus orientalis and Quercus mongolica could significantly affect ozone increase in the metropolitan area, because the emission rates were several thousands to ten thousand times higher than those emitted from Zelkova serrata and Prunus serrulata. Furthermore, it was observed that emission rates of BVOCs by species increased maximum up to 10 times when PAR, which has close relations with temperature, rose. It was concluded that tree species such as Zelkova serrata et al., was appropriate for metropolitan areas since the species has low ozone potential and good landscape. Suppose this type of trees are planted on purpose in the urban areas, better ambient air quality will be promised in the future.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2009

This study assessed the relationships between levels of $PM_{10}$ and hospitalization rates for asthma among children from 2003 to 2005 at four major cities in Korea. In addition, we estimated the reduced number of asthma hospitalization associated with an ambient $PM_{10}$ improvement to the acceptable levels as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). The Generalized Additive Model (GAM) was used to estimate the relative risks (RR) of asthma hospitalization associated with changes in $PM_{10}$ The RRs of children's asthma hospitalization for every $10{\mu}g/m^3$ increment in $PM_{10}$ were 1.009(95% CI = 1.004-1.014) in Seoul, 1.013(95% CI = 1.006-1.021) in Incheon, 1.009(95% CI = 1.002-1.016) in Busan, and 1.021(95% CI = 1.005-1.037) in Ulsan. We assessed $PM_{10}$ related health benefits from implementing the WHO's guidelines (24-hour average $50{\mu}g/m^3$) using the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Environmental Benefits Mapping and Analysis Program. The estimated benefits were 439(95% CI = 216-666) reduced asthma hospitalization in Seoul, 720(95% CI = 304-1,151) in Incheon, 260(95% CI = 66-459) in Busan, and 126(95% CI = 30-228) in Ulsan. It was concluded that improving $PM_{10}$ condition to the WHO guideline would make a significant contribution to the reduction in asthma hospitalization among children. Therefore, public health measures are still needed to improve air quality in Korea.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.111-120
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• 2012

In Daegu, a road cleaning system was constructed in the central part of the city and has been operated from April, 2011. We evaluated the effect of the system on the concentration of $PM_{10}$ at a roadside monitoring site. The ambient $PM_{10}$ concentration data were logged every 1 min for a period of 20 weeks from May to October, 2011, by means of light scattering method, and then every 5 min data were used in the statistical analysis. The measured data were verified by comparing them with beta-ray data obtained at the same site. Correlation coefficient between the two groups was highly significant (r=0.79), though the absolute levels of light scattering data appeared to be approximately 2.8 times higher than the beta-ray data. Diurnal, daily, weekly, and monthly variations of $PM_{10}$ data did not show any evidence of decreasing effect owing to the clean road system. A comparison of roadside $PM_{10}$ data with non-roadside data also revealed very similar pattern, implying the variation of the $PM_{10}$ concentrations is mainly affected by the traffic conditions near the monitoring site. However, if the operating conditions of the clean road system can be improved, i.e. increasing the frequency and duration of water cleaning, the road cleaning effect may improve the air quality indirectly by means of removing the resuspended particles from the road.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.231-237
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• 2018

In this study, two important requirements for the home production of a robot to detect and remove improvised explosive devices (IEDs) are presented in terms of the total cost for robot system development and the performance improvement of the mine detection technology. Firstly, cost analyses were performed in order to provide a reasonable solution following an engineering estimate method. As a result, the total cost for a mass production system without the mine detection system was estimated to be approximately 396 million won. For the case including the mine detection system, the total cost was estimated to be approximately 411 million won, in which labor costs and overhead charges were slightly increased and the material costs for the mine detection system were negligible. Secondly, a method for fabricating the carbon nanotube (CNT) based gas detection sensor was studied. The detection electrodes were formed by a photolithography process using a photosensitive CNT paste. As a result, this method was shown to be a scalable and expandable technology for producing excellent mine detection sensors. In particular, it was found that surface treatments by using adhesive taping or ion beam bombardment methods are effective for exposing the CNTs to the ambient air environment. Fowler-Nordheim (F-N) plots were obtained from the electron-emission characteristics of the surface treated CNT paste. The F-N plot suggests that sufficient electrons are available for transport between CNT surfaces and chemical molecules, which will make an effective chemiresistive sensor for the advanced IED detection system.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.1108-1119
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• 2018

As the interest on the air pollution is gradually rising at home and abroad, automotive and fuel researchers have been studied on the exhaust and greenhouse gas emission reduction from vehicles through a lot of approaches, which consist of new engine design, innovative after-treatment systems, using clean (eco-friendly alternative) fuels and fuel quality improvement. This research has brought forward two main issues : exhaust emissions (regulated and non-regulated emissions, PM particle matter) and greenhouse gases of vehicle. Exhaust emissions and greenhouse gases of automotive had many problem such as the cause of ambient pollution, health effects. In order to reduce these emissions, many countries are regulating new exhaust gas test modes. Worldwide harmonized light-duty vehicle test procedure (WLTP) for emission certification has been developed in WP.29 forum in UNECE since 2007. This test procedure was applied to domestic light duty diesel vehicles at the same time as Europe. The air pollutant emissions from light-duty vehicles are regulated by the weight per distance, which the driving cycles can affect the results. Exhaust emissions of vehicle varies substantially based on climate conditions, and driving habits. Extreme outside temperatures tend to increasing the emissions, because more fuel must be used to heat or cool the cabin. Also, high driving speeds increases the emissions because of the energy required to overcome increased drag. Compared with gradual vehicle acceleration, rapid vehicle acceleration increases the emissions. Additional devices (air-conditioner and heater) and road inclines also increases the emissions. In this study, three light-duty vehicles were tested with WLTP, NEDC, and FTP-75, which are used to regulate the emissions of light-duty vehicles, and how much emissions can be affected by different driving cycles. The emissions gas have not shown statistically meaningful difference. The maximum emission gas have been found in low speed phase of WLTP which is mainly caused by cooled engine conditions. The amount of emission gas in cooled engine condition is much different as test vehicles. It means different technical solution requires in this aspect to cope with WLTP driving cycle.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.32 no.4 s.91
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• pp.359-372
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• 2006

In order to investigate the daily deposition characteristics of water-soluble inorganic components in airborne deposit on the Iksan, deposition samples were collected using a deposition gauge from October 16 to November 1, 2004. Deposition samples were collected using two different sampling gauges, a dry gauge and a wet gauge, respectively. To get wet the bottom of wet gauge during the sampling period, the volume of $30{\sim}50ml$ distilled ionized water was added in a wet gauge before the beginning of each deposition sampling. Deposition samples were collected twice a day and analyzed for inorganic water-soluble anions ($Cl^-,\;{NO_3}^-,\;{SO_4}^{2-}$) and cations (${NH_4}^+,\;Na^+,\;K^+,\;Mg^{2+},\;Ca^{2+}$) using ion chromatography. Qualify control and quality assurance of analytical data were checked by the data obtained from reinjection of standard solution, Dionex cross check standard solutions, and random several deposition samples, and measured data was estimated to be reliable. Considering the deposition sample volume, the sampling time, the surface area of sampling container, and the ion concentration measured, the daily deposition amounts for measured ions were calculated in $mg/m^2$. The total daily deposition amounts of all measured ions for dry and wet gauge were $7.5{\pm}2.8$ and $17.7{\pm}4.2mg/m^2$, respectively. A significant increase in deposition amount during rainfall days was observed for both wet gauge and dry gauge, having no difference of deposition amount between in wet gauge and in dry gauge. The mean deposition of all ions measured in this study were higher in wet gauge than in dry gauge because of the surface difference of the sampling container, especially for ${NH_4}^+\;and\;{SO_4}^{2-}$. The mean deposition amounts of ${NH_4}^+\;and\;{SO_4}^{2-}$ in wet gauge were found to be about 10 times and 3 times higher than those in dry gauge, while the rest of the chemical species were equal or a little higher in wet gauge than in dry gauge. Dominant species in dry gauge were ${NO_3}^-\;and\;Ca^{2+}$, accounting for 21% and 28% of the total ion deposition, whereas those in wet gauge were ${SO_4}^{2-}\;and\;{NH_4}^+$, accounting for 19% and 41% of the total ion deposition, respectively.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.200-206
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• 2003

Pleurotus eryngii(King oyster) is one of the most promising mushrooms produced on the domestic farms. The quality as well as quantity of Eryngii is sensitively affected by micro climate factors such as temperature, relative humidity, $CO_2$ concentration, and light intensity. To safely produce high-quality Eryngii all the year round, it is required that the environmental factors be carefully controlled by well designed structures equipped with various facilities and control systems. At the commercial mushroom cultivation house(A,B), this study was carried out to find out reasonable range of each environmental factor and yield together with economic and safe structures influencing on the optimal productivity of Eryngii. this experiment was conducted for about two-month from Nov. 11, 2002 to Dec. 30, 2002 in Eryngii. cultivation house-A, B. Ambient temperature during the experiment period was not predominantly different from that of a normal year. The capacity of the hot water boiler and the piping systems were not enough. Maximum air temperature difference between the upper and lower growth stage during a heating time zone was about 2~3$^{\circ}C$. The max. and min. relative humidity were ranged approximately 60~100%, and average relative humidity was ranged approximately 80~100%. And $CO_2$concentration increased until maximum 1,600~1,800 ppm with the passing growing period. The illuminance in cultivation house was widely distributed from 20lx to 160 lx in accordance with position, and it was maintained lower than the recommended illuminance range 100~200 lx. The average yield per bottle was about 67~85g. But the optimal productivity will be evaluated by considering the quality and quantity of mushroom production, energy requirements, facility construction and management cost, etc.

• 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.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.53-62
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• 2008

In the present study, the concentration levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (or PCBs) in the environments in Korea are estimated based on some measured data in Korea, in comparison with the data from the other countries. Even though PCBs were banned as electrical fluids in 1970s in Korea, PCBs are still detected in the environment. PCBs levels in Korea are greatly lower than those in other countries, which are gradually decreased as well. However, the measured data are not sufficient in both numbers and quality, to estimate the average PCBs levels in Korea. The regulation limit on polychlorinated biphenyls (or PCBs) is 2mg/kg (ppm), which is too low compared to 50 ppm of many other countries including U.S. With this strict regulation, there are many problems expected, for example, in the analysis of PCBs in the transformers using in the field as well as the safe treatment of PCBs. The risk assessment on the PCBs in the environment is surely necessary prior to the change in the limit. Also the PCBs concentration monitoring in the environmental media (i.e. air, water, soil and sediment) and exposure assessment will be essential for the accurate risk assessment. If the PCB-waste guideline maintain as 2 ppm after 10 years, the excess cancer risk of PCBs exposure by ambient air, drinking water and soil was $10^{-8}$. But if the guideline mitigate as 50 ppm after 10 years, the cancer risk was increased by $10^{-7}$. The ecological risk quotient by regulation change was not exceed '1'.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.140-148
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• 2004

To evaluate the acute effects of fine particles on pulmonary function, a longitudinal study was conducted. This study was carried out for the schoolchildren (3rd and 6th grades) living in Beijing, China. Each child was provided with a mini-Wright peak flow meter and a preformatted health symptom diary for 40 days, and was trained on their proper use. Participants were instructed to perform the peak flow test three times in standing position, three times a day (9 am, 12 pm, and 8 pm), and to record all the readings along with the symptoms (cold, cough, and asthmatic symptoms) experienced on that day. Daily measurement of fine particles (PM$_{10}$ and PM$_{2.5}$) was obtained in the comer of the playground of the participating elementary school for the same period of this longitudinal study. The relationship between daily peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) and fine particle levels was analyzed using a mixed linear regression models including gender, height, the presence of respiratory symptoms, and daily average temperature and relative humidity as extraneous variables. The total number of students participating in this longitudinal study was 87. The range of daily measured PEFR was 253-501$\ell$/min. In general, the PEFR measured in the morning was lower than the PEFR measured in the evening (or afternoon) on the same day. The daily mean concentrations of PM$_{10}$ and PM$_{2.5}$ over the study period were 180.2$\mu\textrm{g}$/㎥ and 103.2$\mu\textrm{g}$/㎥, respectively. The IQR (inter-quartile range) of PM$_{10}$ and PM$_{2.5}$ were 91.8$\mu\textrm{g}$/㎥ and 58.0$\mu\textrm{g}$/㎥. During the study period, the national ambient air quality standard of 150$\mu\textrm{g}$/㎥ (for PM$_{10}$) was exceeded in 23 days (57.5%). The analysis showed that an increase of 1$\mu\textrm{g}$/㎥ of PM$_{10}$ corresponded to 0.59$\mu\textrm{g}$/㎥ increment of PM$_{2.5}$. 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 gender, height, and respiratory symptoms. The analysis showed that the increase of fine particle concentrations was negatively associated with the variability in PEFR. The IQR increments of PM$_{10}$ or PM$_{2.5}$ (at 1-day time lag) were also shown to be related with 1.54 $\ell$/min (95% Confidence intervals: 0.94-2.14) and 1.56$\ell$/min (95% CI: 0.95-2.16) decline in PEFR.R.ine in PEFR.ine in PEFR.