• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.275-288
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• 2009

The Korean government strengthened the environmental polices to manage and enhance Metropolitan Area air quality, and also has enforced "Special Act on Seoul Metropolitan Air Quality Improvement (SASMAQI)" issued in Dec. 2004. Recently government expanded the Seoul Metropolitan Air Quality Management District (SMAQMD) to the outskirts satellite cities of Seoul area through the "Revised Law Draft of SASMAQI". The SMAQMD has been alloted the allowable emission loads to the local governments on the basis of the carrying $PM_{10}$ capacity. However, in order to establish the effective air quality control strategy for $PM_{10}$, it is necessary to understand the corresponding sources which have a potential to directly impact ambient $PM_{10}$ concentration. To deal with the situations, many receptor methodologies have been developed to identify the origins of pollutants and to determine the contributions of sources of interests. The objective of this study was to extensively identify $PM_{10}$ sources and to estimate their contributions at the metropolitan area. $PM_{10}$ samples were simultaneously collected at the 3 semi-industrialized local cities in the Seoul metropolitan area such as Hwasung-si, Paju-si, and Icheon-si sites from April 15 to May 31, 2007. The samples collected on the teflon membrane filter by one $PM_{10}$ cyclone sampler were analyzed for trace metals and soluble ions and samples on the quartz fiber filter by another sampler were analyzed for OC and EC. Source apportionment study was then performed by using a positive matrix factorization (PMF) receptor model. A total of 6 sources were identified and their contributions were estimated in each monitoring site. Contribution results on Hwasung, Paju, and Icheon sites were as follows: 33%, 27%, and 27% from soil source, 26%, 26%, and 21% from secondary aerosol source, 11%, 11%, and 12% from biomass burning, 12%, 6%, and 5% from sea salt, 7%, 15%, and 19% from industrial related source, and finally 11%, 15%, and 16% from mobile and oil complex source, respectively. This study provides information on the major sources affecting air quality in the receptor sites and thus it will help to manage the ambient air quality in the metropolitan area by establishing reasonable control strategies, especially for the anthropogenic emission sources.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers C
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• v.50 no.11
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• pp.581-588
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• 2001

This paper presents theoretical and experimental study on the quality-factor of the laterally oscillated electrostatic microactuator, driven by a lateral repulsive-force generated by the asymmetry of planar electric field. The quality-factor of the repulsive-force microactuator using a creeping flow model of the ambient air is evaluated. By filling the simulation results of damping force, we evaluate the dimensionless damping force, $\alpha$, thereby obtaining an analytical damping force, F, in the form of $F=\mu\; \alphaUL,\; where\; \mu,$ U and L denote the air viscosity, the velocity and the characteristic length of the movable electrodes. The measured quality-factor increases from 12 to 13 for the DC bias voltage increased from 60V to 140v. The theoretical quality-factor estimated from the creeping flow model increases from 14.9 to 18.7. Characteristics of quality-factor of the repulsive-force microactuator have been discussed and compared with those of the conventional attractive-force microactuator.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.209-222
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• 2015

Fine and coarse PM had been collected by LVCI (low volume cascade impactor) and HVAS (high volume air sampler) during January 1989 to April 2012 at Kyung Hee University, Global Campus located on the boarder of Yongin and Suwon. The database of PM mass concentration was constructed and then intensively and extensively investigated to understand monthly, seasonal, and annual patterns of each PM behavior. Especially the study separated all the PM data into the 5 Period Zones, which were classified on the basis of social, political, and environmental issues that might be influencing local ambient air quality during the monitoring period. The overall $PM_{10}$ level had been continuously decreased until 2005 and after then was staggering due to rapidly increasing $PM_{2.5}$ level in $PM_{10}$. The annual average of $PM_{2.5}$ concentration varied from $34.3{\mu}g/m^3$ to $59.0{\mu}g/m^3$, which were much higher than the 2015 ambient air quality standard. The $PM_{2.5}$ level was strongly associated with haze events, while both $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ levels were associated with Yellow storm events. Daily concentrations of $PM_{2.5}$ were ranged $13.1{\sim}212.9{\mu}g/m^3$ in haze days and $33.6{\sim}124.6{\mu}g/m^3$ in Asian dust days. The study also intensively investigated annual and seasonal patterns of $PM_{2.5}/PM_{10}$ ratios.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.227-233
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• 2013

Scientific evidence shows that ambient air quality is one of the major environmental issues related to human health. The aim of this paper was to provide quantitative data on the short-term impact of air pollution on the mortality and morbidity of people living in Suwon city. There are some studies that have conducted health impacts of the air pollution in Seoul, Korea. However, there are few studies of the health effects on air pollution conducted in satellite cities of the Seoul Metropolitan area. For this reason, we investigated the health effects of air pollution in Suwon city, one of the highly populated satellite cities of Seoul. In order to estimate the short-term mortality impact of air pollution, this study applied the approach suggested by the World Health Organization (WHO), using AirQ2.2.3 software. Daily concentrations of $PM_{10}$, $O_3$, $NO_2$, and $SO_2$ were used to assess human exposure and health effects, in terms of attributable proportion of the health outcome, annual number of excess cases of mortality for all causes, and cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Among the four considered air pollutants, $PM_{10}$ had the highest health impact on the 1,118,000 inhabitants of Suwon city, causing an excess of total mortality of 105 out of 4,254 in a year. Sulfur dioxide had the least health impact. Ozone and nitrogen dioxide each caused 42.7 and 81.3 excess cases of total mortality in a year. The results are also in line with those of other international studies that apply AirQ software.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.269-276
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• 2012

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to provide policy directions for air pollution reduction by analyzing the variation in the characteristics of air contaminants around the Gyeonggi Province area. Methods: The data used in the study was obtained from air quality monitoring stations operated by the Gyeonggi Provincial Government. The target area was the air quality management area of the Gyeonggi Province region. Results: The concentration of $PM_{10}$ (particles measuring $10{\mu}m$ or less) in 2009 was $60{\mu}g/m^3$, which has been reduced by about 2.7% per year after improvement countermeasures were emplaced. The air pollution control policy was especially more effective for coarse particulate matter (CPM, $PM_{10-2.5}$). The improvement of $NO_2$ pollution was generally very low, especially in cities which had considerable automobile traffic. The concentration of $SO_2$ pollution was rapidly improved in industrial areas, but did not show any difference for multiple and general cities. The predicted concentration of $PM_{10}$ for 2014 based on the trend over 2001-2009 was $53.4{\mu}g/m^3$, which fails to meet the target concentration of $40{\mu}g/m^3$. The predicted concentration of $NO_2$ shows a very low probability of achieving the target concentration of 22 ppb, and thus the current improvement of air quality has proven unsatisfactory. Conclusion: Air pollution control policy should be enforced according to regional pollution characteristics in order to obtain maximum effectiveness in improvement.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.711-722
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• 2011

This study is aimed to estimate the $PM_{2.5}$ source apportionment at Seoul intensive monitoring site located in Seoul metropolitan area. Time-resolved chemical compositions of $PM_{2.5}$ are measured in real time using ambient ion monitor, semi-continuous carbon monitor, and on-line XRF at Seoul intensive monitoring site in 2010. The mass concentration of $PM_{2.5}$ was simultaneously monitored with eight ionic species (${SO_4}^{2-}$, $NO_3{^-}$, $Cl^-$, $NH_4{^+}$, $Na^+$, $K^+$, $Mg^{2+}$, $Ca^{2+}$), two carbonaceous species (OC and EC), and fourteen elements (Si, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, As, Se, Pb) in 1-hr interval. The data sets were then analyzed using EPA PMF version 3 to identify sources and contributions to $PM_{2.5}$ mass. EPA PMF modeling identified eight PM2.5 sources, including soil dust, secondary sulfate, secondary nitrate, motor vehicle, coal combustion, oil combustion, biomass burning, and municipal incineration. This study found that the average $PM_{2.5}$ mass was apportioned to anthropogenic sources such as motor vehicle, fuel combustion, and biomass burning (61%) and secondary aerosols, including sulfate and nitrate (38%).

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.255-263
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• 2007

Indoor air quality is the dominant contributor to total personal exposure because most people spend a majority of their time indoors. The purposes of this study were to evaluate the alternative method for improvement of indoor air quality in house after coating titanium dioxide ($TiO_2$) photocatalyst for interior part of the house using nitrogen dioxide ($NO_2$) multiple measurements. To evaluate the alternative method in indoor environment, daily indoor and outdoor $NO_2$ concentrations of an apartment and a detached house were daily measured for consecutive 21 days in winter and summer, respectively, Another daily 21 measurements were carried out after $TiO_2$ coating on wall paper of interior part in houses. All $NO_2$ concentrations were measured by passive filter badges. Indoor air quality models using mass balance are useful tool to quantify the relationship between indoor air pollution levels, ambient concentrations, and explanatory variables. Using a mass balance model and linear regression analysis, penetration factor (ventilation rate divided by sum of ventilation rate and decay rate) and source strength factor (emission rate divided by sum of ventilation rate and decay rate) were calculated. Subsequently, the decay constants were estimated. In this study. magnitude of improvement of indoor air quality could be evaluated by decay constant.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.139-151
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• 2013

The purpose of this study is to understand distributional characteristics in the atmospheric concentrations of $O_3$ and its precursors based on data taken at the southern Korean coast. The average $O_3$ concentration in the high altitude was found to range from 32.3 to 90.8 ppb with a maximum concentration of 132 ppb. The ambient $O_3$ concentration was high at altitudes of 1000 m and 500 m above the southern sea near Gwangyang Bay and an industrial area containing emission sources. The daily mean concentrations of $NO_y$ and CO were 6.7-24.2 ppb and 0.152-0.487 ppm, respectively. During the aerial measurement period, the highest mean concentration of $O_3$ was observed on June 1. The aerial measurement results showed that the maximum ozone concentration was observed to be 132 ppb in the high altitude the southernmost part of Yeosu. The measurement of vertical wind fields in the air indicated that $O_3$ formed in the southernmost part of Yeosu was transported by strong southwesterly winds to the northeast of Gwangyang Bay. This led to a ground $O_3$ concentration of over 100 ppb in Jinju, the northeastern part of Gwangyang Bay. On August 9, when the maximum $O_3$ concentration was 50 ppb, the measurement results showed that $O_3$ concentrations were relatively low compared to other days. In particular, low $NO_2$ and TVOC concentrations were observed, both of which serve to form $O_3$ in photochemical reactions.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.393-403
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• 2008

In an effort to estimate secondary $PM_{10}$ concentrations and their diurnal variations at different photochemical activities, $PM_{10}$, CO, and $O_3$ concentrations obtained from the ambient air quality network located in Seoul are analyzed for the period from 2000 to 2005. In order to classify the photochemical activities on a daily basis, measured ${\Delta}O_{3,\;max-min}$ (maximum $O_3$-minimum $O_3$) and ${\int}(hv)dt$ which represents accumulated daily insolation, were used to classify each day into three regimes: 1) low photochemical reactivity; ${\Delta}O_{3,\;max-min}\;{\leq}\;40\;ppb$, and ${\int}(hv)dt\;{\leq}\;4000\;W/m^2$, 2) moderate photochemical reactivity; $40\;ppb\;<\;{\Delta}O_{3,\;max-min}\;{\leq}\;60\;ppb$, and $4000\;{\leq}\;{\int}(hv)de\;{\leq}\;6000\;W/m^2$, and 3) high photochemical reactivity; ${\Delta}O_{3,\;max-min}\;>\;60\;ppb$, and ${\int}(hv)dt\;{\geq}\;6000\;W/m^2$. The ratio of ($PM_{10}$/CO) obtained at low photochemical activity regime was used as an index of tracer for the estimation of secondary $PM_{10}$ at higher photochemical activity regimes. The results show that the estimated secondary $PM_{10}$ concentrations for moderate and high photochemical regimes are found to be 18.8% ($10.9\;{\mu}g/m^3$), and 35.0% ($26.2\;{\mu}g/m^3$), respectively. Diurnal variation of secondary $PM_{10}$ for the moderate photochemical regime shows weak but noticeable patterns. However, the highly activated photochemical regime shows strong diurnal variations of secondary $PM_{10}$ concentrations with the maximum value of $35.1\;{\mu}g/m^3$ at 1300LST.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.30-36
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• 2023

Background: Among various pollutants, fine particle (PM_2.5, defined as particle less than 2.5 nm in aerodynamic diameter) shows the most consistent association with adverse health effects. There is scientific evidence documenting a variety of adverse health outcomes due to exposure to PM_2.5. Objectives: This study aims to assess the health benefits of that would be achieved by meeting the World Health Organization's air quality guidelines for PM_2.5 using AirQ+ and BenMAP. Methods: We estimated PM_2.5 related health benefits in Korea from implementing the World Health Organization's air quality guidelines (annual average 5 ㎍/m³ and 10 ㎍/m³) and Korea's National Ambient Air Quality Standard (annual average 15 ㎍/m³). We used World Health Organization's AirQ+ and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Environmental Benefits Mapping and Analysis Program. Results: The annual number of avoided PM_2.5 related premature deaths exceeding WHO guideline levels was assessed using both AirQ+ and BenMAP. We estimated that the health benefits of attaining the World Health Organization's air quality guidelines for PM_2.5 (annual average 5 ㎍/m³) would suggest an annual reduction of 26,128 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 17,363~34,024) and 26,853 (95% CI: 18,527~34,944) premature deaths. Conclusions: Our study provided useful information to policy makers and confirms that the reduction of PM_2.5 concentration would result in significant health benefits in Korea.