• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.734-743
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• 2009

In order to examine how climatological condition can influence on urban scale particulate air pollutants, single and cross spectrum analysis have been performed to daily mean concentrations of particulate matters ($PM_{10}$) in Busan together with the climatological variables over the Asian dust source regions. Single power spectrum analysis of $PM_{10}$ concentrations in Busan shows that, aside from the typical and well-known periodicities, 3-4 year of peak periodicity of power spectrum density was identified. In cross spectrum analysis, this 3-4 year periodicity is found to have a strong positive correlation with the wind speed and pressure, and negative with the temperature and relative humidity, which is rather consistent with both characteristics of air mass during the Asian dust event whose periodicities have been recorded inter-annually over the Korean urban cities. Over the Asian dust source regions, $PM_{10}$ vs. precipitation shows no significant periodicity from the time series of precipitation data, but the periodicity of EDI (Effective Drought Index) shows some interannual variabilities ranging from 2 to 4 years over the various source regions, suggesting that, rather than precipitation itself, the EDI could be more closely associated with the occurrence frequency of Asian dust and interannual variability of urban particle concentrations in Korean cities.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.159-172
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• 2019

To investigate the influence of pollution events on the chemical composition and formation processes of aerosol particles, 24-h integrated size-segregated particulate matter (PM) was collected during the fall season at an urban site of Gwangju, Korea and was used to determine the concentrations of mass, water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) and ionic species. Furthermore, black carbon (BC) concentrations were observed with an aethalometer. The entire sampling period was classified into four periods, i.e., typical, pollution event I, pollution event II, and an Asian dust event. Stable meteorological conditions (e.g., low wind speed, high surface pressure, and high relative humidity) observed during the two pollution events led to accumulation of aerosol particles and increased formation of secondary organic and inorganic aerosol species, thus causing $PM_{2.5}$ increase. Furthermore, these stable conditions resulted in the predominant condensation or droplet mode size distributions of PM, WSOC, $NO_3{^-}$, and $SO{_4}^{2-}$. However, difference in the accumulation mode size distributions of secondary water-soluble species between pollution events I and II could be attributed to the difference in transport pathways of air masses from high-pollution regions and the formation processes for the secondary chemical species. The average absorption ${\AA}ngstr{\ddot{o}}m$ exponent ($AAE_{370-950}$) for 370-950 nm wavelengths > 1.0 indicates that the BC particles from traffic emissions were likely mixed with light absorbing brown carbon (BrC) from biomass burning (BB) emissions. It was found that light absorption by BrC in the near UV range was affected by both secondary organic aerosol and BB emissions. Overall, the pollution events observed during fall at the study site can be due to the synergy of unfavorable meteorological conditions, enhanced secondary formation, local emissions, and long-range transportation of air masses from upwind polluted areas.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.225-234
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• 2011

The mineralogy and mixing state were investigated by the high resolution scanning electron microscopy combined with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis on particles of the total suspended solid (TSP) samples collected during the Asian dust event, spring, 2009. Relatively large particles were dominated by quartz, plagioclase, K-feldspar, amphibole, biotite, muscovite, chlorite, and calcite. Clay minerals usually occur as thin coatings on the coarse minerals or as aggregates. Calcite nanofibers are often admixed with clay platelets in the clay coatings and aggregates. Dust particles were classified on the basis of their main minerals. The single-particle mineralogy and mixing state of the TSP sample are consistent with those of $PM_{10}$ samples in previous studies.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.26-37
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• 2009

Recently rapid environmental changes due to desertification and industrialization in China make a threat to Korea, especially during Asian Dust Event (ADE). This study was aimed to compare symptoms and behaviors related to ADE between Korea and China. We conducted questionnaires on self-reported symptoms and behaviors before and during ADE. Korean and Chinese subjects were grouped into children, adults, and elderly by nation (n=791). Statistical analyses were performed by $X^2$-test, Fisher's exact test, t-test and chow's test for comparing differences between Korean and Chinese. We estimated the odds ratio for perceived symptoms during ADE by preventive behavior, using Generalized Estimation Equation (GEE). The study indicated that there were significant differences between symptoms in Korea and those in China such as cold, cough, and sore throat, especially in elderly. Preventive behaviors such as avoiding outdoor activity and wearing sunglasses were more often performed in China than Korea. However wearing mask was more often performed in Korea than China. After adjusting for age, sex, educational level, and smoking status, the odds ratio (OR) of dry cough symptom in Korea was significantly decreased by closing the windows and wearing a mask during ADE. In China, the OR of dry cough symptom was decreased by wearing a mask and avoiding outdoor activity. We found that China which had higher performance of preventive behavior showed lower prevalence of symptoms during ADE than Korea. Also preventive behaviors could affects prevalence of symptoms during ADE. This results suggest that preventive behavior. could reduce symptoms during ADE and there are needed for. more attentions to reduce a threat of ADE.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.360-372
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• 2010

Concentrations of ambient air particles such as total suspended particulates (TSP), particulate matter $(PM)_{10}$, and $PM_{2.5}$, were monitored simultaneously from May to June, 2007, at four locations at Alashan and Beijing in China, and Seoul and Gosan in South Korea. These monitoring sites are in the pathway of Asian dust (AD) storms traveling from China to the Korean peninsula. An AD event was observed in the Korean peninsula on May 25-26. During the sampling period, the average concentrations of TSP and PM10 were each higher than $150\;{\mu}g/m^3$ in Alashan and Beijing, but not in Seoul and Gosan. The concentration of TSP in Alashan (where the dust storm originated) on the day of the AD event reached $1824.7\;{\mu}g/m^3$, this being the highest concentration of air particles observed during the sampling period. The level was decreased to 15% of this ($274.7\;{\mu}g/m^3$) in Seoul and to 8.7% ($159.0\;{\mu}g/m^3$) in Gosan when the AD was observed two days later in Korea. Gosan, a representative background site in East Asia, displayed the lowest concentration of particles, with this maximal TSP concentration of $159\;{\mu}g/m^3$. Inorganic element contents in the air particles were also measured, and the concentrations in the four different regions compared. Concentrations of anthropogenically-enriched heavy metals in $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$, such as lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury, were higher in the metropolitan cities of Beijing and Seoul compared to non-industrialized regions of Alashan and Gosan. However, the concentrations of inorganic soil elements including iron, magnesium, aluminum sodium, and manganese, were higher in Alashan compared to those in other sampling sites.

• Proceedings of the Korea Air Pollution Research Association Conference
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.91-92
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• 2002

2002년 봄철에는 예년에 비하여 황사현상이 자주 발생하였는데 특히 3월 21-22일 과 4월 7-8일에는 예전에 찾아 볼 수 없을 정도의 강한 황사가 한반도에서 관측되었다. 이 사례들로 인하여 황사로 인한 재해를 방지하기 위하여 황사의 정량적인 예보가 필요함을 인식하게 되었고 이를 위해서 황사의 발생과 수송과정에 대한 수치모델의 정립이 요구된다고 하겠다. 따라서 이 연구에서는 황사의 발생을 예측하고 정량적으로 예보하기 위한 모델을 구축하고 2002년 두 차례의 강한 황사 사례에 적용하여 그 모델을 개선하고자 한다. (중략)

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.133-140
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• 2009

In order to examine the effects of micrometeorological and climatological influences on urban scale particulate air pollutants observed in Busan, power spectrum analysis was applied to the observed particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter ${\le}10{\mu}m$ ($PM_{10}$) for the period from 1991 to 2006. Power spectrum analysis has been employed to the daily mean $PM_{10}$ concentrations obtained at 13 sites to identify different scales of periodicities of $PM_{10}$ concentrations. The results show that, aside from the typical and well-known periodicities such as diurnal and annual variations caused by anthropogenic emission influences, another two significant peaks of power spectrum density were identified: 21 day and $3{\sim}4$ year of periodicities. Cospectrum analysis indicates that the intraseasonal 21 day periodicity are found to be negatively correlated with wind speed and surface pressure but shows consistently positive with relative humidity and temperature. This result implied that 21 day periodicity is presumably relevant to the secondary aerosol formation processes through the photochemical reaction that can be subsequently resulted from hygroscopic characteristics of aerosol formation. However, the interannual $3{\sim}4$ year of periodicity is found to have positive correlation with pressure, and negative with temperature and relative humidity, which is rather consistent with both characteristics of air mass during the Asian dust event and the occurrence frequency of Asian dust whose periodicities have been recorded inter-annually over the Korean peninsula.

• 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.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.99-106
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• 2010

To evaluate a potential wash-out effect of rainfalls, a preliminary environmental magnetic test was attempted. Measurement of isothermal remanent magnetization (IRM) and intensive microscopic observations were carried out on the solid particles extracted from the rainfalls collected for the past year (2009) in Daejeon, Korea. Dust particles collected from the rain-free (daily dust) or dustheavy days (during the Asian dust storm event) were also used as a comparison. IRMs were unanimously low for the solid particles extracted from the rainfalls, indicating an efficient wash-out effect of rainfalls as long as the magnetic concentration is concerned. Electron microscopy identified carbonbearing material, (carbon-coated) magnetite, and quartz. It is highly likely that the carbon-containing particles were produced by anthropogenic fossil fuel combustion.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.141-149
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• 2010

Aerosol size and number concentration were observed in the atmospheric boundary layer over Beijing (from near the ground to 1,200 m) on March 15 (a clear day) and 16 (a dusty day), 2005. The results were further compared with lidar measurements in order to understand the dependency of extinction on the particle size distribution and their vertical changes. The boundary layer atmosphere was composed of several sub-layers, and a dry air layer appeared between 400 and 1,000 m under the influence of dust event. In this dry air layer, the concentration of the fine-mode particles (diameter smaller than $1.0\;{\mu}m$) was slightly lower than the value on the clear day, while the concentration of coarse-mode particles (diameter larger than $1.0\;{\mu}m$) was remarkably higher than that on the clear day. This situation was attributed to the inflow of an air mass containing large amounts of Asian dust particles and a smaller amount of fine-mode particles. The results strongly suggest that the fine-mode particles affect light extinction even in the dusty atmosphere. However, quantitatively the relation between extinction and particle concentration is not satisfied under the dusty atmospheric conditions since laser beam attenuates in the atmosphere with high concentration of particles. Laser beam attenuation effect becomes larger in the relation between extinction and coarse particle content comparing the relation between extinction and fine particle content. To clarify this problem technically, future in situ measurements such as balloon-borne lidar are suggested. Here extinction was measured at 532 nm wavelength. Measurements of extinction at other wavelengths are desired in the future.