• Atmosphere
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.341-351
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• 2022

Recently, interest in the possibility of a washout effect using artificial rain enhancement technology to reduce high-concentration fine dust is growing. Therefore, in this study, the reduction rate of PM₁₀ concentration according to the amount of artificial rain enhancement was calculated during Asian Dust event which occurred over the Korean Peninsula on March 29, 2021 using air quality model [i.e., Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ)] combined with the mesoscale model for artificial rain enhancement (i.e., WRF-MMS). According to WRF-MMS, the washout effect lasted 5 hours, and the maximum precipitation rate was calculated to be 1.5 mm hr^-1. According the CMAQ results, the PM₁₀ reduction rate was up to 22%, and the affected area was calculated to be 6.4 times greater than that of the artificial rain enhancement area. Even if the maximum amount of precipitation per hour is lowered to 0.8 mm hr^-1 (about 50% level), the PM₁₀ reduction rate appears to be up to 16%. In other words, it is believed that this technique can be used as a direct method for reducing high-concentration fine dust even when the artificial rain enhancement effect is weak.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.65 no.6
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• pp.504-511
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• 2008

Background: Particulate matter may be toxic to human tissue. Ambient air particulate matter ${\leq}10{\mu}m$ in aerodynamic size ($PM_{10}$), which changes under different environmental conditions, is a complex mixture of organic and inorganic compounds. The Asian dust event caused by meteorological phenomena can also spread unique particulate matter in affected areas. We evaluated production of ROS, $TGF-{\beta}$, fibronectin, and $NF{\kappa}B$ by exposing normal epithelial cells to Asian dust particulate matter. Methods: Bronchial epithelial cells were exposed to 0, 50, ${\leq}100{\mu}g/ml$ of a suspension of $PM_{10}$ for 24 h. ROS were detected by measurement of DCF release from DCF-DA by FACScan. $TGF-{\beta}$, fibronectin, and $NF{\kappa}B$ were detected by western blotting. Results: $PM_{10}$ exposure increased the expression of $TGF-{\beta}$, fibronectin, and $NF{\kappa}B$. ROS production and $TGF-{\beta}$ levels were significantly higher with 50 or ${\leq}100{\mu}g/ml$ $PM_{10}$. Fibronectin and $NF{\kappa}B$ production were significantly higher after ${\leq}100{\mu}g/ml$ of $PM_{10}$. Conclusion: $PM_{10}$ from Asian dust particles might have fibrotic potential in bronchial epithelial cells via ROS induction after $PM_{10}$ exposure.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.475-489
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• 2010

In order to verify the enhancement of ozone and carbon monoxide (CO) during springtime in East Asia, we investigated weather conditions and data from remote sensors, air quality models, and air quality monitors. These include the geopotential height archived from the final (FNL) meteorological field, the potential vorticity and the wind velocity simulated by the Meteorological Mesoscale Model 5 (MM5), the back trajectory estimated by the Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model, the total column amount of ozone and the aerosol index retrieved from the Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS), the total column density of CO retrieved from the Measurement of Pollution in the Troposphere (MOPITT), and the concentration of ozone and CO simulated by the Model for Ozone and Related Chemical Tracers (MOZART). In particular, the total column density of CO, which mightoriginate from the combustion of fossil fuels and the burning of biomass in China, increased in East Asia during spring 2000. In addition, the enhancement of total column amounts of ozone and CO appeared to be associated with both the upper cut-off low near 500 hPa and the frontogenesis of a surface cyclone during a weak Asian dust event. At the same time, high concentrations of ozone and CO on the Earth's surface were shown at the Seoul air quality monitoring site, located at the surface frontogenesis in Korea. It was clear that the ozone was invaded by the downward stretched vortex anomalies, which included the ozone-rich airflow, during movement and development of the cut-off low, and then there was the catalytic photochemical reaction of ozone precursors on the Earth's surface during the day. In addition, air pollutants such as CO and aerosol were tracked along both the cyclone vortex and the strong westerly as shown at the back trajectory in Seoul and Busan, respectively. Consequently, the maxima of ozone and CO between the two areas showed up differently because of the time lag between those gases, including their catalytic photochemical reactions together with the invasion from the upper troposphere, as well as the path of their transport from China during the weak Asian dust event.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.237-250
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• 2013

At Gosan ABC superstation in Jeju Island, we measured organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) in $PM_{2.5}$ from October 2009 to June 2010 using a Sunset Laboratory Model-4 Semi-Continuous OC/EC Field Analyzer. It employs TOT (Thermal-Optical-Transmittance) method with NIOSH 5040 protocol and enables to continuously monitor OC and EC concentrations with 1-hour time resolution. The mean values of OC and EC for the entire period of measurements were $2.1{\pm}1.4{\mu}g/m^3$ and $0.7{\pm}0.6{\mu}g/m^3$, respectively. The OC/EC ratio was 3 and EC accounted $25{\pm}2.1%$ of total carbon (TC, TC=OC+EC). Although OC and EC showed similar trend in seasonal variation, the ratio of OC to EC was the highest in early summer when temperature was the highest and the air was affected by biomass burning in the southern part of China. In winter, the high OC and EC concentrations were likely influenced by increased coal combustion from residential heating. The high OC and EC concentrations were observed during events such as haze, dust, and the combination of the two. During the haze events, OC and EC were enhanced with increase in $PM_{10}$, $PM_{2.5}$, $SO_2$, and $NO_2$ with broad maxima. When dust occurred, both OC and EC started decreasing after reaching their maxima a couple of hours before $PM_{10}$ maximum. The peak separation of carbonaceous species and aerosol masses with time was more noticeable when haze event was followed by dust plume. These results confirm that OC and EC are key components of haze occurring in the study region.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.99-109
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• 2010

The distribution of ambient air particles varies according to climate, industries, and other sources. In this study, ambient air particles (less than 12.1 ${\mu}m$) were monitored from February to August, 2007 as 12 different fractions sorted by a cascade impactor. Particles in the size range from 0.33 ${\mu}m$ to 0.76 ${\mu}m$ comprised the main fraction of ambient air particles in Seoul, Korea. On the day of an Asian dust event, the particle fraction size increased to 1.25~2.5 ${\mu}m$. The different sized particle fractions were also monitored for metals and were found to contain toxic heavy metals including Pb, Cd, Hg, Cr and As. Particle preparations were significantly cytotoxic when exposed to cultured BEAS-2B cells. Microarray analysis of the treated cells indicated a significant up-regulation of a number of genes associated with oxidative stress, including metallothionein, heme oxygenase-1, heat shock protein 70, and NAD(P)H dehydrogenase-1.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.16 no.E
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• pp.19-27
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• 2000

Particle Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) and Elemental Analysis Syztem (EAS) were applied to the investiga-tion of the Characteristics and sources of wintertime atmospheric aerosols in Seoul. Atmospheric aerosols were collected by both fine and coarse fractions using a two-stage filter pack sampler from Kon-Kuk university during the winter season of 1999. PIXE was applied to the analysis of the middle and heavy elements with atomic numbers greater than 14(Si) and EAS was applied to the measurement of the light elements such as H, C and N. The fact that 64.2% of mass of fine particles in Seoul consists of the light elements (N, C , and H) suggests that the measurement of light elements is extremely important. The average mass concentration is Seoul was 38.6$\mu\textrm{g}$m(sup)-3. Elements such as Ca, Fe, Mg, and Ti appeared to have very low Fine/Coarse ratios(0.1∼0.4), whereas che-mical components related to anthropogenic sources such as Br, V, Pb, and Zn were observed to accumulate in the fine fraction. In the Asian Dust Storm(ADS) event, the concentation of soil components increased dramatically. Reconstruction of the fine mass concentrations estimated by a newly revised simple model was fairly in good agreement with the measured ones. Source identification was attempted using the enrichment factor and Pearsons coefficient of correlation. The typical elements derived from each source could be classified by this method.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.169-182
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• 2007

To evaluate the possibly potent role of Asian Dust (AD) on the long range transport of Hg, statistical analyses were carried out using the hourly concentration data of gaseous elemental mercury (Hg) along with relevant environmental parameters. For the purpose of this study, Hg data were collected from Yang-Jae monitoring station in Seoul, Korea during Sept. 1997 to June 2002. During the study period, Hg concentrations in non-AD period ranged from $0.03\;to\;32.70\;ng\;m^{-3}$ with a mean $5.27{\pm}3.06\;ng\;m^{-3}$, while those in AD period from $1.79\;to\;32.60\;ng\;m^{-3}$ with a mean $5.20{\pm}3.06\;ng\;m^{-3}$. The air quality during AD were typically deteriorated by enhanced PM10 mass concentration (by $2{\sim}5$ times) compared to non-AD period, however comparison of the Hg concentration data indicates that they are not critically distinguished between events of AD and non-AD, except for the high minimum level of Hg during AD. The results of correlation and factor analysis also indicated somewhat complex patterns; in the case of AD events, Hg and $SO_{2}$ were assorted concurrently into a same factor. Evidence collected from this study thus suggests that long-range transport of Hg, if occurring, is unlikely to raise statistically Hg concentration levels such as seen during AD event. However, in nighttime of winter season, Hg concentrations are higher during AD (along with PM10 levels) than non-AD period. Although such observations suggest the effect of long range transport on the enhancement of Hg concentrations, more deliberate analysis may be required to track down the effect of such mechanism in relation with various factors including the air mass transport route.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.514-525
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• 2002

The analysis of heavy metals associated with both PM2.5 and PM10 fraction of aerosols was made from a northeast region of Seoul during the spring period of 2001. The mean concentrations of fine (PM2.5), coarse (PM10-PM2.5), and PM10 fraction were observed as 49.3${\pm}$29.2, 50.5${\pm}$35.0, and 95.5${\pm}$46.1 ${\mu}g$/m$^3$, respectively during this study period. According to the results of enrichment factor (EF) analysis between different particle fractions, major elements (including Fe, Ca, Na, and K) were found to exhibit EF values of less than 10. However, heavy metal components (like Zn and Pb) showed very high EF values. Comparison of fine/coarse (F/C) concentration ratio showed that Zn, Cr, Pb, and Ni have higher ratio values than others. The metallic composition of particles was also compared on both absolute and relative terms. The results of our analysis showed an evidence that the increase in the total metallic contents is prominent during the spring period due mostly to the Asian Dust event.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.416-426
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• 2019

Objectives: In recent years, transboundary air pollution from mainland East Asia has led to growing concerns about air pollution in Japan. Air pollution is reportedly associated with the exacerbation of respiratory diseases. In this study, we assessed the effects of air pollution on respiratory symptoms and the health status of participants with and without chronic respiratory diseases. Methods: Participants (n=2753) with and without chronic respiratory diseases who visited healthcare facilities in Japan during February from 2010 to 2015 filled out a self-report questionnaire regarding their symptoms and perceived health status. Participants were followed up during April-May and June-July. Results: Oxidant concentrations were associated with respiratory symptoms, overall health, and quality of life (QoL). Suspended particulate matter (SPM) and particulate matter <$2.5{\mu}m$ levels were associated with physical fitness; SPM was also associated with QoL. Recent experience of an Asian sand dust event had a significant effect on allergic symptoms, change in health, and QoL. Conclusions: Respiratory symptoms were more strongly affected by oxidants than by other pollutants. Significant associations of air pollutants were found with a comprehensive range of items related to perceived health status, including overall health and QoL. Although the effects of air pollutants on respiratory symptoms and health status were more apparent among patients with respiratory diseases, the adverse effects of air pollutants were significant even among participants without such conditions.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.37-44
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• 2019

It is recommended for the public to stay at home and to close the doors and windows when a high-particulate-matter environment such as a yellow sand event occurs outside. However, there are lack of empirical studies describing how much outdoor PM infiltrates into a closed house and how much indoor PM an inhabitant is exposed to during the period. In this study, the $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ were measured at the kitchen in an apartment house by an optical particle counter for 3 days including a yellow sand event. The outdoor PMs and the outdoor wind speeds were referred from surrounding weather stations. We analyzed the penetration of $PM_{10-2.5}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ at the test house against the outdoor wind speed supposed corresponding to the change of air exchange rate. In addition, the effect of an indoor activity on change in the indoor PM was investigated. In result, the indoor $PM_{10-2.5}$ was very low even a yellow sand event occurred outside; rather, a contribution of indoor activities to increase in $PM_{10-2.5}$ was higher. In contrast, the indoor $PM_{2.5}$ fluctuated following the outdoor $PM_{2.5}$ trend at high wind speeds or remained almost constant at low wind speed.