• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.723-733
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• 2011

The ionic compositions were analyzed from the TSP samples collected at Gosan site in Jeju Island between 2000 and 2008, in order to examine the characteristics of atmospheric aerosols in accordance with the meteorological conditions. For the Asian Dust influence on the ionic compositions, the concentration ratios of $NH_4{^+}$, nss-${SO_4}^{2-}$, $NO_3{^-}$, and $K^+$ were about 1.2~2.3 during Asian Dust over Non-Asian Dust periods, noticeably that of nss-$Ca^{2+}$ was 6.8. Meanwhile the concentrations of nss-${SO_4}^{2-}$, $NO_3{^-}$, and $NH_4{^+}$ have increased as 1.8~4.4 times during the haze event periods, and 1.0~1.6 times during the fog and mist events. The ion balance has resulted that the anionic concentrations are relatively lower than the cationic concentrations, and the discrepancy appears more decidedly as a strong Asian Dust effect. The ammonium ion balance has shown that it exists as a mixture of $NH_4HSO_4$ and $(NH_4)_2SO_4$. The concentration ratios of nss-${SO_4}^{2-}/NO_3{^-}$ for Asian Dust, haze, fog-mist, and non-event periods were respectively 1.8, 5.9, 4.6, and 2.9, which were higher values compared to those in urban areas of China as well as other domestic regions. Especially, the high ratios of sulfur oxides could be presumed by the fact that the longrange transport of air pollutants from Asia continent might affect the atmospheric aerosols of Jeju Island.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.325-337
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• 2013

The size-fractionated aerosol samples have been collected at Gosan Site of Jeju Island during the spring season of 2010, in order to examine the chemical composition characteristics of the Asian Dust and Non-Asian Dust particles. The concentrations of ${HCO_3}^-$, Al, and nss-$Ca^{2+}$ in $PM_{10}$ had tremendously increased during the heavy Asian Dust (March 20, 2010). The concentration ratios of Asian Dust to Non-Asian Dust for the soil species (nss-$Ca^{2+}$, ${HCO_3}^-$, Al, Fe, Ti, Mn) were 12.2~30.7, meanwhile those for the anthropogenic species (nss-${SO_4}^{2-}$, ${NH_4}^+$, ${NO_3}^-$, $K^+$, Zn, Pb, and Cu) were 2.9~7.8. During the heavy Asian Dust event, the concentration increase of ${NO_3}^-$ in $PM_{2.5}$ were much more apparent than those of nss-${SO_4}^{2-}$ and ${NH_4}^+$, and the soil species (nss-$Ca^{2+}$ and ${HCO_3}^-$) showed much higher concentration increase. The neutralization factor of $NH_3$ was higher than that of $CaCO_3$. However, the neutralization factor of $CaCO_3$ in $PM_{10}$ was exceptionally high during the heavy Asian Dust, showing the evidence of heavy migration of soil particles. From the study for size fractionated particles, it was found that nss-${SO_4}^{2-}$ and ${NH_4}^+$ were mostly distributed in fine particle mode, on the other hand, ${NO_3}^-$ existed evenly in both fine and coarse particle modes, and the soil species (nss-$Ca^{2+}$, Al, Fe, etc.) were mainly in the latter mode. During the heavy Asian Dust, in particular, the concentrations of ${NH_4}^+$, nss-${SO_4}^{2-}$, $K^+$, Zn, and Pb had increased in coarse particle mode as well.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.533-539
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• 2007

The research was conducted to simulate and interpret the change of $PM_{10}$ profile by Asian dust using the CALPUFF modeling system for the period April 6 through 18, 2001. The results, which are represented a daily variation of $PM_{10}$ concentration before and after Asian dust, was located between a minimum concentration of $50{\mu}g/m^3$ and a maximum concentration of $100{\mu}g/m^3$, Most concentration peaks in the $PM_{10}$ profile were shown within a level below 500 m and had a pattern that rapidly increased up the peak and decreased after the peak to 1000 m. Even though the shapes of the vertical profile during Asian dust days were similar to non-Asian dust days, no rapid change vertically was observed. In particular, the vertical profile on 1200 LST and 1800 LST was noticeably shifted to the higher concentrations, which means $PM_{10}$ in the atmosphere was changed into a vertically and horizontally heterogeneous form under the Asian dust event. Finally, it is con-firmed that the simulation result from CALPUFF might schematically sketched atmospheric $PM_{10}$ profiles and their change by Asian dust throughout the comparison with profiles of aerosol extinction coefficients, which were acquired from Lidar measurement at KGAWO.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.89-102
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• 2013

24-hr $PM_{2.5}$ samples were collected from January 19 through February 27, 2009 at an urban site of Gwangju and analyzed to determine the concentrations of organic and elemental carbon(OC and EC), water-soluble OC(WSOC), eight ionic species($Na^+$, $NH^{4+}$, $K^+$, $Ca^{2+}$, $Mg^{2+}$, $Cl^-$, ${NO_3}^-$ and ${SO_4}^{2-}$), and 22 elemental species. Haze phenomena was observed during approximately 29%(10 times) of the whole sampling period(35 days), resulting in highly elevated concentrations of $PM_{2.5}$ and its chemical components. An Asian dust event was also observed, during which $PM_{2.5}$ concentration was 64.5 ${\mu}g/m^2$. Crustal materials during Asian dust event contributed 26.6% to the $PM_{2.5}$, while lowest contribution(5.1%) was from the haze events. OC/EC and WSOC/OC ratios were found to be higher during haze days than during other sampling days, reflecting an enhanced secondary organic aerosol production under the haze conditions. For an Asian dust event, enhanced concentrations of OC and secondary inorganic components were also found, suggesting the further atmospheric processing of precursor gases during transport of air mass to the sampling site. Correlations among WSOC, EC, ${NO_3}^-$, ${SO_4}^{2-}$, and primary and secondary OC fractions, which were predicted from EC tracer method, suggests that the observed WSOC could be formed from similar formation processes as those of secondary organic aerosol, ${NO_3}^-$ and ${SO_4}^{2-}$. Results from principal component analysis indicate also that the observed WSOC was strongly associated with formation routes of the secondary organic and inorganic aerosols.

• Atmosphere
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.257-275
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• 2016

Asian dust is a seasonal meteorological phenomenon influencing most East Asia, irregularly occurring during spring. Unusual heavy Asian dust event in winter was observed in Seoul, Korea, with up to $1,044{\mu}g\;m^{-3}$ of hourly mean $PM_{10}$, in 22~23 February 2015. Causes of such infrequent event has been studied using both ground based and spaceborne observations, as well as numerical simulations including ECMWF ERA Interim reanalysis, NOAA HYSPLIT backward trajectory analysis, and ADAM2-Haze simulation. Analysis showed that southern Mongolia and northern China, one of the areas for dust origins, had been warm and dry condition, i.e. no snow depth, soil temperature of ${\sim}0^{\circ}C$, and cumulative rainfall of 1 mm in February, along with strong surface winds higher than critical wind speed of $6{\sim}7.5m\;s^{-1}$ during 20~21 February. While Jurihe, China, ($42^{\circ}23^{\prime}56^{{\prime}{\prime}}N$, $112^{\circ}53^{\prime}58^{{\prime}{\prime}}E$) experienced $9,308{\mu}g\;m^{-3}$ of hourly mean surface $PM_{10}$ during the period, the Asian dust had affected the Korean Peninsula within 24 hours traveling through strong north-westerly wind at ~2 km altitude. KMA issued Asian dust alert from 1100 KST on 22nd to 2200 KST on 23rd since above $400{\mu}g\;m^{-3}$ of hourly mean surface $PM_{10}$. It is also important to note that, previously to arrival of the Asian dust, the Korean Peninsula was affected by anthropogenic air pollutants ($NO_3^-$, $SO_4^{2-}$, and $NH_4^+$) originated from the megacities and large industrial areas in northeast China. In addition, this study suggests using various data sets from modeling and observations as well as improving predictability of the ADAM2-Haze model itself, in order to more accurately predict the occurrence and impacts of the Asian dust over the Korean peninsula.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.509-517
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• 2006

We investigated the change of symptoms and preventive behaviors before and after the Asian Dust events among indoor workers (teachers) and outdoor workers (taxi drivers and bus drivers). On February 2004, we recruited 195 taxi drivers, 135 bus drivers and 93 school teachers. Symptoms and behaviors related the Asian Dust events during 1 week were questioned by self administrated questionnaires. We surveyed pre-event and post-event. The symptom were not changed in bus drivers during the events. In taxi drivers and teachers,'Bad or smoky smell on the air' and 'eye congestion' symptoms were increased during the events. The preventive behaviors were decreased or not changed in taxi drivers and bus drivers. In teachers,'close the window','diminishing the outdoor activities', 'diminishing the going out', 'wearing the sunglasses', 'washing the eyes after going out'. This results suggest that the outdoor worker's guideline during the Asian dust eventsneeds to be developed.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.134-140
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• 2012

Asian dust storms originating in the arid desert of China and Mongolia usually occur from late winter through spring, and more than one million tons of dust per year is transported to the Korean Peninsula by the prevalent westerly winds. We supposed that these dust particles could include bioaerosols and act as carriers of microorganisms. In order to clarify the dynamics of microorganisms moving with these particles, the concentration and composition of microorganisms associated with settled particles were compared between samples collected during Asian dust events and those under non-dust periods. From February to April 2008, settled dust particles were collected at one location in Ulsan using rainfall meter of 200 mm diameter. During this period, there was one Asian dust event in Ulsan. The bacterial concentrations were higher in samples collected during Asian dust event than those under non-dust period, whereas fungal concentrations were rather similar regardless of the Asian dust event. We analyzed 16S rRNA gene sequences of 45 bacterial isolates obtained from the settled particle samples. These isolates belonged to either genus Bacillus or genus Streptococcus and were tentatively identified as B. amyloliquefaciens, B. aryabhattai, B. atrophaeus, B. licheniformis, B. megaterium, B. methylotrophicus, B. pumilus, B. sonorensis, B. subtlis, B. vallismortis, S. epidermidis, and S. succinus. In cases of fungal isolates, genera such as Mucor, Alternaria, Cladosporium, and Aspergillus were tentatively identified from samples collected at both Asian dust and non-Asian dust periods. It appears that endospore-forming bacteria such as Bacillus sp. rather than fungal spores are more likely to be associated with Asian dust particles.

• Korean Management Science Review
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.91-102
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• 2013

This study has an aim to analyze the effects of ADS on conjunctivitis patients among the residents of Seoul, Korea, between 2005 and 2008. For this purpose, the number of medical services provided to conjunctivitis patients on the days of windblown dust storms and the days without any windblown dust storms were analyzed by conducting paired t-test. The interactive effects of the ADS density and the accuracy of ADS forecast on the fluctuation of conjunctivitis cases were also investigated. The results showed that, even with an accurate forecast issued 24 hours prior to the event, the average number of medical services provided for conjunctivitis was higher on the index days than the comparison days. On the other hand, in cases of failure to provide an accurate forecast 24 hours prior to the ADS event, the number of conjunctivitis attacks reported was statistically significantly higher on the index days for 3~5 days after the occurrence of a dust storm in relation to the comparison days. We also found that the rate of increase in asthma treatments on the index days with low level of $PM_{10}$ concentration rather than high $PM_{10}$ level was more significant for all lag days. This study provides evidence that ADS events are significantly associated with conjunctivitis symptoms and the failure to forecast ADS events with low $PM_{10}$ level might aggravate conjunctivitis disease.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.532-538
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• 2020

Objectives: The study evaluated correlations among monthly PM_2.5, PM₁₀, Cd, Pb concentrations and the number of Asian dust days. Methods: Based on data from 'The annual report on air quality in Korea from 1999 to 2017', concentrations of PM₁₀, PM_2.5, Cd, Pb, and the number of Asian dust days were recalculated to mean, standard deviation, minimum, and maximum. Correlation coefficients were calculated among PM_2.5, PM₁₀, Cd, Pb, and Asian dust days. Results: Asian dust days were correlated only with PM₁₀ among the four factors of PM₁₀, PM_2.5, Cd, and Pb. The four factors of PM₁₀, PM_2.5, Cd, and Pb were very significantly correlated with each other (p<0.01). Their correlation coefficients for PM₁₀ were 0.800 for PM_2.5, 0.823 for Cd, and 0.892 for Pb. PM_2.5 was also correlated strongly with Cd (0.845) and Pb (0.830). Cd had a correlation with Pb of 0.971. The maximums of PM_2.5, PM₁₀, and Pb were shown to exceed the atmospheric environmental standard of Korea, which necessitates national continuous exposure control. Based on exposure data, Asian dust days were thought to be an exposure factor for Cd and Pb. Conclusion: Asian dust might be a factor in Cd and Pb exposure. National exposure controls are required for exposure to PM_2.5, PM₁₀, Cd, and Pb.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.114-119
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• 2013

The characteristics of Asian dust (AD) in Korea between 1997 and 2005 were investigated, focusing on peak 1-hour $PM_{10}$ concentrations during AD events at seven cities over the Korean Peninsula. The frequency of AD events decreased from Seoul to Busan, indicating the major pathway of AD in Korea was from northwest to southeast. AD events were most frequent in 2001 while peak concentrations during AD events were much higher in 2002. Recent works show that the trajectories from northerly directions increased during the 2000s and later (Chun, 2009; Kim, 2008). In this work, the fraction of trajectories from the northwest was the largest on the whole, although trajectories from each direction varied by city and year. It is presumed that high concentrations of $PM_{10}$ during AD events are generally associated with trajectories from the northwest rather than from the source region.