• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.21-35
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• 2009

The Asian dust storms which originated in the deserts of Mongolia and China transported particles to Korea and led to a high concentration of atmospheric particulate matters (PM) of more than $1000{\mu}g/m^3$ throughout the country in the spring, of 2007. Public concern, in Korea, about the possible adverse effects of these dust events has increased, as these dust storms can contain various air pollutants emitted from heavily industrialized eastern China. The objectives of this study were to understand the concentration characteristics of PM as a function of particle size between the Asian dust storm episodes and non-Asian dust period and to consider the mass size distribution of PM in the Asian dust storms and their water soluble ion species on the potential, possible effects on deposition levels in the three regions (nasopharyngeal, tracheobronchial, and alveolar) of the human respiratory system. The size distribution of PM mass concentration during the Asian dust storms showed a peak in the coarse particle region due to the long-range transport of soil particles from the deserts of Mongolia and China, which was identified by HYSPLIT-4 model for backward trajectory analysis of air arriving in the sampling site of Iksan. During the non-Asian dust period, there were two different types in PM size distribution: bimodal distribution when low concentrations of $PM_{2.5}$ were observed, while unimodal distribution having a peak in fine particle region when high concentrations of $PM_{2.5}$ were showed. This unimodal distribution with high concentrations of fine particulate and secondary air pollutants such as ${SO_4}^{2-}$, ${NO_3}^-$, ${NH_4}^+$ was found to be due to the long-range transport of air pollutants from industrialized eastern China. During the Asian dust storms, the mean concentrations of PM that can be deposited in the nasopharyngeal, tracheobronchial, and alveolar region were $128.8{\mu}g/m^3$, $216.5{\mu}g/m^3$, and $89.6{\mu}g/m^3$, respectively. During the non-Asian dust period, the mean concentrations of PM that can be deposited in the nasopharyngeal, tracheobronchial, and alveolar region were $8.4{\mu}g/m^3$, $9.5{\mu}g/m^3$ and $38.5{\mu}g/m^3$, respectively.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.207-222
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• 2018

In this study, light absorption of carbonaceous species in $PM_{2.5}$ was investigated using a dual-spot 7-wavelength Aethalometer(model AE33) with 1-min time interval between January 01 and September 30, 2017 at an urban site of Gwangju. During the study period, two Asian dust (AD) events occurred in April (AD I) and May (AD II), respectively, during which light absorption in total suspended particles was observed. Black carbon (BC) was the dominant light absorbing aerosol component at all wavelengths over the study period. Light absorption coefficients by aerosol particles were found to have 2.7~3.3 times higher at 370 nm than at 880 nm. This would be attributed to light absorbing organic aerosols, which is called brown carbon (BrC), as well as BC as absorbing agents of aerosol particles. Monthly average absorption ${{\AA}}ngstr{\ddot{o}}m$ exponent ($AAE_{370-950nm}$) calculated over wavelength range of 370~950 nm ranged from 1.10 to 1.35, which was lower than the $AAE_{370-520nm}$ values ranging from 1.19~1.68 that was enhanced due to the presence of BrC. The estimated $AAE_{370-660nm}$ of BrC ranged from 2.2 to 7.5 with an average of 4.22, which was fairly consistent to the values reported by previous studies. The BrC absorption at 370 nm contributed 10.4~28.4% to the total aerosol absorption, with higher contribution in winter and spring and lower in summer. Average $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ concentrations were $108{\pm}36$ and $24{\pm}14{\mu}g/m^3$ during AD I, respectively, and $164{\pm}66$ and $43{\pm}26{\mu}g/m^3$ during AD II, respectively, implying the greater contribution of local pollution and/or regional pollution to $PM_{2.5}$ during the AD II. BC concentration and aerosol light absorption at 370 nm were relatively high in AD II, compared to those in AD I. Strong spectral dependence of aerosol light absorption was clearly found during the two AD events. $AAE_{370-660nm}$ of both light absorbing organic aerosols and dust particles during the AD I and II was $4.8{\pm}0.5$ and $6.2{\pm}0.7$, respectively. Higher AAE value during the AD II could be attributed to mixed enhanced urban pollution and dust aerosols. Absorption contribution by the light absorbing organic and dust aerosols estimated at 370 nm to the total light absorption was approximately 19% before and after the AD events, but it increased to 32.9~35.0% during the AD events. In conclusion, results from this study support enhancement of the aerosol light absorption due to Asian dust particles observed at the site.

• 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.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.16 no.E
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• pp.29-38
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• 2000

For the detailed characterization of atmospheric aerosol, the analysis of single particle is highly valuable. In this study, to investigate the characteristics of single Asian dust storm particles, scanning electron microscope(SEM) coupled with and energy dispersive X-ray microanalyzer(EDX) and micro-PIXE were applied. Sampling was performed at Kyoto University located in Kyoto, Japan, in spring of 1999. Mass concentration during Asian dust storm events was higher roughly 3∼5 times than measured in the season of the highest concentration. Single particles were generally sharp-edged and irregular in shape and contained mostly crustal elements. Significant amount of S in coarse fraction was detected in individual particles. A large particles in coarse fraction existed as the mixture of soil components and S. A good agreement between the result of SEM-EDX analysis and that iof micro-PIXE analysis was obtained in this study.

• Atmosphere
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.25-32
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• 2008

Log normalized volume size distribution (dV/dlog$D_p$) with 52 size ranges from 0.5 to $20.0{\mu}m$ was measured for the cases of high $PM_{10}$ mass concentration (> $200{\mu}gm^{-3}$) using the Aerodynamic Particle Sizer (APS) at the Korea Global Atmosphere Watch Center (KGAWC) from 6 April, 2006 to 5 April, 2007. Black Carbon (BC), gaseous pollutants of $NO_X$ and $SO_2$ and ${\AA}ngstr\ddot{o}m$ exponent were also measured to examine the properties of the volume size distribution. From distinct difference of the high volume concentration (> $100{\mu}m^3cm^{-3}$), the volume size distribution for each event day was clasified into four types: (1) Type 1 had the high volume concentration for supermicron particles from 2.3 to $6.0{\mu}m$ and maximum average volume concentration was $160.7{\mu}m^3cm^{-3}$ at $3.5{\mu}m$. (2) Type 2 represented the high volume concentration in the both size range of submicron ($0.7-1.0{\mu}m$) and supermicron particles ($2.1-4.1{\mu}m^3cm^{-3}$ and $136.2{\mu}m^3cm^{-3}$ were found at 0.8 and $3.3{\mu}m$ respectively. (3) Type 3 showed the high volume concentration in the size range of $0.5-3.5{\mu}m$ and highest volume concentration of $201.1{\mu}m^3cm^{-3}$ at the particle size bin of $0.8{\mu}m$. (4) Type 4 was characterized by the high volume concentration for the fine particles less than $1.2{\mu}m$ and very high concentration of $446.8{\mu}m^3cm^{-3}$. ${\AA}ngstr\ddot{o}m$ exponent, concentration of gaseous ($NO_X$ and $SO_2$), and particle (BC) pollutants suggested that Type 1 was a typical volume size distribution for the Asian dust and Type 3 provided transportation of air pollutants. The distribution in Type 2 found to have both characteristics of the Asian dust and air pollutants, and Type 4 was took place during the foggy atmosphere containing high density of local pollutants. Based on the properties of volume size distribution, we can identify the three major events contributing the increase of $PM_{10}$ mass concentration, and hope to provide a guideline for discriminating the Asian dust from high $PM_{10}$ events. More case studies and longeto advance this determination method.

• 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.32 no.3
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• pp.289-304
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• 2016

The $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ aerosols were collected at the Gosan site of Jeju Island in 2013 and analyzed, in order to examine the variation characteristics of the chemical compositions in relation to the haze, Asian dust, and mixed haze-Asian dust episodes. Volume concentrations obtained from the Aerodynamic Particle Sizer (APS) were high in the range of $0.6{\sim}1.0{\mu}m$ particles for haze event, and in the range of $2.0{\sim}10.0{\mu}m$ particles for Asian dust event. For the haze event, nitrate concentrations increased highly as 8.8 and 25.1 times for $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$, respectively, possibly caused by the inflow of air mass stagnated in eastern parts of China into Jeju area. For the Asian dust event, the concentrations of nss-$Ca^{2+}$, $NO_3{^-}$ and nss-$SO_4{^{2-}}$ increased 6.0, 1.5, 1.8 times for $PM_{10}$, and 2.3, 1.3, 1.6 times for $PM_{2.5}$, respectively. Meanwhile, for the mixed haze-Asian dust event, the concentrations of nss-$Ca^{2+}$ and $NO_3{^-}$ increased 13.4 and 3.2 times for $PM_{10}$, and 1.8 and 3.4 times for $PM_{2.5}$, respectively. The $NH_4NO_3$ content was higher than that of $(NH_4)_2SO_4$ during the haze event, however it was relatively low during the mixed haze-Asian dust event. The aerosols were acidified mostly by inorganic acids, and especially the nitric acid contributed highly to the acidification during both the haze and the mixed haze-Asian dust events. Meanwhile, the neutralization by ammonia was noticeably high during haze event when the stagnated air mass moved from China.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 2010

As the frequency and the intensity of so called Asian dust (AD) events have increased, public concerns about the adverse health effects has spiked sharply over the last two decades. Despite the recent reports on the correlation between AD events and the risk for cardiovascular and respiratory disease, the nature of the toxicity and the degree of the risk are yet largely unknown. In the present study, we investigated the effects of the dichloromethane extract of AD (AD-X) and that of urban dust (NAD-X) collected during a non-AD period on gene expression in HL-60 cells using Illumina Sentrix HumanRef-8 Expression BeadChips. Global changes in gene expression were analyzed after 24 h of incubation with 50 or 100 ${\mu}g$/ml AD-X and NAD-X. By one-way analysis of variance (p < 0.05) and Benjamini-Hochberg multiple testing correction for false discovery rate of the results, 573 and 297 genes were identified as AD-X- and NAD-X-responsive, respectively. The genes were classified into three groups by Venn diagram analysis of their expression profile, i.e., 290 AD-X-specific, 14 NAD-X-specific, and 283 overlapping genes. Quantitative realtime PCR confirmed the changes in the expression levels of the selected genes. The expression patterns of five genes, namely SORL1, RABEPK, DDIT4, AZU1, and NUDT1 differed significantly between the two groups. Following rigorous validation process, these genes may provide information in developing biomarker for AD exposure.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.157-163
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• 2011

Atmospheric aerosol deposition caused by Asian dust (KOSA) events provide nutrients, trace metals, and organic compounds over the Pacific Ocean that enhance ocean productivity and carbon sequestration and, thus, influence the atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations and climate. Using dust particles obtained from the snow layers on Mt. Tateyama and the surface sand of Loess Plateau in incubation experiments with natural seawater samples on a shipboard, we demonstrate that dust-particle additions enhanced the bacterial growth on the first day of incubation. Gram-positive bacterial group and alpha-proteobacteria were specifically detected form seawater samples including the mineral particles. Although the remarkable dynamics of trace elements and nutrients depend on dust-particle additions, it is possible that organic compounds present in the mineral particles or transported microbial cells could also contribute to an increase in the quantities of bacteria. The chlorophyll concentrations at fractions of every size indicated a similar pattern of change between the seawater samples with and without the dust-particle additions. In contrast, the chlorophyll measurement using submersible fluorometer revealed that the dynamics of phytoplankton composition were influenced by the dust-particles treatments. We conclude that the phytoplankton that uses the bacterial products would increase their biomass. We show that KOSA deposition can potentially alter the structures of bacterial communities and indirectly influence the patterns of marine primary production in the Pacific Ocean.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.19 no.E3
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• pp.137-148
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• 2003

In this study, we examined the influence of long-range transport of dust particles and air pollutants on the photochemistry of NO$_3$on Jeju Island, Korea (33.17 N, 126.10$^{\circ}$E) during the Asian Dust-Storm (ADS) period of April 2001. Three ADS events were observed during the periods of 10∼12, 13∼14, and 25∼26 April. Average concentration level of nighttime NO$_3$on Jeju Island during the ADS period was estimated to be about 2 x 10$^{8}$ molecules cm$^{-3}$ ( - 9 pptv). Decreases in NO$_3$levels during the ADS period was likely to be determined mainly by the enhancement of the $N_2$O$_{5}$ heterogeneous reaction on dust aerosol surfaces. The reaction of N20s on aerosol surfaces was a more important sink for nighttime N03 during the ADS due to the significant loading of dust particles. The reaction of $N_2$O$_{5}$ with NMHCs and the gas-phase reaction of N20s with water vapor were both significant loss mechanisms during the study period, especially during the NADS. However, dry deposition of these oxidized nitrogen species and a heterogeneous reaction of NO$_3$were of no importance. Short-term observations of $O_3$, NO$_2$, DMS, and SO$_2$in the MBL indicated that concentrations of most of these chemical species were different between the ADS and non - Asian - Dust-Storm (NADS) periods, implying that their levels were affected sensitively by the differences in air mass trajectories.