• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.147-168
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• 2012

Among all hazardous air pollutants, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are more significant owing to their carcinogenic, mutagenic and teratogenic properties. Many researchers worldwide have focused on determining the concentrations of PAHs in ambient air. However, the literature survey reveals that the seriousness of air pollution in Asia in terms of PAHs, compared to the rest of the world. Owing to the importance of PAHs in Asia, this paper reviews the concentrations of PAHs in Asia in recent years. For convenience, this paper describes the concentrations of PAHs in developed Asian countries reported during 2000-2011 as Part-I and in developing Asian countries as Part-II. The first section of this review provides a brief description of the properties, sources of PAHs and the health effects caused by their presence in the atmosphere. The ambient air PAH concentrations in both particle and vapor phases in developed Asian countries are then discussed. This study finds the ambient air concentrations of PAHs in developed Asian countries was higher than the Western countries but was lower than the developing Asian countries. The present review predicts the accurate toxicity due to the presence of PAHs in the atmosphere by calculating the Risk Weighted Concentration (RWC), regardless of the total amount of PAHs. The total data obtained during the literature survey is tabulated and presented as supplementary information to the readers.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.351-360
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• 2017

In this study, we developed emission factors from solid-fuel fired combustors. In order to increase the reliability of emission factors, we conducted a joint research with the Institute of Health and Environment. As a result, PM average concentration was $8.19mg/m^3$. $SO_2$ and $NO_x$ were respectively 8.46 ppm, 50.64 ppm. Hazardous air pollutants such as Cr, Pb and Hg were detected in trace amounts continuously for 2 years in some solid-fuel fired combustors. The emission factors for the three kinds of PM, $SO_x$, $NO_x$ were developed based on the measurement data. For the PM emission factors, that of SRF was 15.93 g/kg and that of Bio-SRF was 14.18 g/kg. Compared with those of US. EPA, emission factors of this study showed the results of low values. $SO_x$ emission factors were 4.42 g/kg for SRF and 1.39 g/kg for Bio-SRF. $NO_x$ emission factors were 13.21 g/kg and 4.43 g/kg, respectively. Through the results of this study, we would support atmospheric administration policies such as the emission factor notification revision.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.164-180
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• 1991

For the purpose of contributing to the promotion of health of the employees working at the same kind of department store or similar type of business and the people utilizing them and preparing the basic data for the establishment of mangagement measure by assessing the level of air pollusion at indoor and outodoor of four department store among the distribution service business in Pusan area, authors measured the concentration of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, formaldehyde and total suspanded particle according to the measuring height of variable at indoor and outodoor from Aug. 1990. to sep. an. d Jan, 1991 to Feb.: for each two months in summer and winter, and studied by dividing the variable factor into atmospheric factor (temperature, humidity and air velociy) The results are as follows ; 1. The mean concentration of air pollutants at indoor to total subjects was nitrogen dioxide 31.1ppb, sulfur dioxide 51.7ppb, formaldehyde 162.lppb and total suspanded particle $67.7{\mu}g/m^3$, and it was higher in winter than in summer (P>0.05) 2. The mean concentration of formaldehyde to total subjects was higher indoors than outdoors (P<0.001), in case of nitrogen dioxide there was no significant difference and sulfur dioxide and total suspanded particle were higher outdoors than indoors (P<0.05) 3. The concentration of nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide proved to be a adverse correlation, reducing with height. 4. According to the result questioned about the exposure concentration of pollutant and the general symptom caused by the pollutant, nitorgen dioxide and symptom proved to be a positive correlation (P<0.09).

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.469-480
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• 2012

This study was to analyze the characteristics of diurnal variation of high $PM_{2.5}$ concentration, $PM_{2.5}/PM_{10}$ concentration ratio by spatio-temporal wind system (wind speed and wind direction) for high $PM_{2.5}$ concentration (over the 24 hr environmental standard of $PM_{2.5}$, $50{\mu}g/m^3$) in the air quality observation sites (Jangrimdong: Industrial area, Jwadong: Residential area) that were measured for 3 years (2005. 12. 1-2008. 11. 30) in Busan. The observation days of high $PM_{2.5}$ concentration were 182 at Jangrimdong and 27 at Jwadong. The seasonal diurnal variation of hourly mean of high $PM_{2.5}$ concentration and of $PM_{2.5}/PM_{10}$ concentration ratio showed a similar pattern that had higher variation at dawn, and night and in the morning than in the afternoon. Durning daytime in summer at Jwadong, the $PM_{2.5}/PM_{10}$ concentration ratio increased because a secondary particulate matter, which was created by photochemical reaction, decreased the coarse particles of $PM_{10}$ more than the fine particles of $PM_{2.5}$ concentrations in ocean condition. We did an analysis of spatio-temporal wind system (wind speed range and wind direction) in each time zone. The result showed that high $PM_{2.5}$ concentration at Jangrimdong occurred due to the congestion of pollutants emissions from the industrial complex in Jangrimdong area and the transportation of pollutants from places nearby Jangrimdong. It also showed that high $PM_{2.5}$ concentration occurred at Jwadong because of a number of local residential and commercial activities that caused the congestion of pollutants.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.348-356
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• 2012

It is very important to investigate air pollutants and emissions emitted from open burning in order to control nonpoint sources effectively. In this study, we utilized incineration simulator proposed by U.S. EPA and investigated concentrations of TSP, PM10, PM2.5 from woods and household wastes burning to calculate emission factors and build emission inventories. The results of experiment with 15 kg of woods and 3 kg of household wastes using the incineration simulator were as follows: in case of woods burning, TSP concentration was $66.4mg/m^3$, PM10 concentration was $28.4mg/m^3$, PM2.5 concentration was $17.9mg/m^3$, respectively; in case of household wastes burning, TSP concentration was $118.4mg/m^3$, PM10 concentration was $66.8mg/m^3$, PM2.5 concentration was $55.2mg/m^3$, respectively. Concentrations from household burning, as stated above, were higher than those from woods burning. Emission factors (EFs) for woods and household wastes burning were calculated as 2.45 and 6.75 g/kg for TSP, 0.86 and 5.45 g/kg for PM10, 0.78 and 4.81 g/kg for PM2.5, respectively. EFs of TSP, PM10, PM2.5 calculated from household wastes burning were higher than those of woods burning. When we added PM emissions from woods burning and household wastes burning to Korean National Emission Inventory named as Clean Air Policy Support System (CAPSS), CAPSS annual emissions of TSP, PM10, PM2.5 were increased by 0.08~0.26% (An increase rate for TSP, PM10, PM2.5 were 0.08~0.10%, 0.16~0.20% and 0.18~0.26%, respectively). Note that we assumed that the 1% of household wastes is emitted by open burning.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.24-37
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• 2011

The ionic compositions of atmospheric aerosols were investigated and characterized in coastal and mountainous sites of Jeju Island, which were Gosan and Mt. Halla-1100 sites respectively. It was found that the concentrations of nss-$SO_4^{2-}$ (non-sea salt sulfate) and $NH_4^+$ at two measurement sites were almost similar and they showed high concentrations in June at the same time. The concentration of soil-originated nss-$Ca^{2+}$ (non-sea salt calcium) was generally associated with that of anthropogenic $NO_3^-$ and its concentration was increased during spring season. From the comparison of time-series variation and regression analysis of ionic species between two measurement sites, TSP (total suspended particulate) in Gosan site was directly influenced by sea salt particles and the concentration levels of nss-$SO_4^{2-}$, $NH_4^+$, nss-$Ca^{2+}$, $K^+$, and $NO_3^-$ were mainly related with long-range transported air pollutants rather than local pollution sources.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.269-286
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• 2015

24-hr integrated $PM_{2.5}$ measurements were performed between December 2013 and October 2014 at an urban site in Gwangju and the collected samples were analyzed for organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), ionic species, and elemental species. Objectives of this study were to identify $PM_{2.5}$ pollution episodes, to characterize their chemical components, and to examine their probable origins. Over the course of the study period, average $PM_{2.5}$ concentration was $37.7{\pm}23.6$ $(6.0{\sim}121.5){\mu}g/m^3$. Concentrations of secondary ionic species; $NH_4{^+}$, $NO_3{^-}$, and $SO_4{^{2-}}$ was on average $5.54{\mu}g/m^3$ (0.28~ 20.86), $7.60{\mu}g/m^3$ (0.45~ 33.53), and $9.05{\mu}g/m^3$ (0.50~ 34.98), accounting for 13.7% (4.6~ 22.7), 18.6% (2.9~ 44.8), and 22.9% (4.9~ 55.1) of the $PM_{2.5}$ concentration, respectively. Average OC and EC concentrations were $5.22{\mu}g/m^3$ and $1.54{\mu}g/m^3$, taking possession of 4.6 and 22.2% (as organic mass) of the $PM_{2.5}$, respectively. Frequencies at which 24-hr averaged $PM_{2.5}$ exceeded a 24-hr averaged Korean $PM_{2.5}$ standard of $50{\mu}g/m^3$ (termed as an "episode" in this study) were 30, accounting for 21.3% of total 141 measurements. These pollution episodes were mostly associated with haze phenomenon and weak surface wind speed. It is suggested that secondary formation of aerosol was one important formation mechanism of the episodes. The episodes were associated with enhancements of organic mass, $NO_3{^-}$ and $SO_4{^{2-}}$ in winter, of $NO_3{^-}$ and $SO_4{^{2-}}$ in spring, and of $SO_4{^{2-}}$ in summer. Potential source contribution function results indicate also that $PM_{2.5}$ episodes were likely attributed to local and regional haze pollution transported from northeastern China in winter, to atmospheric processing of local emissions rather than long-range transport of air pollutants in spring, and to the $SO_4{^{2-}}$ driven by photochemistry of $SO_2$ in summer.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.547-556
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• 2007

The release, sampling and analytical methods have been developed and tested for perfluorocarbons (PFCs) atmospheric tracers in order to gain insight into the atmospheric transport and dispersion over the urban conditions of Seoul, Korea. Although PFCs tracer experiments provide unique opportunities to test local and urban scale of transport and dispersion, no previous experiment with PFCs has been conducted in Korea. PMCH and PDCH were chosen as targeted tracers in our study due to their extreme low ambient concentrations and great sensitivities among various PFCs. For PFCs release system, a set of micro-metering pump, electronic balance, vaporizing furnace and high speed blower was constructed for precise and accurate release of tracers. The precision of released rate by this system was estimated to be 1%. Samplings of PFCs were carried out by fabricated portable air samplers with micro pumps and rotameters into glass tubes packed with 150 mg of Carboxen-569. The uncertainty of these sampling system was maintained below 14%. PMCH and PDCH were quantified in GC/ECD with preconditioned injection system to eliminate the interference compounds using traps and subsequent catalytic conversion system prior to column separation. Three intensive field test were undertaken during the springtime of 2002 to 2004 in eastern part of Seoul. Daily background samples were collected to characterize the background levels of PMCH and PDCH prior to their release. The observed background concentrations of PMCH ranged from 3.5 to 10.1 fL/L and varied randomly in location and time in this study. Its mean and standard variation of background concentration ($6.8{\pm}1.9\;fL/L$) are higher than those ($3.2{\sim}5.8\;fL/L$) of other historic tracer studies. Identified uncertainty for background PMCH was $1.7{\sim}2.0\;fL/L$ using this analytical system. Combined relative uncertainty in determining the tracer's concentrations was estimated as 17%. However, its background concentrations and uncertainty in concentration determination were found to be low and stable enough for tracer study.

• Atmosphere
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.625-635
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• 2021

South Korea established the 2050 Carbon Neutral Plan in response to the climate crisis, and to achieve this policy, it is very important to monitor domestic carbon emissions and atmospheric carbon concentration. Both CO₂ and CO are emitted from fossil fuel combustion processes, but the relative ratios depend on the combustion efficiency and the strength of local emission regulations. In this study, the relationship between CO₂ and CO was analyzed using ground observation data for the period of 2018~2020 at Anmyeon-do site and the CO/CO₂ ratio according to regional origin during high CO₂ cases was investigated based on the footprint simulated from Stochastic Time-Inverted Lagrangian Transport (STILT) model. CO₂ and CO showed a positive correlation with correlation coefficient of 0.66 (p < 0.01), and averaged footprints during high CO₂ cases confirmed that air particles mainly originated from eastern and north-eastern China, and inland of Korean Peninsula. In addition, it was revealed that among the cases of high CO₂ concentration, when the CO/CO₂ ratio is high, the industrial area of eastern China is greatly affected, and when the ratio is low, the contribution of the domestic region is relatively high. The ratio of CO₂ and CO in this study is significant in that it can be used as a useful factor in determining the possibility of domestic and foreign origins of climate pollutants.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.288-303
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• 2012

In this study, real time measurements of particle number size distribution in urban Gwangju, coastal Taean, and industrial Yeosu in Korea were conducted in 2008 to understand the occurrence of ultrafine particle (UFP) (<100 nm) events, the variation of its concentration among different sampling sites, and UFP formation pathways. Also, to investigate seasonal and long-term variation of the UFP number concentration, data were collected for the period of 5 years (2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, and 2012) in urban Gwangju. Photochemical and combustion events were found to be responsible for the formation of UFP in the urban Gwangju site, whereas only photochemical event led to the formation of UFP in the coastal Taean site. The highest UFP concentration was found in industrial Yeosu (the average UFP number fractions were 79, 59 and 58% in Yeosu, Gwangju, and Taean, respectively), suggesting that high amount of gas pollutants (e.g., $NO_2$, $SO_2$, and volatile organic carbon (VOC)) emitted from industries and their photochemical reaction contributed for the elevated UFP concentration in the industrial Yeosu site. The UFP fraction also showed a seasonal variation with the peak value in spring (61.5, 54.5, 50.5, and 40.7% in spring, fall, summer, and winter, respectively) at urban Gwangju. Annual average UFP number concentrations in urban Gwangju were $5.53{\times}10^3\;cm^{-3}$, $4.68{\times}10^3\;cm^{-3}$, $5.32{\times}10^3\;cm^{-3}$, $3.99{\times}10^3\;cm^{-3}$, and $2.16{\times}10^3\;cm^{-3}$ in the year 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, and 2012, respectively. Comparison of the annual average UFP number concentration with urban sites in other countries showed that the UFP concentrations of the Korean sites were lower than those in other urban cities, probably due to lower source strength in the current site. TEM/EDS analysis for the size-selected UFPs showed that the UFPs were classified into various types having different chemical species. Carbonaceous particles were observed in both combustion (soot and organics) and photochemical events (sulfate and organics). In the photochemical event, an internal mixture of organic species and ammonium sulfate/bisulfate was identified. Also, internal mixtures of aged Na-rich and organic species, aged Ca-rich particles, and doughnut shaped K-containing particles with elemental composition of a strong C with minor O, S, and K-likely to be originated from biomass burning nearby agricultural area, were observed. In addition, fly ash particles were also observed in the combustion event, not in the photochemical event.