• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.179-187
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• 2009

This paper describes the field evaluation of a sampling and analytical method for the quantity of airborne hexavalent chromium ($Cr^{6+}$) in the industrial areas, such as Sihwa and Banwol. Ambient measurements were performed by using the cellulose filter during the four seasons (October 2006 to June 2007). The determination of hexavalent chromium was carried out by ion chromatography. Performance validations, including method detection limit, relative standard deviation, and recovery percent, were also investigated. The mean concentrations of $Cr^{6+}$ in Sihwa and Banwol were 0.767 and 0.796 $ng/m^3$, respectively, which are similar to those of other foreign industrial areas. The seasonal variations of $Cr^{6+}$ levels were not quite different, which implies that the chromium was continuously emitted from the industrial sources throughout the year. The concentration variations between total chromium and $Cr^{6+}$ have also shown the similar pattern, suggesting that these components originate from the same sources. The concentration of $Cr^{6+}$ was found to be 0.7 to 2.4% of the total chromium. From these results, the approach using the cellulose filter may be suitable to collect $Cr^{6+}$ in the ambient air.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.272-279
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• 2016

Understanding sources and contributions of $PM_{2.5}$ mass and particulate PAHs from traffic-related pollution can provide valuable information for alleviating air contamination from car emissions in urban areas. Two sampling sites at the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST, $35.228^{\circ}N$, $126.843^{\circ}E$) and National institute of environmental research NamBu Supersite (NNBS, $35.226^{\circ}N$, $126.848^{\circ}E$) were selected for comprehensive road-oriented-PM investigations. Continuous measurements from optical particle sizer (OPS) and optical particle counter (OPC) with 24 hr integrated filter based samplers for organic carbon, water soluble organic carbon, and Poly Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) were conducted during Nov. 3 through 22 in 2014. As a result, $PM_{2.5}$ mass concentrations using OPC and OPS in NNBS presented about twice higher than in GIST due to road dust impacts based on wind direction analysis. In addition, ratios of elemental carbon (EC) to organic carbon (OC) and water insoluble organic carbon (WIOC) to organic carbon (OC) supported an additional evidence of the primary pollutant contributions oriented from road dust. PAHs related to 5 rings such as benzo(e&a)pyrene indicates higher associations.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.9-18
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• 1997

Precipitation samples were collected by the wet- only event sampling method from Seoul during September 1991 to April 1995. These samples were analyzed for the concentrations of the major ionic components (N $O_3$$^{[-10]}$ , N $O_2$$^{[-10]}$ , S $O_4$$^{2-}$, C $l^{[-10]}$ , $F^{[-10]}$ , N $a^{＋}$, $K^{+}$, $Ca^{2＋}$, $Mg^{2＋}$, and N $H_4$$^{＋}$), pH, and electric conductivity. During the study period, a total of 182 samples were collected, but only 163 samples were used for the data analysis via quality assurance of precipitation chemistry data. The volume-weighted pH was found to be 4.7. The major acidifying species from our precipitation studies were identified to be non-seasalt sulfate (84$\pm$9 $\mu$eq/L) and nitrate (24$\pm$2 $\mu$eq/L) except for chloride. Because the Cl/Na ratio in the precipitation was close to the ratio in seawater. If all of the non-seasalt sulfate and nitrate were in the form of sulfuric and nitric acids, the mean pH in the precipitation could have been as low as 3.7 lower than the computed value. Consequently, the difference between two pH values indicate that the acidity of precipitation was neutralized by alkaline species. The equivalent concentration ratio of sulfate to nitrate was 3.5, indicating that sulfuric and nitric acids can comprise 78％ and 22％ of the precipitation acidity, respectively. Analysis of temporal trend in the measured acidity and ionic components were also performed using the linear regression method. The precipitation acidity generally showed a significantly decreasing trend, which was compatible with the pattern of the ratio (N $H_4$$^{＋}$＋C $a^{2＋}$)/ (nss-S $O_4$$^{2-}$＋N $O_3$$^{[-10]}$ ).).

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.103-113
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• 2002

Calibration experiments were executed to document pertinent calibration methods for open-path infrared gas analyzer (OP-2) in field operations and to quantify their performance characteristics in continuous long-term flux measurements. Based on our results, we concluded: (1) flow rate of 2.0 L min$^{-1}$ can be used for calibration instead of the recommended 0.5 L min$^{-1}$ . Such faster flow rate brings the sampled air in the calibration hood at equilibrium within 5 min for $CO_2$ and 10 min for $H_2O$; (2) after reaching equilibrium, two-minute average sampling for related variables per each concentration may be sufficient; (3) use of four concentration is needed to derive the nonlinear calibration equation for water vapor with 1% uncertainty of flux measurement; and (4) the resultant calibration interval for OP-2 for both $CO_2$ and $H_2O$ is approximately one month.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.68-78
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• 1989

The heavy metal of suspended particulates with human health has long been studied in environmental interest concerned. This study was intended to identify harmful heavy metals of the ambient air borne dusts which were related with the respirable sizes in the aerodynamics. Two sampling sites were selected comparatively; one was in the Shinchon area, which is the commercial district with heavy traffic and the other site was in the Bulgwang area which is residential area. The supended particulates were sampled by high volume air sample with 6 cascade impactor stages. The heavy metals in terms of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, V and Zn were determined by stomic absorption spectrometry or inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry. The samples weretaken bimothly for seven consecutive days from May 1987 to March 1988. The annual average concentration of the respirable suspended dust of which diameter is less than 10$\mum$ was 152.59 $\mug/m^3$ of the Shinchon air samples; the respirable dust was equivalent to approximately 85% of the total suspended particulates. The annual average concentration of the respirable suspended dust of the Bulgwang air samples was 112.56 $\mug/m^3$; that was approximately 86% of the total suspended particulates. The concentration of heavy metals was investigated in relation to the particle size. The concentration of Cr, Fe, Mn and V were tended to be much more in the coarse particles than in the fine particles. Cd and Pb in the fine particles were more than in the coarse particles. In the partial correlation coefficients; in the Shinchon area, high correlations among Fe, Se and Mn were determined; it is assumed that those sources would be originated from coal, gasolineand diesel. In Bulgwang area, would be high correlation among Fe, Se, Hg and Mn considered to be originated from coal, Bunker-C and heavy oil as well. From the above results, the hazardous heavy merals in air should be measured and controlled in originally their sources.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.190-201
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• 2010

Fine particulate matter < $1.8{\mu}m$ was collected as a slurry using the Semicontinuous Elements in Aerosol Sampler with time resolution of 30-min between May 23 and 27, 2002 at the Sydney Supersite, Florida, USA. Concentrations of 11 elements, i.e., Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, and Zn, in the collected slurry samples were determined off-line by simultaneous multi-element graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Temporal profiles of $SO_2$ and elemental concentrations combined with meteorological parameters such as wind direction and wind speed indicate that some transient events in their concentrations are highly correlated with the periods when the plume from an animal feed supplement processing facility influenced the Sydney sampling site. The peaking concentrations of the elemental species during the transient events varied clearly as the plume intensity varied, but the relative concentrations for As, Cr, Pb, and Zn with respect to Cd showed almost consistent values. During the transient events, metal concentrations increased by factors of >10~100 due to the influence of consistent plumes from an individual stationary source. Also the multi-variate air dispersion receptor model, which was previously developed by Park et al. (2005), was applied to ambient $SO_2$ and 8 elements (Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb, and Zn) measurements between 20:00 May 23 and 09:30 May 24 when winds blew from between 70 and $85^{\circ}$, in which animal feed processing plant is situated, to determine emission and ambient source contributions rates of $SO_2$ and elements from one animal feed processing plant. Agreement between observed and predicted $SO_2$ concentrations was excellent (R of 0.99; and their ratio, $1.09{\pm}0.35$) when one emission source was used in the model. Average ratios of observed and predicted concentrations for As, Cd, Cr, Pb, and Zn varied from $0.83{\pm}0.26$ for Pb to $1.12{\pm}0.53$ for Cd.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.274-288
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• 2018

Quantitative data of 50 non-polar organic compounds constituting $PM_{2.5}$ were continuously collected and analyzed from June 2016 to October 2017 (approximately 17 months) at Ichihara, one of the largest industrial areas in Japan. Target non-polar organic compounds including 21 species of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), 24 species of n-alkanes and 5 species of phthalate esters(PAEs) were simultaneously measured by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Basically, the average concentrations of the total PAHs, n-alkanes and PAEs in each season remained nearly level, and seasonal variations were little throughout the study period. These results suggest that the emission sources, which are not influenced by the seasons, are the dominant inputs for the target organic compounds. Diagnostic ratios of PAHs, assessment of n-alkane homologue distributions, carbon preference index, and the contribution of wax n-alkanes from plants were used to estimate source apportionments. These results indicate that anthropogenic sources were the main contributor for most PAHs and n-alkanes throughout the study period. The concentrations of PAEs selected in this study were low because emission amounts of these chemicals were little within the source areas of the sampling site. To our knowledge, this study is the first attempt to simultaneously measure a high number of non-polar organic compounds in $PM_{2.5}$ collected from the ambient air of Japan, and the resultant data will provide valuable data and information for environmental researchers.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.203-212
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• 2001

During the growing season from June to August, 2000, the soil NO and $N_2$O fluxes were measured to elucidate characteristics of soil nitrogen emissions from different types of intensively managed agricultural soils at outskirts of Kunsan City, located in the western inland of Korea, Flux measurements were made using a closed chamber technique at two different agricultural fields; one was made from upland field, and the other from rice paddy field. The flux data from upland field were collected for both the green onion and soybean field. Concentrations of NO and $N_2$O inside a flux chamber ar 15 minute sampling interval were measured to determine their soil emissions. Either polyethylene syringes of teflon air bags were used for gas samples of $N_2$O and NO. The analysis of NO and $N_2$O was made using a chemiluminesence NO analyzer and GC-ECD, respectively no later than few hours after sample collection at laboratory. The gas fluxes were varied more than one standard deviation around their means. Relatively high soil gas emissions occurred in the aftermoon for both NO and $N_2$O. A sub-peak for $N_2$O emission was observed in the morning period, but not in the case of NO. NO emissions from rice paddy field were much less than those from upland site. It seems that water layer over the rice paddy field prevents gases from escaping from the soil surface covered with were during the irrigation and acts as a sink of these gases. The NO fluxes resulted from these field experiments were compared to those from grass soil and they were found to be much higher. Diurnal and daily variations of NO and $N_2$O emission were discussed and correlated with the effects of nitrogen fertilizer application on the increase of the level of soil nitrogen availability.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.191-199
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• 1993

This paper describes the results of a systematic study to determine the characteristics of particle generated from various types of asbestos containing material(ACM) and manmade fiber material(MMFM) during operations of cutting and grinding in laboratory and workplace. Tests were conducted with a specially designed glove box which allowed complete sampling of the generated asbestos fibers. Specificially, air measurements were made during ACM and MMFM installation in building. All personal air samples collected were identified by polarized light microscopy(PLM), X-ray diffraction(XRD) and scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive X-ray analysis(SEM/EDXA). Also, the samples were counted by phase contrast microscope(PCM) in order to compare the results with the permissible exposure standard for workplace. Results indicate that the characterisitcs of fibers found in the roofing sheet, the ceiling and the wall insulation boards were identical to those of asbestos, while the characteristics of fibers found in the ceiling insulation board, the floor tile and the sprayed on insulation products in parking area were identical to those of asbestos, while the characteristics of fibers found in the ceiling insulation board, the floor tile and the sprayed on insulation products in parking area were identical to those of rock wool. The concentrations of airborne fibers from various building materials cut by a grinder for 5 minutes were in the ranges of 0.09 $\sim$ 1.71 fibers/cc(f/cc). The highest concentration(1.71f/cc) was found during grinding the wall insulation board which also contains rock wool. The airborne fiber concentrations generated by installing at workplace were ranged from 0.0009 to 0.029 f/cc. All asbestos fibers from the ceiling insulation board at workplace were less than 20$\mu$m in length and more than 20% of them had the average aspect ratio greater than 20. Therefore, for the purpose of decreasing asbestos and man-made fiber concentrations at the workplace, the ceiling and wall board should use strong binding material to increase the binding force with fiber. Also, the permissible exposure standard for workplace(2.0f/cc) in Korea should be constituted below the maximum avaiable concentration measured at glove box.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.479-490
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• 1998

The concentrations of ten inorganic (sodium, chloride, sulfate, ammonia, etc.) and three organic (acetate, formate, and MSA) ions associated with airborne particulate matter were measured from Cheju Island, Korea during the three field intensive campaigns conducted in (1) Sept./oct. 1997 (fall), (2) Dec. 1997 (winter), and (3) April 1998 (spring). The results of our measurements indicated that the concentration levels of most ionic species were decreasing significantly across the three experimental periods. The patterns of concentration reduction were clear as the sum of all cation and anion species changed dramatically across those periods such as 294> 144 > 65 and 193 >96>74 nequiv/m3, respectively. The changes were best explained in terms of the wind rose patterns of the study site. Since our sampling spot is located on the western-end point of Cheju Island, it is likely to reflect the effects of diverse sources such as natural, marine processes during NW and local non-maritime ones during SE winds. .Hence, the periodical changes in ionic concentrations may be accounted for by the comparable changes in wind direction. To further investigate environmental characteristics of these ionic components, correlation analysis was conducted not only between meteorological and ion data but between different ion-pairs. The results of these analyses confirm that the concentration levels of ionic species are strongly affected by wind speed and temperature and that there are certain patterns between ion species to which such effects apply. In light of the significance of the wind rose patterns in the area, we further extended these analyses into four data groups that were divided on the basis of wind direction. The results of these analyses showed that the strength of correlations between important pairs (e.g.:. between windspeed and most of major inorganic species including sodium and chloride) can be ranked on the distribution of major ions are very diverse, depending on data grouping scheme for such analysis. The results of this study thus suggest that environmental behavior of chemical components be analyzed in various respects, rather than simple standard, especially if measurements are made in complex environmental condition under which both natural and anthropogenic effects are competing each other.