• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.10-17
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• 2020

Objectives: This study was performed to evaluate the total dust, size-selective dust, and heavy metal concentrations generated inside and outside toll booths on an expressway and to identify the source through analysis of the components of the deposited dust. Methods: A total of 32 samples were collected from eight expressway toll booths. Each total dust sample was collected using a 37 mm PVC filter attached to a personal air sampler. Heavy metal samples were collected according to NIOSH method 7300. The size-selective dust concentrations were identified using a DustMate, and deposited dust was analyzed by WD-XRF and UHR-FE-SEM. Results: The geometric mean concentrations of the total dust inside and outside the toll booths were 337.5 ㎍/㎥ and 342.7 ㎍/㎥, respectively. The overall concentrations of TSP, PM₁₀, PM_2.5, and PM1 were higher on the outside of the toll booths, as the particle size of dust was larger, and higher in the underground passage as the dust size was smaller. The real-time analysis of the dust concentrations of TSP, PM₁₀, PM_2.5, and PM1 revealed to be higher at morning and evening times than other times because of heavy traffic. The element components of deposited dust in the toll booth were related to natural sources rather than artificial sources. Among the chemical components in the deposited dust analyzed by WD-XRF, SiO₂ was the highest. For the elements analyzed by UHR-FE-SEM, C was the highest, followed by O, and Si. Conclusions: In order to reduce the dust concentrations around toll booths on an expressway, it is necessary to periodically clean surrounding areas such as underground passages, and it is also necessary to remove deposited dust inside the toll booth from time to time.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.279-287
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• 2021

In this study, the composition and morphology of deposited dust particles with size ranging from a few to tens ㎛ were investigated using SEM/EDX (scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive x-ray spectrometer). Then deposited dust particles were classified into 8 groups: quartz, aluminosilicates, ca-rich, Fe/Ti oxide, carbon-rich, industrial particle, Fe-rich, and biogenic particle. The sources of deposited dust were high in the order of aluminosilicates 41% > biogenic 18% > Fe-rich 11% > quartz and C-rich 8% > industrial 7% > Fe/Ti oxide 5% > Ca-rich 1%. In particular, the ratio of biogenic particles was relatively high due to influence of pollen. The ratio of carbon-rich was 11% at YM site, 10% at MD site, and 4% at MO site, and the site close to the large emission source was high.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.371-380
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• 2004

In the dust separation by using porous filter media, the structure of dust layer deposited on the filter surface of filter medium directly affects the effective filtration. The present study has investigated the specific resistance (K$_2$') of the dust layer and its porosity ($\varepsilon$$_{c}$) for three different filters; FA composite filter, metal fiber filter and stainless filter. The specific resistance (K$_2$') increased and at the same time the cake porosity ($\varepsilon$$_{c}$) decreased with the increase of filtration velocity, possibly due to the compressible effect of dust layer. However, under the low dust concentration, subsequent dust particles would block the open channels through the layer resulting in high specific resistance of the layer. The FA composite filter among three filters was shown to be the most effective filter for dust cake filtration at low filtration velocities less than 0.1 m/s for an approximate dust concentration of 5 g/㎥.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.369-379
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• 2015

Objectives: The lack of reliable information on environmental pollution and health impacts related to asbestos contamination from abandoned mines has drawn attention to the need for a community health study. This study was performed to evaluate asbestos-related health symptoms among residents near abandoned asbestos mines located in the Chungcheong Provinces. In addition, exposure assessment for asbestos is needed although the exposure to asbestos was in the past. Methods: Past exposure to asbestos among inhabitants near abandoned asbestos mines was estimated by using surface sampling of deposited dust in indoor and outdoor residences. A total of 54 participants were divided into two groups with (34 cases) and without (20 controls) diseases related to asbestos. Surface sampling of deposited dust was carried out in indoor and outdoor residences by collecting 105 samples. Deposited dust for sampling was analyzed by polarization microscope (PLM) and scanning electron microscope?energy dispersive x-ray spectrometer (SEM-EDX) to detect asbestos. Subsequently, the elements of the deposited dust with asbestos were analyzed by SEM-EDX to assess the contribution of sources such as abandoned mines, slate and soil. Results: Among the 105 samples, asbestos was detected by PLM in 29 (27.6%) sampling points, and detected by SEM in 56 (48.6%) sampling points. Asbestos in indoor residences was detected by PLM in four sampling points, and by SEM in 12 sampling points. Asbestos detection in indoor residences may be due to ventilation between indoors and outdoors, and indicates long-term exposure. The asbestos detection rate for outdoor residences in the case group was higher than that in the control group. This can be explained as the case group having had higher exposure to asbestos, and there has been continuous exposure to asbestos in the control group as well as the case group. Conclusion: Past residential asbestos exposure may be associated with asbestosis among local residents near abandoned asbestos mines. Odds ratios were calculated for asbestos detection in outdoor residence by logistic regression analysis. Odds ratio between asbestos detection and asbestosis pulmonum was 3.36 (95% CI 0.90-12.53) (p=0.072), adjusting for age, sex, smoking status and work history with multi-variable logistic regression by PLM analysis method.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.361-369
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• 2004

A metal fiber bed has seldom been applied to the practical filtration process despite its excellent mechanical and chemical stability. The filter-bed used in this work was highly porous with open structure, of which apparent porosity was 80 ∼ 90%. Although pressure loss across the filter-bed was very low, separation efficiency was found to be quite high. This paper focuses on the basic filtration mechanisms of a metal filter-bed and a thin ceramic filter from fly ash for reference. The experimental parameters were face velocity, dust loading and porosity of filter-bed. Pressure drop increased with increasing face velocity and dust feeding load for both filters. It also showed that dust particles deposited in the deep flow path, finally resulting in clogging the pore channels. It thereby indicates that the dominating mechanism of the metal filter-bed would be depth filtration. Meanwhile, the thin fly ash composite filters trapped the aerated dust mainly on the surface of the filter medium, so that the instantaneously formed dust layer might cause a steep increase of pressure drop across the filtration system.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.6-11
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• 1992

This study was carried out to investigate exposure level, size distribution, and respirable mass fraction of airborne coal dust and heavy metal concentration of respirable coal dust at each work site in coal briquet factory from July 1991 to September 1991. Geometric mean of total dust concentration was 10.88mg/m$^{3}$ at storage shop, 8.22mg/m$^{3}$ at pulverize shop, and 3.79mg/m$^{3}$ at rotary press shop, respectively, but those at storage and pulverize shop were higher than TLV. Geometric mean of respirable coal dust concentration wat 1.03mg/m$^{3}$ at storage shop, 0.78mg/m$^{3}$ at pulverize shop, and 0.55mg/m$^{3}$ at rotary press shop, respectively, which were lower than TLV Aerodynamic 50% cutoff diameter of the suspended coal dust was 5$\mu$m at rotary press shop and 6.8$\mu$m at storage shop, ranged to thoracic particulate defined by ACGIH, and deposited in the region of repiratory system. The mass fraction rate of respirable dust to the total coal dust was 26.2% at rotary press shop, 18.8% at storage shop, and 13.8% at pulverize shop, respectively. Heavy metal concentrations of the respirable coal dust were 0.028mg/m$^{3}$ ib Fe, 0.0081mg/m$^{3}$ in Cu, and 0.0039mg/m$^{3}$ in Pb.

• 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.21 no.6
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• pp.573-583
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• 2005

Fugitive dust, which is emitted in the ambient air without first passing through a stack or duct designed to control flow, is frequently generated by means of wind erosion from storage yards at Pohang Steel Wokrs. The size distribution of fugitive dust is mostly in the range of coarse particulate which is deposited as soon as emitted and less harm to human health; however $20\%$ of fugitive dust contains PM 10 known as one of most harmful airborne pollutant. Consequently, effective control and reduction of fugitive dust is strongly requested by the local society, but it is not easy so far because the generation and dispersion of fugitive dust highly depends on meteorological conditions, and it being occurred for irregularity. This research presented a fugitive dust control system for each meteorological condition by providing statistical prediction data obtained from a statistical analysis on the probability of generating the threshold velocity at which the fugitive dust begins to occur, and the frequency occurring by season and by time of the wind direction that can generate atmospheric pollution when the dispersed dust spreads to adjacent residential areas. The research also built a fugitive dust detection system which monitors the weather conditions surrounding storage yards and the changes in air quality on a real-time basis and issues a warning message by identifying a situation where the fugitive dust disperses outside the site boundary line so that appropriate measures can be taken on a timely basis. Furthermore, in respect to the spraying of water to prevent the generation of fugitive dust from the storage piles at the storage yard, an advanced statistical meteorological analysis on the weather conditions in Pohang area and a case study of fugitive dust dispersion toward outside of working field during $2002\∼2003$ were carried out in order to decide an optimal water-spraying time and the number of spraying that can prevent the origin of fugitive dust emission. The results of this research are expected to create extremely significant effects in improving surrounding environment through actual reduction of the fugitive dust produced from the storage yard of Pohang Steel Works by providing a high-tech warning system capable of constantly monitoring the leakage of fugitive dust and water-spray guidance that can maximize the water-spraying effects.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.574-579
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• 2005

Optimal management of indoor air quality in a confined pig house, especially in winter, is indispensable for preventing infectious respiratory disease to workers and animals. This study was performed to elucidate the correlation of aerial contaminants and climate factors in a confinement. It was observed that indoor air contaminants ion in the confinement was the highest at 2:00-5:00 pm in a day, followed by 8:00-11:00 pm and 8:00-11:00 am. This was attributed to the increase of pig activities in the afternoon. The concentration of total dust and total airborne bacteria was found to have a significant correlation with temperature and relative humidity (p<0.05). Correlation of total dust and total airborne bacteria, total dust and ammonia, and total dust and odor were shown statistically significant at 95% confidence level. In conclusion, temperature and total dust concentration correlated significantly with all the parameters except for hydrogen sulfide ($H_2S$). This could be explained by the fact the dryness of pig feces by increase of interior temperature and resuspension of feed deposited on the floor by the pig activity, resulted in high generation of dust which adsorbed and carried the airborne bacteria and odor compounds in a confined pig house. It was proved that the adsorptive capacity of dust with ammonia ($NH_3$) was higher than that with hydrogen sulfide ($H_2S$).

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.137-145
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• 2016

In this study, the contents of dust and associated heavy metals on roadside plants were investigated to assess their foliar transfer. The study was conducted at six different locations (four roadside and two industrial) near an industrial area in Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh), India. Six metals (Fe, Mn, Pb, Cu, Cr, and Cd) were examined in this study. The concentrations of heavy metals in foliar dust were found to be in the order of Fe>Mn>Pb>Cu>Cr>Cd. However, this relative order changed in the case of leaf concentrations to Fe>Mn>Cd>Cu>Pb>Cr. The metal concentrations in the dust and leaves can be attributed mainly to industrial and vehicular emissions. In contrast to other metals, Cd showed significant accumulation in the leaves compared to the respective dust samples. This study showed different patterns in the distributions of heavy metals between the dust deposited on the leaves and the metal accumulated in the leaves. These results suggest that the dust retention and heavy metal accumulation in native plant species should be explored in an attempt to manage these hazardous metallic elements.