• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.80-80
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• 2010

About 50% of Active Galactic Nuclei(AGNs) are found to be red and dust-obscured. They are believed to be in an early dusty stage of AGNs evolution or affected by dust torus in the direction of line of sight. However, optical spectrum is affected by dust extinction, making it difficult to study their properties, such as FWHM and luminosity. In order to reveal the mass of central Black Hole(BH) in red AGN, we establish a new BH mass estimator for typical type1 AGNs using Near InfraRed(NIR) hydrogen line($P_{\alpha}$ and $P_{\beta}$), since these lines are at longer wavelength, less affected by dust extinction than optical hydrogen lines, such as $H_{\alpha}$ and $H_{\alpha}$. To derive the new empirical formula, we use a sample of well-known 36 AGN with a wide BH mass range of $10^6-10^9\;M_{\odot}$, where $M_{BH}s$ are estimated by reverberation mapping method and single epoch method. The $P_{\alpha}/P_{\beta}$ luminosities and FWHMs are derived by analyzing IRTF NIR spectra or taken from literature values. We show that luminosities and FWHMs of these lines correlate well with those of Balmer lines. Suggesting that Paschen and Balmer broad lines are originated from same region. Finally, we present the new $M_{BH}$ formula that are based on $P_{\alpha}/P_{\beta}$ luminosity and FWHM. We hope that our result will be used for investigating red AGNs.

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.443-445
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• 2015

We provide results of near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopic observations of 83 nearby (0.002< z <0.48) and bright (K <14 mag) type 1 active galactic nuclei (AGNs). For the observations, we used the Infrared Camera (IRC) on AKARI allowing us to obtain the spectrum in the rarely studied spectral range of $2.5-5.0{\mu}m$. The $2.5-5.0{\mu}m$ spectral region suffers less dust extinction than ultra violet (UV) or optical wavelength ranges, and contains several important emission lines such as $Br{\beta}$ ($2.63{\mu}m$), $Br{\alpha}$ ($4.05{\mu}m$), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH; $3.3{\mu}m$). The sample is selected from the bright quasar surveys of Palomar Green and SNUQSO, and AGNs with black hole (BH) masses estimated from reverberation mapping method. We measure the Brackett line properties for 11 AGNs, which enable us to derive BH mass estimators and investigate circum-nuclear environments. Moreover, we perform spectral modeling to fit the hot and warm dust components by adding photometric data from SDSS, 2MASS, WISE, and ISO to the AKARI spectra, and estimate hot and warm dust temperatures of ~1100K and ~220 K, respectively.

• Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.155-164
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• 2018

We present various infrared two-color diagrams (2CDs) using WISE data for asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars and Planetary Nebulae (PNe) and investigate possible evolutionary tracks. We use the sample of 5036 AGB stars, 660 post-AGB stars, and 2748 PNe in our Galaxy. For each object, we cross-identify the IRAS, AKARI, WISE, and 2MASS counterparts. To investigate the spectral evolution from AGB stars to PNe, we compare the theoretical model tracks of AGB stars and post-AGB stars with the observations on the IR 2CDs. We find that the theoretical dust shell model tracks can roughly explain the observations of AGB stars, post-AGB stars, and PNe on the various IR 2CDs. WISE data are useful in studying the evolution of AGB stars and PNe, especially for dim objects. We find that most observed color indices generally increase during the evolution from AGB stars to PNe. We also find that $Fe_{0.9}Mg_{0.1}O$ dust is useful to fit the observed WISE W3-W4 colors for O-rich AGB stars with thin dust shells.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.9-15
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• 2019

Soil dust emitted from large scale construction sites in urban areas has posed a significant health threats to local residents by exacerbating air quality. Water-spraying (moistening) is commonly practiced to lower the dust emission in construction sites, but its long term effectiveness is highly questionable. In this study, the utility of starch and PVA(polyvinyl alcohol) was investigated in suppression of the soil dust emissions in construction sites in Seoul areas. The efficiency of the two suppressants was tested with test soil sample in a lab-scale wind tunnel box under different concentrations of suppressants and soil textures. Starch and PVA showed the superior ability to suppress soil dust emission as compared to moistening, resulting in PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 lower than the daily limit values of 30 and 15 ㎍/㎥ respectively. PVA showed higher suppression capability than starch for all conditions. The test soils mixed with suppressants also showed dramatically enhanced aggregate stability compared to the non-treated soil.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.548-554
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• 2020

Objectives: This study is to examine the polyvinyl chloride (PVC) materials in elementary school classrooms and libraries in Seoul, and to investigate phthalate contamination in indoor dust. Methods: PVC material was identified for building materials and furniture using portable x-ray fluorescence (XRF). Phthalates in dust samples (n=19) were extracted by ultrasonic extraction using cyclohexane and analyzed by GC-MS. Results: Diethyl phthalate (DEP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), and Bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) were found in all collected dust samples (n=19), and diisonyl phthalate (DINP) was detected in all except for one sample (n=18). The concentration of DEHP (median: 2190 mg/kg) and DINP (2960 mg/kg) were higher than other compounds, suggesting that there are many products in the school that used these compounds. When comparing the phthalate concentration in the classroom (n=11) and library dust (n=8), the total concentration in the classroom (median: 10000 mg/kg) was higher than that in the library (8030 mg/kg). DEHP was the dominant compound in the library. The library is relatively more equipped with PVC furniture (n=83) and most floors are also identified as PVC material, suggesting that floors and furniture made of PVC materials are main sources of DEHP contamination. Conclusions: This study is a pilot survey for investigating phthalate contamination in elementary schools. As a result of the survey, phthalate contamination in elementary school was confirmed. However, further study requires risk assessment of children through analysis of phthalate metabolites in children based on sufficient number of samples and information about the site.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.75-83
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• 2013

Objectives: This study was conducted to estimate quartz concentrations in the airborne respirable dust from concrete manufacturing industries and to compare performance of two analytical methods, direct on filter(DOF) and the transfer methods in the Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy(FTIR). Methods: Total 36 area samples were collected from 8 concrete manufacturing industries. Each respirable dust sample was collected by a 25 mm cassette attached to a 10 mm Dorr-Oliver nylon cyclone. The quartz content was estimated using the intensity of the absorption peak of quartz at $799cm^{-1}$ by FTIR. Results: By the comparison of quartz content in respirable dust between the two methods, the results of using DOF method were higher than that of transfer method. And the result of quartz concentrations in respirable dust estimated by DOF method were mostly higher than those by transfer method. Statistically significant difference of quartz concentrations in respirable dust were not found in shakeout, input, loading and transporting processes by two methods. But quartz concentrations in the molding process had the statistically significant difference between DOF and transfer method. Conclusions: The results of the study is suggested that, it be needed to correct the influence of the interferences in order to establish the DOF method when interfering minerals have an effect on quantitative analysis of quartz in respirable dust by the direct on filter method with FTIR.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.479-487
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• 2007

[ $PM_{2.5}$ ], particulate matter less than 2.5 um in a diameter, can penetrate deeply into the lungs. Exposure to $PM_{2.5}$ has been associated with increased hospital visits for respiratory aliments as well as increase mortality. $PM_{2.5}$ is a byproduct of combustion processes and as such has a complex composition including a variety of metallic elements, inorganic and organic compounds as well as biogenic materials (microorganisms, proteins, etc). In this study, the average concentrations of fine particulates $PM_{2.5}$ have been measured simultaneously in Asan and Seoul, Korea, by using particulate matter portable sampler from September 2001 to August 2002. Sample collection filters were analyzed by ICP-OES to determine the concentrations of metallic elements (As, Ni, Fe, Cr, Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, Si). Annual mean $PM_{2.5}$ concentrations in Asan and Seoul were 37.70 and $45.83\;{\mu}g/m^3$, respectively. The highest concentrations of $PM_{2.5}$ were found in spring season in both cities and the concentrations of measured metallic elements except As in Asan were higher than those in Seoul, suggesting that yellow dust in spring could affect $PM_{2.5}$ concentrations in Asan rather than Seoul. The correlation coefficients of Pb and Zn were 0.343 for Asan and 0.813 for Seoul during non-yellow dust condition, suggesting that Pb and Zn were influenced with the same sources. The correlation coefficients between Si and Fe in the fine particulate mode were 0.999 (Asan) and 0.998 (Seoul) during yellow dust condition. It was suggested that these two elements were impacted by soil-related transport from China during the yellow dust storm condition.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2015

4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), a tobacco specific nitrosamine found only in tobacco products. The ability to monitor biomarker concentrations is very important in understanding environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). In this study, an efficient and sensitive method for the analysis of NNK in dust was developed and validated using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Dust was collected with filter paper soaked in methanol. The standard solution and dust sample were diluted with 100 mM ammonium acetate and extracted using dichloromethane. Our calibration curves ranged from 25 to $10^4pg/mL$. Excellent linearity was obtained with correlation coefficient values between 0.9996 and 1.0000. The limit of detection (LOD) was 5 pg/mL ($S/N{\geq}3$) and the retention time was 10 min. The limit of quantification (LOQ) was 25 pg/mL, and the acceptance criteria was the rate of 98-103% (80-120% at levels up to $3{\times}LOQ$). The coefficient of variations (CV) was 2.8%. Accuracies determined from dust samples spiked with four different levels of NNK racurves ranged that from 25 to 104 pg/mL. Excellent linearity was obtained between 92.1% and 114%. The precision of the method was acceptable (5% of CV). The recovery rates of the whole analytical procedure at low, medium, and high levels were 105.7-116.5% for NNK. The carry-over effects during LC-MS/MS analysis were not observed for NNK. This manuscript summarizes the scientific evidence on the use of markers to measure ETS.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.196-204
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• 2019

Background: Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MSMS) for simultaneous analysis of multiple microbial secondary metabolites (MSMs) is potentially subject to interference by matrix components. Methods: We examined potential matrix effects (MEs) in analyses of 31 MSMs using ultraperformance LC-MSMS. Twenty-one dust aliquots from three buildings (seven aliquots/building) were spiked with seven concentrations of each of the MSMs ($6.2pg/{\mu}l-900pg/{\mu}l$) and then extracted. Another set of 21 aliquots were first extracted and then, the extract was spiked with the same concentrations. We added deepoxy-deoxynivalenol (DOM) to all aliquots as a universal internal standard. Ten microliters of the extract was injected into the ultraperformance LC-MSMS. ME was calculated by subtracting the percentage of the response of analyte in spiked extract to that in neat standard from 100. Spiked extract results were used to create a matrix-matched calibration (MMC) curve for estimating MSM concentration in dust spiked before extraction. Results: Analysis of variance was used to examine effects of compound (MSM), building and concentration on response. MEs (range: 63.4%-99.97%) significantly differed by MSM (p < 0.01) and building (p < 0.05). Mean percent recoveries adjusted with DOM and the MMC method were 246.3% (SD = 226.0) and 86.3% (SD = 70.7), respectively. Conclusion: We found that dust MEs resulted in substantial underestimation in quantifying MSMs and that DOM was not an optimal universal internal standard for the adjustment but that the MMC method resulted in more accurate and precise recovery compared with DOM. More research on adjustment methods for dust MEs in the simultaneous analyses of multiple MSMs using LC-MSMS is warranted.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.654-661
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• 2019

This study assessed the stabilization of fluorine (F)-contaminated soil using calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)₂) and the consequent changes in human health risk. The bioavailable F decreased to 3.5%, (i.e., 57.9 ± 1.27 mg/kg in 6% Ca(OH)₂-treated soil sample) from 43.0%, (i.e., 711 ± 23.4 mg/kg in control soil sample). This resulted from the conversion of water-soluble F to stable calcium fluoride, which was confirmed by XRD spectrometry. Soil ingestion, inhalation of fugitive dust from soil, and water ingestion were selected as exposure pathways for human health risk assessment. Non-carcinogenic risks of F in soils reduced to less than 1.0 after stabilization, ranging from 4.2 to 0.34 for child and from 3.0 to 0.25 for adult. Contaminated water ingestion owing to the leaching of F from soil to groundwater was considered as a major exposure pathway. The risks through soil ingestion and inhalation of fugitive dust from soil were insignificant both before and after stabilization, although F concentration exceeded the Korean soil regulatory level before stabilization. Our data suggested that substantial risk to human health owing to various potential exposure pathways could be addressed by managing F present in soil.