• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.312-318
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• 2023

In recent years, fine and yellow dust pollution has become serious in Korea and has negatively affected crop production. Particulate matter (PM) adheres to greenhouse coverings, and it reduces the amount of solar radiation transmitted into a greenhouse. A reduction in light transmittance can have a direct effect on crop photosynthesis and an indirect effect on air temperature in a greenhouse, which can lead to differences in crop yield. The objectives of this study were to investigate the changes in light transmittance of different cover materials by PM and to determine the changes in cucumber growth in a greenhouse due to reduced light transmittance. We measured the changes in light transmittance of polyethylene (PE) and polyolefin (PO) films in the PM generation chambers. Also, cucumber plants were cultivated in a greenhouse with four different light reduction treatments (0, 10, 20, and 30% reduction of light transmittance). The initial light transmittance of PO film was higher than that of PE film and the decrease in light transmittance of PO film due to PM was less than that of PE film. The vegetative growth of cucumber was promoted under the reduced light transmittance treatments; however, the yield of cucumber was highest in the control (0% reduction of light transmittance). From the results, we confirmed that PO film was less PM adhesion and that cucumber yield during the spring season can be reduced by the reduction in light transmittance due to PM.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.81-88
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• 2023

Background: Air pollution has led to an increased exposure of all living organisms to fine dust. Therefore, research efforts are being made to devise preventive and therapeutic remedies against fine dust-induced chronic diseases. Methods: Research of the respiratory protective effects of KRG extract in a particulate matter (PM; aerodynamic diameter of <4 ㎛) plus diesel exhaust particle (DEP) (PM4+D)-induced airway inflammation model. Nitric oxide production, expression of pro-inflammatory mediators and cytokines, and IRAK-1, TAK-1, and MAPK pathways were examined in PM4-stimulated MH-S cells. BALB/c mice exposed to PM4+D mixture by intranasal tracheal injection three times a day for 12 days at 3 day intervals and KRGE were administered orally for 12 days. Histological of lung and trachea, and immune cell subtype analyses were performed. Expression of pro-inflammatory mediators and cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung were measured. Immunohistofluorescence staining for IRAK-1 localization in lung were also evaluated. Results: KRGE inhibited the production of nitric oxide, the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators and cytokines, and expression and phosphorylation of all downstream factors of NF-κB, including IRAK-1 and MAPK/AP1 pathway in PM4-stimulated MH-S cells. KRGE suppressed inflammatory cell infiltration and number of immune cells, histopathologic damage, and inflammatory symptoms in the BALF and lungs induced by PM4+D; these included increased alveolar wall thickness, accumulation of collagen fibers, and TNF-α, MIP2, CXCL-1, IL-1α, and IL-17 cytokine release. Moreover, PM4 participates induce alveolar macrophage death and interleukin-1α release by associating with IRAK-1 localization was also potently inhibited by KRGE in the lungs of PM4+D-induced airway inflammation model. KRGE suppresses airway inflammatory responses, including granulocyte infiltration into the airway, by regulating the expression of chemokines and inflammatory cytokines via inhibition of IRAK-1 and MAPK pathway. Conclusion: Our results indicate the potential of KRGE to serve as an effective therapeutic agent against airway inflammation and respiratory diseases.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.218-227
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• 2023

Background: Since 2019, the Ministry of Environment has implemented a seasonal fine dust management system from December to March, targeting high PM_2.5 levels with the aim of reducing PM_2.5 concentrations and protecting public health. The focus of improving the seasonal management system lies in the atmospheric PM_2.5 levels. Considering the primary goal of protecting public health, it is necessary to analyze the policy effects from an exposure perspective rather than a concentration-based approach. Objectives: This study aims to quantitatively assess the improvement of indoor PM_2.5 levels and the health impacts of the seasonal management system by comparing the periods before and during its implementation in residential environments. Methods: PM_2.5 concentrations within residential environments in a metropolitan area were measured using an optical particle counter (IAQ-C7, K-weather, Ltd, Korea) at one-minute intervals during the pre-implementation period (November 21~25, 2022) and during the implementation period (December 19~23, 2022). Based on the measured PM_2.5 concentrations, a quantitative evaluation of cancer and mortality risks was conducted according to age and gender. Results: The results of comparing indoor and outdoor PM_2.5 concentrations before and during the implementation of the seasonal management system showed a decrease of approximately 56.6% and 47.9%, respectively. Health risk assessments revealed that both the safety-limit-based and safety-target-based Hazard Quotients (HQ) exceeded the threshold of 0.1 for children under 19 years of age, both before and after the implementation. The mortality risk decreased by approximately 47.9% after the implementation, with children aged 0-9 showing the highest mortality risk at 0.9%. Conclusions: The findings of this study confirmed the positive health impacts of the seasonal management system across all age groups, particularly children under 19 who are more vulnerable to fine dust exposure.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.495-505
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• 2006

In order to classify aerosol type, Aerosol Optical Thickness (AOT) and Fine mode Fraction (FF), which is the optical thickness ratio of small particles$(<1{\mu}m)$ to total particles, data from MODIS (MODerate Imaging Spectraradiometer) aerosol products were analyzed over North-East Asia during one year period of 2005. A study area was in the ocean region of $20^{\circ}N\sim50^{\circ}N$ and $110^{\circ}E\simt50^{\circ}E$. Three main atmospheric aerosols such as dust, sea-salt, and pollution can be classified by using the relationship between AOT and FF. Dust aerosol has frequently observed over the study area with relatively high aerosol loading (AOT>0.3) of large particles (FF<0.65) and its contribution to total AOT in spring was up to 24.0%. Pollution aerosol, which is originated from anthropogenic sources as well as a natural process like biomass burning, has observed in the regime of high FF (>0.65) with wide AOT variation. Average pollution AOT was $0.31{\pm}0.05$ and its contribution to total AOT was 79.8% in summer. Characteristic of sea-salt aerosol was identified with low AOT (<0.3), almost below 0.1, and slightly higher FF than dust and lower FF than pollution. Seasonal analysis results show that maximum AOT $(0.33{\pm}0.11)$ with FF $(0.66{\pm}0.21)$ in spring and minimum AOT $(0.19{\pm}0.05)$, FF $(0.60{\pm}0.14)$ in fall were observed in the study area. Spatial characteristic was that AOT increasing trend is observed as closing to the eastern part of China due to transport of aerosols from China by the prevailing westerlies.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.191-200
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• 2024

Background: Busan is a rapidly industrializing city with many mixed residential and industrial areas. Fine dust emissions from mobile pollution sources such as ships and vehicles are particularly high in Busan. Objectives: This study analyzed the spatial distribution of air pollutants over the past three years and identified the impact of air pollutants through mobile source data in Busan. Methods: We obtained air pollutant data on fine particulate matter (PM₁₀), ultrafine particulate matter (PM_2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), sulfurous acid gas (SO₂), and ozone (O₃) for the last three years (source: airkorea.or.kr) and analyzed the spatial distribution using SAS 9.4 and Surfer 23. For the mobile pollutant data, we used CCTV data from major intersections in Busan to identify truck and car traffic, and visualized traffic density with QGIS. Results: The analysis of the concentration of air pollutants over three years (2020~2022) showed that all were lower than the annual environmental standards with the exception of PM_2.5. PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 were found to be highly concentrated in the western part of the area, while NO₂ was high in the port area of Busan and SO₂ was high in the western part of the area and near the new port of Busan. In the case of O₃, it was high in the eastern part of the city. The traffic volume of freight vehicles by intersection was concentrated in the West Busan area, and the traffic volume for all cars was also confirmed to be concentrated at "Mandeok Intersection" located in the West Busan area. Conclusions: This study was conducted to determine the relationship between air pollutants emitted from motor vehicles and the distribution of air pollutants in Busan. The spatial distribution of PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 correlates with traffic volume, while high concentrations of SO₂ and NO₂ near the port are associated with ship emissions.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.731-736
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• 2021

Oil fences effectively prevent the spread of oil spilled in the sea, thereby reducing the damage to the marine environment. However, the fence is damaged by oil and structures at the accident site and is discarded. When incinerated disposal method for discarded fences, fine dust, and harmful materials are generated. Moreover, as a part of the damaged fence is dumped into the sea, it may cause secondary environmental pollution, such as microplastics. Therefore, in this study, durability was measured using the most common solid foam type oil fences. As a result, the reduction rate of after five days of contact was 13 % in seawater and 3 % in oil, affected by temperature changes. Thus, the durability of the fence should be improved because it is exposed to seawater and oil and affected by wind, light, and waves depending on the weather conditions. Therefore, we suggest a method to improve the oil fence inspection to strengthen the durability of the fence's fabric part.

• Korea Science and Art Forum
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.297-308
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• 2019

Air pollution due to the fine dust level updating every day, and the problem of indoor air pollution due to ventilation difficulties and indoor discharge pollutants is also serious. In order to improve the indoor air quality, the air purification effect using the plants is prominent. In this study was started to investigated the living environment of modern people, the risk of indoor air pollution and the improvement function of plants, and to activate plant application. The purpose of this study is to analyze the main functions and design status of domestic and overseas plant - related applications, and to understand the actual use of modern plant applications and to help them learn more convenient plant - related knowledge. Therefore, this paper attempted to establish a basis for suggesting a new plant application by conducting a survey on the health effects of indoor air pollution and user awareness of plant - related applications. The results and contents of the study are as follows. First, as a theoretical review, indoor air pollution is more dangerous to modern people who have a high proportion of indoor living time and adversely affects their health. In order to solve such a problem, it has been shown that air conditioning and stress reduction can be effectively achieved by placing plants in the indoor space. Second, the analysis of the previous study shows the risk of indoor air pollution and its adverse effects on health. In addition, I have been able to find some researches related to the improvement of the indoor air by using the air purifying plants, and I can see the improvement of the user's behavior through the development or improvement of the application. Third, as a result of the survey on the status of domestic and overseas plant application, the main function of the application having high installation number was watering notification, provision of basic information of plants, and most of the functions were plant discerment through cameras. Fourth, most of the survey respondents have either raised or raised plants. Those who have little experience with plant applications have also shown positive feedback in the future on the use of plant-related applications. In addition, due to social problems such as air pollution, air purification using plants and functional plants showed high interest. Based on these results, we propose the need for a multi-functional plant application that can improve the indoor air pollution and facilitate the provision of information related to it.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.219-236
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• 2009

Particle-phase organic tracers (molecular markers) have been shown to be an effective method to assess and quantify the impact of sources of carbonaceous aerosols. These molecular markers have been used in chemical mass balance (CMB) models to apportion primary sources of organic aerosols in regions where the major organic aerosol source categories have been identified. As in the case of all CMB models, all important sources of the tracer compounds must be included in a Molecular Marker CMB (MM-CMB) model or the MMCMB model can be subject to biases. To this end, the application of the MM-CMB models to locations where reasonably accurate emissions inventory of organic aerosols are not available, should be performed with extreme caution. Of great concern is the potential presence of industrial point sources that emit carbonaceous aerosols and have not been well characterized or inventoried. The current study demonstrates that emissions from industrial point sources in the St. Louis, Missouri area can greatly bias molecular marker CMB models if their emissions are not correctly addressed. At a sampling site in the greater St. Louis Area, carbonaceous aerosols from industrial point sources were found to be important source of carbonaceous aerosols during specific time periods in addition to common urban sources (i.e. mobile sources, wood burning, and road dust). Since source profiles for these industrial sources have not been properly characterized, method to identify time periods when point sources are impacting a sampling site, needs to avoid obtaining biases source apportionment results. The use of real time air pollution measurements, along with molecular marker measurements, as a screening tool to identify when point sources are impacting a receptor site is presented.

• The Journal of the Institute of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.157-163
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• 2020

Recently, fine dust has been known to cause cardiovascular diseases here, raising interest in ways to reduce emissions by efficiently using fuel from cars that cause air pollution. Accordingly, a driving assistance system was developed to save fuel by eco-driving and improve the driver's bad driving habits. The system was developed using raspberry pi, arduino and Android. Using RPM, speed, fuel injection information obtained from OBD-II, and gyro-sensor values, Fuel-Cut is induced to create an optimal inertial driving environment. It also provides various information system such as weather, driving environment, and preventing drowsy driving through GUI and voice recognition functions. It is possible to check driving records and vehicle fault information using Android application and has low overhead for message transmission using MQTT protocol optimized for IoT environment.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.21 no.8
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• pp.1575-1580
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• 2017

The electric vehicle business is important because it can reduce 30% of the fine dust generated in the metropolitan area and it can solve the air pollution problem by replacing automobile exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine with eco-friendly electric cars. For the construction of the electric charging station infrastructure, which is the core part of the electric car business, we focus to select the optimal location of the electric car charging station in Seoul. The goal of this paper is to utilize and analyze the traffic statistics of T-Map navigation users data and Seoul Metropolitan Transportation Policy Department to deploy the electric cars charging station with optimal location to increase the efficiency. In this paper, the proposed algorithm is composed of two parts of electric charging station selection. First, we analyze real traffic statistics and area. Second, we utilize T-Map navigation data distribution. To select optimal electric charging station location, we apply these two algorithms.