• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.333-339
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• 2002

Yellow sand (YS) storms were observed about ten times in the Korean peninsula during March and April in 2002. Twenty four hour fine particle (PM$\_$2.5/) samples were collected onto the 47 mm Teflon - coated quartz filters over 9 days during and after the events using the MiniVol Portable Air Sampler at a flow rate of 5 liters per minute. The highest PM$\_$2.5/ concentration measured during the YS period was 289 $\mu\textrm{g}$/㎥, which is 13 times higher than the lowest of the values for the samples collected during the non-yellow sand period. The filter samples were analyzed for inorganic ions using the IC, AAS and Autoanalyzer, and for metals using the ICP-MS. The results showed that the concentrations of some inorganic ions (e.g., Ca$\^$2+/ and SO$_4$$\^$2-/) and metals (e.g., Fe, Mn) of soil origin were elevated during the yellow sand events.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.377-383
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• 2019

Objectives: Exposure to fine particles in urban air has been associated with a number of negative health effects. High levels of fine particles have been detected at underground stations in big cities. We investigated the exposure conditions in four occupational groups in the Stockholm underground train system to identify high-exposed groups and study variations in exposure. Methods: $PM_1$ and $PM_{2.5}$ were measured during three full work shifts on 44 underground workers. Fluctuations in exposure were monitored by a real-time particle monitoring instrument, pDR, DataRAM. Qualitative analysis of particle content was performed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Nitrogen dioxide was measured using passive monitors. Results: For all underground workers, the geometric mean (GM) of $PM_1$ was $18{\mu}g/m^3$ and of $PM_{2.5}$ was $37{\mu}g/m^3$. The particle exposure was highest for cleaners/platform workers, and the GM of $PM_1$ was $31.6{\mu}g/m^3$ [geometric standard deviation (GSD), 1.6] and of $PM_{2.5}$ was $76.5{\mu}g/m^3$ (GSD, 1.3); the particle exposure was lowest for ticket sellers, and the GM of $PM_1$ was $4.9{\mu}g/m^3$ (GSD, 2.1) and of $PM_{2.5}$ was $9.3{\mu}g/m^3$ (GSD, 1.5). The $PM_1$ and $PM_{2.5}$ levels were five times higher in the underground system than at the street level, and the particles in the underground had high iron content. The train driver's nitrogen dioxide exposure level was $64.1{\mu}g/m^3$ (GSD, 1.5). Conclusions: Cleaners and other platform workers were statistically significantly more exposed to particles than train drivers or ticket sellers. Particle concentrations ($PM_{2.5}$) in the Stockholm underground system were within the same range as in the New York underground system but were much lower than in several older underground systems around the world.

• Proceedings of the Korea Air Pollution Research Association Conference
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• 2002.04a
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• pp.235-236
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• 2002

대기중에는 각종 유해 중금속이 자체적으로 부유하거나, 부유분진에 흡착되어 있어 부유분진의 성분을 규명하는 것은 인체보건학적으로 중요한 일이다 특히 PM$_{2.5}$의 인체 유해성이 커서 국내에서도 대기환경기준물질로 설정이 검토되고 있다. 대기중 PM$_{2.5}$입자의 이온성분의 변화는 대기 내에서 화학적인 변화를 추적하는 실용적인 도구로서 사용되어 왔으며, 미세입자의 발생원 규명 등에 중요한 자료로서 축적되고 있다. (중략)(중략)

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.60-68
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• 2009

The most principal approach to improve indoor air quality(IAQ) of subway was to examine the fine particulate(PM-10) from the emission sources. Therefore, this study was carried on the investigation the fine particulate for comparison with the removal efficiency of PM-10 in divided the PSD(Platform Screen Door) and Non-PSD subway station from July, 2007 to May 2008. In the monitoring results, the range of PM-10 concentration of Non-PSD station was $44.6{\sim}116.5{\mu}g/m^3$ and the range of PM-10 concentration of PSD station was $23.9{\sim}81.1{\mu}g/m^3$. And then the range of PM-2.5 concentration of Non-PSD station was $17.4-56.6{\mu}g/m^3$, and then the range of PM-2.5 concentration of PSD station was $17.9{\sim}34.4{\mu}g/m^3$. In comparison with the results of the PSD and Non-PSD subway station, we found that the PM-10 removal efficiency of PSD was 30-40%. In conclusion, the PSD will be applied the effective facilities of decreasing PM-10 in subway station in Korea.

• Proceedings of the Korea Air Pollution Research Association Conference
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• 2007.10a
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• pp.285-286
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• 2007

• Proceedings of the Korea Air Pollution Research Association Conference
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• 2008.10a
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• pp.307-308
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• 2008

• Proceedings of the Korea Air Pollution Research Association Conference
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• 2010.04a
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• pp.391-392
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• 2010

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.310-318
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• 2011

The collection of atmospheric $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ particle samples was made at Gosan site of Jeju Island, which is one of the most representative background sites in Korea. Their chemical compositions have been analyzed to explore the pollution characteristics and emission sources. The mass concentrations of $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ particles were $37.6{\pm}20.1$ and $22.9{\pm}14.3{\mu}g/m^3$, respectively, with the content of $PM_{2.5}$ to $PM_{10}$ as 61%. The $PM_{2.5}/PM_{10}$ ratios of nss-$SO_4^{2-}$, $NO_3^-$, and $NH_4^+$ were 0.94, 0.56, 1.02, respectively, indicating that these components were distributed mostly in the fine fractions. Based on the factor analysis, it was found that the compositions of fine particles were mainly influenced by anthropogenic sources, followed by soil or marine sources. The results of the backward trajectory analysis indicate that the concentrations of nss-$SO_4^{2-}$, $NO_3^-$, $NH_4^+$, nss-$Ca^{2+}$, and Pb were high when the air parcels moved from the China continent, while relatively low with the air parcels coming from North Pacific Ocean and/or East Sea.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.28
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• pp.7.1-7.9
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• 2013

Objectives We investigated the particle mass size distribution and chemical properties of air pollution particulate matter (PM) in the urban area and its capacity to induce cytotoxicity in human bronchial epithelial (BEAS-2B) cells. Methods To characterize the mass size distributions and chemical concentrations associated with urban PM, PM samples were collected by a 10-stage Micro-Orifice Uniform Deposit Impactor close to nearby traffic in an urban area from December 2007 to December 2009. PM samples for in vitro cytotoxicity testing were collected by a mini-volume air sampler with $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ inlets. Results The PM size distributions were bi-modal, peaking at 0.18 to 0.32 and 1.8 to $3.2{\mu}m$. The mass concentrations of the metals in fine particles (0.1 to $1.8{\mu}m$) accounted for 45.6 to 80.4% of the mass concentrations of metals in $PM_{10}$. The mass proportions of fine particles of the pollutants related to traffic emission, lead (80.4%), cadmium (69.0%), and chromium (63.8%) were higher than those of other metals. Iron was the dominant transition metal in the particles, accounting for 64.3% of the $PM_{10}$ mass in all the samples. We observed PM concentration-dependent cytotoxic effects on BEAS-2B cells. Conclusions We found that exposure to $PM_{2.5}$ and $PM_{10}$ from a nearby traffic area induced significant increases in protein expression of inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and IL-8). The cell death rate and release of cytokines in response to the $PM_{2.5}$ treatment were higher than those with $PM_{10}$. The combined results support the hypothesis that ultrafine particles from vehicular sources can induce inflammatory responses related to environmental respiratory injury.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.613-621
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• 2008

The purpose of this study is to understand the impact that temperature and relative humidity have on the volatilization loss of particulate nitrate $(NO_3^-)$ from Teflon filters during measurements of ambient fine particles $(PM_{2.5})$. Fine particles $(d_p<2.5{\mu}m)$ were measured using an annular denuder system (ADS) at four representive areas in Seoul. The measurements were made during 28 different days at 24-hr sampling intervals from February 14 to October 15, 1997. In this study, nitrate losses. calculated by the ratio of nitrate on the nylon filter to their sum in both Teflon and nylon titters, varied seasonally in the following order: summer (45.5%) > spring (23.8%) > fall (20.6%) > winter (19.7%). The results showed strong correlations with temperature, but we did not observe any significant effects of relative humidity. However, we observed that both temperature and relative humidity influenced the ambient gas/particle nitrate ratio in a different case study using a denuder.