• Atmosphere
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.439-454
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• 2020

This study investigates the change in the fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentration and World Health Organization (WHO) air quality index (AQI) in East Asia (EA) under Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs). AQI is an indicator of increasing levels about health concern, divided into six categories based on PM2.5 annual concentrations. Here, we utilized the ensemble results of UKESM1, the climate model operated in Met Office, UK, for the analysis of long-term variation during the historical (1950~2014) and future (2015~2100) period. The results show that the spatial distributions of simulated PM2.5 concentrations in present-day (1995~2014) are comparable to observations. It is found that most regions in EA exceeded the WHO air quality guideline except for Japan, Mongolia regions, and the far seas during the historical period. In future scenarios containing strong air quality (SSP1-2.6, SSP5-8.5) and medium air quality (SSP2-4.5) controls, PM2.5 concentrations are substantially reduced, resulting in significant improvement in AQI until the mid-21st century. On the other hand, the mild air pollution controls in SSP3-7.0 tend to lead poor AQI in China and Korea. This study also examines impact of increased in PM2.5 concentrations on downward shortwave energy at the surface. As a result, strong air pollution controls can improve air quality through reduced PM2.5 concentrations, but lead to an additional warming in both the near and mid-term future climate over EA.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.91-106
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• 2021

Daily PM_2.5 was collected during summer period in 2020 in Gwangju to investigate its chemical and light absorption properties. In addition, real-time light absorption coefficients were observed using a dual-spot 7-wavelength aethalometer. During the study period, SO₄^2- was the most important contributor to PM_2.5, accounting for on average 33% (10-64%) of PM_2.5. The chemical form of SO₄^2- was appeared to be combination of 70% (NH₄)₂SO₄ and 30% NH₄HSO₄. Concentration-weighted trajectory (CWT) analysis indicated that SO₄^2- particles were dominated by local pollution, rather than regional transport from China. A combination of aethalometer-based and water-extracted brown carbon (BrC) absorption indicated that light absorption of BrC due to aerosol particles was 1.6 times higher than that due to water-soluble BrC, but the opposite result was found in absorption Ångström exponent (AAE) values. Lower AAE value by aerosol BrC particles was due to the light absorption of aerosol BrC by both water-soluble and insoluble organic aerosols. The BrC light absorption was also influenced by both primary sources (e.g., traffic and biomass burning emissions) and secondary organic aerosol formation. Finally the ATR-FTIR analysis confirmed the presence of NH₄⁺, C-H groups, SO₄^2-, and HSO₄^2-. The presence of HSO₄^2- supports the result of the estimated composition ratio of inorganic sulfate ((NH₄)₂SO₄) and bisulfate (NH₄HSO₄).

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.64 no.3
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• pp.25-32
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• 2022

To understand the distribution characteristics of PM_2.5 concentration in the Saemangeum Reclamation Area and nearby areas, three points of the background area, the occurrence area, and the affected area were selected and samples were collected for each season. The chemical composition was determined. As a result of analyzing the chemical composition contained in PM_2.5, NO₃^- (7.2 ㎍/m³), SO₄^2- (4.3 ㎍/m³), NH₄+ (4.3 ㎍/m³), OC (2.5 ㎍/m³), Si (1.3 ㎍/m³) m³) and EC (0.5 ㎍/m³) seemed to be the main components, and NO₃-, SO₄^2-, NH₄⁺, which are components that form secondary particles, occupied a large proportion. The composition ratio of PM_2.5 was investigated in the order of ion component (56.8%) > Unknown (27.4%) > carbon component (11.8%) > heavy metal component (4.0%). During the PM_2.5 high concentration case days, the ionic component accounted for 90.7% during atmospheric stagnation cases, whereas the chemical composition ratio was in the order of ionic component (51.7%) > heavy metal component (41.5%) > carbon component (6.8%) during yellow dust cases. It was found that the characteristic of PM_2.5 in the Saemangeum reclaimed land and surrounding areas is mainly influenced by outside (domestic and overseas) throughout the year. Ion components accounted for the largest portion of PM_2.5 components in this area, but there were few sources of SOx and NOx emission in the Seamangeum area, which are precursors for secondary particle formation. Therefore, it is judged that most of these are generated and influenced as a secondary reaction in the atmosphere from the outside.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.313-321
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• 2021

BACKGROUND: Ammonia is a causative substance for the fine particulate matters (PM_2.5) and generates dust through atmospheric reactions. Agricultural sector accounts for 79.3% of ammonia emissions in Korea. Urea and composted organic fertilizer (COF) are used in the soil for the purpose of supplying nutrients in grapevine orchards. This study was conducted to investigate estimates of ammonia emission and examine fruit quality from the rain proof cultivation of the 'Beni Balad', applied by urea and COF to the soil. METHODS AND RESULTS: Urea, COF1, and COF2 were applied at the rates of 119, 135, and 271 kg ha^-1 respectively. Ammonia emissionwas measured using a dynamic flow-through method. CONCLUSION(S): Ammonia emissions by urea and COF treatments to 'Beni Balad' soils under rain proof cultivation were calculated to be 2.63, 12.95, 2.05, and 3.97 kg NH₃-N ha^-1 day^-1, respectively for the control, urea, COF1, and COF2. Urea soil application increased soluble solids, firmness, and anthocyanin content in fruits at harvest, and COF1 application increased the soluble solids and anthocyanin content. For all the treatments, acidity increased in the harvested fruits.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.5-13
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• 2021

Ammonia, primarily originating from urinary urea of the livestock manure, is known to play as a major precursor of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) generation which leads to a decrease in air quality and to harmful effects on public health. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of acetohydroxamic acid (AHA) addition on inhibition of ammonia conversion from urea. The experiment was performed at different urea concentration (500-4,000 mg Urea-N/L), AHA concentration (0-4,000 mg AHA/L), pHs (pH 6-10), and temperature (10-35℃). The result showed that the urease inhibition efficiency increased at higher concentration of AHA. However, the specific urease inhibition activity decreased at higher pH, showing 867.1±6.7 Unit/g AHA at pH 6 and 1,167.9±17.4 Unit/g AHA at pH 10, respectively. Decreased urease inhibition efficiency at both AHA and control was observed at higher temperature. This finding indicates that AHA can be used as the urease inhibitor for reducing ammonia emission in the management of livestock manure.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.230-235
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• 2022

BACKGROUND: Ammonia gas emitted from nitrogen fertilizers applied in agricultural land is an environmental pollutant that catalyzes the formation of fine particulate matter (PM2.5). A significant portion (12-18%) of nitrogen fertilizer input for crop cultivation is emitted to the atmosphere as ammonia gas, a loss form of nitrogen fertilizer in agricultural land. The widely practiced method for fertilizer use in agricultural fields involves spraying the fertilizers on the surface of farmlands and mixing those with the soils through such means as rotary work. To test the potential reduction of ammonia emission by nitrogen fertilizers from the soil surface, we have added N, P, and K at 2 g each to the glass greenhouse soil, and the ammonia emission was analyzed. METHODS AND RESULTS: The treatment consisted of non-fertilization, surface spray (conventional fertilization), and soil depth spray at 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 cm. Ammonia was collected using a self-manufactured vertical wind tunnel chamber, and it was quantified by the indophenol-blue method. As a result of analyzing ammonia emission after fertilizer treatments by soil depth, ammonia was emitted by the surface spray treatment immediately after spraying the fertilizer in the paddy soil, with no ammonia emission occurring at a soil depth of 10 cm to 30 cm. In the upland soil, ammonia was emitted by the surface spray treatment after 2 days of treatment, and there was no ammonia emission at a soil depth of 15 cm to 30 cm. Lettuce and Chinese cabbage treated with fertilizer at depths of 20 cm and 30 cm showed increases of fresh weight and nutrient and potassium contents. CONCLUSION(S): In conclusion, rather than the current fertilization method of spraying and mixing the fertilizers on the soil surface, deep placement of the nitrogen fertilizer in the soil at 10 cm or more in paddy fields and 15 cm or more in upland fields was considered as a better fertilization method to reduce ammonia emission.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.6-15
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• 2024

Background: People's activities have been restricted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These changes in activity patterns may lead to a decrease in fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) concentrations. Additionally, the level of population exposure to PM_2.5 may be changed. Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the impact of population movement and meteorological factors on the distribution of PM_2.5 concentrations before and after the outbreak of COVID-19. Methods: The study area was Guro-gu in Seoul. The research period was selected as January to March 2020, a period of significant population movement changes caused by COVID-19. The evaluation of the dynamic population was conducted by calculating the absolute difference in population numbers between consecutive hours and comparing them to determine the daily average. Ambient PM_2.5 concentrations were estimated for each grid using ordinary kriging in Python. For the population exposure assessment, the population-weighted average concentration was calculated by determining the indoor to outdoor population for each grid and applying the indoor to outdoor ratio to the ambient PM_2.5 concentration. To assess the factors influencing changes in the ambient PM_2.5 concentration, a statistical analysis was conducted, incorporating population mobility and meteorological factors. Results: Through statistical analysis, the correlation between ambient PM_2.5 concentration and population movement was positive on both weekends and weekdays (r=0.71, r=0.266). The results confirmed that most of the relationships were positive, suggesting that a decrease in human activity can lead to a decrease in PM_2.5 concentrations. In addition, when population-weighted concentration averages were calculated and the exposure level of the population group was compared before and after the COVID-19 outbreak, the proportion of people exceeding the air quality standard decreased by approximately 15.5%. Conclusions: Human activities can impact ambient concentrations of PM_2.5, potentially altering the levels of PM_2.5 exposure in the population.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.302-313
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• 2008

The purposes of this study are to investigate the concentration levels of fine particles, so called PM$_{2.5}$, to identify the affecting sources, and to estimate quantitatively the source contributions of PM$_{2.5}$. Ambient air sampling was seasonally carried out at two sites in Pohang(a residential and an industrial area) during the period of March to December 2003. PM$_{2.5}$ samples were collected by high volume air samplers with a PM$_{10}$ Inlet and an impactor for particle size segregation, and then determined by gravimetric method. The chemical species associated with PM$_{2.5}$ were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma spectrophotometery(ICP) and ion chromatography(IC). The results showed that the most significant season for PM$_{2.5}$ mass concentrations appeared to be spring, followed by winter, fall, and summer. The annual mean concentrations of PM$_{2.5}$ were 36.6 $\mu$g/m$^3$ in the industrial and 30.6 $\mu$g/m$^3$ in the residential area, respectively. The major components associated with PM$_{2.5}$ were the secondary aerosols such as nitrates and sulfates, which were respectively 4.2 and 8.6 $\mu$g/m$^3$ in the industrial area and 3.7 and 6.9 $\mu$g/m$^3$ in the residential area. The concentrations of chemical component in relation to natural emission sources such as Al, Ca, Mg, K were generally higher at both sampling sites than other sources. However, the concentrations of Fe, Mn, Cr in the industrial area were higher than those in the residential area. Based on the principal component analysis and stepwise multiple linear regression analysis for both areas, it was found that soil/road dust and secondary aerosols are the most significant factors affecting the variations of PM$_{2.5}$ in the ambient air of Pohang. The source apportionments of PM$_{2.5}$ were conducted by chemical mass balance(CMB) modeling. The contributions of PM$_{2.5}$ emission sources were estimated using the CMB8.0 receptor model, resulting that soil/road dust was the major contributor to PM$_{2.5}$, followed by secondary aerosols, vehicle emissions, marine aerosols, metallurgy industry. Finally, the application and its limitations of chemical mass balance modeling for PM$_{2.5}$ was discussed.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.35-43
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• 2023

The fine particulate structure of biochar limits its use as a heavy metal adsorbent, and makes separation of the biochar from the solution technically challenging, thereby reducing recovery of the heavy metals. To address this issue, this study prepared biochar beads under various mixing conditions and investigated their efficiency in removing Pb from aqueous solutions using adsorption models. The biochar beads were produced by mixing alginate and biochar at different ratios: alginate bead (AB), 1% biochar + bead (1-BB), 2.5% biochar + bead (2.5-BB), and 5% biochar + bead (5-BB). The results revealed that the Freundlich isothermal adsorption pattern of the biochar beads to Pb was of the L-type. The highest Langmuir isothermal adsorption capacity (28.736 mg/g) was observed in the 2.5-BB treatment. The dominant mechanism among the kinetic adsorption characteristics of biochar beads for Pb was chemical adsorption. Additionally, the optimal pH range for Pb adsorption was found to be between 4 and 5.5. The highest Pb removal efficiency (97.9%) was achieved when 26.6 g/L of biochar beads were used. These findings suggest that biochar beads are an economical and highly efficient adsorbent that enables separation and recovery of fine biochar particles.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.665-676
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• 2003

To investigate the chemical characteristics of PM$\_$2.5/ in Seoul, Korea, atmospheric particulate matters were collected using a PM$\_$10/ dichotomous sampler including PM$\_$10/ and PM$\_$2.5/ inlet during the period of October 2000 to September 2001. The Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectromety (ICP-MS), ion Chromatography (IC) methods were used to determine the concentration of both metal and ionic species. A statistical analysis was performed for the heavy metals data set using a principal component analysis (PCA) to derived important factors inherent in the interactions among the variables. The mean concentrations of ambient PM$\_$2.5/ and PM/sub10/ were 24.47 and 45.27 $\mu\textrm{g}$/㎥, respectively. PM$\_$2.5/ masses also showed temporal variations both yearly and seasonally. The ratios of PM$\_$2.5/PM$\_$10/ was 0.54, which similar to the value of 0.60 in North America. Soil-related chemical components (such as Al, Ca, Fe, Si, and Mn) were abundant in PM$\_$10/, while anthropogenic components (such as As, Cd, Cr, V, Zn and Pb) were abundant in PM2s. Total water soluble ions constituted 30∼50 % of PM$\_$2.5/ mass, and sulfate, nitrate and ammonium were main components in water soluble ions. Reactive farms of NH$_4$$\^$+/were considered as NH$_4$NO$_3$ and (NH$_4$)$_2$SO$_4$ during the sampling periods. In the results of PCA for PM$\_$2.5/, we identified three principal components. Major contribution to PM$\_$2.5/ seemed to be soil, oil combustion, unidentified source. Further study, the detailed interpretation of these data will need efforts in order to identify emission sources.