• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.216-232
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• 2016

In present, the Seoul City is undergoing traffic congestion problems caused by rapid urbanization and population growth. Thus the City government has reorganized the mass transportation system since 2004 and the subway has become a very important means for public transit. Since the subway system is typically a closed environment, the indoor air quality issues have often raised by the public. Especially since a huge amount of PM (particulate matter) is emitted from ground tunnels passing through the subway train, it is now necessary to assess the characteristics and behaviors of fine PM inside the tunnel. In this study, the concentration patterns of $PM_1$, $PM_{2.5}$, and $PM_{10}$ in the Seoul subway line-2 were analyzed by real-time measurement during winter (Jan 13, 2015) and summer (Aug 7, 2015). The line-2 consisting of 51 stations is the most busy circular line in Seoul having the railway of 60.2 km length. The the one-day average $PM_{10}$ concentrations were $148{\mu}g/m^3$ in winter and $66.3{\mu}g/m^3$ in summer and $PM_{2.5}$ concentrations were $118{\mu}g/m^3$ and $58.5{\mu}g/m^3$, respectively. The $PM_{2.5}/PM_{10}$ ratio in the underground tunnel was lower than the outdoor ratio and also the ratio in summer is higher than in winter. Further the study examined structural types of underground subsections to explain the patterns of elevated PM concentrations in the line-2. The subsections showing high PM concentration have longer track, shorter curvature radius, and farther from the outdoor stations. We also estimated the outdoor PM concentrations near each station by a spatial statistical analysis using the $PM_{10}$ data obtained from the 40 Seoul Monitoring Sites, and further we calculated $PM_{2.5}/PM_{10}$ and $PM_1/PM_{10}$ mass ratios near the outdoor subway stations by using our observed outdoor $PM_1$, $PM_{2.5}$, and $PM_{10}$ data. Finally, we could develop pollution maps for outdoor $PM_1$ and $PM_{2.5}$ near the line-2 by using the kriging method in spatial analysis. This methodology may help to utilize existing $PM_{10}$ database when managing and control fine particle problems in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.248-256
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• 2024

The purpose of this study was to identify the household air pollutants most significantly impacting hearing loss, using data from the 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Of the 1,980 participants, those with missing data were excluded from the study population, resulting in the final inclusion of 298 participants. Mild hearing loss is defined as a unilateral or bilateral pure-tone threshold average (PTA) of 26~40 dB, and moderate hearing loss is defined as a unilateral or bilateral PTA of 41 dB or higher. The mean of the PTAs for both ears is defined as the sum of the PTAs of the left and the right ears divided by 2. Complex samples multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that formaldehyde exposure independently significantly increased the risk of moderate hearing loss (odds ratio=1.050, P<0.001). Additionally, in the complex samples general linear model, toluene exposure (B=0.026, P<0.001) was found to be independently significantly associated with an increase in the mean of PTAs for both ears, where a higher mean of the PTAs for both ears indicates a decrease in hearing ability. These results suggest a strong association between hearing loss and the presence of toluene or formaldehyde in indoor air.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Illuminating and Electrical Installation Engineers
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.19-27
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• 2010

Sky cover method can be used to determine sky condition by cloud amount of the Korea Meteorological Administration. And, HCI (Hourly Clearness Index) method is another method determined by measured horizontal global radiation data. The results of the HCI methods of Erbs et al. (1982), Orgill and Hollands (1977) seem to be not good enough because of the air pollution such as smog phenomenon or yellow sand phenomenon and so on. Therefore, HCI should be corrected. The aim of this study is to improve HCI. Therefore, this study is to analyze and compare on the sky conditions from Sky cover method and HCI, and then presents hourly correction factor based on Sky 채팩 method. The results of corrected HCI improved.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.259-271
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• 2018

Outdoor copper alloy is exposed to the atmospheric environment, accelerating corrosion progress compared with indoor copper alloy. In order to prevent corrosion, the outdoor copper alloy is coated with wax to block external corrosion factors. However, corrosion of the inside of the coating film is highly likely to continue without the internal corrosion prevention treatment. B.T.A, which is used as a copper alloy water-soluble corrosion inhibitor, has a high possibility of being harmful to the human body and is mainly used to treat excavated artifacts. This study had selected the water-soluble corrosion inhibitor, which was easier to use than the existing wax and B.T.A being used in corrosion inhibition treatment for outdoor copper alloy. A comparative study was conducted on B.T.A, which is a water-soluble corrosion inhibitor used on excavated artifacts, and $VCI^{(R)}$, $Rus^{(R)}$, and L-cys, an amino acid corrosion inhibitor, used for tin bronze test pieces. The experimental method was conducted for a certain period of time with the salt, acid, and air pollution affecting the corrosion of outdoor copper alloy. Based on experiment results, it was concluded that the best water - soluble copper alloy corrosion inhibitor in the atmospheric environment is $VCI^{(R)}$. and it could be considered to be applied in replacement of B.T.A due to its low harmfulness. In addition, $VCI^{(R)}$ is judged to serve as a corrosion inhibitor for outdoor copper alloy because it showed the best result even in the outdoor exposure test which is a real atmospheric environment.

• Clean Technology
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.175-181
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• 2006

The feasibility of the use of porous fossil diatoms for indoor air pollution control was investigated via the characterization of physical and chemical properties. The fossil diatoms were observed by SEM(Scanning Electron Microscope). Diatomite had well-distributed pores below 5 nm and relatively large surface area compare to sericite. However, no porosity in sericite was found. Results showed that diatomite had better performance than sericite in respect to porosity and large surface area. But diatomite which is thermally treated at $950^{\circ}C$ has no porosity and low surface area because of combustion of fossil diatoms or calcination of inorganic oxide at high temperature, and has poor adsorption capability of ammonia gas. In conclusion, porous diatomite has relatively high performance to adsorb noxious chemical compounds, such as ammonia gas and VOCs.

• Journal of the Korean housing association
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.85-92
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• 2008

The aim of this research is to develop the sentiment indicators of housing welfare for evaluating housing welfare policies conducted by the Korean government. The methods of this research are used by analysis of related documents, FGI (Focus Group Interview), and survey. The survey was made by experts and consumers. To analyze the survey, this research also uses confirmatory factor analysis by SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Science) program, AHP (Analytical Hierarchy Process) by Expert Choice program, frequency, average, percentages, Factor analysis etc. As a result of this research, selected housing welfare indicators are settled as follows: In the housing welfare aspect, 11 indicators in the department of 'Housing Satisfaction' and 11 indicators in the department of 'Community Satisfaction' (22 in total) are suggested. The indicators are 1) Water Supply and Distribution Equipment 2) Heating equipment 3) the size of the exclusive residential area 4) the number of rooms 5) Ventilation and Lighting 6) Sound Insulation (Indoor Noise) 7) Air Pollution/Odor 8) House Deposit 9) Rent Paid 10) Maintenance (Dwelling) Cost 11) The length of Occupation 12) Proximity to Welfare Facilities 13) Educational Environment 14) Convenience of Facilities (shops, hospitals etc.) 15) Convenience of Transportation and Commuting 16) Distance from Workplace 17) Landscape and Green Space (Tree, Flowers, Grass etc.) 18) Vandalism (Destruction Behavior, graffiti etc.) 19) Privacy 20) Noise in Public Places (Drinking, Loudly Talking etc.) 21) Safety from Crime 22) Safety from a Disaster. As of 2007, the housing welfare sentiment index is measured by the survey of 1,000 inhabitants in the public housing, which shows 3.51.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.420-424
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• 2016

In this study, we developed photocatalytic technology to address the emerging serious problem of air pollution through indoor air cleaning. A single layer of $WO_3$ was prepared by using the dry process of general RF magnetron sputtering. At a base vacuum of $1.8{\times}10^{-6}$[Torr], the optical and electrical properties of the resulting thin films were examined for use as a transparent electrode as well as a photocatalyst. The single layer of $WO_3$ prepared at an RF power of 100 [W], a pressure of 7 [mTorr] and Ar and $O_2$ gas flow rates of 70 and 2 sccm, respectively, showed uniform and good optical transmittance of over 80% in the visible wavelength range from 380 [nm] to 780 [nm]. The optical catalyst characteristics of the $WO_3$ thin film were examined by investigating the optical absorbance and concentration variance in methylene blue, where the $WO_3$ thin film was immersed in the methylene blue. The catalytic characteristics improved with time. The concentration of methylene blue decreased to 80% after 5 hours, which confirms that the $WO_3$ thin film shows the characteristics of an optical catalyst. Using the reflector of a CCFL (cold cathode fluorescent lamp) and the lens of an LED (lighting emitting diode), it is possible to enhance the air cleaning effect of next-generation light sources.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.157-167
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• 1994

This study was conducted to analyze the relationship between the types of fiber and its content and the levels of airborne fiber concentrations at eight parking lots where sprayed insulation material was found on the walls and ceilings. Also this study was designed to find the relationship between the levels of airborne fiber concentrations and such variables as air current, humidity, total exhaust volume, surface condition of insulation material and building age. The results obtained were as follows : 1. No significant correlation was found between the levels of airborne tiber concentration and the building age, air current, humidity, total exhaust volume, space and the number of traffics. 2. A significant correlation was found between the levels of airborne fiber concentration and the MMMF content of the insulation material(r=0.7594). However, no significant correlation was found between the levels of airborne fiber concentration and total fiber content of insulation material. 3. The differences of the airborne fiber concentrations among Cateogory 1, 2 and 3 classified by the degrees of surface insulation material maintenance were very significant. 4. Two bulk samples contained 30% crodicolite and 1% anthophylite. The MMMFs, in all parking lots, included mineral wool, cellulose fiber, trace cellulose fiber, trace tiber glass and vermiculite. 5. The mean value and the range of airborne fiber concentrations at 8 parking lots were $0.0239{\pm}0.0095f/cc$ and 0.0054-0.0447 f/cc, respectively. The fiber concentrations of 35 out of 38 samples(92%) were over 0.01 f/cc which is the Environment Administration's recommended asbestos level for the underground space. This study suggests that most of building insulation materials used in Korea, contain MMMF and sometimes asbestos. Currently, MMMF pollution levels may exceed the Environment Administration's recommended level for underground space. It has been found that airborne fiber concentrations increased significantly with MMMF content and with the maintenance condition of surface material. Therefore, it is recommended that a proper management technique should be developed and immediately implemented since the conditions of surface material will be gradually deteriorated due to building age and usage. Since health hazards of the MMMF, similar to those of asbestos, are being gradually acknowledged, a proper management technique which is applicable to control total airborne fiber concentrations, both asbestos and MMMF, be developed and an acceptable indoor air standard be promulgated as early as possible.

• Clean Technology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.171-178
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• 2014

In this study we have examined the health risk factors and analyzing data of laborers working at the welding operation at large-sized casting process. In order to improve the working environment of workplace, an effective ventilation method was proposed after performing CFD (computational fluid dynamics) modeling and measurement of pollutants. As a result of examining the health risk factors of workers, oxidized steel dust is the main pollution source in the company A, welding fume in the companies B and C, and welding fume and oxidized steel dust in the company D. The fume concentration in the workers' breathing zone was $0.05{\sim}4.37mg/m^3$, and the fume concentration in the indoor air at the welding process was $0.13{\sim}7.54mg/m^3$. From a result of CFD, a local exhaust with an exhaust duct adjacent to welding point was found to be most effective in case of the exhaust process. In case of air supply, we found that a desired location of air supply fan would be at the end of the opening. If a standardizing the ventilation system for tunnel-type semi-enclosed space at a large-sized casting process is introduced in welding work places in the future, it would be more effective to protect the health of welding workers working at the casting industry and shipbuilding industry and improve the work environment.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.724-734
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• 2019

The present study investigated the cytotoxicity of particulate matter (PM) derived from car air filter (outdoor PM) and home cleaner filter (indoor PM) in the various human cell lines. Each outdoor and indoor PM were harvested by ethanol extraction method, subsequently sieved with 10 um filter paper, sterilized with autoclave and added to culture media. The half maximal inhibitory concentration ($IC_{50}$) values was significantly (p<0.05) lower in the outdoor PM, compared with indoor PM, and the significantly (p<0.05) higher $IC_{50}$ values were observed in the cancer cell lines (A-549 lung adenocarcinoma and AGS stomach adenocarcinoma), than those of normal MRC-5 fibroblasts and dental papilla tissue derived-mesenchymal stem cells (DSC). After being exposed to $100{\mu}g/ml$ outdoor PM for 7 days, the population doubling time (PDT) was significantly (p<0.05) increased in especially MRC-5 and DSC cell lines, compared with untreated cell lines. Further, the expression of senescence-associated ${\beta}$-galactosidase activity was up-regulated in all the cells exposed to outdoor PM than those of untreated control. Besides, the expression level of inflammation-associated genes, such as cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) was found to be significantly (p<0.05) increased in the outdoor PM-treated cell lines than those of untreated cell lines. Our results showed that PM induces the cytotoxicity via arrest of cell growth, cell damage and inflammation response.