• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.32 no.4 s.91
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• pp.304-315
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• 2006

This study is performed to reexamine the association between ambient air pollution and daily mortality in seven major cities of Korea using a method of meta-analysis with the data filed for the period 1998-2001. These cities account for half of the Korean population (about 23 million). The observed concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO, mean=1.08 ppm), ozone ($O_3$, mean=33.97 ppb), particulate matter less than 10 ${\mu}m$ ($PM_{10},\;mean=57.11\;{\mu}g/m^3$), nitrogen dioxide ($NO_2$, mean=25.09 ppb), and sulfur dioxide ($SO_2$, mean=9.14 ppb) during the study period were at levels below Korea's current ambient air quality standards. Generalized additive models were applied to allow for the highly flexible fitting of seasonal and long-term time trends in air pollution as well as nonlinear associations with weather variables, such as air temperature and relative humidity. Also, we calculated a weighted mean as a meta-analysis summary of the estimates and its standard error. In city-specific analyses, an increase of $41.17{\mu}g/m^3(IQR)\;of\;PM_{10}$ corresponded to $1{\sim}12%$ more deaths, given constant weather conditions. Like most of air pollution epidemiologic studies, this meta-analysis cannot avoid fleeing from measurement misclassification since no personal measurement was taken. However, we can expect that a measurement bias be reduced in district-specific estimate since a monitoring station is better representative of air quality of the matched district. Significant heterogeneity was found for the effect of all pollutants. The estimated relative risks from meta-like analysis increased compared to those relative risks from pooled analysis. The similar results to those from the previous studies indicated existence of health effect of air pollution at current levels in many industrialized countries, including Korea.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.570-578
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• 2003

Background : Ambient particles during Asian dust events are usually sized less than $10{\mu}m$, known to be associated with the adverse effects on the general populations. But, there has been no considerable evidence linking these particles to the adverse effects on airways. The objectives of this study was to investigate the possible adverse effects of Asian dust events on respiratory function and symptoms in subjects with bronchial asthma. Patients and Methods : From march to June 2002, Asthmatic patients who were diagnosed with bronchial challenge test or bronchodilator response were enrolled. We divided them into three groups; mild, moderate, and severe, according to the severity. Subjects with other organ insufficiency such as heart, kidney, liver, and malignancy were excluded. All patients completed twice daily diaries and recorded peak flow rate, respiratory symptom, and daily activity. Daily and hourly mean pollutant levels of particulate matter < $10{\mu}m$ in diameter($PM_{10}$), nitrogen dioxide($NO_2$), sulphur dioxide($SO_2$), ozone($O_3$) and carbon monoxide(CO) were measured at the 10 different monitoring sites. Results : Dust events occured 14 times during the study period. Daily averages of 4 air pollutant were measured with an increased level of $PM_{10}$, decreased level of $NO_2$ and $SO_2$, and no change in CO during dust days compared to those during control days. An increase in $PM_{10}$ concentration was associated with an increase of subjects with PEF variability of >20% (p<0.05), night time symptom(p<0.05), and a decrease in mean PEF (p<0.05), which were calculated by the longitudinal data analysis. Otherwise, there was no association between $PM_{10}$ level and bronchodialtor inhaler, and daytime respiratory symptoms. Conclusion : This study shows evidence that ambient air pollution, especially $PM_{10}$, during Asian dust events, could be one of the many aggravating factors at least in patients with airway diseases. This data can be used as a primary source to set up a new policy on air environmental control and to evaluate the safety of air pollution index. We also expect that this research will help identify precise components of dust, which are more linked to the adverse effects.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.277-283
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• 2002

In the present study, adverse effects of megadose of dietary perilla oil were investigated in an experimental model consisted of 6 groups of Wistar rats. To compare the adverse effects of megadose perilla oil with different kind of dietary fat, rats were fed one of the following diets for one month: 10% beef tallow (B$_1$B), 10% corn oil (C$_1$B), 10% perilla oil (P$_1$B), 20% beef tallow (B$_2$B), 20% corn oil (C$_2$B), and 20% perilla oil (P$_2$B) diet. The body weight gain rate seemed to be more affected by the size of fat contents than the species of fat in the diet, so the body weight gain rate of 20% fat groups were significantly higher than those of 10% fat groups in spite of the larger amount of flood intake in 10% fat groups than in 20% fat groups. The levers of plasma triglyceride and total-cholesterol in 20% fat groups were significantly increased in dose dependent fashion when compared to 10% groups, the values of beef tallow (B$_2$B) group being the highest among all groups. Plasma glutainic pyruvic transferase activities and level of blood urea nitrogen had a tendency to increase along with increase of fat contents (%) in diets, the values of P$_2$B group, the highest among all groups, being beyond the normal levers. The plasma carbon dioxide concentration of P$_2$B group was the highest in all groups and exceeded the normal value, there being no significant difference among the plasma carbon dioxide concentration of others groups. The results showed that large dose and long term intake of dietary perilla oil had some adverse effects on hepatic and other organic functions in rats.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.70-79
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• 2013

The $N_2$ back-flushing period (FT) and time (BT) were investigated in hybrid process of ceramic microfiltration and PES (polyethersulfone) beads loaded with titanium dioxide ($TiO_2$) photocatalyst for advanced drinking water treatment in viewpoints of membrane fouling resistance ($R_f$), permeate flux (J), and total permeate volume ($V_T$). As decreasing FT and increasing BT, $R_f$ decreased and J increased, and finally the maximum $V_T$ could be acquired at FT 10 min and BT 30 sec. In FT effect experiment, treatment efficiencies of turbidity and dissolved organic matters (DOM) were the highest at no back-flushing (NBF) because of dramatic membrane fouling. As result of BT effect, the treatment efficiencies were the maximum at BT 30 sec, which was different with the FT result. Because the photocatalyst beads could be cleaned effectively as decreasing FT and increasing BT, turbidity treatment efficiency increased a little from 95.4% to 97.5% as decreasing FT, and from 95.9% to 98.5% as increasing BT. Also DOM treatment efficiency increased from 70.8% to 80.6% as decreasing FT, and from 75.1% to 85.8% as increasing BT. The optimal condition, where the treatment efficiencies and $V_T$ were the maximum, should be FT 10 min and BT 30 sec in our experimental range.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.261-268
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• 2011

The increasing demand of the crops (soybean and corn) for biofuel production has increased the focus of the animal nutritionists to look for alternative feeds, which are economic and environmental friendly. To identify microalgae as suitable candidate as an alternative feed, growth response of Chlorella vulgaris was studied under varying concentrations of carbon dioxide (0.07, 1.4, 3.0 and 5.0%) and photon densities (39.19, 72.97, 105.41, 116.22, 135.14, $175.68\;{\mu}mol/m^2/s$) by employing a photo-bioreactor. Swine wastewater was also investigated as nutritional source to economize the biomass production. Results showed that the higher biomass production was found to be at 3.0% $CO_2$ compared to other $CO_2$ concentrations. However, no difference in biomass production was found at $105.41\;{\mu}mol/m^2/s$ and above photon densities with 12 h of photoperiodicity. It was observed that C. vulgaris could easily grow in 200 times diluted swine wastewater and growth was found to be similar with that of artificial medium. Provided the conducive conditions for optimal growth, it has also the potentiality of depleting ammonia nitrogen ($NH_4$-N) and orthophosphate ($PO_4^{3-}$-P) completely from the wastewater after 3~4 days of cultivation. Thus, growing C. vulgaris would not only solve the problem of animal feed, but also help in biological $CO_2$ mitigation and wastewater treatment.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.30 no.3 s.58
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• pp.609-622
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• 1997

Nitrogen dioxide $(NO_2)$ has been regarded as one of the main elements among air pollutants, and we measured $NO_2$ levels of near gas range, kitchen, living room and outdoor on 489 apartments in Pusan area. $NO_2$ were sampled by using Palmes tubes (diffusion tube sampler) during August 16-25, 1995 (summer) and January 15-29, 1996 (winter), respectively. Authors wanted to know comparison of $NO_2$ levels in summer and winter, $NO_2$ levels categorized by variables, and variables affected to $NO_2$ levels. According to this study, we conducted to establish the degree of indoor-outdoor air pollution of urban apartments in Korea and methods to reduce indoor air pollution. The results of this study were summarized as follows: 1) Mean $NO_2$ levels of near gas range, kitchen, living room, and outdoor were $25.9{\pm}10.0ppb,\;23.3{\pm}8.0ppb,\;19.9{\pm}6.1ppb,\;and\;19.0{\pm}6.0ppb$ in summer, and $34.5{\pm}16.8ppb,\;28.2{\pm}13.4ppb,\;25.3{\pm}12.5ppb,\;21.8{\pm}9.8ppb$ in winter, respectively. 2) Mean $NO_2$ levels according to the floor levels were not significantly different in summer, and in winter, $NO_2$ levels were decreased as the floor levels were increasing, but those were increased above 16th floor. 3) Variables showing significant correlation(p<0.05) with $NO_2$ levels were as follows; Summer: floor level, family size, number of family during a meal, number using gas range during rice cooking per day, and natural ventilation. Winter: floor level, family size, number of person who have been respiratory disease in a house, number of family during a meal, total number of meals, and number using gas range during rice or side-dish cooking per day. 4) We suggest that the methods of reducing indoor $NO_2$ levels are ventilation during cooking, complete combustion, decreasing number and time of cooking, and substitution of fuels.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.23-30
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• 1979

Fungi which produce red pigment were isolated from tapioca chips, Korean Koji, air, and plant leaves. Among the Fungi, T-1 strain was selected as test strain. This strain was identified as a Monatcus sp. by the morphological propeties. Various culture conditions, and physical and physiological characteristics of red pigment were studied. According to the studies of culture conditions, optimum condition was found to be pH 6.5; 4 days of incubation; temperature, 32~33 c: 3.5％ of Tapioca chips powder as carbon source, 0.2％ of sodium nitrate as nitrogen source and 100 ml of medium in the 500 ml Erlenmyer flask at a rotary shaker (rpm180) as aeration condition. Also effective levels of vitamins, amino acids and inorganic compounds was found to be l$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml of folic acid and niacin; 0.3％ of L-arginine, L-glutamic acid and L-proline; and 0.001％ of manganese dioxide giving good results.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.88-94
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• 1982

The concentrations of gaseous ammonia and particulate ammonium emitted from a urea plan were measured, and the conversion rate of ammonia to ammonium was estimated. The conversion of ammonia to ammonium has two stages with transport time in the atmosphere. In the initial 15min the conversion rate was 3.2% min$^{-1}$, and thereafter 0.26% min$^{-1}$. The high conversion rate of ammonia to ammonium at the initial period of it's transport might be due to the dissolution of ammonia into water droplets formed by the decrease in temperature of the stack effluent. The concentration of ammonium is further increased by the decomposition of urea in alkaline droplet formed. Half-lives of ammonia gas at initial and latter slag were 16 min and 192 min respectively. No correlation of particulate ammonium concentration to temperature, relative humidity, and concentrations of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and airborne particulate matter were found in this field measurement.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.21 no.1 s.23
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• pp.132-151
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• 1988

This study was conducted to establish the control program for preventing unfavorable health effects of nitrogen dioxide($NO_2$) exposure in homes by preparing the fundamental data for evaluation of relation-ships between $NO_2$ levels and influencing factors through measurements of indoor-outdoor $NO_2$ levels and personal $NO_2$ exposures for housewives with questionnaire survey on 172 homes in Pusan area from April to June, 1987 $NO_2$ measurements were made by using diffusion tube samplers(Palmes tube $NO_2$ sampler) for one week at 4 sites in homes ; kitchen(KIT), bedroom(BED), living room(LIV), outdoor(OUT) and near the collar of housewives(personal exposure livel, PNO). The details of questionnaire were number of household members(FAM), number of regular smokers (SMOKER), daily number of meals eaten(MEAL), type of housing units(HOUSE), location of house with distance from the heavy traffic roads as walking time(DIST), and of kitchen(KAREA), kind of cooking fuels(FUEL), cooking time of each meal(CTIME), usage of kitchen fan for cooking(FAN), type of heating facilities(HEAT) and so on of subject homes. The Obtained results were as fellows : 1) The mean $NO_2$ level was significantly higher at indoors than outdoors(p<0.01) and the kitchen $NO_2$ level was the highest with $33.7{\pm}13.6ppb$(9.5-81.5ppb). The mean personal exposure level of $NO_2$ for housewives was $20.6{\pm}8.8ppb$(3.1-46.9ppb). 2) The mean indoor $NO_2$ level was significantly higher in the group of household members above 5 than below 4(p<0.05), in detached dwellings than apartments(p<0.001), within 5 minutes of distance than over 5 minutes(p<0.001), in the group of unusing fan(p<0.001), in the group of longer cooking time(p<0.001), and it was in order of coal briquette, gas, electricity and oil by kind of cooking fuels(p<0.05). 3) Variables showing significant correlation(p<0.001) with indoor $NO_2$ level were kitchen $NO_2$ level(r=0.8677), cooking time(r=0.5921), outdoor $NO_2$ level(r=0.5192), personal $NO_2$ exposure level(r=0.4615), usage of kitchen fan(r=0.3573) and location of house(r=-0.2988) 4) As a result of multiple regression analysis, the most significant influencing variable to the kitchen $NO_2$ level was cooking time[KIT=$-0.378{\pm}11.772$(CTIME)+0.298(OUT)+3.102(FAN)], it was kitchen $NO_2$ level to the indoor $NO_2$ level[IND=6.996+0.458(KIT)+0.230(OUT)-1.127(KAREA)], and it was indoor $NO_2$ level to the personal $NO_2$ exposure level[PNO=15.562+0.729(IND)-4.542(DIST)-0.200(KIT)] 5) It was recognized that aritificial ventilation in the kitchen, suppression of unnecessary combustion and replacement of cooking fuel, as much as possible, were effective means for decreasing indoor $NO_2$ levels in homes.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.211-218
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• 2021

BACKGROUND: Fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) is produced by chemical reactions between various precursors. PM_2.5 has been found to create greater human risk than particulate matter (PM₁₀), with diameters that are generally 10 micrometers and smaller. Ammonia (NH₃) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) are the sources of secondary generation of PM_2.5. These substances generate PM_2.5 through some chemical reactions in the atmosphere. Through chemical reactions in the atmosphere, NH₃ generates PM_2.5. It is the causative agent of PM_2.5. In 2017 the annual ammonia emission recorded from the agricultural sector was 244,335 tons, which accounted for about 79.3% of the total ammonia emission in Korea in that year. To address this issue, the agricultural sector announced the inclusion of reducing fine particulate matter and ammonia emissions by 30% in its targets for the year 2022. This may be achieved through analyses of its emission characteristics by monitoring the PM_2.5 and NH₃. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this study, the PM_2.5 concentration was measured real-time (every 1 hour) by using beta radiation from the particle dust measuring device (Spirant BAM). NH₃ concentration was analyzed real-time by Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy (CRDS). The concentrations of ozone (O₃) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) were continuously measured and analyzed for the masses collected on filter papers by ultraviolet photometry and chemiluminescence. CONCLUSION: This study established air pollutant monitoring system in agricultural areas to analyze the NH₃ emission characteristics. The amount of PM_2.5 and NH₃ emission in agriculture was measured. Scientific evidence in agricultural areas was obtained by identifying the emission concentration and characteristics per season (monthly) and per hour.