• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.551-561
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• 2019

This study was conducted to find out differences in the removal efficiency of particulate matter (PM) depending on the type of plants and the morphological characteristics of leaves. A total of 12 plants were used, with three plants selected for each type of leaves (big leaf, small leaf, compound leaf, needle leaf). We measured the removed amount of PM10 and PM2.5, the structure of the abaxial leaf surface, and the weight of the wax layer of each plant. Plants with the high removal efficiency of PM included Pachira aquatica Aubl., Ardisia crenata, and Dieffenbachia 'Marianne', and plants with the low removal efficiency included Nandina domestica Thunb, Schefflera arboricola, and Quercus dentata. The abaxial leaf surface having a high removal efficiency of PM had many large wrinkles, and the abaxial leaf surface having a medium removal efficiency was flat and smooth. On the other hand, there were many fine hairs on the abaxial leaf surface with a low removal efficiency. According to the plant leaf type, the PM10 removal efficiency of plants with needle leaves was about three times higher than that of other plants. In particular, the wax layer of conifers weighed 6-24 times higher than those of other plants. The stomata of conifers were evenly distributed on the adaxial and abaxial leaf surfaces; however, the stomata of Sciadopitys verticillata appeared in the form of papillae unlike general stomata. Therefore, the removal efficiency of PM varied depending on the macro-, and micro-morphological characteristics of plant leaves such as the structure of the abaxial leaf surface, and the weight of the wax layer. Based on this research, selecting plants that are effective in reducing PM in consideration of the plant type and leaf characteristics will improve indoor air quality and decrease exposure of PM to human body.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.362-371
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• 2023

Background: PM_2.5 pollution has been a persistent problem in South Korea, with concentrations consistently exceeding World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. The aging of the population in the country further exacerbates the health impacts of PM_2.5 since older adults are more susceptible to the adverse effects of air pollution. Objectives: This study aims to evaluate how the health impact (premature death) due to long-term exposure to PM_2.5 in South Korea could change in the future according to the trend of change in the country's population structure. Methods: The study employs a relative risk function, which accounts for age-specific relative risks, to assess the changes in premature deaths by age and region at the average annual PM_2.5 concentration for 2022 and at PM_2.5 concentration improvement levels. Premature deaths were estimated using the Global Exposure Mortality Model (GEMM). Results: The findings indicate that the increase in premature deaths resulting from the projected population structure changes up to 2050 would significantly outweigh the health benefits (reduction in premature deaths) compared to 2012. This is primarily attributed to the rising number of premature deaths among the elderly due to population aging. Furthermore, the study suggests that the effectiveness of the current domestic PM_2.5 standard would be halved by 2050 due to the increasing impact of population aging on PM_2.5-related mortality. Conclusions: The study highlights the importance of considering trends in population structure when evaluating the health benefits of air pollution reduction measures. By comparing and evaluating the health benefits in reflection of changes in population structure to the predicted PM_2.5 concentration improvements at the provincial level, a more comprehensive assessment of regional air quality management strategies can be achieved.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.62 no.6
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• pp.33-42
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• 2020

Emission factors for ammonia and particulate matters (PMs) from livestock buildings are of increasing importance in view of the environmental protection. While the existing emission factors were determined based on the emission inventory of other countries, in situ measurement of emission factors is required to construct an accurate emission inventory for Korea. This study is to report measurements of ammonia and PMs emissions from mechanically-ventilated pig houses, which are common types of pig barns in Korea. Ventilation rates and concentrations of ammonia and PMs were measured at the ventilation outlets of a weaner unit, a growing pig unit and a fattening pig unit to calculated the emission factors. The PMs emission was characterized with different aerodynamic diameters (PM_2.5, PM₁₀, and total suspended particulates (TSP)). The measured ammonia emission factors for weaners, growing pigs and fattening pigs were 0.225, 0.869 and 1.679 kg animal^-1 yr^-1, respectively, showing linear increase with pigs' age. The PMs emission factors for three growing stages were 0.023, 0.237 and 0.241 kg animal^-1 yr^-1, respectively for TSP, 0.017, 0.072 and 0.223 kg animal^-1 yr^-1, respectively for PM₁₀, and 0.011, 0.016 and 0.151 kg animal^-1 yr^-1, respectively for PM_2.5. PMs emissions were increased with pigs' age due to increasing feed supply and animal movement. The measured emission factors were smaller than those of the existing emission inventory indicating that the existing ones overestimate the emissions from pig buildings and also suggesting that long-term in situ monitoring at various livestock buildings is required to construct the accurate emission inventory.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.19-26
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• 2003

This study was carried out to investigate the collecting efficiency of cyclone deduster installed in weaned piglet building in third weeks of age. There are two peaks of high level of dust concentration in piglet house at the time of 09:00~10:00(5,322$\mu g/m^3$) and 19:00~20:00(6,763$\mu g/m^3$), but the peaks of dust concentration in the building used cyclone deduster was decreased to 3,614.8 and 2,229.5$\mu g/m^3$, respectively. Collecting efficiency of total suspended particulate(TSP), particulate matter less than 10$\mu\textrm{m}$(PM 10) and particulate matter less than 2.5$\mu\textrm{m}$(PM 2.5) in weaned piglet building used in cyclone deduster was 38.3%, 32.5, 21.8, respectively. Aerial dust in weaned piglet building by number basis in the range of 0.745~1.08$\mu\textrm{m}$ was 53.5%. But dust distribution over 10$\mu\textrm{m}$ in volume basis was 82.8% and 86.2%. Crude protein of dust was 25.9~32.7%, and it was higher than feed crude protein(22.0%). Heavy metal concentration of dust was also high level compare to that of feed.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.163-170
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• 2016

Regulations for the exhaust gas of diesel vehicles are being strengthened every year. Recently, diesel emission regulations for HC, CO, NOx, and particulate matter (PM) have been subject to very strict standards. In the future, the regulation of PM is expected to become stricter. Accordingly, diesel particulate filters (DPFs) have been applied to most diesel vehicles for PM reduction. With increasing engine mileage, ash and soot from the engine exhaust gas accumulate inside the DPF. This accumulation can damage the DPF or degrade engine performance. Therefore, efficient cleaning of the DPF is critical for the maintenance of the engine. If the DPF is well managed through regular cleaning, it can improve the power and fuel economy of the engine and reduce maintenance costs. Therefore, this study was performed to develop a high-efficiency cleaning method for DPFs and an apparatus that can more effectively clean out the accumulated ash and soot.

• Food Science and Industry
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.11-28
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• 2021

Air pollution caused by particulate matters (PM) has become a global issue. PM is known to threaten human health by causing respiratory and cardiovascular disease. PM can be introduced to human gastrointestinal track through food intake, causing inflammation and changes in gut microbiota. Even at low PM concentrations, prolonged exposure to PM can cause significant accumulation of PM in food products. The adsorption of PM onto food surfaces is expected to be strongly influenced by the properties of food surfaces, but few studies have been reported. This paper examines several important food surface properties that may affect the interactions between PM and food surfaces, including surface wettability, surface charge, and surface microstructure. Understanding the adsorption of PM onto food surfaces can provide useful guidance for classifying PM-sensitive foods and controlling food chains, including cultivation, processing, preservation, and cooking, to ensure food safety against PM.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.329-341
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• 2016

Pohang is a well-known industrial city in Korea with a large steel-industrial complexes. The biggest environmental issue in the city is associated with fine particulate matter (hereinafter, $PM_{10}$). The concentration of $PM_{10}$ is generally dependent on the local emission sources and meteorological conditions. Iron and steel industrial complexes are likely serious pollution sources of $PM_{10}$ in Pohang. In this study, daily $PM_{10}$ data from a large database from the year of 2000 to 2012 were statistically analyzed, together with meteorological data. The average concentrations of $PM_{10}$ were evaluated according to the frequency of Asian dust, haze, mist, and fog. The number of days exceeding short-term standard for $PM_{10}$ were also examined, taking into consideration of weather conditions. It was found that the concentration of $PM_{10}$ was reduced about 18% to 26% because of precipitation. In addition, the effects of wind direction and wind speed on the $PM_{10}$ concentrations were investigated.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.591-600
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• 2017

This study was carried out to elucidate the chemical compositions of water-soluble inorganic ions in $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ aerosols collected during summer and winter in downtown Jejusi city. The ratios of $NO_3^-$ to the total mass of ionic species in $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ aerosols largely increase in winter compared to summer, while $SO_4^{2-}$ ratios in both aerosols appear to follow the opposite trend. Moreover, concentrations of $Na^+$, $Mg^{2+}$, $Ca^{2+}$ and $Cl^-$ in $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5-10}$ aerosols are higher in winter than in summer. The nitrate concentrations in $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ aerosols increase with an identical increase in excess ammonium during winter, however, nitrate formation during summer is not important owing to ammonium-poor conditions.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.35 no.10
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• pp.717-723
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• 2013

The Korea Ministry of Environment prepares some paticulate matter eliminate measures for national health protection, as the Paticulate Matter ($PM_{2.5}$) exceeds the standard at more than half of the monitoring posts installed in the nation's big cities. At the center of JeonJu, when measuring the ultrafine particles of inner car at the different driving conditions, at the condition of the Actuator of inner recirculation mode and the Blower of 2-speed, the reduction speed of the ultrafine particles is most fast and the concentration stays low. When the windows are opened during driving, outer pollutants enter the car and also inner paticulate matter flies in all direction, and the increase of passengers causes the scattering of the ultrafine paticles. As the filter for air cleaning, the using of polypropylene non-woven fabric (used commonly now) is most excellent, but for the removal of volatile organic substance as well as the paticulate matter, it is thought that the using of activated carbon fiber filter, carbon adsorbent, is even more excellent.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.53-59
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• 2010

The spatial variability in the food chain structure of an estuarine environment(Nanakita estuarine, Japan) was investigated using stable carbon and nitrogen isotope. Potential organic matter sources(TP:Terrstrial Plant, MPOM:Marine particulate organic matter, BMA:Benthic microalgae, EPOM:Estuarine particulate organic matter), sedimentary organic matter and benthic invertebrates(Nuttallia olivacea and Nereidae) were sampled at four locations with different tidal flat types(e.g. sanddy, sanddy-muddy and muddy). The main objective of the present study was to determine food sources of Nuttallia olivacea and Nereidae along with small-scale spatial variability within the community of benthic invertebrates. TP(${\delta}^{13}C=-26.6{\pm}0.76$ and ${\delta}^{15}N=2.7{\pm}0.31$) and EPOM(${\delta}^{13}C=-25.5{\pm}0.13$ and ${\delta}^{15}N=5.2{\pm}0.46$) were isotopically distinct from BMA(${\delta}^{13}C=-16.3$ and ${\delta}^{15}N=6.2$) and MPOM(${\delta}^{13}C=-19.6{\pm}0.08$ and ${\delta}^{15}N=8.9{\pm}1.70$). ${\delta}^{13}C$ values of sedimentary organic matter showed a distinct gradient in the range of -27.4 to -22.8‰ with a declining trend from the upstream to the downstream stations. The stable carbon and nitrogen isotope values of benthic invertebrates in the study site was -22.8 to -18.4‰ for ${\delta}^{16}C$ and 8.1 to 11.9‰ or ${\delta}^{15}N$, respectively. Mixing model(Isosource) calculations based on stable isotope measurements showed that benthic invertebrates of Nuttallia olivacea and Nereidae were found to be dominated by MPOM and BMA in stations. Whereas, TP and EPOM showed little influence to benthic invertebrates. The current result suggests that the different contribution for benthic invertebrates should be affected by both seasonal variation and physical factor among stations.