• Atmosphere
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.377-390
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• 2020

Not only emissions, but also atmospheric circulation is a key factor that affects local particulate matters (PM) concentrations in Korea through ventilation effects and transboundary transports. As part of the atmospheric circulation, air stagnation especially adversely affects local air quality due to weak ventilation. This study investigates the large-scale circulation related to air stagnation over Korea during winter and projects the climate change impacts on atmospheric patterns, using observed PM data, reanalysis and regional climate projections from HadGEM3-RA with Modified Korea Particulate matter Index. Results show that the stagnation affects the PM concentration, accompanied by pressure ridge at upper troposphere and weaken zonal pressure gradient at lower troposphere. Downscaling using HadGEM3-RA is found to yield Added-Value in the simulated low tropospheric winds. For projection of future stagnation, SSP5-8.5 and SSP1-2.6 (high and low emission) scenarios are used here. It has been found that the stagnation condition occurs more frequently by 11% under SSP5-8.5 and by 5% under SSP1-2.6 than in present-day climate and is most affected by changes in surface wind speed. The increase in the stagnation conditions is related to anticyclonic circulation anomaly at upper troposphere and weaken meridional pressure gradient at lower troposphere. Considering that the present East Asian winter monsoon is mainly affected by change in zonal pressure gradient, it is worth paying attention to this change in the meridional gradient. Our results suggest that future warming condition increase the frequency of air stagnation over Korea during winter with response of atmospheric circulation and its nonlinearity.

• Kosin Medical Journal
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.171-180
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• 2018

Objectives: We investigated whether asthma attacks in asthmatic children were caused by short-term exposure to particulate $matter(PM)_{2.5}$. Methods: Subjects were 411 patients who received inhalation therapy in National Fukuoka Hospital, from March to May 2013. All subjects were outpatients. We surveyed the air quality measurement results in the stations closest to the address of the patients. Data were used from the City of Fukuoka website data on air pollution. We carried out a case-crossover study and compared $PM_{2.5}$ concentration between 7 days after asthma attack occurred and the day asthma attack occurred and 1, 2 and 3 days before asthma attack occurred. Results: Highest hourly concentration of the day (OR 1.013, 95%CI 1.000-1.025) showed a significant association with 1 day before $PM_{2.5}$ concentration statistically. And 0-1 year-old infants were more vulnerable to the highest concentration of 1 day before $PM_{2.5}$ concentration(P < 0.05). Average concentration of $NO_2$ and $O_3$ and asthma attack also showed a significant association. Conclusions: Maximal daily $PM_{2.5}$ concentrations within 24 hours prior to the attack affect asthma exacerbation. 0-1 year-old infants are particularly vulnerable to $PM_{2.5}$ concentration. Asthma exacerbation is aggravated by $NO_2$ and $O_3$ concentration on the day of the asthma attack.

• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.907-923
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• 2020

For the severe haze situation in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, conventional fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentration prediction methods based on pollutant data face problems such as incomplete data, which may lead to poor prediction performance. Therefore, this paper proposes a method of predicting the PM2.5 concentration based on image analysis technology that combines image data, which can reflect the original weather conditions, with currently popular machine learning methods. First, based on local parameter estimation, autoregressive (AR) model analysis and local estimation of the increase in image blur, we extract features from the weather images using an approach inspired by free energy and a no-reference robust metric model. Next, we compare the coefficient energy and contrast difference of each pixel in the AR model and then use the percentages to calculate the image sharpness to derive the overall mass fraction. Furthermore, the results are compared. The relationship between residual value and PM2.5 concentration is fitted by generalized Gauss distribution (GGD) model. Finally, nonlinear mapping is performed via the wavelet neural network (WNN) method to obtain the PM2.5 concentration. Experimental results obtained on real data show that the proposed method offers an improved prediction accuracy and lower root mean square error (RMSE).

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.437-448
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• 2015

The purpose of this study is to present the source contribution of the fine particles ($PM_{2.5}$) in Chungju area using the CMB (chemical mass balance) method throughout the four seasons in Korea. The Chungju's annual average level of $PM_{2.5}$ was $48.2{\mu}g/m^3$, which exceeded two times higher than standard air quality. Among these particles, the soluble ionic compounds represent 54.2% of fine particle mass. Additionally, the OC concentration in Chungju stayed similar to other domestic cities, while the EC concentration decreased significantly compared to other domestic/international cities. The concentration of sulfur represented the highest composition (8%) among the fine particle compounds. According to the CMB results, the general trend of the $PM_{2.5}$ mass contributors was the following: secondary aerosols (50.5%: ammonium sulfate 26.5% and ammonium nitrate 24.0%) > gasoline vehicle (18.3%) > biomass burning (11.0%) > industrial boiler (6.0%) > diesel vehicles (4.4%). The contribution of the secondary aerosols was the main cause than others. This impact is assumed to be emitted from air pollutants of urban cities or neighbor countries such as China.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.137-145
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• 2015

This study focused on the measurement of the actual charging state of ambient aerosol particles, which is important for understanding the intricate process of adverse health effects caused by particulate matter (PM). The net electrostatic charging state of $PM_{2.5}$ collected on filter media was measured in this study. The Faraday cage method and surface potential measurements were used in this study. The results showed that the polarities of the net charging state measured using these two methods were in agreement for 42 out of 48 samples (87.5%), and 36 samples (75%) were negatively charged. The filters were not significantly charged by friction between the filters and air not containing PM. Charge addition to or leakage from the filters was not observed over a two-month storage period. Net charging state of $PM_{2.5}$ collected on the filters was concluded to be negative in most cases, based on data's support of the assumption that aerosol charging state is not altered by the process of PM collection using filter.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.54 no.12
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• pp.501-506
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• 2011

Purpose: A high level of air pollutants can increase the number of patients with allergy-related diseases such as asthma and allergic rhinitis (AR). To analyze the association between air pollution and allergic disease, we investigated 2 areas in Korea: Incheon, an industrial area, and Jeju, a non-industrialized area. Methods: Second grade students at elementary schools (11 schools in Incheon and 45 schools in Jeju) were examined in a cross-sectional study. A questionnaire was used and a skin prick test was performed. The levels of $NO_2$, $CO_2$, $O_3$, particulate matter (PM) $PM_{10/2.5}$, formaldehyde, tVOCs, and dust mites in the classrooms and grounds were determined. Results: The levels of outdoor CO, $PM_{10}$, and $PM_{2.5}$ were significantly higher in Incheon (P<0.01). The levels of indoor CO, $CO_2$, $PM_{10}$, $PM_{2.5}$ were significantly higher in Incheon (P<0.01). The prevalence rates of AR symptoms at any time, AR symptoms during the last 12 months, diagnosis of rhinitis at any time, and AR treatment during the last 12 months were significantly higher in Incheon (P<0.01). The prevalence rate of wheezing or whistling at any time, and wheezing during the last 12 months were significantly higher in Incheon (P<0.01). Conclusion: We found that the children living in Incheon, which was more polluted than Jeju, had a higher rate of AR and asthma symptoms compared to children in Jeju. To determine the effect of air pollution on the development of the AR and asthma, further studies are needed.

• Journal of the Korean Data and Information Science Society
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.473-481
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• 2017

It is well known that the air quality of 92% of the world is known to exceed the standard of WTO and the death caused by air pollution is almost 6 million per year. The $PM_{2.5}$ concentration in Korea is the second most serious among the OECD countries following Turkey. Since the $PM_{2.5}$ has a direct effect on the respiratory system, it has been actively studied in domestic and foreign countries. But current research on the $PM_{2.5}$ is limited in weather factor or air pollutants. In this paper, we consider the influence of spatial neighbor with weather factor or air pollutants using spatial panel model. We applied the proposed method to 25 borough of Seoul in Korea. The result shows a significant effect of spatial neighbor on the $PM_{2.5}$ concentration fields.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.159-173
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• 2017

The Weather Research and Forecast (WRF) - Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) system was applied to investigate the influence of major point sources located in Chungcheongnam-do (CN) on surface $PM_{2.5}$ (Particulate Matter of which diameter is $2.5{\mu}m$ or less) concentrations in its surrounding areas. Uncertainties associated with contribution estimations were examined through cross-comparison of modeling results using various combinations of model inputs and setups; two meteorological datasets developed with WRF for 2010 and 2014, and two domestic emission inventories for 2010 and 2013 were used to estimate contributions of major point sources in CN. The results show that contributions of major point sources in CN to annual $PM_{2.5}$ concentrations over Seoul, Incheon, Gyeonggi, and CN ranged $0.51{\sim}1.63{\mu}g/m^3$, $0.71{\sim}1.62{\mu}g/m^3$, $0.63{\sim}1.66{\mu}g/m^3$, and $1.04{\sim}1.86{\mu}g/m^3$, respectively, depending on meteorology and emission inventory choice. It indicates that the contributions over the surrounding areas can be affected by model inputs significantly. Nitrate was the most dominant $PM_{2.5}$ component that was increased by major point sources in CN followed by sulfate, ammonium, and others. Based on the model simulations, it was estimated that primary $PM_{2.5}$ $(PPM)-to-PM_{2.5}$ conversion rates were 41.3~50.7 ($10^{-6}{\mu}g/m^3/TPY$) for CN, and 12.4~18.3 ($10^{-6}{\mu}g/m^3/TPY$) for Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi, respectively. In addition, spatial gradients of PPM contributions show very steep trends. $NO_X$-to-nitrate conversion rates were 7.61~12.3 ($10^{-6}{\mu}g/m^3/TPY$) for CN, and 3.94~11.3 ($10^{-6}{\mu}g/m^3/TPY$) for the sub-regions in the SMA. $SO_2$-to-sulfate conversion rates were 4.04~5.28 ($10^{-6}{\mu}g/m^3/TPY$) for CN, and 3.73~4.43 ($10^{-6}{\mu}g/m^3/TPY$) for the SMA, respectively.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.107-111
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to develop a Eco smoking booth that can effectively reduce hazardous pollutants generated during smoking and evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of removing hazardous pollutants. The design and manufacture of an eco-friendly automatic smoking booth equipped with deodorizing facilities, such as inlet - HEPA filter - electrostatic precipitator (EP) - impregnated activated carbon - exhaust port, etc., and the efficiency of removing hazardous pollutants from inside and outside was measured and evaluated. The complex odor removal efficiency was 95.37% inside the smoking booth, and 97.38% at the exit of the preventive facility. The carbon monoxide removal efficiency was 94.25% in the inside and 98.32% in the outlet. In addition, the removal efficiency of particulate matter, (PM1, PM2.5, and PM10) inside the smoking booth was 98.59%, and 98.85% at the outlet. The total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) decreased from $26,000{\mu}g/m^3$ to $5,203{\mu}g/m^3$ in the smoking booth, resulting in 79.99% removal efficiency. After the ventilator was operated, the measured effluent concentration was $5,019{\mu}g/m^3$, and the removal efficiency was 80.70%. Therefore, the smoking booth designed and manufactured through this study can be applied to the removal of harmful pollutants even in the small working environment in the future.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.34-41
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• 2008

The objective of this study is to provide the research data on the actual concentrations of $PM_{10},\;PM_{2.5},\;PM_1\;and\;CO_2$ in Seoul subway carriages. Mean concentrations of $PM_{10},\;PM_{2.5}\;and\;PM_1,\;and\;CO_2$ in subway carriages were investigated at levels of $215.1{\pm}101.4{\mu}g/m^3,\;86.9{\pm}38.6{\mu}g/m^3,\;27.0{\pm}11.4{\mu}g/m^3,\;and\;1,588{\pm}714ppm$, respectively. The mean concentrations in subway carriages were higher when the train ran on an underground track rather than on an above ground track. The measured concentration of particulate matter varied with the time of day and was highest in the morning, followed by noon and evening while the $CO_2$ concentration was highest in the morning, followed by evening and noon. In relation to correlation among the pollutants: the correlation between $PM_{10}\;and\;PM_{2.5}$ was 0.92, and that between $PM_{2.5}\;and\;PM_1$ was 0.94. The inclusion rate of $PM_{2.5}\;to\;PM_{10}$ was $41{\pm}7%$ and that of $PM_1\;to\;PM_{2.5}\;was\;32{\pm}4%$. In addition, the $CO_2$ concentration had a positive relation with the number of people in a carriage, whereas the concentration of $PM_{10}$ had negative correlation to the number of people. In relation to these two pollutants we calculated using a regression equation (34.06+0.04$CO_2$(ppm)-0.09 PM10$({\mu}g/m^3)$($R^2$=0.30, p<0.01, n=707), that a maximum number of 61 persons would ensure that each pollutant is maintained below the criteria level, applicable to subway stations.