• Particle and aerosol research
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.53-62
• /
• 2009

In this study, the continuous monitoring of the concentration of PM-10 atmospheric particulate matter using beta ray attenuation method was compared with gravimetric method from September, 2006 to August, 2007. On the effects of the PM-10 concentration and mass difference by relative humidity and precipitation were considered. The result showed that the measurement error between beta ray method and gravimetric method are within -3~6% in average, which means PM-10 concentration data with beta ray method are relatively comparable. The current study also shows that the high PM-10 concentration events are mainly due to haze, Asian dust, and high relative humidity and the PM-10 mass concentration is closely related with relative humidity and precipitation events. Based on daily mean data, the PM-10 increases as relative humidity increases up to 70~80%, then decreases over 80% due to the precipitation. However, the distinct measurement discrepancy was not shown between beta ray method and gravimetric method based on current results. Consequently, this study shows that the collocated measurement in different instrument is essential in order to quantify the accuracy of PM-10. Furthermore, the more comprehensive and spatially distributed comparison is needed and this is remained for future study.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.11 no.4
• /
• pp.283-299
• /
• 2017

An analytical method using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence (FL) detection was developed for simultaneously analyzing 10 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and 18 nitro-derivatives of PAHs (NPAHs). The two-dimensional HPLC system consists of an on-line clean-up and reduction for NPAHs in the 1st dimension, and separation of the PAHs and the reduced NPAHs and their FL detection in the 2nd dimension after column-switching. To identify an ideal clean-up column for removing sample matrix that may interfere with detection of the analytes, the characteristics of 8 reversed-phase columns were evaluated. The nitrophenylethyl (NPE)-bonded silica column was selected because of its shorter elution band and larger retention factors of the analytes due to strong dipole-dipole interactions. The amino-substituted PAHs (reduced NPAHs), PAHs and deuterated internal standards were separated on polymeric octadecyl-bonded silica (ODS) columns and by dual-channel detection within 120 min including clean-up and reduction steps. The limits of detection were 0.1-9.2 pg per injection for PAHs and 0.1-140 pg per injection for NPAHs. For validation, the method was applied to analyze crude extracts of fine particulate matter ($PM_{2.5}$) samples and achieved good analytical precision and accuracy. Moreover, the standard reference material (SRM1649b, urban dust) was analyzed by this method and the observed concentrations of PAHs and NPAHs were similar to those in previous reports. Thus, the method developed here-in has the potential to become a standard HPLC-based method, especially for NPAHs.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.61-72
• /
• 2001

Objectives : To evaluate the hypothesis that increasing ambient levels of ozone or particulate matter are associated with increased emergency room visits for asthma and to quantify the strength of association, if any, between these. Methods : Daily counts of emergency room visits for asthma, air quality, and weather data were collected from hospitals with over 200 beds and from monitoring Stations in Seoul, Korea from 1994 through 1997. Daily counts of emergency mom visits for asthma attack were analyzed using a general additive Poisson model, with adjustment for the effects of secular trend, seasonal variation, Sunday and holiday, temperature, and humidly, according to levels of ozone and particulate matter. Results : The association between daily counts of emergency room visits for asthma attack and ozone levels was statistically significant in summer(from June to August), and the RR by unit inclement of 100 ppb ozone was 1.30(95% CI = $1.11\sim1.52$) without lag time. With restriction of the period from April to September in 1996, the RR was 1.37(95% CI = $1.06\sim1.76$), and from June to August in 1995, the RR was 1.62(95% CI = $1.12\sim2.35$). In the data for children$(5\sim14yr)$, the RR was 2.57(95% CI = $1.31\sim5.05$) with restriction of the period from April to September in 1997. There was no Significant association between TSP levels and asthma attacks, but a slight association was seen between PM10 levels and asthma attacks in a very restricted period. Conclusion : There was a statistically significant association between ambient levels of ozone and daily counts of emergency room visits for asthma attack. Therefore, we must make efforts to effectively minimize air pollution, in order to protect public health.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
• /
• v.29 no.7
• /
• pp.149-158
• /
• 2024

This study aims to design and develop AirDeep-Room, a multi-sensor system for monitoring air quality in various indoor environments. The system measures CO2, TVOC, particulate matter, temperature, and humidity in real-time. By integrating multiple sensors, AirDeep-Room allows convenient correlation analysis using low data format in real-time. The sensor system was installed in a server room and a classroom. Data analysis showed a negative correlation of -0.24 between temperature and humidity in the server room, and a positive correlation of 0.43 in the classroom, indicating different interactions. A high correlation (r=0.69) between the number of students and concentrations of CO2 and TVOC demonstrated the significant impact of occupancy on air quality. AirDeep-Room effectively manages air quality across various environments and provides essential data for improving air quality in densely populated areas.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
• /
• v.37 no.2
• /
• pp.321-335
• /
• 2021

Particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5 with a diameter less than 10 and 2.5 ㎛, respectively) can be absorbed by the human body and adversely affect human health. Although most of the PM monitoring are based on ground-based observations, they are limited to point-based measurement sites, which leads to uncertainty in PM estimation for regions without observation sites. It is possible to overcome their spatial limitation by using satellite data. In this study, we developed machine learning-based retrieval algorithm for ground-level PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations using aerosol parameters from Geostationary Ocean Color Imager (GOCI) satellite and various meteorological parameters from a numerical weather prediction model during January to December of 2019. Gradient Boosted Regression Trees (GBRT) and Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM) were used to estimate PM concentrations. The model performances were examined for two types of feature sets-all input parameters (Feature set 1) and a subset of input parameters without meteorological and land-cover parameters (Feature set 2). Both models showed higher accuracy (about 10 % higher in R2) by using the Feature set 1 than the Feature set 2. The GBRT model using Feature set 1 was chosen as the final model for further analysis(PM10: R2 = 0.82, nRMSE = 34.9 %, PM2.5: R2 = 0.75, nRMSE = 35.6 %). The spatial distribution of the seasonal and annual-averaged PM concentrations was similar with in-situ observations, except for the northeastern part of China with bright surface reflectance. Their spatial distribution and seasonal changes were well matched with in-situ measurements.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.39 no.7
• /
• pp.391-402
• /
• 2017

Particulate matter becomes an important issue in the environmental society recently so that it is necessary to evaluate that the commercial application of baghouse systems for effective control of fine particulates is viable. A laboratory-scale baghouse experimental apparatus with filter bags made of PTFE felt or PTFE felt coated with PTFE membrane is used to investigate the filtration performances of fine particulates. Experiments by changing filtration velocity, inlet dust concentration, and average dust particle size show that the dust collection efficiency becomes higher at lower filtration velocity, higher inlet dust concentration and larger average dust particle size. The total pressure drop through the filter media and dust layer becomes higher at higher filtration velocity and higher inlet dust concentration. The dust collection efficiency is higher and the pressure drop is lower at a baghouse with filter bags coated with PTFE membrane than that without membrane coating. From the result that the dust collection efficiency of $PM_{2.5}$ in a reasonable filtration velocity range during off-line pulsing at a baghouse with PTFE felt bag filters coated with PTFE membrane is as high as 99.99%, it is confirmed that the use of baghouse is an effective measure to control the fine particulates.

• Particle and aerosol research
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.37-44
• /
• 2019

It is recommended for the public to stay at home and to close the doors and windows when a high-particulate-matter environment such as a yellow sand event occurs outside. However, there are lack of empirical studies describing how much outdoor PM infiltrates into a closed house and how much indoor PM an inhabitant is exposed to during the period. In this study, the $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ were measured at the kitchen in an apartment house by an optical particle counter for 3 days including a yellow sand event. The outdoor PMs and the outdoor wind speeds were referred from surrounding weather stations. We analyzed the penetration of $PM_{10-2.5}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ at the test house against the outdoor wind speed supposed corresponding to the change of air exchange rate. In addition, the effect of an indoor activity on change in the indoor PM was investigated. In result, the indoor $PM_{10-2.5}$ was very low even a yellow sand event occurred outside; rather, a contribution of indoor activities to increase in $PM_{10-2.5}$ was higher. In contrast, the indoor $PM_{2.5}$ fluctuated following the outdoor $PM_{2.5}$ trend at high wind speeds or remained almost constant at low wind speed.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.55 no.6
• /
• pp.570-578
• /
• 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 Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.40 no.1
• /
• pp.10-16
• /
• 2014

Objectives: This pilot study assessed secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure in smoking and non-smoking nightclubs in Seoul, Korea by measuring the concentration of particulate matter smaller than $2.5{\mu}m$ ($PM_{2.5}$). Methods: This comparative study was conducted in three nightclubs in Seoul. While one non-smoking nightclub was measured on weekdays and weekends, different smoking nightclubs were measured on weekdays and weekends. The concentration of $PM_{2.5}$ was observed using a real-time monitor over an average of three hours. The number of people in the clubs was also estimated. Settled dust was collected in a smoking and a non-smoking nightclub and analyzed for NNK concentration. Results: The $PM_{2.5}$ concentration in the smoking nightclubs was higher than those found in the non-smoking nightclub by 26 times on weekdays and three times on weekends. Indoor $PM_{2.5}$ concentration was correlated with the number of people in the smoking nightclubs. Relatively high $PM_{2.5}$ concentration was observed in the non-smoking nightclub on weekends. NNK concentration in the smoking nightclub was 7 times higer than in the non-smoking nightclub. Conclusion: Smoking in nightclubs caused high $PM_{2.5}$ concentration. Although the non-smoking nightclub had a lower $PM_{2.5}$ concentration, $PM_{2.5}$ concentration on weekends was higher due to the smoking room. Complete prohibition of smoking in nightclubs can protect patrons from secondhand smoke exposure.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.139-152
• /
• 2018

The urban model inter-comparison study (UMICS) was conducted in order to improve the performance of air quality models (AQMs) for simulating fine particulate matter ($PM_{2.5}$) in the Greater Tokyo Area of Japan. UMICS consists of three phases: the first phase focusing on elemental carbon (UMICS1), the second phase focusing on sulfate, nitrate and ammonium (UMICS2), and the third phase focusing on organic aerosol (OA) (UMICS 3). In UMICS2/3, all the participating AQMs were the Community Multiscale Air Quality modeling system (CMAQ) with different configurations, and they similarly overestimated $PM_{2.5}$ nitrate concentration and underestimated $PM_{2.5}$ OA concentration. Various sensitivity analyses on CMAQ configurations, emissions and boundary concentrations, and meteorological fields were conducted in order to seek pathways for improvement of $PM_{2.5}$ simulation. The sensitivity analyses revealed that $PM_{2.5}$ nitrate concentration was highly sensitive to emissions of ammonia ($NH_3$) and dry deposition of nitric acid ($HNO_3$) and $NH_3$, and $PM_{2.5}$ OA concentration was highly sensitive to emissions of condensable organic compounds (COC). It was found that $PM_{2.5}$ simulation was substantially improved by using modified monthly profile of $NH_3$ emissions, larger dry deposition velocities of $HNO_3$ and $NH_3$, and additionally estimated COC emissions. Moreover, variability in $PM_{2.5}$ simulation was estimated from the results of all the sensitivity analyses. The variabilities on CMAQ configurations, chemical inputs (emissions and boundary concentrations), and meteorological fields were 6.1-6.5, 9.7-10.9, and 10.3-12.3%, respectively.