• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.45-56
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• 2017

Coal power plants produce electricity for the nation's power grid, but they also produce more hazardous air emissions than any other industrial pollution sources. The quantity is staggering, over 386,000 tons of 84 separate hazardous air pollutants spew from over 400 plants in 46 states. In South Korea also, annual coal ash generation from coal-fired power plants were about 6 million tons in 2015. Pollutants containing particulate matter 10, 2.5 (PM10, PM2.5), heavy metals and dioxins from coal-fired power plant. The emissions threaten the health of people who live near these power plants, as well as those who live hundreds of miles away. These pollutants that have long-term impacts on the environment because they accumulate in soil, water and animals. The present study is to investigate the physical and chemical characteristics of coal-fired power plant fly ash and bottom ash contains particulate matter, whose particulate sizes are lower than $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ and heavy metals. There are wide commercial technologies were available for monitoring the PM 2.5 and ultra-fine particles, among those carbonation technology is a good tool for stabilizing the alkaline waste materials. We collected the coal ash samples from different coal power plants and the chemical composition of coal fly ash was characterized by XRF. In the present laboratory research approach reveals that potential application of carbonation technology for particulate matter $PM_{10}$, $PM_{2.5}$ and stabilization of heavy metals. The significance of this emerging carbonation technology was improving the chemical and physical properties of fly ash and bottom ash samples can facilitate wide re use in construction applications.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.159-166
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• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the personal exposure to $PM_{10}$ by body parts for the development of dust monitoring wearable device for swine farmers. Methods: Tasks were classified by using motion pictures taken by action cameras attached to swine farmers. Concentrations of $PM_{10}$ were measured by attaching direct-reading instruments at the head, neck and waist of worker. Differences of $PM_{10}$ exposure between body parts were analyzed with linear regression. Results: We identified three tasks(vaccination, moving pigs, and manure treatment). $PM_{10}$ concentration during vaccination was the highest among the tasks, and the body part showing the highest concentration of $PM_{10}$ was the waist regardless of task. In all tasks, the closer distance between the body parts, the higher were the R-squared values(vaccination 0.4221, moving pigs 0.6990, and manure treatment 0.2164). Conclusions: We presumed that $PM_{10}$ concentrations were affected by the parts of the body in which they were measured. In order to develop swine farmer's wearable device for monitoring dust concentration in air, the determination of the positions of monitoring sensor to ensure accurate measurement is essential. Considering the results of this study, wearable sensor should be positioned at the waist.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.646-657
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• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to suggest methods to investigate continuous monitoring of concentration levels and assess the exposure of individuals considering the actual time activity of residents for formaldehyde and particulate matter (PM₁₀, PM_2.5) in the indoor and outdoor air of a house, assess the health risks of children and adults based on the results of the exposure assessment, and provide basic data on studies for assessing exposure and health risks in Korea in the future. Methods: The concentration levels of formaldehyde and particulate matter were measured in a family home in Gyeonggi-do Province from April 25 to July 31, 2019, using electrochemical sensors (formaldehyde) and light scattering sensors (PM₁₀, PM_2.5). Risk assessment by the duration of exposure by time activity was performed by dividing between weekdays and weekends, and indoors and outdoors. Results: The greatest level of carcinogenic risk from inhaling formaldehyde was indoors during the weekdays for both children and adults. For children, the risk was at 7.5 per approximately 10,000 people, and for adults, the risk was at 4.1 per approximately 10,000 people. PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 also showed the greatest values indoors during the weekdays, with children at 1.7 people and 1.4 per approximately 100 people, respectively, and adults at 8.2 per approximately 1,000 and 1.8 per approximately 100 people, respectively. Conclusions: The risks of formaldehyde, PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 were shown to be high indoors. Therefore, consideration of exposure assesment for each indoor pollutant and management of indoor air quality is necessary.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.181-190
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• 2016

Regional air quality regulation is a system that allows the Minister of Environment to designate the local area as air quality control region where the concentrations of air pollutants are exceeding the environmental standards, and the local governments that administrate the regulated area have to develop and practise a plan for reducing the air pollutants. From the data observed yearly by the monitoring stations in 8 provincial cities with more than 0.5 million people was judged the compliance with air quality standards in each municipality for the period of 2003 to 2013. As the result of investigation on air pollutants concentrations of each city, it was found that there was no station that exceeds the ambient air quality standards of CO, $SO_2$ and 24-hour $NO_2$. But all municipalities exceeded the standards of 8-hour $O_3$, annual and 24-hour $PM_{10}$, and therefore 8 municipalities can be designated to be under the local air regulation. For the annual $NO_2$ were the monitoring sites necessary requirements for designation of the air quality regulation region in Cheongju, Cheonan, Daejeon and Gwangju area. Incase of 1-hour $O_3$, some of stations in Pohang, Cheongju, Cheonan and Changwon area were over the designation standards for the air quality control region.

• Journal of Korea Trade
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.117-136
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• 2022

Purpose - Port is vital for international trade accounting for approximately 80% of world cargo transportation in the global trade sector. Air pollutants emitted owing to the related industry interfaces developed around the port spread throughout the dense population region can have harmful effects on the nearby residents. This study aims to analyze high-concentration diffusion pattern by air pollutants, considering the main management periods by air pollutants. Design/methodology - Employing the concentration criteria per main air pollutant, the analyses of concentration change patterns per air pollutant, wind characteristics that directly affected the air pollutant diffusion, distribution types per air pollutant, and high-concentration diffusion patterns by season according to time changes were conducted. Findings - The substances that caused harmful levels of air pollution in the hinterland living zone of the Busan New Port were PM_10, PM_2.5, and NO_2. Furthermore, the intensive management periods were as follows: For PM_10, 24-h (spring), 12:00-16:00 (summer), 12:00-16:00 (summer), 20:00-12:00 (fall), and 24:00-20:00 (winter), and for PM_2.5, 24-h (all four seasons), and for NO_2, 23:00-04:00 (spring), 23:00-08:00 (summer), and 20:00-08:00 (fall), and 23:00-04:00 (winter). Originality/value - Research finding indicates that regular monitoring and countermeasures to reduce air pollution for each air pollutant makes it possible to achieve effective air quality control in the port and hinterland living zones.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.269-276
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• 2012

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to provide policy directions for air pollution reduction by analyzing the variation in the characteristics of air contaminants around the Gyeonggi Province area. Methods: The data used in the study was obtained from air quality monitoring stations operated by the Gyeonggi Provincial Government. The target area was the air quality management area of the Gyeonggi Province region. Results: The concentration of $PM_{10}$ (particles measuring $10{\mu}m$ or less) in 2009 was $60{\mu}g/m^3$, which has been reduced by about 2.7% per year after improvement countermeasures were emplaced. The air pollution control policy was especially more effective for coarse particulate matter (CPM, $PM_{10-2.5}$). The improvement of $NO_2$ pollution was generally very low, especially in cities which had considerable automobile traffic. The concentration of $SO_2$ pollution was rapidly improved in industrial areas, but did not show any difference for multiple and general cities. The predicted concentration of $PM_{10}$ for 2014 based on the trend over 2001-2009 was $53.4{\mu}g/m^3$, which fails to meet the target concentration of $40{\mu}g/m^3$. The predicted concentration of $NO_2$ shows a very low probability of achieving the target concentration of 22 ppb, and thus the current improvement of air quality has proven unsatisfactory. Conclusion: Air pollution control policy should be enforced according to regional pollution characteristics in order to obtain maximum effectiveness in improvement.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.12 no.10
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• pp.1033-1041
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• 2003

Hourly data of PM10 concentration collected from nine automatic air quality monitoring stations in Busan from 1999 to 2002 were analyzed to evaluate the spatio-temporal variation and meteorological characteristics of PM10 episodes in Busan metropolitan area. Mean concentrations ranged from 47$\mu\textrm{g}$/㎥ to 77$\mu\textrm{g}$/㎥. For most stations, mean seasonal hourly concentrations are lowest in summer and highest in spring. PM10 episode above daily mean standard(150$\mu\textrm{g}$/㎥) exhibited a maximum frequency at Gamjeondong and a minimum at Dongsamdong, and a maximum in March and a minimum in July and August. The diurnal variation of PM10 episode days is strongly influenced by traffic loads and meteorological conditions.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.523-531
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• 2015

Air quality was monitored in four roadway tunnels located near Seoul metropolitan area from 7:00AM to 9:00AM. PM10 concentrations range $111{\sim}268{\mu}g/m^3$, which are 2~5 times higher than annual standard $50{\mu}g/m^3$, and PM2.5 concentrations range $35{\sim}65{\mu}g/m^3$, which are 1.5~2.5 times higher than annual standard $25{\mu}g/m^3$. Benzene concentrations range 300~500 ppb, which are 200~300 times higher than 1.5 ppb which is air quality standard. Four-month long term air quality monitoring and test results in one of long tunnels show that PM10 range $30{\sim}400{\mu}g/m^3$ and over 97% of them can be removed by bag filter, effectively. Finally, benzene concentrations range 250~350 ppb.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.331-338
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• 2014

Descriptive statistics methods were used to study the spatiotemporal variations and sources of ambient particulate matter ($PM_{10}$) in Luzhou, China. The analyzed datasets were collected from four national air quality monitoring stations: Jiushi (S1), Xiaoshi (S2), Zhongshan (S3), Lantian (S4) over the period of 2003-2012. This city was subjected serious $PM_{10}$ pollution, and the long-term annual average $PM_{10}$ concentrations varied from 76 to $136{\mu}g/m^3$. The maximum concentration was more than 3-fold of the annual average ($40{\mu}g/m^3$) issued by EPA-China for the ambient air quality. General temporal pattern was characterized by high concentrations in winter and low concentrations in summer, and general spatial gradient was in the reduction order of S2 > S4 > S3 > S1, which were both due to different particulate contributors and special meteorological conditions. The source apportionment indicated that vehicular emissions, road dusts, coal burning and chemical dusts were the major contributors of the identified $PM_{10}$ pollution, and the vehicular emissions and the road wear re-suspended particles dominated the heavy $PM_{10}$ pollution in recent years. Two other potential sources, agricultural and celebration activities could decrease the air quality in a short term. Finally, some corresponding suggestions and measures were provided to improve the air quality.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.16-37
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• 2018

In this study, difference in chemical composition of $PM_{2.5}$ observed between the year 2013 and 2015 at six air quality intensive monitoring stations (Bangryenogdo (BR), Seoul (SL), Daejeon (DJ), Gwangju (GJ), Ulsan (US), and Jeju (JJ)) was investigated and the possible factors causing their difference were also discussed. $PM_{2.5}$, organic and elemental carbon (OC and EC), and water-soluble ionic species concentrations were observed on a hourly basis in the six stations. The difference in chemical composition by regions was examined based on emissions of gaseous criteria pollutants (CO, $SO_2$, and $NO_2$), meteorological parameters (wind speed, temperature, and relative humidity), and origins and transport pathways of air masses. For the years 2013 and 2014, annual average $PM_{2.5}$ was in the order of SL ($${\sim_=}DJ$$)>GJ>BR>US>JJ, but the highest concentration in 2015 was found at DJ, following by GJ ($${\sim_=}SJ$$)>BR>US>JJ. Similar patterns were found in $SO{_4}^{2-}$, $NO_3{^-}$, and $NH_4{^+}$. Lower $PM_{2.5}$ at SL than at DJ and GJ was resulted from low concentrations of secondary ionic species. Annual average concentrations of OC and EC by regions had no big difference among the years, but their patterns were distinct from the $PM_{2.5}$, $SO{_4}^{2-}$, $NO_3{^-}$, and $NH_4{^+}$ concentrations by regions. 4-day air mass backward trajectory calculations indicated that in the event of daily average $PM_{2.5}$ exceeding the monthly average values, >70% of the air masses reaching the all stations were coming from northeastern Chinese polluted regions, indicating the long-range transportation (LTP) was an important contributor to $PM_{2.5}$ and its chemical composition at the stations. Lower concentrations of secondary ionic species and $PM_{2.5}$ at SL in 2015 than those at DJ and GJ sites were due to the decrease in impact by LTP from polluted Chinese regions, rather than the difference in local emissions of criteria gas pollutants ($SO_2$, $NO_2$, and $NH_3$) among the SL, DJ, and GJ sites. The difference in annual average $SO{_4}^{2-}$ by regions was resulted from combination of the difference in local $SO_2$ emissions and chemical conversion of $SO_2$ to $SO{_4}^{2-}$, and LTP from China. However, the $SO{_4}^{2-}$ at the sites were more influenced by LTP than the formation by chemical transformation of locally emitted $SO_2$. The $NO_3{^-}$ increase was closely associated with the increase in local emissions of nitrogen oxides at four urban sites except for the BR and JJ, as well as the LTP with a small contribution. Among the meterological parameters (wind speed, temperature, and relative humidity), the ambient temperature was most important factor to control the variation of $PM_{2.5}$ and its major chemical components concentrations. In other words, as the average temperature increases, the $PM_{2.5}$, OC, EC, and $NO_3{^-}$ concentrations showed a decreasing tendency, especially with a prominent feature in $NO_3{^-}$. Results from a case study that examined the $PM_{2.5}$ and its major chemical data observed between February 19 and March 2, 2014 at the all stations suggest that ambient $SO{_4}^{2-}$ and $NO_3{^-}$ concentrations are not necessarily proportional to the concentrations of their precursor emissions because the rates at which they form and their gas/particle partitioning may be controlled by factors (e.g., long range transportation) other than the concentration of the precursor gases.