• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.118-129
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• 2016

Many epidemiological studies, relying on administrative air pollution monitoring data, have reported the association between particulate matter ($PM_{10}$) air pollution and human health. These monitoring data were collected at a limited number of fixed sites, whereas government-generated health data are aggregated at the area level. To link these two data types for assessing health effects, it is necessary to estimate area-level concentrations of $PM_{10}$. In this study, we estimated district (Gu)-level $PM_{10}$ concentrations using a previously developed pointwise exposure prediction model for $PM_{10}$ and three types of point locations in Seoul, Korea. These points included 16,230 centroids of the largest census output residential areas, 422 community service centers, and 610 centroids on the 1km grid. After creating three types of points, we predicted $PM_{10}$ annual average concentrations at all locations and calculated Gu averages of predicted $PM_{10}$ concentrations as representative Gu-estimates. Then, we compared estimates to each other and to measurements. Prediction-based Gu-level estimates showed higher correlations with measurement-based estimates as prediction locations became more population representative ($R^2=0.06-0.59$). Among the three estimates, grid-based estimates gave lowest correlations compared to the other two(0.35-0.47). This study provides an approach for estimating area-level air pollution concentrations and assesses air pollution health effects using national-scale administrative health data.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.300-305
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• 2004

Objectives : The exposure to particulate air pollution during the pregnancy has reported to result in adverse pregnancy outcome such as low birth weight, preterm birth, still birth, and intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). We aim to assess whether prenatal exposure of particulate matter less than 10 (m in diameter ($PM_{10}$) is associated with preterm birth in Seoul, South Korea. Methods : We included 382,100 women who delivered a singleton at 25-42 weeks of gestation between 1998 and 2000. We calculated the average PM10 exposures for each trimester period and month of pregnancy, from the first to the ninth months, based on the birth date and gestational age. We used three different models to evaluate the effect of air pollution on preterm birth; the logistic regression model, the generalized additive logistic regression model, and the proportional hazard model. Results : The monthly analysis using logistic regression model suggested that the risks of preterm birth increase with PM10 exposure between the sixth and ninth months of pregnancy and the highest risk was observed in the seventh month (adjusted odds ratio=1.07, 95% CI=1.01-1.14). We also found the similar results using generalized additive model. In the proportional hazard model, the adjusted odds ratio for preterm births due to PM10 exposure of third trimester was 1.04 (95% CI=0.96-1.13) and PM10 exposure between the seventh month and ninth months of pregnancy was associated with the preterm births. Conclusions : We found that there were consistent results when we applied the three different models. These findings suggest that air pollution exposure during the third trimester pregnancy has an adverse effect on preterm birth in South Korea.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.607-611
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• 2015

Background: Chronic respiratory disease is an important factor for development of lung cancer. To explore the influence of hazy weather on respiratory diseases and its variation the present study was conducted. Materials and Methods: Data from air pollution surveillance from January to October 2014 and case records of visiting patients in the $263^{th}$ Hospital of Chinese PLA in the corresponding period were collected to analyze the relevance between different degrees of air pollution (hazy weather) and the number of visiting patients in Department of Respiratory Disease. Results: Air quality index (AQI) of hazy weather had significantly positive association with particulate matter 2.5 ($PM_{2.5}$) and the number of patients with 5 kinds of respiratory diseases i and different pollutants had distinct influences on various respiratory diseases. Conclusions: The degree of air pollution in Beijing City is in close association with the number of patients with respiratory diseases, in which $PM_{2.5}$ and $SO_2$ are in more significant influences on all respiratory diseases. This could have essential implications for lung cancer development in China.

• Journal of Korea Port Economic Association
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.143-157
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• 2021

International organizations such as the World Health Organization, the Organization for Economic Development and Cooperation, and major developed countries recognize the seriousness of air pollution. International organizations such as the International Maritime Organization have also implemented various regulations to reduce air pollution from ships. In line with this international trend, the government has also enacted a special law on improving air quality in port areas, and is making efforts to reduce air pollution caused by ports. The purpose of the Special Act is to implement comprehensive policies to improve air quality in port areas. This study sought to identify the emissions of each source of air pollutants originating from the port and prepare basic data on setting the policy priorities. To this end, the analysis was conducted in six categories: ships, vehicles, loading and unloading equipment, railways, unloading/wild ash dust, road ash dust, and the methodology presented by the European Environment Agency(EEA) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency(EPA). The pollutants subject to analysis were analyzed for carbon monoxide(CO), nitrogen oxides (NOX), sulfur oxides(SOX), total airborne materials(TSP), particulate matter(PM10, PM2.5), and ammonia(NH3). The analysis showed a total of 7,122 tons of emissions. By substance, NOX accounted for the largest portion of 5,084 tons, followed by CO (984 tons), SOX (530 tons), and TSP (335 tons). By source of emissions, ships accounted for the largest portion with 4,107 tons, followed by vehicles with 2,622 tons, showing high emissions. This proved to be the main cause of port air pollution, with 57.6% and 36.8% of total emissions, respectively, suggesting the need for countermeasures against these sources.

• Journal of the Economic Geographical Society of Korea
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.59-77
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• 2008

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of traffic-related air pollution on the urban population in the Metropolitan Seoul area. In particular, this study analyzes urban population exposure to traffic-related particulate materials(PM). For the purpose, this study examines the relationships between traffic flows and PM concentration levels during the last fifteen years. Traffic volumes have been decreased significantly in recent year in Seoul, however, PM levels have been declined less compare to traffic volumes. It may be related with the rapid growth in the population and vehicle numbers in Gyenggi, the outskirt of Seoul, where several New Towns have been developed in the middle of 1990's. The spatial pattern of commuting has changed, and thus and travel distances and traffic volumes have increased along the main roads connecting CBDs in Seoul and New Towns consisting of large residential apartment complexes. These changes in traffic flows and travel behaviors cause increasing exposure to traffic-related air pollution for urban population over the Metropolitan Seoul area. GIS techniques are applied to analyze the spatial patterns of traffic flows, population distributions, PM distributions, and passenger flows comprehensively. This study also analyzes real time base traffic flow data and passenger flow data obtained from T-card transaction database applying data mining techniques. This study also attempts to develop a space-time model for assessing journey-time exposure to traffic related air pollutants based on travel passenger frequency distribution function. The results of this study can be used for the implications for sustainable transport systems, public health and transportation policy by reducing urban air pollution and road traffics in the Metropolitan Seoul area.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.359-368
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• 1999

The outdoor and indoor air quality surrounding highway have been measured, and the study on the design of the booth shape and the air-conditioning system also has been carried out. For the first step of the work, the air quality at the Seoul tollgate on the Kyeong-bu highway was monitored over a year. The measured indoor air quality shows seasonal average concentration 85.6-92.1ppb of >;$NO_2$and the $SO_2$and CO lower than the EAQS(Environmental Air Quality Standards). The measured TSP concentration was much higher than the EAQS. In conclusion, there is necessity to improve the working environment of the tollbooths on highways, and the current air-conditions need to be modify for the purpose. In the process of modifying the air-conditioning system, particulate pollutants needs to be considered processing and the priority needs to be put on the booths for big vehicles.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.701-716
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• 2022

This study investigated the distribution behaviors of PM2.5 and PM10 at two air quality monitoring sites, Go-eup (GO) and Backseokeup (BS), located in Yangju City, South Korea. The amounts of emissions sources of pollutants were analyzed based on the Clean Air Policy Support System (CAPSS), and the contribution rates of neighboring cities were enumerated in Yangju. Yangju has a geological basin structure, and it is a city with mixed urban and rural characteristics. The emission concentration of particulate matter was affected by geological and seasonal factors for all sites observed in this study. Therefore, these factors should be considered when establishing policies related to particulate matter. Because the official GO and BS station sites in Yangju are both situated in the southern part of the city, the representativeness of both stations was checked using correlation analysis for the measurement of PM2.5 and PM10 by considering two more sites-those of Bongyang-dong (BY) and the Gumjun (GJ) industrial complex. The data included discharge amounts for business types 4 and 5, which were not sufficiently considered in the CAPSS estimates. Because the 4 and 5 types of businesses represent over 92.6% of businesses in this city, they are workplaces in Yangju that have a significant effect on the total air pollutant emission. These types of businesses should be re-inspected as the main discharge sources in industry, and basic data accumulation should be carried out. Moreover, to manage the emission of particulate matter, attainable countermeasures for the main sources of these emissions should be prepared in a prioritized fashion; such countermeasures include prohibition of backyard burning, supervision of charcoal kilns, and management of livestock excretions and fugitive dust in construction sites and on roads. The contribution rates by neighboring cities was enumerated between 6.3% and 10.9% for PM2.5. Cooperation policies are thought to be required with neighboring cites to reduce particulate matter.

• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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• v.34
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• pp.21.1-21.13
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• 2022

Background: Because particulate matter (PM) and asthma are closely related, the prevalence of school absence among adolescents with asthma can be affected by the concentration of PM. We aimed to investigate the relationship between school absences due to asthma and the total number of days that the PM concentration exceeded the standard. Methods: We used the data from the 16th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey and the PM levels of 17 metropolitan cities and provinces gathered from the AirKorea. Information on the characteristics of asthmatic adolescents and the prevalence of school absence was obtained using a questionnaire, while the PM levels based on the total number of days with poor and very poor PM grades were collected from the AirKorea website. Both χ² test and logistic regression analysis were performed using the weights presented in the original dataset. Results: In the case of particulate matter of 10 microns in diameter or smaller (PM₁₀), the odds ratio (OR) after adjusting for confounders (sex, school year, body mass index, smoking history, diagnosis of allergic rhinitis, diagnosis of atopic dermatitis and city size) was 1.07 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01-1.13) for absents due to asthma when the total days of poor and very poor grades of PM₁₀ (81 ㎍/m³ or higher) increased by 1 day. In the analysis of particulate matter of 2.5 microns in diameter or smaller (PM_2.5), the OR after adjusting for confounders was 1.01 (95% CI: 1.00-1.03) for absents due to asthma when the total number of days with poor and very poor PM_2.5 grades (36 ㎍/m³ or higher) increased by 1 day. Conclusions: A significant association was observed between the total number of days of poor and very poor PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 grades and school absence due to asthma; PM can cause asthma exacerbation and affect the academic life.

• Journal of the Korean Regional Science Association
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.29-44
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• 2021

Particulate matter(PM) is one of the leading causes of lung cancer. Recognizing its considerable risk to human health, people change their behaviors when a concentration level of PM is high. The impact of particulate matter on urban activities may vary depending on the lasting days of PM and PM matter alerts. In addition, the level of averting behavior may vary depending on the types and physical characteristics of urban activities and the degree of vulnerability to PM among people. Although the way people respond to PM may vary depending on these various factors, previous research evidence on this is very insufficient. Therefore, this study multilaterally analyzed the impact of PM on the urban activities in Jongno-gu, one of the CBD areas of Seoul. For this, we linked SKT's mobile phone signal data to land use data to extract the daily number of active people by urban activity types and ages. According to multiple regression analysis, the averting behavior varies depending on the type of urban activity, the physical characteristics of the place of activity(inside and outdoor), the lasting days of PM, PM alerts and the age of people. The results of this study can be used as basic data to policy makers who establish policies for adapting to air pollution policies by providing various effects of PM on the urban activities.

• Proceedings of the Korea Air Pollution Research Association Conference
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• 2008.04a
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• pp.98-99
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• 2008