• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.294-299
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• 2009

To investigate the pollution levels and behavior of PCDD/Fs in ambient air, gaseous and particulate phase concentrations were measured at Cheongju city in 2008. The samples were collected at 3 sites (industrial, residential/commercial and rural region) by season (winter, spring and summer). The concentrations and TEQ concentrations of PCDD/DFs ranged from 0.73 to 2.43 pg/$m^3$ and from 0.007 to 0.122 pg TEQ/$m^3$, respectively. These levels were similar or lower than that of other domestic researches (from n.d. to 2.149 pg TEQ/$m^3$). The concentration of PCDD/Fs in particulate phase (from 54% to 98% against total concentration) were higher than that of gas phase. As a results of comparison of congener patterns and statistical analysis, PCDD/Fs was mainly influenced by a combustion process in ambient air, Cheongju city.

• Journal of Advanced Marine Engineering and Technology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.93-101
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• 2006

This research makes a new attempt to apply the activated seawater by electrolysis in the development of two-stage wet scrubber system to control the exhaust gas of large marine diesel engines. First, with using only seawater that is naturally alkaline (pH typically around 8.1). the $SO_2\;and\;SO_3$ are absorbed by relatively high solubility compared to other components of exhaust pollutants, and PM (Particulate Matter) is removed through direct contact with sprayed seawater droplets. Besides, the electrolyzed alkaline seawater by electrolysis, which contains mainly NaOH together with alkali metal ions $(i.e.\;Na^+,\;Mg^{2+},\;Ca^{2+})$, is used as the absorption medium of NOx and $CO_2$. Especially, to increase NOx absorption rate into the alkaline seawater. nitric oxide (NO) is adequately oxidized to nitrogen dioxide $(NO_2)$ in the acidic seawater, which means both volume fractions are adjusted to identical proportion. The results found that the strong acidic seawater was a valid oxidizer from NO to $NO_2$ and the strong alkaline seawater was effective in $CO_2$ absorption In the scrubber test, the SOx reduction of nearly $100\%$ could be achieved and also led to a sufficientPM reduction. Hence, the author believes that applying seawater and its electrolyte would bring the marine air pollution control system to an economical measure. Additionally it is well known that NOx and SOx concentration has a considerable influence on the $N_2O$ emission of green house gas. Although the $N_2O$ concentration exhausted from diesel engines is not as high, the green house gas effect is around 300 times greater than an equivalent volume of $CO_2$. Therefore, we investigated the $N_2O$ removal efficiency with using the electrolyzed seawater too. Finally this research would also plan to treat the effluent by applying electro-dialysis and electro-flotation technique s in the future.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.63 no.5
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• pp.13-25
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• 2021

The particulate matters (PM₁₀ and PM_2.5) and ammonia emitted from livestock farms as dispersed to urban and residential areas can increase the public's concern over the health problem, social conflicts, and air quality. Understanding the atmospheric dispersion of such matters is important to prevent the problems for the regulatory purposes. In this study, AERMOD modeling was performed to predict the dispersion of livestock particulate matters and ammonia in Gwangju metropolitan city and five surrounding cities. The five cities were divided into 40 sub-zones to model the area-based emissions which varied with the number of livestock farms, species and growth stages of the animals. As a result, the concentrations of PM₁₀, PM_2.5 and ammonia resulted from livestock farms located in the surrounding cities were 2.00 ㎍ m^-3, 0.30 ㎍ m^-3 and 0.04 ppm in the southwestern part of Gwangju based on the average concentration of 1 hour. These values accounted for 0.7% of PM₁₀ concentration, 0.5% of PM_2.5 concentration, and 0.4% of the ammonia concentration in Gwangju, contributing to a small amount of air pollution compared to other sources. As preventive measures, the plantation was applied to high emission source areas to reduce particulate matters and ammonia emissions by 35% and 31%, respectively, and resulted in decrease of the area of influence by 57% for particulate matters and 59% for ammonia.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.90-98
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• 2013

Objectives: Many studies have shown that air pollution and temperature have adverse effects on mortality and morbidity. But the interactive effect between air pollution and temperature on mortality has been rarely investigated. This study aims to explore whether temperature modifies the associations between ambient particulate matter less than $10{\mu}m$ in diameter ($PM_{10}$) and mortality in Seoul, Korea. Methods: The time-series analysis examined the effect of the interaction between $PM_{10}$ and temperature on mortality from 1999 to 2010 in Seoul. In order to examine the interactive effect between $PM_{10}$ and temperature on mortality, we fitted a response surface model controlling the time-trends and meteorological variables. The effects of $PM_{10}$ were stratified by temperature stratum to quantitatively estimate the $PM_{10}$-health outcome associations. Results: When temperature was low (below the threshold temperature), the percentage increases per $10{\mu}g/m^3$ increase of $PM_{10}$ increased 0.38% (95% Confidence Interval[CI]: 0.09~0.68%) and 0.31% (95% CI: - 0.07~0.68%) of mortality in the all age group and ${\geq}65$ year age group, respectively. When temperature was high (above the threshold temperature), the percentage increases per $10{\mu}g/m^3$ increase of $PM_{10}$ increased 1.09% (95% CI: 0.47~1.72%) and 1.35% (95% CI: 0.65~2.06%) for mortality in the all age group and ${\geq}65$ year age group, respectively. Conclusion: The results of this study showed strong modification by temperature in the association between $PM_{10}$ and mortality. We recommend that public health strategies to minimize adverse health impact of heat and $PM_{10}$ should be considered in control and prevention measures for air pollution and weather-related health impacts.

• 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 Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.198-203
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• 1992

Theoretical predictions of the atmospheric equilibrium involving $HNO_3, NH_3 and NH_4NO_3$ were compared with atmospheric measurements of particulate nitrate$(NO_3^-)$, $HNO_3$ and $NH_3$ concentration by triple filter pack sampler and Andersen air sampler in Seoul from 8th to 11th Oct 1991. The measured $HNO_3-NH_3$ concentration product K was higher than equilibrium costant Kc calculated from thermodynamic data of $HN_4NO_{3(s)} -HNO_{3(g)} -NH_{3(g)}$. The cause of K is greater than Kc was the result of air pollution, partcicularly anthropogenic $NH_3$.

• Proceedings of the Korea Air Pollution Research Association Conference
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• 2002.04a
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• pp.35-36
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• 2002

대기중에 존재하는 가스상ㆍ입자상 오염물질은 그 형태와 발생원, 함유물질 등이 매우 다양하며, 특히 산성가스와 에어로졸은 스모그 현상의 원인물질로서 수명단축과 가시도(Visibility) 감소의 원인으로 작용하여 건강에 직ㆍ간접적인 피해를 주고있어 대기질 관리의 주요 대상이 되고 있다. 미세입자(PM$_{2.5}$)는 시정장애에 영향을 미치고(Chow et al., 1993; Conner et al., 1991), PM$_{10}$보다도 호흡기 계통의 사망률에 더 큰 영향을 미친다고 보고되고 있다(Reichhardt, 1995). (중략)략)

• Proceedings of the Korea Air Pollution Research Association Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.197-198
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• 2001

대기 중 인위적 자연적 발생원에 기인하는 SO$_2$, NOx 및 HCs는 균일반응(homogeneous reaction)과 불균일반응(heterogenous reaction)을 통해서 산화되어 산성가스와 에어로졸을 형성한다. 대부분의 산성물질은 대기 중 구름, 안개, 에어로졸 액적중에서 균일반응을 통해 생성되며, 입자표면에서 가스상 물질의 불균일반응은 에어로졸농도가 높은 배출원 근처에서 국한된다. 이와 같은 반응을 통해 생성된 산성오염물질 및 전구물질은 건성 및 습성침적(dry and wet deposition)을 통해 지표면에 침강되어 생태계에 직ㆍ간접적인 영향을 줄 뿐만 아니라 산성우 및 동식물의 호흡기질환에 중요한 영향을 미친다.(Petros et al., 1989) (중략)

• Proceedings of the Korea Air Pollution Research Association Conference
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• 1999.10a
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• pp.395-396
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• 1999

1998년 5월 대기환경학회 측정분석분과회 주도로 대기 중 가스상 및 입자상 물질의 실험실간 동시측정행사가 거행되었으며, 본 연구팀에서도 이 행사에 참여하여 입자상물질 중의 중금속 및 무기성분의 측정분석을 수행하였다. 지질, 생체환경 측정분석이 주 전공인 본 연구팀으로서는 이 행사를 통하여 대기환경 측정분석에 대하여 많은 것을 배울 수 있었고 수질환경 및 토양환경 등의 다른 환경분석에 비하여 대기환경분석의 난이도가 높고 정확도는 낮음을 알 수 있었다.(중략)

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.191-201
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• 2020

As society develops rapidly, environmental pollution is becoming a greater risk factor threatening human health. One of the major causes of air pollution that affects human health is particulate matter (PM), which contains a heterogeneous mixture of different particle sizes and chemical compositions. PM is classified by size into general PM (PM₁₀; diameter below 10 ㎛) and fine PM (PM_2.5; diameter below 2.5 ㎛). PM_2.5 can pass through the respiratory tract into the circulatory system and thence throughout the body. PM_2.5 is known to stimulate oxidative stress and inflammatory responses to cells, promoting diseases such as asthma, chronic respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, and immunological disorders. Although detailed molecular mechanisms for how PM stimulates disease progression still need to be elucidated, together with national efforts to reduce PM production, significant research has been conducted that demonstrates the harmfulness of PM in disease progression through in vitro and in vivo experiments. This review focuses on the harmfulness of PM in disease progression; we also introduce a biological verification method for determining the hazards of PM.