• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.119-129
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• 2005

The ambient TSP data measured at Seoul, Incheon. Taean, Daegu, Busan in Korea were used to explain the chemical composition and general features of Asian Dust (AD) observed in Korea. 9 episodes out of 19 were sampled from 2000 through May 2002, and measurements were conducted covering ionic and metal components with mass concentration. The results showed that daily averaged mass concentration (TSP) during the AD episodes was 458 $\mu\textrm{g}$/㎥, and ionic and metal concentrations were 27.93 $\mu\textrm{g}$/㎥ and 71.7 $\mu\textrm{g}$/㎥, respectively, accounting for 6.1 % and 15.5% of the total aerosol mass. TSP concentrations during episodes were varied from 120 to 1742 $\mu\textrm{g}$/㎥ according to the impact of Asian Dusts and had a tendency of showing higher values at sites in the west side of Korea, which can be explained by the effect of diffusion and deposition. In this study, ionic components like Ca (NO$_3$)$_2$, CaSO$_4$, NaNO$_3$, Na$_2$SO$_4$ were prominent types in secondary aerosol during AD periods and also indicated that V, Co as well as soil elements such as Ca, Fe, Mg, Mn, K correlated well with Al, while Cu, Cd, Pb, Zn didn't agree well with it. In addition, enrichment factors (EFs) for each metal component were obtained to provide simple information about source contribution of Asian Dust, and the results were compared with those from other AD studies. In this study, the results showed that aerosol properties in Korea during the Asian Dust were considerably different from those of general atmospheric condition and specially varied from case to case rather than site to site, which implies that there are certain variations in the soil of source region, pathways of air mass, and meteorological condition. For the enhanced study, those factors should be combined with the features of Asian Dust resolved from this study.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.187-187
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• 2003

This study evaluated the potential usefulness of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene glucuronide (1-OHPG) and 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) as biomarkers of the Asian Dust event. Urine samples were collected from 224 subjects (112 children and 112 their mothers) from Seoul (n=60), Inchon (n=104) and Pohang (n=60) in South Korea. (omitted)

• Proceedings of the KSRS Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.1203-1205
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• 2003

To detect dust-loaded air-mass over land and ocean, we propose an index, which is essentially the difference in Rayleigh-corrected reflectance between 412 and 443 nm bands of SeaWiFS. Radiative transfer simulations are conducted to show that the index is linearly related to the optical thickness of modeled dust-contaminated aerosol while showing insensitivity against non-absorbing model aerosols. Asian SeaWiFS data set of 2001 spring is used to produce daily composite imagery of the index, which compares well with TOMS Aerosol Index and with predicted aerosol optical thickness predicted by CFORS chemical weather forecast.

• Atmosphere
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.97-109
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• 2008

The aerosol characteristics in terms of 4 different cases (Asian dust, fog, clear sky and cloud) which had happened at Anmyeon Island in April 2006 were studied using various measurements such as the Micro Pulse Lidar (MPL), sunphotometer, $\beta$-ray $PM_{10}$ Analyzer, anemoscope and anemometer. In addition, synoptic charts, back trajectory analyses and satellite images were also used to help characterize the aerosol events. The aerosol optical properties were featured by the Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) and ${\AA}ngstr\ddot{o}m$ exponent which were estimated by the sunphotometer. When Anmyeon Island was dominated by the Asian dust, the AOD was sharply increased as seven times as a yearly average of it (0.35). As compared with a yearly average of the ${\AA}ngstr\ddot{o}m$ exponent of 0.97, the ${\AA}ngstr\ddot{o}m$ exponent of a dust day was significantly low (0.099). In addition, $PM_{10}$ mass concentration showed an extremely high record. The maximum concentration reached $1790.5{\mu}gm^{-3}$ on 8 April 2006. The maximum mass concentration was shown with delay when the wind speed of $0ms^{-1}$ was observed. It was also found that a satellite image of the MODIS-RGB had a good agreement with the results of those measurements. It was shown that the MPL was able to describe effectively the vertical distribution of aerosol for all the cases. In particular, the MPL evidently captured the aerosol layer before the cloud observation. The aerosol layer was similarly described by the AOD. On a clear sky day, the AOD had not only a very low value (0.054) but also a feature of homogeneity.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.67 no.6
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• pp.528-535
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• 2009

Background: Dust clouds blown by the wind from the arid deserts of Mongolia and Northeast China are known as Asian dust storms. Ambient particulate matter with a diameter <10 ${\mu}m$ ($PM_{10}$) is associated with the exacerbation of respiratory diseases and increased mortality of heart and lung disease patients. The fibrotic effects of $PM_{10}$ of Asian dust to pulmonary fibroblast cells are unknown. This study examined the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), TGF-${\beta}$, NF-${\kappa}B$, PDGF-$\alpha$ and Fibronectin in fibroblasts exposed to Asian dust particles. Methods: Air samples were collected using a high volume air sampler (Sibata model HV500F) with an air flow of 500 L/min for at least 6 hours. The MRC-5 cells were exposed to 0, 50 and 100 ${\mu}g/mL$ of $PM_{10}$ for 24 hours. ROS was detected by measuring the level of oxidized DCF using FACS. TGF-$\beta$, NF-${\kappa}B$, PDGF-$\alpha$ and fibronectin were detected by western blotting. Results: There was no increase in the ROS, TGF-$\beta$ and PDGF-$\alpha$ levels in the MRC-5 cells exposed to $PM_{10}$. The NF-${\kappa}B$ level was higher in the MRC-5 cells exposed to 50 and 100 ${\mu}g/mL$ of $PM_{10}$ for 24 hours. The fibronectin level in the MRC-5 cells after 24 hours incubation with 50 ${\mu}g/mL$ $PM_{10}$ was significantly higher than the control group ($PM_{10}$ 50 ${\mu}g/mL$ 113.27${\pm}$8.65 of control, p=0.005). Conclusion: $PM_{10}$ from Asian dust increases the activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ and fibronectin expression in MRC-5 fibroblast cells.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.285-296
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• 2014

Although the problems of the algal blooms have been world-widely observed in freshwater, estuary, and marine throughout the year, it is not yet certain what are the basic causes of such blooms. Consequently, it is very difficult to predict when and where algal blooms occur. The constituents of the Asian dust are in a good agreement with the elements required for the algal growth, which suggests some possible relationship between the algal blooms and the Asian dust. There have been frequently algal blooms in drinking water from rivers or lakes. However, there is no any algal blooms in upwelling waters where the Asian dust cannot penetrate into the soil due to its relatively weak settling velocity (size of particles, $4.5{\pm}1.5{\mu}m$), which implies the possible close relationship of the Asian dust with algal blooms. The present initiative study is thus intended firstly in Korea to illustrate such a relationship by reviewing typical previous studies along with 12 years of weekly iron profiles (2001~2012) and two slant culture experiments with the dissolved Asian dust. The result showed bacterial suspected colonies in the slant culture experiment that are qualitatively in a good agreement with the recent Japanese studies. Since the diatoms require cheap energy (8%) compared to other phytoplankton (100%) to synthesize their cell walls by silicate, the present results can be used to predict algal blooms by diatoms if the concentrations of iron and silicate are available during spring and fall. It can be postulated that the algal blooms occur only if the environmental factors such as light, nutrients, calm water surface layer, temperature, and pH are simultaneously satisfied with the requirements of the micronutrients of mineral ions supplied by the Asian dust as enzymatic cofactors for the rapid bio-synthesis of the macromolecules during algal blooms. Simple eco-friendly methods to regulate the algal blooms are suggested for the initial stage of blooming with limited area: 1) to cover up the water surface with black curtain and inhibit photosynthesis during the day time, 2) to blow air (20.9%) or pure oxygen into the bottom of the water and inhibit rubisco for carbon uptake and nitrate reductase for nitrogen uptake activities in algal growth during the night, 3) to eliminate the resting spores or cysts by suction of bottom sediments as deep as 5 cm to prevent the next year germinations.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.256-271
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• 2016

The source and transport of the severe Asian dust event (ADE) recently observed in the Korean peninsula were analyzed based on observations (surface weather charts and satellite data) and modeling study (WRF-CMAQ modeling systems). The ADE occurred on 20-21 March 2010 in South Korea with very high $PM_{10}$ concentrations (up to approximately $3,000{\mu}g/m^3$ in Daegu and Jeju). The dominant meteorological conditions affecting the dust outbreak and transport processes were found to be associated with the two synoptic features: (1) strong airflows (i.e., westerlies) induced by a strong pressure gradient resulting from a dense isobar pattern (west-high and east-low) between Tuva Republic and Mongolia and (2) a rapid movement of the strong westerlies merged with airflows generated near Gobi Desert and Inner Mongolia. The merged strong westerlies with a low pressure played a pivotal role in the huge amount of AD and its transport height of 5-8 km. The time and location of dust emissions calculated in the source regions were similar to those observed in the weather charts and satellite image. The ADE simulation mostly showed agreement in the patterns and the concentration levels of modeled dust (including $PM_{10}$) with those of the observations.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.734-743
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• 2009

In order to examine how climatological condition can influence on urban scale particulate air pollutants, single and cross spectrum analysis have been performed to daily mean concentrations of particulate matters ($PM_{10}$) in Busan together with the climatological variables over the Asian dust source regions. Single power spectrum analysis of $PM_{10}$ concentrations in Busan shows that, aside from the typical and well-known periodicities, 3-4 year of peak periodicity of power spectrum density was identified. In cross spectrum analysis, this 3-4 year periodicity is found to have a strong positive correlation with the wind speed and pressure, and negative with the temperature and relative humidity, which is rather consistent with both characteristics of air mass during the Asian dust event whose periodicities have been recorded inter-annually over the Korean urban cities. Over the Asian dust source regions, $PM_{10}$ vs. precipitation shows no significant periodicity from the time series of precipitation data, but the periodicity of EDI (Effective Drought Index) shows some interannual variabilities ranging from 2 to 4 years over the various source regions, suggesting that, rather than precipitation itself, the EDI could be more closely associated with the occurrence frequency of Asian dust and interannual variability of urban particle concentrations in Korean cities.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.434-448
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• 2014

The aerosol characteristics between haze episode and Asian dust event were identified in January and March, 2013 in Gwang-ju of Korea to investigate the metal elements, ionic concentrations and carbonaceous particles of $PM_{2.5}$ and $PM_{10}$. In the haze episode, the concentrations were increased 1~3.2 times of ionic species and 1.6~2.7 of metal elements. Especially, the concentration of $NO{_3}{^-}$, $SO{_4}{^2-}$ and $NH{_4}{^+}$ consists of 50 percent in ionic species during haze episode that was higher than Asian dust event. This suggests that secondary aerosols from anthropogenic air pollution were mainly contributed by haze episode. During the Asian dust event, increase of metal concentrations was higher than haze episode because of remarkable increase of Ti, K and Fe originated from soil. The concentrations of carbonaceous particles were increased 2.5 times during haze episode, and 2.4 times of OC and 2.1 times of EC during Asian dust event in $PM_{2.5}$. However, these aerosol mass concentration does not affect the OC/EC ratio. The average equivalence ratios of cations/anions in $PM_{2.5}$ were 0.99 in haze episodes and 0.94 during non-event day. The neutralization factor of $NH_3$ was higher than that of $CaCO_3$. Futhermore, $NH{_4}{^+}$ aerosol was aged due to atmospheric stagnation that might be affected by the haze episode.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.44-50
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• 2008

A geochemical technique based on rare earth element geochemistry was used to clarity the source of the Asian dust (Yellow sand) in the Daejeon area. The Asian dusts were collected 4 times during 31th March- 2nd April and 25th May-27th May 2007. The Yellow sand shows PAAS (Post Archean Australian Shale)-normalized REE pattern of the flattened LREE and slightly depleted LREE without Eu anomaly, whereas the Daejeon soil has slightly enriched LREE and depleted HREE with negative Eu anomaly. Our results show that REE patterns of the Asian dust are LREE-flattened similar to those of the sediment from the south-eastern part of Ordos desert. This suggests that Asian dust in the Daejeon area might be derived from the south-eastern part of Ordos desert.