• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.405-419
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• 2007

A series of tracer experiments for the evaluation of atmospheric dispersion was performed over the urban area of Seoul using two inert, non-deposition perfluorocarbon (PMCH and m-PDCH) gases during three years campaign on 2002, 2003 and 2005. 30 sampling sites for collecting these tracers were located along two arcs of 2.5 and 5 kilometers downwind from the release point. About ten measurements which each lasted for 2 hours or 4 hours were made over the two consecutive days during each campaign. CALPUFF and MM5 meteorological model were applied to evaluate the urban dispersion in detail. Size of Modeling domain was $27\;km{\times}23\;km$ and the fine nest in the modeling domain had a grid size of 0.5 km. The results showed that CALPUFF dispersion model had a tendency to estimate tracer concentrations about $2{\sim}5$ times less than those of ambient samples under many conditions. These consistent inaccuracy in urban dispersion was attributed to inherent inaccuracy and lack of details in terrain data at urban area.

• Journal of ILASS-Korea
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.175-184
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• 2018

Emission characteristics of regulated (NOx, PM, CO, NMHC) and unregulated (VOCs, aldehydes, PAHs) air pollutants were investigated for diesel heavy duty buses equipped with different after-treatment systems (DPF+EGR and SCR) under urban driving cycle. The combustion temperature and the working temperature of SCR catalysts were important to make impact on NOx emissions, whereas PM emissions were low. The alkane groups dominated NMVOCs emissions, making 42.6~59.4% of sum of the NMVOCs emissions. Especially, alkane emissions of DPF+EGR-equipped vehicle included DOC had 14.9~15.5% higher than those of SCR-equipped vehicle due to low efficiency of oxidation catalyst. In the case of individual NMVOCs, n-nonane and propylene emissions highly occupied for DPF+EGR and SCR, respectively. Formaldehyde emissions among aldehydes were the highest and PAHs emissions were hardly detected except naphthalene and phenanthrene. The NMHC speciation has been shown to be the highest of the formaldehyde ranged 20.8~21.5%. The results of this study will be contributed to establish Korean HAPs emission inventory for automobile source.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.360-371
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• 2016

The goal of this research is to examine the recent decade-long (2000~2014) trends of national background concentrations over China, Japan, and Korea. Based on the Long-range Transboundary Air Pollutants in Northeast Asia (LTP) project, which is three-party collaboration project among three countries, we investigated the long-term trends of national background $PM_{10}$ concentrations in three countries over the recent 15 years, including the 2008 Beijing Olympic Game period. In accordance with the agreement among three countries, a total of 8 national background sites: three national background monitoring sites in China (2 sites in Dalian, and 1 in Xiamen), three sites in Korea (Ganghwa, Gosan, and Taean), and two sites in Japan (Oki and Rishiri), were chosen for the trend analysis. The results showed that Chinese background concentration recorded the highest level overall. However, the rapid declining recent trends of annual median ($50^{th}$-percentile) values were surprisingly detected since 2006 or 2007 in every site in China, with the most rapidly decreasing rate (- $18.6{\pm}10.3%$/year) over 2006~2007, and the second most rapidly decreasing rate (- $18.0{\pm}1.5%$/year) over 2007~2008. Based on the previous statistical literature, we concluded that this declining trends were due to the emission reduction of $PM_{10}$ concentrations in China for 2008 Beijing Olympic Game. In Korea, Ganghwa was also showing the decreasing trends over the recent years since 2006, which is also well accorded with the decreasing period of Chinese background concentrations. Taean also implied some impact of Beijing Olympic Game, showing small but detectable decreasing trends, while Gosan showed the increasing tendencies probably due to the near-urban influences. However, since 2012, most sites in both China and Korea showed strong increasing trends, undoubtedly implying the increasement of both emission in China and its long-range transport process toward Korea. Two sites in Japan, Oki and Rishiri recorded the lowest level of $PM_{10}$ level during whole period with the smallest deviations of measurements. Other discussions including the decade-long trends of $5^{th}$, $10^{th}$, $25^{th}$, $50^{th}$, $75^{th}$, $90^{th}$, $95^{th}$-percentiles of $PM_{10}$ background concentrations in three countries were also comparatively addressed here.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.453-463
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• 2002

Prognostic meteorological model, MM5V3 (Mesoscale Model 5 Version 3) was used to assess the effects of the land-use modifications on spatial variations of temperature and wind fields in Busan during the selected period of summer season in 2000. We first examined sensitivity analysis for temperature between MM5V3 predictions and meteorological data observed at 4 AWS (Automatic Weather System) stations in Busan, which exhibited low structural and accurate errors (Mean Bias Error, MBE: 0.73, Root Mean Square Error, RMSE: 1.18 on maximum). The second part of this paper, MMSV3 simulations for the modification of land-use was performed with 1 km resolution in target domain, 46$\times$46 $\textrm{km}^2$ area around city of Busan. It was found that modification result from change of surface land-use in central urban area altered spatial distributions of temperature and wind. In particular, heat island core moved slightly to the seaward at 1300 LST. This results may imply that modification of surface land-use leads to change the thermal environments; in addition, it has a significant effect on local wind circulations and dispersions of air pollutants.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.445-455
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• 2020

Fine dust is one of the most critical environmental issues in Korea, and the government recognizes the need to establish customized reduction policies based on regional characteristics. Several studies on air pollutants investigate whether factories affect the distribution of fine dust in a particular region. However, understanding the impact of the entire industry sector requires further investigation. This study identifies the impacts of industrial characteristics on fine dust levels of 141 municipalities across Korea in 2016. A total of 23 variables were used, of which 12 referred to industries and 11 to general characteristics of each city. Due to the high correlation between independent variables, partial least squares (PLS) regression models were used. The analysis identified 14 significant variables for PM10 and 13 for PM2.5. Therefore, the results suggest that local industrial characteristics can significantly influence fine dust levels and provide suggestions for establishing customized reduction policies based on local characteristics.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.119-130
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• 2014

Home is a major living environment of children. In urban area, indoor air at home could be severely influenced by combustion sources such as vehicle exhaust and cooking. In this work, the air quality of a high-rise apartment was investigated by monitoring combustion-related air pollutants at both indoor and outdoor in winter of 2014. From 48-h continuous monitoring data, large amount of $NO_x$ was observed at the balcony of the high-rise apartment during the morning traffic hours. It deteriorated indoor air quality of the apartment. During the cooking activity, high peak episodes of ultrafine particles were seen. It was concluded that effects of vehicle exhaust and cooking activity on the indoor air of the high-rise apartment could be easily checked by $NO_x$ and ultrafine particle indicators, respectively.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.525-544
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• 1999

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were one of the first airborne pollutants to be identified as being carcinogenic. This class of compounds is ubiquitous in the urban atmosphere, and has therefore undergone considerable scrutiny for the last three decades. PAH can be formed in any incomplete combustion or high temperature pyrolytic process involving materials containing carbon and hydrogen, such as fossil fuels. In this paper, the literature on the occurrence, ambient levels, and atmospheric fate and behaviour of airbonrne PAH has been reviewed, with a particular emphasis on the role of automobile sources in PAH emissions. Sampling and analytical techniques for the determination of PAH in air have also been examined. In addition, health implications and legislative aspects of human exposure to airborne PAH have been briefly reviewed. Finally, future requirements for better understanding of the atmospheric behaviour of PAH recommended.

• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.81-88
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• 2003

Earth friendly system is applied widely to industries for maintaining development. The declaration of earth friendly characteristic which is an indication of the total amount of energy in evaluation of earth friendly material is not easy to apply to building materials Therefore, Accurate standards about earth friendly materials are necessary. Earth friendly building materials should be considered in the fields of energy and resource consumption, changes in urban climate and resident health, etc. Among these fields, energy and resource consumption has released toxic pollutants into the air, caused indoor moisture problems and exhausted resources continuously. Especially, moisture problem is an indicator of main factors of earth friendly characteristic. Timber, Soil. Cement Mortar and Charcoal are used to examine the sustainable properties of materials of moisture control. The result shows that wood, charcoal and soil is vivid in changes of moisture absorption and discharge in comparison with that of cement mortar.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.334-348
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• 2017

Objectives: We investigated the impacts of indoor plants on indoor air quality and occupational health, focusing on allergic rhinconjunctivitis and stress among employees in new office buildings. Methods: A total of 34 employees working at new public office buildings were enrolled as subjects (n=17, with indoor plants) and as a control (n=17) group. Before and after introducing indoor plants for three months, indoor air quality measurements including VOCs and aldehydes and questionnaires on sick building syndrome, AR symptoms (ARIA based), stress (DASS 42, KOSS, and SACL), and indoor characteristics were performed and statistically analysed. Results: Among the 34 enrolled subjects, 19 were included in the probable AR subject group (subjects with indoor plants, n=8, control n=11) and completed all questionnaires. Statistical analyses were done for total, AR subject groups, and controls. As a result, it was confirmed that major indoor air pollutants decreased after the introduction of indoor plants (p<0.5). Among major symptoms of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, watery rhinorrhea, nasal stuffiness, and nasal itching indexes decreased (p<0.5, respectively). A decrease was noted in some areas of work-related stress indexes (mainly KOSS) among the subject group (total and AR) and a decrease of indoor environmental attractiveness among the control group (total and AR) (p<0.5, for all). Conclusions: Indoor plants may help reduce indoor air pollutants and decrease AR symptoms and work-related stress of employees in newly built office buildings. Various further follow-up studies on the mechanism of environmental, physical, and emotional influences and utilization of indoor plants in association with allergic diseases will be needed.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.377-387
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• 2004

This study has been performed to clarify the characteristics of temporal and spatial distribution of surface ozone concentration over Jeju Island, one of the cleanest areas in Korea with low emissions of air pollutants. Ozone data are monitored at four sites in Jeju Island. These monitoring sites are located at two urban area(referred to Ido and Donghong), coastal area(Gosan site) and forest site(Chuna site). Ozone data has been routinely collected at these sites for the late four years. The patterns of seasonal cycle of ozone concentrations at all stations show the bimodal with the peaks on spring and autumn and a significant summer minimum. However, the patterns of diurnal variations at rural station, i.e., Gosan and Chuna sites are considerably different to those at urban stations such as Ido and Donghong sites. The patterns of $\DeltaO_3$ variations are very similar with those of monthly mean ozone concentrations and $\DeltaO_3$ values are exceeded 30 ppb, at urban stations. This may be that urban stations are more influenced by local photochemical reactions rather than rural stations. In order to assess the potential roles of meteorological parameters on ozone formation, the meteorological parameters, such as radiation, temperature, and wind are monitored together with ozone concentrations at all stations. The relationships of meteorological parameters to the corresponding ozone concentration are found to be insignificant in Jeju Island. However, at Gosan and Donghong stations, when the sea breeze blew toward the station, the ozone concentration is considerably increased.