• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.142-153
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• 2019

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine environmental chemical exposure related to residential and personal lifestyle characteristics in the adult Korean population. The observations of this study can provide information useful for developing reduction approaches for exposure to chemicals among the general adult population. Methods: The second stage of the Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNHES) was conducted from 2012 to 2014, with 6,478 persons participating. Using the results of the survey, the relationship between exposure levels of heavy metals and organic chemicals and exposure factors, e.g. residential and personal lifestyle characteristics, were analyzed. Results: The exposure levels of VOCs and PAHs were significantly lower in participants living at a distance of more than 100 m from roads versus living closer to roads. Home ventilation lowered VOC and PAH exposure but did not lower chemical exposure from household products. Use of public transportation showed lower exposure to heavy metals, VOCs, and PAHs. Current smoker was significantly higher for levels of heavy metals, VOCs, and PAHs, and the exposure trend was similar for current drinkers. Physical activity was related with higher exposure to phthalates and environmental phenols. Conclusion: Our observations based on a nationally representative population for Korea show that exposure to chemicals varies by residential and personal lifestyle, and this should be considered for developing appropriate mitigation measures and policies. Given the health concerns surrounding environmental chemicals, it is necessary to develop comprehensive measures to reduce chemical exposure.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.713-721
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• 2013

This study is about emission characteristics of HAPs and particulate matters emitted by spray of paint and organic solvent usually used in vehicle paint facilities. To analyze emission characteristics of HAPs and particulate matters emitted from vehicle paint facilities are calculated based on the measuring emission quantity of pollutants based on the amount of paint used (kg) and unit area ($m^2$) by paint manufacturers (J company, K company, and R company). In cases of paint manufacturers (J, K, and R), average emission factors of VOCs, carbonyl compound, particulate matter, and PAHs per 1 kg of paint were 327.81 g/kg, 5.98 g/kg, 336.70 g/kg, and 0.0078 g/kg respectively. The average emission factors of VOCs, carbonyl compounds, particulate matters, and PAHs by unit area were $171.55g/m^2$, $3.10g/m^2$, $176.27g/m^2$, and $0.0036g/m^2$ respectively.

• Proceedings of the Korea Air Pollution Research Association Conference
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• 2002.04a
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• pp.67-68
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• 2002

서울과 같은 대도시에서 자동차에 의한 대기오염기여도는 매우 높으며, 이러한 자동차는 차종, 차령 및 사용연료에 따라 매우 다양한 배출가스를 발생시킨다. 자동차에서 배출되는 규제물질들은 배출가스 허용기준에 따라 규제되고 있으나, 미량유해물질로서 알데히드, PAHs, VOCs등은 인체위해성 및 대기중 오존생성원인물질로서 대기오염에 미치는 영향이 강조되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 자동차에서 배출되는 이들 물질중 VOCs 배출특성을 파악하고 이를 오존생성 측면에서 평가하고자 하였다. 궁극적으로 이러한 결과를 토대로 미량유해물질에 대한 대기오염 관리대책을 마련하는데 기여하고자 하였다. (중략)

• 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.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.26
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• pp.7.1-7.9
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• 2011

Objectives: This study was conducted to examine the relationship between crude oil exposure and physical symptoms among residents participating in clean-up work associated with the Hebei Spirit oil spill, 2007 in Korea. Methods: A total of 288 residents responded to a questionnaire regarding subjective physical symptoms, sociodemographic characteristics and clean-up activities that occurred between two and eight weeks after the accident. Additionally, the urine of 154 of the respondents was analyzed for metabolites of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals. To compare the urinary levels of exposure biomarkers, the urine of 39 inland residents who were not directly exposed to the oil spill were analyzed. Results: Residents exposed to oil remnants through clean-up work showed associations between physical symptoms and the exposure levels defined in various ways, including days of work, degree of skin contamination, and levels of some urinary exposure biomarkers of VOCs, metabolites and metals, although no major abnormalities in urinary exposure biomarkers were observed. Conclusions: This study provides evidence of a relationship between crude oil exposure and acute human health effects and suggests the need for follow-up to evaluate the exposure status and long-term health effects of clean-up participants.

• Clean Technology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.200-208
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• 2012

This study was performed to prevent the health damage of environmental contaminants in Industrial Complex Area. And, this study aimed to identify the concentration levels and distribution characteristics of environmental contaminants and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) at soil in Industrial Complex Area and control area. The concentration of the soil pollution standard such as the heavy metals in the soil, VOCs, PAHs, and PCB were measured and analyzed using the soil specimens in the Industrial Complex Area and control area. Soil specimens from the Industrial Complex Area (the direct exposure area) and the control area were surveyed. Songdo-dong, Haedo-dong and Jechul-dong, which are in the direct exposure area and near the emission source, showed relatively high concentrations of contaminant materials when compared with Jangki-myeon, which is far off and in the control area. The concentration of zinc was 20.8-58.9% of the level of concern (300 mg/kg) in the 1st region, which is a relatively high concentration. The concentration of fluoride was under the standard in every region, but it was about 74% of the level of concern (400 mg/kg) in the 1st region. It is recommended that controlling fluoride emissions is necessary. Levels of organic phosphate, phenol, and VOCs like benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene were under the detection limit of the analysis instruments. The concentration of TPH was high in Songdo-dong. The concentration of contaminants in Jechul-dong was high. In addition, it was observed that the level of soil contamination changed depending on the distance from the emission source. The concentration of PAH compounds in the soil was 18.71-1744.59 ng/g, and the concentration of six potential cancer-causing PAH materials was 6.54-695.94 ng/g. The highest concentration was in Songdo-dong. The PAH concentration in the direct exposure area near the complex was relatively high compared to the indirect exposure area.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.513-527
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• 2013

Recently, hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) have been of great concern in Korea, largely due to public awareness on the importance of their impacts on environmental health. A group of HAPs includes a large number of various chemicals such as VOCs, PAHs, PCBs, dioxines, furans, organochlorinated pesticides, and some heavy metals. These groups of pollutants are generally known to have genetic toxicity and to be persistent in the environment. In addition, most of chemicals belong to the category of HAPs are widely distributed not only in air, but also in water and soil environments, and has therefore undergone considerable scrutiny for the last three decades. In this article, environmental implications and management of HAPs in Korea will be reviewed, with a particular emphasis on the monitoring of HAPs in the ambient air. A number of field studies will be introduced, which were recently conducted in large urban and industrial areas. Based on the filed studies, eight pollutants have been suggested to be intensively managed as higher priority pollutants, which are benzene, 1,3-butadiene, formaldehyde, acrolein, trichloroethylene, benzo(a)pyrene, hexa-valent Cr, and $PM_{2.5}$. Finally, future directions for a mega scale project for comprehensive monitoring of ambient atmosphere in large urban areas will be suggested. Such an innovative project is believed to provide more realistic information on the nature of the population exposure, which can not be simply identified by emission inventories or source investigations. Therefore, any strategy for the management of HAPs should be developed by not only emission-based approaches, but also observation-based approaches.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.77-86
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• 2017

Globally, use of affordable fuels such as briquettes, woods and wood pellets has increased. Organic pollutants emitted from non-point sources using solid fuels may have contributed to air pollution in urban environment. In this study, we utilized simulated incinerator proposed by U.S. EPA and investigated concentrations of PM, $PM_{10}$, $PM_{2.5}$, OC/EC, CO, $SO_x$, $NO_x$, VOCs and PAHs emitted while cooking meat and fish using briquettes, woods and wood pellets, and developed emission factors. As a result, wood combustion produced more air pollutants than the others. Particulate matter emission factors for woods and wood pellets were 13.54 g/kg and 9.15 g/kg, respectively. Total VOCs emission factors for briquettes, woods and wood pellets were 36.12mg/kg, 46.13mg/kg and 18.26mg/kg, respectively. Additionally, total PAHs emission factors for briquette, woods and wood pellets were 0.44 mg/kg, 18.84mg/kg and 101.62mg/kg, respectively.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2013

Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) are difficult to measure, analyze and assess for risk because of low ambient concentrations and varieties. Types of HAPs are Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) and Aldehydes. HAP emissions from vehicles are a contributor to serious adverse health effects in urban areas. In this study, hazardous air pollutant emissions from road transport vehicles by Non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC) weight fraction and PAHs emission factors are estimated in 2008. The top-five-most hazardous air pollutant emissions were estimated to toluene 864.3 ton/yr, acrolein 690.6 ton/yr, acetaldehyde 554.5 ton/yr, formaldehyde 498.7 ton/yr, propionaldehyde 421.6 ton/yr in 2008. The results for a cancer and non-cancer risk assessment of HAPs emissions show that the major cancer driver is formaldehyde and the non-cancer driver is acrolein.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.180-185
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• 2009

Only limited information is available as regards to the exposure levels of naphthalene (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, PAHs) and monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(MAHs) in the interiors of diesel-fueled passenger cars, while many studies investigated the exposure levels of various volatile organic compounds(VOCs) in the interiors of gasoline-fueled passenger cars or public buses. Present study was performed to supplement this deficiency by measuring naphthalene (as a representative of PAHs) and MAHs levels inside five diesel-fueled and five gasoline-fueled passenger cars while morning and evening commuting on real roadways. Each car was surveyed five times on different sampling days. The in-vehicle naphthalene levels were higher for the diesel-fueled cars as compared to gasoline-fueled cars, whereas the results were reversed for the in-vehicle MAH levels. The median cabin levels of diesel-fueled cars were 1.3, 7, 13, 4, and 6 ${\mu}g/m^3$ for naphthalene, benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, and m,pxylene, respectively. With respect to gasoline-fueled cars, their respective levels were 0.7, 11, 21, 7, and 9 ${\mu}g/m^3$ . The median MAHs concentration ratios of gasoline-fueled cars to diesel-fueled cars ranged from 1.50 to 1.75, while the median naphthalene concentration ratio was estimated to be 0.54. In addition, there was no significant difference of both naphthalene and MAHs between the diesel-fueled cars, but the in-vehicle levels were significantly different between gasoline-fueled cars. The concentration levels of both naphthalene and MAHs were higher in the passenger cars than other non-industrial microenvironments. Consequently, it was confirmed that the cabins of both diesel-fueled and gasoline-fueled passenger cars are an important microenvironment associated with the exposure to naphthalene and MAHs.