• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.571-580
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• 2012

Epidemiologic studies of air pollution need accurate exposure assessments at unmonitored locations. A land use regression (LUR) model has been used successfully for predicting traffic-related pollutants, although its application has been limited to Europe, North America, and a few Asian region. Therefore, we modeled traffic-related pollutants by LUR then examined whether LUR models could be constructed using a regulatory monitoring network in Metropolitan area in Korea. We used the annual-mean nitrogen dioxide ($NO_2$) in 2010 in the study area. Geographic variables that are considered to predict traffic-related pollutants were classified into four groups: road type, traffic intensity, land use, and elevation. Using geographical variables, we then constructed a model to predict the monitored levels of $NO_2$. The mean concentration of $NO_2$ was 30.71 ppb (standard deviation of 5.95) respectively. The final regression model for the $NO_2$ concentration included five independent variables. The LUR models resulted in $R^2$ of 0.59. The mean concentration of $NO_2$ of elementary schools was 34.04 ppb (standard deviation of 5.22) respectively. The present study showed that even if we used regulatory monitoring air quality data, we could estimate $NO_2$ moderately well. These analyses confirm the validity of land use regression modeling to assign exposures in epidemiological studies, and these models may be useful tools for assessing health effects of long-term exposure to traffic related pollution.

• Proceedings of the Korea Environmental Mutagen Society Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.112-112
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• 2003

• Proceedings of the Korea Air Pollution Research Association Conference
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• 2008.04a
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• pp.157-158
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• 2008

• Proceedings of the Korea Air Pollution Research Association Conference
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• 2008.10a
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• pp.60-61
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• 2008

• Proceedings of the Korea Air Pollution Research Association Conference
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• 2008.04a
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• pp.596-598
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• 2008

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.625-631
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• 2000

Practical devices for measuring personal exposure to nitrogen dioxide(NO$_2$) have been made for epidemiological studies of the health effects of air pollution Standard methods for NO$_2$ measurement such as the chemiluminescent method and Saltzman method are not suitable for personal exposure because they are heavy, large and complicated to operate. In this study, a passive monitor was tested for the measurements of indoor and outdoor NO$_2$ level. Through a comparative analysis of data sets obtained by on-site chemiluminescence system, we assessed the accuracy and precision of NO$_2$ passive monitors. We also examined the possibility of passive monitor in the study of indoor, outdoor and personal NO$_2$ exposure. The accuracy and precision of NO$_2$ passive monitor were analyzed assuming measurements of on-site chemiluminescence system is reference value and using duplicated measure- ments, respectively. From these analysis the NO$_2$ passive monitor was useful for measuring indoor, outdoor and personal exposure. And NO$_2$ level from on-site chemiluminescence systems could not properly represent the personal NO$_2$ exposure as well as indoor and outdoor level of ones house. Personal exposures were correlated more strongly with indoor NO$_2$ concentrations than with outdoor NO$_2$ concentrations. Since activity pattern of each person is different, it was considered that personal daily behavior and life-style might prevent the air pollutant exposure.

• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.445-460
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• 2018

Exposure to indoor air pollution is an emerging world-wide problem, with growing evidence that it is a major cause of morbidity worldwide. Whilst most indoor air pollutants are of outdoor origin, these combine with a range of indoor sourced pollutants that may lead to high pollutant levels indoors. The pollutants of greatest concern are volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and particulate matter (PM), both of which are associated with a range of serious health problems. Whilst current buildings usually use ventilation with outdoor air to remove these pollutants, botanical systems are gaining recognition as an effective alternative. Whilst many years research has shown that traditional potted plants and their substrates are capable of removing VOCs effectively, they are inefficient at removing PM, and are limited in their pollutant removal rates by the need for pollutants to diffuse to the active pollutant removal components of these systems. Active botanical biofiltration, using green wall systems combined with mechanical fans to increase pollutant exposure to the plants and substrate, show greatly increased rates of pollutant removal for both VOCs, PM and also carbon dioxide ($CO_2$). A developing body of research indicates that these systems can outperform existing technologies for indoor air pollutant removal, although further research is required before their use will become widespread. Whilst it is known that plant species selection and substrate characteristics can affect the performance of active botanical systems, optimal characteristics are yet to be identified. Once this research has been completed, it is proposed that active botanical biofiltration will provide a cheap and low energy use alternative to mechanical ventilations systems for the maintenance of indoor environmental quality.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.81-86
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• 2006

Background: A number of studies have reported associations between the ambient air pollution concentrations and various health outcomes. Especially, ozone is well known for primary risk factor of asthma attacks. The results of a recent study indicate that the size of the effect on health outcomes due to air pollution varied according to several conditions, including age, gender, race and the socioeconomic status. Therefore, this study was conducted to examine the associations of ozone with the childhood asthma hospitalizations as stratified by the socioeconomic status (SES) at the community level in Seoul, Korea, 2002. Methods: SES at aggregated levels was measured on the basis of average regional health-insurance rate per citizen in the area. We applied the generalized additive model to analyze the effect of ozone on asthma after controlling for the potential confounding variables that were capable of influencing the results. Results: Our analysis showed that the number of children who were hospitalized for asthma increased as the SES of the residence area decreased. The estimated relative risks of hospitalization for asthma, as stratified by the SES of the community level, were 1.12 (95% confidence interval 1.00-1.25) in districts with the highest SES levels, 1.24 (95% CI=1.08-1.43) within the moderate SES levels, and 1.32 (95% CI=1.11-1.58) in the districts with the lowest SES levels. Conclusions: Our analysis showed that exposure to air pollution did not equally affect the health status of individuals. This suggests that not only the biological-sensitivity markers, but also the SES of the subjects should be considered as potentially confounding factors.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.64 no.10
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• pp.525-530
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• 2021

Background: Exposure to air pollution (gaseous pollutants and/or particulate matter) has been associated with the incidence, prevalence, and mortality of type 1 diabetes (T1D). Purpose: To examine the quantitative relationship between air pollutant emissions and the incidence of T1D. Methods: We examined the association between the incidence of T1D and type 2 diabetes (T2D) in 2017 as well as that of T1D in patients younger than 15 years in 2016 with "emissions of air-polluting substances from stationary and mobile sources by regions of the Russian Federation in 2016" as reported by the Federal Diabetes Register of Russia downloaded from the Russian government website (http://www.mnr.gov.ru/docs/gosudarstvennye_doklady/o_sostoyanii_i_ob_okhrane_okruzhayushchey_sredy_rossiyskoy_federatsii/). Results: The incidence of T1D across all ages in each region of the Russian Federation correlated with the total air pollutants emitted in the region each year (r=0.278, P=0.013). The incidence of T2D was also correlated with the amount of air pollutants (r=0.234, P=0.037) and the incidence of T1D (r=0.600, P<0.001) in each country. Similarly, the incidence of T1D in patients younger than 15 years correlated with the total air pollutants emitted each year in each region (r=0.300, P=0.011). Conclusion: The quantitative relationship between the total air pollutants emitted and the incidence of T1D and T2D in the Russian Federation suggests that air pollution contributes to the development of T1D and T2D.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.459-471
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• 2010

The main behavioural and environmental risk factors for cancer mortality in the world are related to diet and physical inactivity, use of addictive substances, sexual and reproductive health, exposure to air pollution and use of contaminated needles. The population attributable fraction for all cancer sites worldwide considering the joint effect of these factors is about 35% (34 % for low- and middle-income countries and 37% for high-income countries). Seventy-one percent of lung cancer deaths are caused by tobacco use (lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death globally). The combined effects of tobacco use, low fruit and vegetable intake, urban air pollution, and indoor smoke from household use of solid fuels cause 76% of lung cancer deaths. Exposure to these behavioural and environmental factors is preventable; modifications in lifestyle could have a large impact in reducing the cancer burden worldwide. The evidence of association between lifestyle factors and cancer, as well as the main international recommendations for prevention are briefly reviewed and commented upon here.