• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.38 no.3
• /
• pp.269-276
• /
• 2012

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to provide policy directions for air pollution reduction by analyzing the variation in the characteristics of air contaminants around the Gyeonggi Province area. Methods: The data used in the study was obtained from air quality monitoring stations operated by the Gyeonggi Provincial Government. The target area was the air quality management area of the Gyeonggi Province region. Results: The concentration of $PM_{10}$ (particles measuring $10{\mu}m$ or less) in 2009 was $60{\mu}g/m^3$, which has been reduced by about 2.7% per year after improvement countermeasures were emplaced. The air pollution control policy was especially more effective for coarse particulate matter (CPM, $PM_{10-2.5}$). The improvement of $NO_2$ pollution was generally very low, especially in cities which had considerable automobile traffic. The concentration of $SO_2$ pollution was rapidly improved in industrial areas, but did not show any difference for multiple and general cities. The predicted concentration of $PM_{10}$ for 2014 based on the trend over 2001-2009 was $53.4{\mu}g/m^3$, which fails to meet the target concentration of $40{\mu}g/m^3$. The predicted concentration of $NO_2$ shows a very low probability of achieving the target concentration of 22 ppb, and thus the current improvement of air quality has proven unsatisfactory. Conclusion: Air pollution control policy should be enforced according to regional pollution characteristics in order to obtain maximum effectiveness in improvement.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.34 no.3
• /
• pp.373-392
• /
• 2018

The emission of air pollutants in China has increased rapidly as its economy expanded over the last decades. The Chinese government has recently acknowledged the seriousness of the resulting air pollution and is trying to improve air quality in many ways. Here, we review the air quality control and management policies in China, one of our closest neighbors, because these policies may also influence the air quality in Korea. This study examined the recent policies on $PM_{2.5}$ reduction and analyzed the variation in air quality and air pollutant emissions in China. The ambient air quality and emission standards in China have been strengthened, based on China's Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan of 2013. As a result, the annual mean concentration of $PM_{2.5}$ in 2015 in 74 large Chinese cities declined by 23.6% compared with 2013 values. Coal consumption in China also has been reduced by more than 10% per year since 2013. Furthermore, the laws controlling atmospheric emissions were revised again in 2016, and an air pollution forecasting and warning system was implemented to help manage air pollution problems. At present, the Chinese government is trying to evaluate its policies on $PM_{2.5}$ and find a new paradigm to mitigate ongoing $PM_{2.5}$ pollution. In this context, a joint study between Korea and China has been initiated to investigate the characteristics and sources of ambient $PM_{2.5}$ and to identify factors contributing to the high $PM_{2.5}$ concentrations in northeast China. We expect that this academic collaboration will benefit both countries in their search for new policies for $PM_{2.5}$ reduction.

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
• /
• v.35 no.1
• /
• pp.37-49
• /
• 2017

This study proposes an analysis methodology for air quality improvement effect of transport and environment policy that are used for mobile pollution sources. The methodology considers the changes of traffic of road transport sources and air pollutant emission, the changes of atmospheric dispersion of air pollutants and the effects on the health of local residents in response to policy implementation. Especially, the changes to traffic flow must be considered in evaluating the effects on atmospheric environment as it has a direct connection to the effects of the policy in this study. We used bottom-up approach (BUA) based on the travel demand model to reflect the changes of travel behavior in detail in response to the policy implementation compared to the top-down approach (TDA) when calculating the changes of emission level of road transport. We showed the applicability of the proposed analysis methodology through a policy scenario analysis, and the analysis method can be effectively applied to the cases in which travelers' behavior changes are expected.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.15 no.4
• /
• pp.371-383
• /
• 1999

This paper discusses the importance of indoor air quality based on literaure review of domestic and foreign studies. A number of international efforts to propose standards and guidelines for indoor environmental quality are also reviewed. The pattern of major studies on indoor air quality focussed on characterizaton of gaseous pollutants, particulates, and other specific pollutants during the past decades, whereas VOCs, specific carcinogen, and microbiological agents might be good target pollutants to investigate the effects of human health in recent years. Management of indoor air quality requires a different approach than that adopted for outdoor air. Adequate ventilation of the indoor environment is essential, and a balance between energy conservation and the need for good air quality is required. The ways for managing indoor air quality that will be of great importance are discussed a role of control policy for guidance on how to achieve good indoor air quality.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.29 no.5
• /
• pp.528-535
• /
• 2013

Air pollution in large cities is reduced through the environmental health policies, but due to increased population and automobile, some pollutants are still a problem. These air pollutants are known to cause asthma and respiratory diseases. According to an OECD report, the number of premature deaths will increase. Hazardous air pollutants should be managed through a systematic monitoring, risk assessment, and many studies are in progress. In order to manage hazardous air pollutants, transformation of policy for the protection of human health is required. management policy through the calculation of the excess number of deaths that occur from hazardous air pollutants for the public health is necessary. Korea has put a lot of efforts for air quality, but health risk assessment should be more considered.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.15 no.4
• /
• pp.513-517
• /
• 1999

Problems of secondary pollution and hazardous pollutants have rapidly come to the front in our society during the past few years. More attention should be paid to monitoring and assessment in order to identify the nature of complicated problems, but our air-quality policy is hurriedly seeking for management strategies. A typical example is air quality management in the industrial estates such as those located in Yochon and Ulsan. Yochon Industrial Estate was designated as a special air-quality management area of volatile organic compounds(VOCs) in 1996. And VOCs in the air of Ulsan Industrial Estate has been specially controlled since 1997. In this paper, however, it is suggested that hazardous air pollutants(HAPs) rather than VOCs should have been managed in the industrial estates. History of studies on organic compounds in the air of the industrial estates is reviewed. A stepwise approach for air quality management in the industrial estates is recommended.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.81-91
• /
• 2011

Air quality monitoring networks are very important facilities to manage urban air pollution control and to set up an environmental policy. Since air quality monitoring network of Daegu was allocated from 1980s to mid-90s, there is need to reevaluate it and relocated its site. This study was evaluated the position of Daegu air quality monitoring station by unit environmental sensitivity index, grid emission rate, CAI (Comprehensive Air-quality Index) point. The investigation domain covered an area of 16 $\times$ 24 km centered at the metropolitan area of Daegu with grid spacing of 2 km. The location of alternative air quality monitoring networks was selected through optimization and quintiles analysis of total score. The result showed that all things considered, new air quality monitoring network need to install grid numbers 10, 28, 36, 37, 46. We also recommand three scenarios of alternative air quality monitoring network when considering unit environmental sensitivity index, emission rate and CAI point.

• Atmosphere
• /
• v.33 no.5
• /
• pp.505-517
• /
• 2023

This study investigates the impacts of carbon neutrality and air quality control policies on near-term climate change in East Asia, by examining three Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs) scenarios from five climate models. Specifically, low carbon and strong air quality control scenario (SSP1-1.9), high carbon and weak air quality control scenario (SSP3-7.0), and high carbon and strong air quality control scenario (SSP3-7.0-lowNTCF) are compared. For these scenarios, the near-term climate (2045-2054 average) changes are evaluated for surface air temperature (SAT), hot temperature extreme intensity (TXx), and hot temperature extreme frequency (TX90p). In all three scenarios, SAT, TXx, and TX90p are projected to increase in East Asia, while carbon neutrality reduces the increasing rate of SAT and hot temperature extremes. Air quality control strengthens the warming rate. These opposed mitigation effects are robustly forced in all model simulations. Nonetheless, the impact of carbon neutrality overcomes the impact of air quality control. These results suggest that fast carbon neutrality, more effective than an air quality control policy, is necessary to slowdown future warming trend in East Asia.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.20 no.12
• /
• pp.1647-1661
• /
• 2011

The Government had devised legislation of Special Act and drew up guidelines for improving air quality in Seoul Metropolitan area. In 2007 local government of Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi conducted the results of application policy by reduced air pollutants emission for the first time. Although there was reduction of air pollutant emission in each local government, it was ineffective as expected using air pollution monitoring database. Therefore we worked out a way to prepare modeling input data using the results of enforcement plan. And we simulated surface $NO_2$ and PM10 before and after decrease in air pollutants emission and examine reduction effects of air pollution according to enforcement regulation except other influence, by using MM5-SMOKE-CMAQ system. Each local government calculated the amount of emission reduction under application policy, and we developed to prepare input data so as to apply to SMOKE system using emission reduction of enforcement plan. Distribution factor of emission reduction were classified into detailed source and fuel codes using code mapping method in order to allocate the decreased emission. The code mapping method also included a way to allocate spatial distribution by CAPSS distribution. According to predicted result using the reduction of NOx emission, $NO_2$ concentration was decreased from 19.1 ppb to 18.0 ppb in Seoul. In Gyeonggi and Incheon $NO^2$ concentrations were down to 0.65 ppb and 0.68 ppb after application of enforcement plan. PM10 concentration was reduced from 18.2 ${\mu}g/m^3$ to 17.5 ${\mu}g/m^3$ in Seoul. In Gyeonggi PM10 concentration was down to 0.51 ${\mu}g/m^3$ and in Incheon PM10 concentration was decreased about 0.47 ${\mu}g/m^3$ which was the lower concentration than any other cities.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.42 no.5
• /
• pp.293-301
• /
• 2016

Objectives: This paper presents the current development progress of environmental health indicators (EHIs) in the Republic of Korea and discusses the utilization, limitations and prospects of EHIs. Methods: The development process and assessment criteria of EHIs were established based on the DPSEEA (Driving force-Pressure-State-Exposure-Effect-Action) framework with reference to that of the World Health Organization-Europe. In order to explore the applicability of EHIs, a case study was performed to compare the atmospheric environmental health status between the Republic of Korea and European region countries using six indicators. Results: Through the development process, 23 indicators in five areas including air quality, indoor air quality, climate change, chemicals, and water quality were developed, mostly using national statistical data. As a result of the case study comparing environmental health indicators in air quality between the Republic of Korea and Europe, it could be useful to understand the different situation of air pollution source, emission, exposure and health effects. Conclusion: In order for EHIs to compare environmental health status and be used as an environmental health policy development tool for vulnerable areas and related factors, it is necessary to develop further indicators for various issues other than air quality and conduct additional research on their interpretation and related implications, such as policy implementation effects.