• Proceedings of the Korea Air Pollution Research Association Conference
• /
• 2009.10a
• /
• pp.417-419
• /
• 2009

• Proceedings of the Korean Sanitation Conference
• /
• 2005.12a
• /
• pp.29-30
• /
• 2005

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.4 no.1
• /
• pp.9-19
• /
• 2010

The size distribution of airborne particulate matter (PM) and the concentrations of associated metallic elements were investigated in a busy urban region of a typical Korean industrial city. The PM concentrations measured during the spring, except for those in the size range of 1.1 to 2.1 ${\mu}m$, were slightly higher than the PM concentrations in the summer. Coarse particles contributed greatly to the variation in PM concentrations in the spring, while fine and submicron particles contributed largely to the variation in PM concentrations in the summer. The difference in size modes of the PM concentrations between spring and summer may be explained by the Asian dust effect and its accompanying wind direction and speed. Extremely high enrichment factors (EFs) values (6,971 to 60,966) for all of the size distributions in PM were identified for cadmium (Cd). High EFs values (12 to 907) were also identified for other heavy metals including Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn and Mn. Low EF values (0.29 to 8.61) were identified for Ca, K, Mg and Na. These results support the common hypothesis that most heavy metals in ambient PM have anthropogenic sources and most light metals have crustal sources. The results of principal components analyses and cluster analyses for heavy metals indicate that the principal sources of PM and metals were emissions from non-ferrous metal smelters, oil combustion, incinerators, vehicular traffic and road dust.

• Particle and aerosol research
• /
• v.15 no.4
• /
• pp.149-157
• /
• 2019

Infiltration characteristics of airborne particulate matter had been investigated in real-life for about 90 days over 2 years in a Korean apartment building where a 3-person household had lived and the exclusive private area was 84.9 ㎡. Airtightness was measured by fan depressurization, and the ACH₅₀ was 2.41 times per hour. In and outdoor particle concentrations were measured by optical particle counters. Infiltration factors and filtration efficiencies of the house, which reflect the removal of outdoor particles penetrating building envelope and the deposition inside a building, were obtained from data screened based on an empirical evaluation process. Infiltration factor of fine particles showed a range from about 42% at 0.4 m/s of wind speed to 72% at 4.2 m/s of wind speed with closed windows and doors. Filtration efficiency was like a MERV 13 grade filter with an open window outside at a balcony at low outdoor wind speed under 1 m/s. The grade decreased to MERV 11 by opening another outside window at the other balcony. Filtration efficiencies decreased as much as 29% in average at a range of 0.3~2.5 ㎛.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.83 no.2
• /
• pp.116-121
• /
• 2020

Particulate matter (PM) is suspended dust that has a diameter of <10 ㎛ and can be inhaled by humans and deposited in the lungs, particularly the alveoli. Recent studies have shown that PM has an adverse effect on respiratory diseases. The aim of this article is to review respiratory diseases associated with PM. According to existing studies, PM is associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchial asthma, and several other respiratory diseases and increases the mortality rates of these diseases. Moreover, increased exposure in the high concentration of atmospheric PM is associated with the development of lung cancer. The most simple and common way to protect an individual from airborne PM is to wear a face mask that filters out PM. In areas of high concentration PM, it is recommended to wear a face mask to minimize the exposure to PM. However, the use of N95 or KF94 masks can interfere with respiration in patients with chronic respiratory diseases who exhibit low pulmonary function, leading to an increased risk of respiratory failure. Conclusionally, reduction of the total amount of PM is considered to be important factor and strengthening the national warning notification system to vulnerable patients and proper early management of exacerbated patients will be needed in the future.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.53 no.4
• /
• pp.436-444
• /
• 2020

Airborne particulate matter (APM) is increasingly recognized that it has adverse impacts on environment and human public health. As plants can have a potential to reduce APM significantly by its deposition on leaves, considerable efforts has been made to use them as a biofilter. However, APM accumulation on plants can induce physiological and morphological alterations in plants. The present review aimed to synthesize the methods and results of the recent relevant research on interactions between plants and APM, especially from an ecological perspective, and briefly took into account the current status in Korea on this actively increasing research area.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
• /
• v.35 no.6
• /
• pp.9-14
• /
• 2020

This study was to compare the sampling efficiencies for monitoring of diesel particulate matter (DPM) using two different sampling methods; In-House PVC cyclone sampling heads and commercial airborne DPM (EC) sampling heads mounted on Dorr-Oliver cyclone heads. Personal exposure levels of DPM, analysed for elemental carbon (EC) were 0.004 - 0.2 mg/m³ for the loader drivers and 0.005 - 0.34 mg/m³ for the specialised mining vehicle (SMV) drivers were similar to previous study results. The highest result (0.34 mg/m³) might be from an irregular production schedule and multiple job tasks requested. The results using the two sampling heads were not significantly different and it is thought that the In-House PVC cyclone with 37 mm quartz filter could be used in place of the commercial sampler as a preliminary screen in place of using the commercial sampler.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Visualization
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.45-51
• /
• 2022

Airborne particulate matter(PM) has been a global environmental problem. PM whose diameter is smaller than 10 ㎛ can permeate respiratory organs and has harmful effects on human health. Therefore, PM monitoring systems are necessary for management of PM and prevention of PM-induced negative effects. Conventional PM monitoring techniques are expensive and cumbersome to handle. In the present study, two types of PM monitoring devices were designed for measuring indoor PM concentration, portably. We experimentally investigated the performance of three commercial PM concentration measurement sensors in a closed test chamber. As a result, PM2008 sensor showed the best PM concentration measurement accuracy. Linear regression method was applied to convert PM concentration value acquired from PM2008 sensor into ground truth value. A mobile application(app.) was also created for users to check the PM concentration, easily. The mobile app. also provides safety alarm when the PM₁₀ concentration exceeds 81 ㎛/m³. The developed hand-held system enables the facile monitoring of surrounding air quality.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.112 no.1
• /
• pp.1-10
• /
• 2023

Urbanization and industrialization associated with rapid economic development have resulted in air pollution in urban areas, which adversely affects human health and the environment around the world. Growing awareness of the health effects of airborne particulate matter (PM) has led to the emergence of urban greening as a promising eco-friendly, nature-based solution to reduce the concentration of PM (especially PM_2.5) to which individuals are exposed, thereby promoting public health. In this review, we highlight fundamental insights about PM and recent research on the ability of urban greening to capture PM. Reports from the scientific literature on PM published from 1992 to 2021 were retrieved from Google Scholar. Here, we explore some of the main complex relationships between leaf traits and the ability to retain PM for research or management to optimize greenspaces.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.50 no.2
• /
• pp.165-192
• /
• 2022

The microbial metagenome characteristics of bioaerosols and particulate matter (PM) in the outdoor atmospheric environment and the effects of climate and environmental factors on the metagenome were analyzed. The concentrations of bacteria and fungi in bioaerosols and PM were determined by sampling different regions with different environmental properties. A variety of culture-independent methods were used to analyze the microbial metagenome in aerosols and PM samples. In addition, the effects of meteorological and environmental factors on the diversity and metagenomes of bacteria and fungi were investigated. The survival, growth, and dispersal of the microorganisms in the atmosphere were markedly affected by local weather conditions and the air pollutant concentration. The concentration of airborne microorganisms increased as the temperature increased, but their concentration decreased in summer, due to the effects of high temperatures and strong ultraviolet rays. Humidity and microbial concentration were positively correlated, but when the humidity was too high, the dispersion of airborne microorganisms was inhibited. These comprehensive data on the microbial metagenome in bioaerosols and PM may be used to understand the roles and functions of microorganisms in the atmosphere, and to develop strategies and abatement techniques to address the environmental and public health problems caused by these microorganisms.