• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.329-341
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• 2005

The purpose of this study is to study the $PM_{2.5}$ source characteristics affecting the Seoul area using a chemical mass balance (CMB) receptor model. This study was also to evaluate the $PM_{2.5}$ source profiles, which were directly measured and developed. Asian Dust Storm usually occurred in the spring, and very high $PM_{2.5}$ concentrations were observed in the fall among the sampling periods. So the ambient data collected in the spring and fall were evaluated. The CMB model results as well as the $PM_{2.5}$ source profiles were validated using the diagnostic categories, such as: source contribution estimate, t-statistic, R-square, Chi-square, and percent of total mass explained. In the spring months, the magnitude of $PM_{2.5}$ mass contributors was in the following order: Chinese aerosol $(31.7\%)>$ secondary aerosols ($22.3\%$: ammonium sulfate $13.4\%$ and ammonium nitrate $8.9\%)>$ vehicles ($16.1\%$: gasoline vehicle $1.4\%$ and diesel vehicles $14.7\%)>$biomass burning $(15.5\%)>$ geological material $(10.5\%)$. In the fall months, the general trend of the $PM_{2.5}$ mass contributors was the following: biomass burning $(31.1\%)>$ vehicles ($26.9\%$: gasoline vehicle $5.1\%$ and diesel vehicles $21.8\%)>$ secondary aerosols ($23.0\%$: ammonium sulfate $9.1\%$ and ammonium nitrate $13.9\%)>$ Chinese aerosol $(10.7\%)$. The results show that the $PM_{2.5}$ mass in the Seoul area was mainly affected by the Chinese area.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.302-313
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• 2008

The purposes of this study are to investigate the concentration levels of fine particles, so called PM$_{2.5}$, to identify the affecting sources, and to estimate quantitatively the source contributions of PM$_{2.5}$. Ambient air sampling was seasonally carried out at two sites in Pohang(a residential and an industrial area) during the period of March to December 2003. PM$_{2.5}$ samples were collected by high volume air samplers with a PM$_{10}$ Inlet and an impactor for particle size segregation, and then determined by gravimetric method. The chemical species associated with PM$_{2.5}$ were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma spectrophotometery(ICP) and ion chromatography(IC). The results showed that the most significant season for PM$_{2.5}$ mass concentrations appeared to be spring, followed by winter, fall, and summer. The annual mean concentrations of PM$_{2.5}$ were 36.6 $\mu$g/m$^3$ in the industrial and 30.6 $\mu$g/m$^3$ in the residential area, respectively. The major components associated with PM$_{2.5}$ were the secondary aerosols such as nitrates and sulfates, which were respectively 4.2 and 8.6 $\mu$g/m$^3$ in the industrial area and 3.7 and 6.9 $\mu$g/m$^3$ in the residential area. The concentrations of chemical component in relation to natural emission sources such as Al, Ca, Mg, K were generally higher at both sampling sites than other sources. However, the concentrations of Fe, Mn, Cr in the industrial area were higher than those in the residential area. Based on the principal component analysis and stepwise multiple linear regression analysis for both areas, it was found that soil/road dust and secondary aerosols are the most significant factors affecting the variations of PM$_{2.5}$ in the ambient air of Pohang. The source apportionments of PM$_{2.5}$ were conducted by chemical mass balance(CMB) modeling. The contributions of PM$_{2.5}$ emission sources were estimated using the CMB8.0 receptor model, resulting that soil/road dust was the major contributor to PM$_{2.5}$, followed by secondary aerosols, vehicle emissions, marine aerosols, metallurgy industry. Finally, the application and its limitations of chemical mass balance modeling for PM$_{2.5}$ was discussed.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.11-23
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• 1998

The purpose of this study was to survey chemical distribution of inorganic elements and ions in the submicron particles, to characterize qualitatively emitting sources by factor analysis, and finally to reveal existing patterns in terms of chemical compounds by a stepwise multiple regression analysis. Total of 141 samples were collected by a cascade impactor from 1989 to1996. Fifteen chemical species (Al, Ba, Cd, K, Pb, Cu, Fe, Ni, $Cl^-, NO_3^-, SO_4^{2-}, K^+, Mg^{2+}, Ca^{2+}, and Na^+$) were characterized by AAS and IC. The study showed that average seasonal levels of submicron particulate matters $(d_p<0.43 \mum)$ were 18.7 $\mug/m^3$ in spring, 15.5 $\mug/m^3$ in summer, 15.7 $\mug/m^3$ in fall, and 24.5 $\mug/m^3$ in winter, respectively. All of the anion concentrations in the particle were highest in the winter season. By applying a factor analysis, 5 source patterns were qualitatively obtained, such as sulfate related source, nitrate related source, oil burning source, calcium related source, and coal combustion source. Finally, when applying a stepwise multiple regression analysis, the results clearly showed that $Na^+ and Ca^{2+}, K^+ and Ca^{2+}, NO_3^-$ and relative humidity, $Cl^-$ and ambient temperature, $Ca^{2+} and Cl^-, Mg^{2+} and SO_4^{2-}, Na^+ and NO_3^-, and Ca^{2+} and NO_3^-$, respectively, are negatively contributed to each other. As a result of those statistical analysis, we could suggest that some chemical compounds in the submicron particles such as$NaNO_3, MgSO_4, Ca(NO_3)_2, and CaCl_2$ may not exist on the filter as final composing products; however, other compounds may possibly exist in the form of $Mg(NO_3)_2, CaSO_4, Na_2SO_4, K_2SO_4, MgCl_2, NaCl, and KCl$. Thus, it must be necessary to identify differences between the results of above statistical analysis and of the real world by laboratory experiments.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.53-62
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• 1995

To collect and evaluate an aerosol acidity ($H^+$) in ambient air, the cyclone/annular denuder/filter pack sampling system (ADS) was used. Aerosol acidity was collected in Chicago using the ADS for 81 12-hr samples divided in spring/summer/fall 1990 and winter 1991. This study illustrated that the ADS was suitable for measuring aerosol acidity. The $10^{-5}N$ $HCIO_4$ extraction solution for pH determination provided more reliable scale than $10^{-4}N$ HClO4. NH3 should be removed prior to particle collection to accurately measure $H^+$ concentration on the filter. There was seasonal variation in aerosol acidity concertrations. Aerosols were more acidic in the summer. High correlations between $SO_4^{2+} and$NH_4^+$, and between TEX>$SO_4^{2+}$H^+$ were observed during the entire sampling period.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.393-405
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• 2018

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are representative air pollutants due to their detrimental effects on human health and their role in formation of secondary organic aerosols. Assessments and monitoring programs of VOCs using periodic grab sampling like Tedlar bags, canisters, and sorbent traps provide limited information, often with delay times of days or weeks. Selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS) is an emerging analytical technique for the real-time quantification of VOCs in air. It relies on chemical ionization of the VOCs molecules in air introduced into helium carrier gas using $H_3O^+$, $NO^+$, and $O_2{^+}$ precursor ions. Real-time monitoring method of 60 VOCs in the ambient air was developed using TO-15 standard gas mixture. Calibration curves, method detection limit, and quantitation reproducibility of the target compounds were tested. Dynamic dilution system was used to dilute standard gas from 0.174 ppbv to 100 ppbv, where calibration curves showed good linearity with $r^2$> 0.95 in all target analytes. Limit of detection (LOD) all compounds were sub ppbv, and some halogenated compounds showed pptv levels. Seven consecutive analyses of target compounds showed good repeatability with relative standard deviation of less than 10%. One day monitoring of VOCs in ambient air was conducted in Geoje. Average concentration of target VOCs in Geoje were relatively lower than other regions, among which formaldehyde showed the highest concentration ($15.4{\pm}5.78ppbv$). SIFT-MS provided good temporal resolution data (1 data per 3.2 minute), which can be used for identifying ephemeral short-term event. It is expected that SIFT-MS will be a versatile monitoring platform for VOCs in ambient air.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.240-244
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• 2003

Conidia of molds within the Asian dust were captured in the ambient air of mid-west Korea, in springtime of 2000~2002. An eight-stage Cascade impactor and 0.22 $\mu\textrm{m}$ pore size membrane filters were used for the dust samples. Several kinds of molds grown from the samples were identified to the genus level. Those are Aspergillus, Basipetospora, Epicoccum, Fusarium, Monotospora and Penicillium. Relatively diversified mycelia of hyphomycetes were grown on the fine dust sample (1.1~2.1 $\mu\textrm{m}$) in the first year Asian dust episode (23~24 March, 2000). On the other hand, some fluffy molds and dark molds aggregations were grown on even the backup particle sample less than 0.43 $\mu\textrm{m}$ during the second year episode (24~26 April, 2001). The result of the last year episode (21~22 March, 2002) showed various mycelia grown on the sample contained from 1.1 to 2.1 $\mu\textrm{m}$ sized particles, just like the result of the first year episode (23~24 March, 2000). These variations between the episodes might be caused by the difference of the dust origins.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.42-51
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• 2009

Saturated n-dicarboxylic acids ($C_2-C_7$, $C_9$), unsaturated dicarboxylic acids (maleic, fumaric, phthalic acid), ketocarboxylic acids (pyruvic, glyoxylic acid), and dicarbonyls (glyoxal, methylglyoxal) were determined in size-segregated samples with a high-volume Andersen air sampler at a suburban site in Saitama, Japan, May 12-17 and July 24-27, 2007 and January 22-31, 2008. The seasonal average concentrations of these detected organic acids were 670 $ng/m^3$, accounting for about 4.4-5.7% (C/C) of water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) and 2.3-3.6% (C/C) of organic carbon (OC). The most abundant species of dicarboxylic acids was oxalic acid, followed by malonic, phthalic, or succinic acids. Glyoxylic acid and methyglyoxal were most abundant ketocarboxylic acid and dicarbonyl, respectively. Seasonal differences, size-segregated concentrations, and the correlations of these acids with ambient temperatures, oxidants, elemental carbon (EC), OC, WSOC, and ionic components were also discussed in terms of their corresponding sources and possible secondary formation pathways. The results suggested that photochemical reactions contributed more to the formation of particulate organic acids in Saitama suburban areas than did direct emissions from anthropogenic and natural sources. However, direct emissions of vehicles were also important sources of several organic acids in particles, such as phthalic and adipic acids, especially in winter.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.10 no.E
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• pp.343-356
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• 1994

In this study, a statistical investigation was carried out for the evaluation of any relationship between polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHss) associated with ambient aerosols and other air quality parameters under varying meteorological conditions. Daily measurements for PAHs and air quality/meteorological parameters were selected from a data-base constructed by a comprehensive air monitoring in London during 1985-1987. Correlation coefficients were calculated to examine any significant relationship between the PAHs and other individual variables. Statistical analysis was further Performed for the air quality/meteorological data set using a principal component analysis to derive important factors inherent in the interactions among the variables. A total of six components were identified, representing vehicle emission, photochemical activity/volatilization, space heating, atmospheric humidity, atmospheric stability, and wet deposition. It was found from a stepwise multiple regression analysis that the vehicle emission component is overall the most important factor contributing to the variability of PAHs concentrations at the monitoring site. The photochemical activity/volatilzation component appeared to be also an important factor particularly for the lower molecular weight PAHs. In general, the space heating component was found to be next important factor, while the contributions of other three components to the variance of each PAHs did not appear to be as much important as the first three components in most cases. However, a consistency for these components in their negative correlations with PAHs data was found, indicating their roles in the depletion of PAHs concentrations in the urban atmosphere.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.24 no.E1
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• pp.32-43
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• 2008

Source samples were collected to construct source profiles for 9 different source types, including soil, road dust, gasoline/diesel-powered vehicles, a municipal incinerator, industrial sources, agricultural/biomass burning, marine aerosol, and a coal-fired power plant. Seasonal profiles for 'Chinese aerosol', aerosols derived from the urban area of China, were reconstructed from seasonal $PM_{2.5}$ compositions reported in Beijing, China. Ambient $PM_{2.5}$ at a receptor site was also measured during each of the four seasons, from April 2001 to February 2002, in Seoul. The Chemical Mass Balance receptor model was applied to quantify source contributions during the study period using the estimated source profiles. Consequently, motor vehicle exhaust (33.0%), in particular 23.9% for diesel-powered vehicles, was the largest contributor affecting the $PM_{2.5}$ levels in Seoul, followed by agricultural/biomass burning (21.5%) and 'Chinese aerosol' (13.1%), indicating contributions from long-range transport. The largest contributors by season were: for spring, 'Chinese aerosol' (31.7%); for summer, motor vehicle exhaust (66.9%); and for fall and winter, agricultural/biomass burning (31.1% and 40.1%, respectively). These results show different seasonal patterns and sources affecting the $PM_{2.5}$ level in Seoul, than those previously reported for other cities in the world.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.137-145
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• 2015

This study focused on the measurement of the actual charging state of ambient aerosol particles, which is important for understanding the intricate process of adverse health effects caused by particulate matter (PM). The net electrostatic charging state of $PM_{2.5}$ collected on filter media was measured in this study. The Faraday cage method and surface potential measurements were used in this study. The results showed that the polarities of the net charging state measured using these two methods were in agreement for 42 out of 48 samples (87.5%), and 36 samples (75%) were negatively charged. The filters were not significantly charged by friction between the filters and air not containing PM. Charge addition to or leakage from the filters was not observed over a two-month storage period. Net charging state of $PM_{2.5}$ collected on the filters was concluded to be negative in most cases, based on data's support of the assumption that aerosol charging state is not altered by the process of PM collection using filter.