• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.570-578
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• 2003

Background : Ambient particles during Asian dust events are usually sized less than $10{\mu}m$, known to be associated with the adverse effects on the general populations. But, there has been no considerable evidence linking these particles to the adverse effects on airways. The objectives of this study was to investigate the possible adverse effects of Asian dust events on respiratory function and symptoms in subjects with bronchial asthma. Patients and Methods : From march to June 2002, Asthmatic patients who were diagnosed with bronchial challenge test or bronchodilator response were enrolled. We divided them into three groups; mild, moderate, and severe, according to the severity. Subjects with other organ insufficiency such as heart, kidney, liver, and malignancy were excluded. All patients completed twice daily diaries and recorded peak flow rate, respiratory symptom, and daily activity. Daily and hourly mean pollutant levels of particulate matter < $10{\mu}m$ in diameter($PM_{10}$), nitrogen dioxide($NO_2$), sulphur dioxide($SO_2$), ozone($O_3$) and carbon monoxide(CO) were measured at the 10 different monitoring sites. Results : Dust events occured 14 times during the study period. Daily averages of 4 air pollutant were measured with an increased level of $PM_{10}$, decreased level of $NO_2$ and $SO_2$, and no change in CO during dust days compared to those during control days. An increase in $PM_{10}$ concentration was associated with an increase of subjects with PEF variability of >20% (p<0.05), night time symptom(p<0.05), and a decrease in mean PEF (p<0.05), which were calculated by the longitudinal data analysis. Otherwise, there was no association between $PM_{10}$ level and bronchodialtor inhaler, and daytime respiratory symptoms. Conclusion : This study shows evidence that ambient air pollution, especially $PM_{10}$, during Asian dust events, could be one of the many aggravating factors at least in patients with airway diseases. This data can be used as a primary source to set up a new policy on air environmental control and to evaluate the safety of air pollution index. We also expect that this research will help identify precise components of dust, which are more linked to the adverse effects.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.369-379
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• 2015

Objectives: The lack of reliable information on environmental pollution and health impacts related to asbestos contamination from abandoned mines has drawn attention to the need for a community health study. This study was performed to evaluate asbestos-related health symptoms among residents near abandoned asbestos mines located in the Chungcheong Provinces. In addition, exposure assessment for asbestos is needed although the exposure to asbestos was in the past. Methods: Past exposure to asbestos among inhabitants near abandoned asbestos mines was estimated by using surface sampling of deposited dust in indoor and outdoor residences. A total of 54 participants were divided into two groups with (34 cases) and without (20 controls) diseases related to asbestos. Surface sampling of deposited dust was carried out in indoor and outdoor residences by collecting 105 samples. Deposited dust for sampling was analyzed by polarization microscope (PLM) and scanning electron microscope?energy dispersive x-ray spectrometer (SEM-EDX) to detect asbestos. Subsequently, the elements of the deposited dust with asbestos were analyzed by SEM-EDX to assess the contribution of sources such as abandoned mines, slate and soil. Results: Among the 105 samples, asbestos was detected by PLM in 29 (27.6%) sampling points, and detected by SEM in 56 (48.6%) sampling points. Asbestos in indoor residences was detected by PLM in four sampling points, and by SEM in 12 sampling points. Asbestos detection in indoor residences may be due to ventilation between indoors and outdoors, and indicates long-term exposure. The asbestos detection rate for outdoor residences in the case group was higher than that in the control group. This can be explained as the case group having had higher exposure to asbestos, and there has been continuous exposure to asbestos in the control group as well as the case group. Conclusion: Past residential asbestos exposure may be associated with asbestosis among local residents near abandoned asbestos mines. Odds ratios were calculated for asbestos detection in outdoor residence by logistic regression analysis. Odds ratio between asbestos detection and asbestosis pulmonum was 3.36 (95% CI 0.90-12.53) (p=0.072), adjusting for age, sex, smoking status and work history with multi-variable logistic regression by PLM analysis method.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.434-448
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• 2014

The aerosol characteristics between haze episode and Asian dust event were identified in January and March, 2013 in Gwang-ju of Korea to investigate the metal elements, ionic concentrations and carbonaceous particles of $PM_{2.5}$ and $PM_{10}$. In the haze episode, the concentrations were increased 1~3.2 times of ionic species and 1.6~2.7 of metal elements. Especially, the concentration of $NO{_3}{^-}$, $SO{_4}{^2-}$ and $NH{_4}{^+}$ consists of 50 percent in ionic species during haze episode that was higher than Asian dust event. This suggests that secondary aerosols from anthropogenic air pollution were mainly contributed by haze episode. During the Asian dust event, increase of metal concentrations was higher than haze episode because of remarkable increase of Ti, K and Fe originated from soil. The concentrations of carbonaceous particles were increased 2.5 times during haze episode, and 2.4 times of OC and 2.1 times of EC during Asian dust event in $PM_{2.5}$. However, these aerosol mass concentration does not affect the OC/EC ratio. The average equivalence ratios of cations/anions in $PM_{2.5}$ were 0.99 in haze episodes and 0.94 during non-event day. The neutralization factor of $NH_3$ was higher than that of $CaCO_3$. Futhermore, $NH{_4}{^+}$ aerosol was aged due to atmospheric stagnation that might be affected by the haze episode.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.248-255
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• 2013

This study examined an automated irrigation technique by a frequency domain reflectometry (FDR) sensor for scheduling irrigation for tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L. 'Starbuck F1') cultivation aimed at avoiding effluent from an open hydroponic system with coir substrate containing different ratios of chip-to-dust (v/v) content. Specifically, the objectives were to undertake preliminary measurements of irrigation volumes, leachate volume, volumetric water content and electrical conductivity (EC) in the substrate, plant growth, fruit yield, and water use efficiency resulting from variation in chip content as an initial experiment. Commercial coir substrates containing different percentages of chips and dust (0 and 100%, 30 and 70%, 50 and 50%, or 70 and 30%), two-story coir substrates with different percentages of chips in the lower layer and dust in the upper layer (15 and 85%, 25 and 75%, or 35 and 65%), or rockwool slabs were used. The results showed that a negligible or no leachate was found for all treatments when plants were grown under a technique for scheduling non-drainage irrigation using a frequency domain reflectometry (FDR) sensor. Daily irrigation volume was affected by chip content in both commercial and two-story slabs. The highest plant growth, marketable fruit weight, and water-use efficiency were observed in the plants grown in the commercial coir slab containing 0% chips and 100% dust, indicating that the FDR sensor-auto-mated irrigation may be more useful for tomato cultivation in coir substrate containing 0% chips and 100% dust using water efficiently and minimizing or avoiding leachate and thus increasing yield and reducing pollution. Detailed experiment is necessary to closely focus on determining appropriate irrigation volume at each of irrigation as well as duration of each individual irrigation cycle depending on different physical properties of substrates using an automated irrigation system operated by the FDR sensor.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.329-341
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• 2016

Pohang is a well-known industrial city in Korea with a large steel-industrial complexes. The biggest environmental issue in the city is associated with fine particulate matter (hereinafter, $PM_{10}$). The concentration of $PM_{10}$ is generally dependent on the local emission sources and meteorological conditions. Iron and steel industrial complexes are likely serious pollution sources of $PM_{10}$ in Pohang. In this study, daily $PM_{10}$ data from a large database from the year of 2000 to 2012 were statistically analyzed, together with meteorological data. The average concentrations of $PM_{10}$ were evaluated according to the frequency of Asian dust, haze, mist, and fog. The number of days exceeding short-term standard for $PM_{10}$ were also examined, taking into consideration of weather conditions. It was found that the concentration of $PM_{10}$ was reduced about 18% to 26% because of precipitation. In addition, the effects of wind direction and wind speed on the $PM_{10}$ concentrations were investigated.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Process Engineers
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.29-35
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• 2020

Car inspection systems are regularly carried out by the state to ensure the safety and emission status of cars, thereby improving the safety and quality of life by reducing fine dust and greenhouse gases that are the main culprits of vehicle defects and air pollution. These automobile inspections are largely divided into either regular or comprehensive inspections. This study analyzed the smoke measuring probes used in the lug - down 3 mode. In the previously issued paper "Improvement of Soot Probe Efficiency for Automotive Emission Measurement," an improved smoke measurement probe(B) improved on the problems that arise from the current smoke measurement probe (A). In this study, a technique that can improve the probe's inhalation efficiency over the improved (B) probes was applied to probes (C). Probe (C) involves a structure designed close to the center of the circumference of the exhaust pipe, and the suction efficiency was improved by adding a variable center unit.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.79-88
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• 1995

The electrostatic precipitation of Auto- Bias has the advantages of a little of power consumption by the voltage to apply only at ionizer and the prevention of fire danger by current flow over. As this ionizer wire was used WXN- Pt material of diameter 90$\mu $m, that improved ion efficiency and safety, simplified a existing source of electric power by induced Auto- Bias voltage. Also, the new type collector used electric conductivity- film wag superior a electric safety and dust collection efficiency and was possible to wash it by water. As a experiment result of this Auto- Bias electrostatic collector, the induced Auto- Bias voltage by appling D.C 4.0∼6.0kV at ionizer was 1.3∼2.3kV and then the power consumption by applied voltage was 8- l8W. The pressure loss of collector by the amount of flowing was 6.1 OmmH$_{2}$O in 300m$^{3}$/hr and showed a safe state of the dust collection. The collection efficiency by particle size was 65.1-95.8% in 0.5∼5.0$\mu $m. After corona discharge of ionizer, the remains ozone concentration was found much lower than that of ACGIH or air pollution criteria in Korea.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.605-612
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• 2019

Objectives: This study aims to examine receptor-perceived characteristics of environmental and health damage in areas surrounded by industrial workplaces using environmental complaints collected by local governments in Korea. Methods: The environmental complaint data related to workplaces was collected by local governments at each municipality between the years 2015 and 2017. We analyzed the complaint data from the Busan area by the type of business (industry classification), the content of complaints (odor, smoke, noise, and certain health damage), and the frequency of complaints. Results: Among the workplaces examined, industry categories related to retail and service received the highest frequency of complaints related to noise. On the other hand, complaints of dust and odors were raised in higher frequency against manufacturing industries, indicating that air pollution was the main driver of such complaints. Most of the complaints regarding health effects from industries also contained other complaints, such as odor, noise, and dust. Our results indicate that environmental discomfort can lead to more serious health damage, and should be dealt with more seriously. Further management plans for mitigating discomforts such as noise are necessary. Conclusion: This study can be used as background data for identifying the policy priorities related to vulnerable areas polluted by industry and will contribute to improving the environmental health of residents in identified areas.

• Electronics and Telecommunications Trends
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.92-102
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• 2021

Outdoor sports activities have been restricted by serious air pollution, such as fine dust and yellow dust, and abnormal meteorological change, such as heatwave and heavy snow. These environmental problems have rapidly increased the demand for indoor sports activities. Virtual sports, such as virtual golf, virtual baseball, virtual soccer, etc., allow playing various sports games without going outdoors. Indoor sports industries and markets have seen rapid growth since the advent of virtual sports. Most virtual sports platforms use screen-based virtual reality techniques, which are why they are called screen sports. However, these platforms cannot support various sports games, especially virtual match games, such as squash, boxing, and so on, because existing screen-based virtual reality sports techniques use real balls and players. This article presents screen-based haptic-augmented reality technologies for a new virtual sports platform. The new platform does not use real balls and players to solve the limitations of previous platforms. Here, various technologies, including human motion tracking, human action recognition, haptic feedback, screen-based augmented-reality systems, and augmented-reality sports content, are unified for the new virtual sports platform. From these haptic-augmented reality technologies, the proposed platform supports sports games, including indoor virtual matches, that existing virtual sports platforms cannot support.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2022.04a
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• pp.164-165
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• 2022

In order to solve problems such as acceleration of resource use and environmental pollution, experiments were conducted with the aim of producing indoor finishing materials that can adsorb fine dust and carbon dioxide using gelite and polymer, which are porous materials. Based on the previous experiment, gelite was substituted at each level in a matrix having a polymer S738P substitution rate of 12.5%, and the results are as follows. As the substitution rate of gelite increased, the amount of fine dust and carbon dioxide adsorption increased, which is believed to be due to physical adsorption due to the high porosity of gelite. However, further experiments are needed as the overall adsorption amount is not high due to the filling inside the matrix due to the polymer.