• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.475-489
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• 2010

In order to verify the enhancement of ozone and carbon monoxide (CO) during springtime in East Asia, we investigated weather conditions and data from remote sensors, air quality models, and air quality monitors. These include the geopotential height archived from the final (FNL) meteorological field, the potential vorticity and the wind velocity simulated by the Meteorological Mesoscale Model 5 (MM5), the back trajectory estimated by the Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model, the total column amount of ozone and the aerosol index retrieved from the Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS), the total column density of CO retrieved from the Measurement of Pollution in the Troposphere (MOPITT), and the concentration of ozone and CO simulated by the Model for Ozone and Related Chemical Tracers (MOZART). In particular, the total column density of CO, which mightoriginate from the combustion of fossil fuels and the burning of biomass in China, increased in East Asia during spring 2000. In addition, the enhancement of total column amounts of ozone and CO appeared to be associated with both the upper cut-off low near 500 hPa and the frontogenesis of a surface cyclone during a weak Asian dust event. At the same time, high concentrations of ozone and CO on the Earth's surface were shown at the Seoul air quality monitoring site, located at the surface frontogenesis in Korea. It was clear that the ozone was invaded by the downward stretched vortex anomalies, which included the ozone-rich airflow, during movement and development of the cut-off low, and then there was the catalytic photochemical reaction of ozone precursors on the Earth's surface during the day. In addition, air pollutants such as CO and aerosol were tracked along both the cyclone vortex and the strong westerly as shown at the back trajectory in Seoul and Busan, respectively. Consequently, the maxima of ozone and CO between the two areas showed up differently because of the time lag between those gases, including their catalytic photochemical reactions together with the invasion from the upper troposphere, as well as the path of their transport from China during the weak Asian dust event.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.38 no.8
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• pp.459-467
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• 2016

In order to assess the pollution status and distribution characteristics of PM and PM-bound species, PM10 samples were collected using mini-volume air sampler at the subway cabin in Daejeon city. Measurements of about 24 elements including toxic metals (e.g., As, Cr, Mn, V, Zn) in PM10 were made by instrumental neutron activation analysis and X-ray fluorescence. The average PM10 concentration was $59.3{\pm}14.5{\mu}g/m^3$ in the subway cabin with a range of 42.2 to $97.4{\mu}g/m^3$, while the associated elemental concentrations were varied in the range of $10^{-3}$ to $10^5ng/m^3$. It was found that the concentration of Fe ($12.5{\mu}g/m^3$) was substantially higher than any other element. The Fe concentration was apportioned by about 20% of the PM10 concentration. The results of factor analysis indicate that there are no more than six sources in the cabin (e.g., brake-nonferrous metal particle, resuspended rail dust, fuel combustion, vehicle exhaust, black carbon, Cr-related).

• Clean Technology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.171-178
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• 2014

In this study we have examined the health risk factors and analyzing data of laborers working at the welding operation at large-sized casting process. In order to improve the working environment of workplace, an effective ventilation method was proposed after performing CFD (computational fluid dynamics) modeling and measurement of pollutants. As a result of examining the health risk factors of workers, oxidized steel dust is the main pollution source in the company A, welding fume in the companies B and C, and welding fume and oxidized steel dust in the company D. The fume concentration in the workers' breathing zone was $0.05{\sim}4.37mg/m^3$, and the fume concentration in the indoor air at the welding process was $0.13{\sim}7.54mg/m^3$. From a result of CFD, a local exhaust with an exhaust duct adjacent to welding point was found to be most effective in case of the exhaust process. In case of air supply, we found that a desired location of air supply fan would be at the end of the opening. If a standardizing the ventilation system for tunnel-type semi-enclosed space at a large-sized casting process is introduced in welding work places in the future, it would be more effective to protect the health of welding workers working at the casting industry and shipbuilding industry and improve the work environment.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.197-211
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• 2004

Visibility impairment was known as an indicator of the increased air pollution. In many previous studies, it is known that both directly emitted fine particles mainly from vehicles and secondary aerosols from photochemical reactions could contribute to this visibility impairment in addition to the meteorological condition. Furthermore, the visibility showed different change patterns according to the geographical condition. In order to research into the influence of these factors on visibility, this study analyzed the visibility at 15:00, observed from 1990 to 2001 in Seoul, Ganghwa, Susan, Gwangju, Jeju. As a result, the visibility was increased in Seoul except the rainfall period, but in Susan, Gwangju, Jeju, it decreased with the relative humidity (RH). Especially, in Seoul, the number of low visibility days was larger than other sites and variations of the visibility were sensitive to the concentration of air pollutants, such as TSP, $NO_2$, $O_3$. The visibility impairment was mainly observed in meteorological condition of RH<50% and relatively stationary front. Therefore it is inferred that photochemical smog could lead to the low visibility in Seoul. On the other hands, in Ganghwa and Susan, when RH was 60~70%, the low visibility observed under the influence of the transports of air pollutants from nearby cities as well as humid air mass from coastal region. And in Jeju, sea fog and humid air mass caused the visibility impairment when the RH was larger than 80%. Finally, during the observational period, some cases of low visibility phenomena were simultaneously observed in the vast region including Seoul, Susan, Ganghwa. It not only includes the visibility aggravation by Asian Dust, but also could be caused by the movement and diffusion of flying dust or secondary aerosols. Moreover, the result shows that these phenomena could be mainly influenced by meteorological factors covering the wide regions.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.81-88
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• 2023

Background: Air pollution has led to an increased exposure of all living organisms to fine dust. Therefore, research efforts are being made to devise preventive and therapeutic remedies against fine dust-induced chronic diseases. Methods: Research of the respiratory protective effects of KRG extract in a particulate matter (PM; aerodynamic diameter of <4 ㎛) plus diesel exhaust particle (DEP) (PM4+D)-induced airway inflammation model. Nitric oxide production, expression of pro-inflammatory mediators and cytokines, and IRAK-1, TAK-1, and MAPK pathways were examined in PM4-stimulated MH-S cells. BALB/c mice exposed to PM4+D mixture by intranasal tracheal injection three times a day for 12 days at 3 day intervals and KRGE were administered orally for 12 days. Histological of lung and trachea, and immune cell subtype analyses were performed. Expression of pro-inflammatory mediators and cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung were measured. Immunohistofluorescence staining for IRAK-1 localization in lung were also evaluated. Results: KRGE inhibited the production of nitric oxide, the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators and cytokines, and expression and phosphorylation of all downstream factors of NF-κB, including IRAK-1 and MAPK/AP1 pathway in PM4-stimulated MH-S cells. KRGE suppressed inflammatory cell infiltration and number of immune cells, histopathologic damage, and inflammatory symptoms in the BALF and lungs induced by PM4+D; these included increased alveolar wall thickness, accumulation of collagen fibers, and TNF-α, MIP2, CXCL-1, IL-1α, and IL-17 cytokine release. Moreover, PM4 participates induce alveolar macrophage death and interleukin-1α release by associating with IRAK-1 localization was also potently inhibited by KRGE in the lungs of PM4+D-induced airway inflammation model. KRGE suppresses airway inflammatory responses, including granulocyte infiltration into the airway, by regulating the expression of chemokines and inflammatory cytokines via inhibition of IRAK-1 and MAPK pathway. Conclusion: Our results indicate the potential of KRGE to serve as an effective therapeutic agent against airway inflammation and respiratory diseases.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.218-227
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• 2023

Background: Since 2019, the Ministry of Environment has implemented a seasonal fine dust management system from December to March, targeting high PM_2.5 levels with the aim of reducing PM_2.5 concentrations and protecting public health. The focus of improving the seasonal management system lies in the atmospheric PM_2.5 levels. Considering the primary goal of protecting public health, it is necessary to analyze the policy effects from an exposure perspective rather than a concentration-based approach. Objectives: This study aims to quantitatively assess the improvement of indoor PM_2.5 levels and the health impacts of the seasonal management system by comparing the periods before and during its implementation in residential environments. Methods: PM_2.5 concentrations within residential environments in a metropolitan area were measured using an optical particle counter (IAQ-C7, K-weather, Ltd, Korea) at one-minute intervals during the pre-implementation period (November 21~25, 2022) and during the implementation period (December 19~23, 2022). Based on the measured PM_2.5 concentrations, a quantitative evaluation of cancer and mortality risks was conducted according to age and gender. Results: The results of comparing indoor and outdoor PM_2.5 concentrations before and during the implementation of the seasonal management system showed a decrease of approximately 56.6% and 47.9%, respectively. Health risk assessments revealed that both the safety-limit-based and safety-target-based Hazard Quotients (HQ) exceeded the threshold of 0.1 for children under 19 years of age, both before and after the implementation. The mortality risk decreased by approximately 47.9% after the implementation, with children aged 0-9 showing the highest mortality risk at 0.9%. Conclusions: The findings of this study confirmed the positive health impacts of the seasonal management system across all age groups, particularly children under 19 who are more vulnerable to fine dust exposure.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.28-36
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• 2018

Islands are supplied with power from diesel generation or from photovoltaic power generation, and problems with offshore environmental impacts (age deterioration, salt pollution), environmental pollution (exhaust gas, noise, dust) and power generation costs (installation, maintenance) have increasingly emerged. In 2016, the cost recovery rate was only 27%, and deficits reached 73% on 65 islands managed by KEPCO. In terms of deficits, the costs incurred in the power generation sector accounted for 91%, with the ratio of fixed costs at about 60%. Analysis suggests that operating costs can be reduced with an optimal power supply system that improves power generation efficiency and makes operating systems more efficient. Therefore, it is possible to simplify fuel transportation and facility maintenance, because one island integrates the power plants of remote islands, and offshore cable is used to supply power to the other islands. From the economic evaluations in this paper, an algorithm deciding offshore cable layout validity for an integrated power supply between adjacent islands is presented. Simulation results based on the proposed algorithm confirmed that an integrated power supply is economical for existing stand-alone operations on islands having diesel generation, low peak power, and near distances.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.136-142
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• 2016

As the rapid industrialization and modernization progress of the world it is becoming a fast-paced environment pollution. And, dust or environment pollution to solve reckless diggings of natural aggregate cause a serious problem. This study was used a Blast Furnace Slag and Combined Heat and Power Plant of Fly Ash as a cement substitute to reduce $CO_2$ emissions during cement production, this study intend to suggest it's result as basic data 'Properties of Artificial Stone interior or exterior materials type utilizing industrial by-product and waste resource' utilizing Waste Porcelain and Waste Glass. As a result, it was high strength that matrix added the Combined Heat and Power Plant of Fly Ash of addition ratio 40%. Also, pre-experiment was conduct as mixing ratio of waste glass, waste porcelain on the basis of the preceding experiment, proper mixing ratio was judged that proper of waste glass, waste porcelain was mixing ratio 60, 70 (%) of appeared surface aggregate ratio more than 45%.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.204-214
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• 2014

Objectives: Vehicular emissions are one of the main sources of air pollution in urban areas. Correlation analysis was conducted between air pollutants and traffic volume in order to identify causes of air pollution in Gwangju. Methods: Using traffic volumes and air quality monitoring data from 2002 to 2012 from nine stations (seven urban areas, two roadside areas), especially at three sites where traffic volumes were high, the correlation coefficients were obtained between air pollutants as PM-10 (particulate matter), $NO_2$, $SO_2$, CO and $O_3$ at the stations and traffic volumes near the air monitoring stations. Results: Due to traffic volume and distance between the station and the traffic road, concentrations of pollutants at roadside areas were higher than at urban areas, with the exception of $O_3$. The concentration of $O_3$ showed statistically significance with those of other gas materials as $NO_2$, $SO_2$, and CO in winter (p<0.001) and spring (p<0.05). During the period of October 7 to 20, 2012, excluding periods of yellow dust, smog and rainy season, the ratio of $NO/(NO+NO_2)$ showed the highest value 0.57 and 0.40 at Unam and Chipyeong of two roadside stations, followed by 0.35 at Nongseong with vehicular effects. The correlation coefficient between traffic volume and $O_3$, CO, $NO_2$ became higher when the data on mist and haze days were excluded, than when all hourly data were used in that period, at the three sites of Unam, Chipyeong, and Nongseong. Conclusions: Air quality showed a considerable effect from vehicles at roadside areas compared to in urban areas. Air pollutant diminishment strategies need to be aggressively adopted in order to protect atmospheric environment.

• Atmosphere
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.267-282
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• 2021

Characteristics of carbonaceous components and organic compounds in PM_2.5 over the atmosphere of the Yellow Sea were investigated. PM_2.5 samples were collected onboard the meteorological research vessel, GISANG 1, over the Yellow Sea during the YES-AQ campaign in 2018 and 2019, respectively. The average concentrations of carbonaceous components in this region were 2.59 ± 1.59 ㎍ m^-3 for the OC, 0.24 ± 0.10 ㎍ m^-3 for the EC, 2.14 ± 1.30 ㎍ m^-3 for the WSOC and 1.17 ± 0.94 ㎍ m^-3 for the HULIS-C, respectively. The total concentration of 56 organic compounds (ΣOCs) accounts for 10% of OC. The main group among organic compounds were dicarboxylic acids which account for 57% of ΣOCs, followed by n-alkanoic acids accounting for 34% of ΣOCs. In n-alkanoic acid distribution, hexanoic (C_6:0) and octanoic (C_8:0) acids which are low molecular weight n-alkanoic acids and known as emitted from marine biogenic activities were dominant in this region. Furthermore, non-HULIS-C fraction increased when the air mass originated from the marine region rather than the continental region. When the Asian dust episode was observed, the WISOC concentrations along with the levoglucosan were increased, while the haze episodes caused the increase of WSOC, HULIC-S and DCAs. In this study, we found that the components of carbonaceous and organic aerosols in PM_2.5 over the Yellow Sea were changed with the specific air pollution episodes. It indicates that the physicochemical properties of PM_2.5 can be changed by the air pollution episodes in this region.