• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.408-421
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• 2007

The concentration characteristics of atmospheric particle matters (PM) including $PM_{2.5},\;PM_{10}$, and TSP were evaluated through the measurement data of PM_{2.5}$ (fine particulate), PM_{10-2.5}$ (coarse particulate), and PM_{over-10}$ collected using a MCI (multi-nozzle cascade impactor) sampler of a three-stage filter pack in spring of 2006 in Iksan area. During the sampling period of 10-15 March and 24 days from 8 April to 2 May, 32 samples for PM of each size fractions were collected, and then measured for PM mass concentrations and water-soluble inorganic ion species. Average concentrations of $PM_{2.5},\;PM_{10}$, TSP were $57.9{\pm}44.1mg/m^3$, $96.6{\pm}89.1mg/m^3$, and $114.8{\pm}99.7mg/m^3$, respectively. Water-soluble inorganic ion fractions to PM mass were found to be 36.5%, 18.0%, and 11.1% for $PM_{2.5}$, $PM_{10-2.5}$ and $PM_{over-10}$, respectively. By showing the high concentrations of PM samples during Asian dust events, those three fractions of PM were distinguished between the samples of Asian dust event and the samples of no event. However, the increase of PM concentrations observed during Asian dust events showed a different pattern for some Asian dust events. The differences of those three fractions in the size distribution may depend on differences on place of occurrence of Asian dust storm and course of transport from China continent to Iksan area in Korea. However, the extent of PM mass contribution during Asian dust events was generally dominated by the coarse particles rather than the fine fraction of PM. The variations of water-soluble inorganic ion species concentration in those three PM fractions between the samples of Asian dust event and the samples of no event were also discussed in this study.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.565-575
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• 2005

The characteristics for the aerosol number distribution was studied during spring, 2004 in Incheon. Optical Particle Counter (OPC, HIAC/ROYCO 5230) was used in order to measure the number concentration of aerosol in the range of $0.3\~25{\mu}m.$. The obtained results were compared with $PM_{2.5}\;and\;PM_{10}$ data during Asian dust events. The results show that the size resolved aerosol number concentration from OPC measurement has a similar tendency with $PM_{10}\;and\;PM_{2.5}$ mass concentration. During Asian dust periods, the number concentrations in large particle $(CH5\~CH8)$ increase more than small particles which diameter is less than $2.23{\mu}m(CH5)$ and the same results were shown when $PM_{10}$ was compared with $PM_{2.5}$ data compared with non-dust days, Consequently, this study shows that size resolved aerosol number concentration from OPC measurement can be used as a useful tool in comparison of mass concentration data.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.467-474
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• 2005

The runoff characteristics of combined sewer overflow(CSO) in the urban area of Jeonju were investigated and analyzed by using the SWMM (Storm Water Management Model) and GIS. From August to November 2004, investigations on two rainfall events were performed and flowrate, pH, BOD, COD, SS, T-N and T-P were measured. these data were used for model calibration. Using GIS technique, watershed characteristics of study area were calculated. that is, divide into sub_basin, total width, slope, make soil map etc. On the basis of the measured data and the simulation results by SWMM, it could be known that the $80-90\%$ of pollution load are discharged in early-stage storm runoff. SMC(site mean Concentration) for combined sewer system area were BOD 28.1, COD 31.5, SS 186 ppm etc. this is shown that during the rain fall, high concentration of waste was loaded to receiving water. Unit loads of combined sewer system area were BOD 306, COD 410, SS 789, T-N 79, T-P 6.8 kg/ha/yr.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 2010

As the frequency and the intensity of so called Asian dust (AD) events have increased, public concerns about the adverse health effects has spiked sharply over the last two decades. Despite the recent reports on the correlation between AD events and the risk for cardiovascular and respiratory disease, the nature of the toxicity and the degree of the risk are yet largely unknown. In the present study, we investigated the effects of the dichloromethane extract of AD (AD-X) and that of urban dust (NAD-X) collected during a non-AD period on gene expression in HL-60 cells using Illumina Sentrix HumanRef-8 Expression BeadChips. Global changes in gene expression were analyzed after 24 h of incubation with 50 or 100 ${\mu}g$/ml AD-X and NAD-X. By one-way analysis of variance (p < 0.05) and Benjamini-Hochberg multiple testing correction for false discovery rate of the results, 573 and 297 genes were identified as AD-X- and NAD-X-responsive, respectively. The genes were classified into three groups by Venn diagram analysis of their expression profile, i.e., 290 AD-X-specific, 14 NAD-X-specific, and 283 overlapping genes. Quantitative realtime PCR confirmed the changes in the expression levels of the selected genes. The expression patterns of five genes, namely SORL1, RABEPK, DDIT4, AZU1, and NUDT1 differed significantly between the two groups. Following rigorous validation process, these genes may provide information in developing biomarker for AD exposure.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.256-269
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• 2020

Objectives: Everyone has been affected in some way by the COVID-19 pandemic, while some workers face threats to their health due to their jobs as well as worries about spreading the virus to intimate family members. With these concerns in mind, this study aims to identify occupations more vulnerable to COVID-19 and suggests the necessity of providing proper control measures against the risks in a timely manner in Korea. Methods: Daily briefing reports by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) were compiled (n=120) between January 20 and May 31, 2020. A total of 11,486 confirmed cases were included, which were sorted by occasion, area, and occupation. Among them, 2,411 cases were classified with specific occasions and/or areas of infection, while only 544 cases were determined with identifiable occupations. Guidelines for biological hazard management and COVID-19 guidelines for workplaces from domestic and international bodies were enlisted and compared. Results: It is unsurprising to find that healthcare professionals are experiencing the most immediate threat from COVID-19. In addition, service workers with face-to-face practices or indirect contact are also facing high risks. Religion facilities and eating places (dining, drinking bar, café, etc.,) follow. Guidelines and manuals for biological hazards are still lacking in Korea compared to the US and EU. Workplace manuals for managing COVID-19 are neither as comprehensive as the approaches of NIOSH's hierarchy of controls nor inclusive enough for minimizing secondary or tertiary suffering. Conclusions: The COVID-19 crisis is still ongoing and there is no doubt there will be more such events in the future. This analysis suggests that occupational health professionals, amid a pandemic including COVID-19, are urged to anticipate emerging risks related to all sorts of occupations, identify vulnerable workers and working environments, and plan and take actions to protect workers' health.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.480-490
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• 2001

The soil-air exchange processes of Hg were investigated from the Hari area of Kang Hwa Island during the late March 2001. In the course of our study, we determined the concentration gradients of Hg and combined these gradient data with micrometeorological components to derive its fluxes. Results of our study indicate that the concentration levels of Hg in the study area are notably lower than those typically found in urbanized areas of Korea. However, the computed fluxes were seen to be significantly larger for relatively remote areas, reaching over 200 ng/m$^2$/hr. Comparison of environmental conditions shows that the concentrations of most pollutant species including NO$_X$ and PM were significantly higher during emission, while meteorological conditions were characterized by high temperature and low humidity. Results of correlation analysis also indicate that such pollutants as hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, and PM generally exhibit strong positive correlations with Hg-related parameters during emission events, while such relationships were reversed during dry deposition events. The results of our present study suggest the possibility that the concentrations and fluxes of total gaseous Hg observed during deposition events can be influenced by the processes that are also important for the fine, rather than coarse, size fraction of particles.

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Sciences Society Conference
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• 2020.10a
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• pp.218-218
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• 2020

Astaxanthin, a natural antioxidant carotenoid, has been thought to provide health benefits by decreasing the risk of oxidative stress?related diseases. In the present study, we investigated the effect of an astaxanthin during the autophagic cell death induced by bisphenol A (BPA) which is known major environmental pollutants. We found that astaxanthin significantly blocked the autophagic cell death via inhibition of intracellular Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) in normal human dermal fibroblasts. Astaxanthin significantly inhibited the phosphorylation mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) responsible for the expression of LC3-II and Beclin-1 in BPA-treated normal human dermal fibroblasts. We suggest that astaxanthin blocks autophagic cell death induced by BPA via the inhibition of ROS-mediated signaling events in human dermal fibroblasts.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.465-477
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• 2016

Objectives: This review examined the scientific evidence regarding the impact of climate change on food safety. Methods: The impact of climate change on food safety was assessed based on a survey of related publications reported in the past 20 years. The terms used for literature selection reflect three aspects: climate change; food; and food safety. Results: Climate change is expected to affect the key elements of food production - water and climate. These impact on food safety through many different pathways. Directly, food shortages according to the population grovoth result in a food security/food supply problem, These relationships are commonly understood. The indirect impacts include an increase in food-borne diseases and pathogens, increased mycotoxin production, and increased risk of pesticide residues in foods due to greater use of pesticides in response to warming and increased precipitation and the accompanying diseases in certain crops. Field studies and statistical and scenario analyses were performed to provide evidence. However, quantification of these relationships is still lacking. Conclusion: Adaptation measures at the local and community levels are essential since the pressures from weather and climate events may differ according to region and sector. It is recommended that we go beyond empirical observations of the association between climate change and food safety and develop more scientific explanations. We also need to explore alternative materials for bioenergy demands in order to improve sustainability.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2003

Purpose : While there have been growing concerns about the effects of Asian dusts on health, there are few studies for relationship between Asian dusts and health outcome. This study was designed to examine the perceived symptoms and behavior change of children during the Asian Dust events. Methods : We surveyed 459 students at an elementary school in Seoul, Korea from November 20th to 27th 2002. Children with parents were asked to return the completed questionnaires within a week. The questionnaires included the sociodemographic factor, previous respiratory disease, and perceived symptom, hospital visits and behavior change during the Asian dusts. Results : The majority of children reported that they restrained going out and outdoor recreational activity during the Asian dusts. The rate of children who worn the mask was 49% and 47% in second grade and fifth grade, respectively. Regarding the perceived symptom during the Asian dusts, the children in 2nd were more likely to have symptom than 5th and there were significant difference between two groups in cough, asthma symptom, dry cough, phlegm and medication for allergy or asthma symptom. In addition, children who had previous disease were more likely to change behavior in order to prevent the effects of Asian dusts. Conclusions : This study suggested that the younger children and children who had past respiratory disease were susceptible to the effect of Asian dusts. There is a need for providing public information and health education to prevent the impact of Asian dusts on health.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.255-271
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• 2011

ACE-Asia (Asian Pacific Regional Aerosol Characterization Experiment) in spring 2001 was a turning point to trigger international research interest on Asian dust (AD). This basically arose from the lack of research on AD, the important natural phenomenon to characterize the Northeast Asia. In contrast, health risk related to AD has been the primary concern in Korea. Although due in part to severe AD events of 2001~2002, research and mitigation measures on AD in Korea are typically based on the assumption that AD events are increasing in frequency and severity. However, contrary to the trend in Korea, the number of AD days and emission amounts of AD in China have decreased since 1980s. This paper reviews the impacts of AD on ambient air quality and variations in toxic substances during the AD event, reflecting the concern in Korea. While a great amount of dust particles flow into Korea during the AD event, a considerable amount of dust particles are locally generated as well. Since dust particles are mixed with toxic substances as they pass over polluted areas, the levels of toxic substances become lower in dust particles that do not pass over polluted areas. Broadening the research scope on AD is warranted to understand the AD as an important natural phenomenon, irrespective of its associated health risk.