• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.35-47
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• 2014

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the pollution level (gaseous and particle phase) in the public facilities for the PAHs, non-regulated materials, forecast the risk level by the health risk assessment (HRA) and propose the guideline level. PAH assessments through sampling of particulate matter of diameter < 2.5 ${\mu}m$ ($PM_{2.5}$). The user and worker exposure scenario for the PAHs consists of 24-hour exposure scenario (WIES) assuming the worst case and the normal exposure scenario (MIES) based on the survey. This study investigated 20 PAH substances selected out of 32 substances known to be carcinogenic or potentially carcinogenic. The risk assessment applies major toxic equivalency factor (TEF) proposed from existing studies and estaimates individual Excess Cancer Risk (ECR). The study assesses the fine dusts ($PM_{2.5}$) and the exposure levels of the gaseous and particle PAH materials for 6 spots in each 8 facility, e.g. underground subway stations, child-care facilities, elderly care facilities, super market, indoor parking lot, terminal waiting room, internet caf$\acute{e}$ (PC-rooms), movie theater. For internet caf$\acute{e}$ (PC-rooms) in particular, that marks the highest $PM_{2.5}$ concentration and the average concentration of 10 spots (2 spots for each cafe) is 73.3 ${\mu}g/m^3$ (range: 6.8-185.2 ${\mu}g/m^3$). The high level of $PM_{2.5}$ seen in internet cafes was likely due to indoor smoking in most cases. For the gaseous PAHs, the detection frequency for 4-5 rings shows high and the elements with 6 rings shows low frequency. For the particle PAHs, the detection frequency for 2-3 rings shows low and the elements with 6 rings show high frequency. As a result, it is investigated that the most important PAHs are the naphthalene, acenaphthene and phenanthrene from the study of Kim et al. (2013) and this annual study. The health risk assessment demonstrates that each facility shows the level of $10^{-6}-10^{-4}$. Considering standards and local source of pollution levels, it is judged that the management standard of the benzo (a)pyrene, one of the PAHs, shall be managed with the range of 0.5-1.2 $ng/m^3$. Smoking and ventilation were considered as the most important PAHs exposure associated with public facility $PM_{2.5}$. This study only estimated for inhalation health risk of PAHs and focused on the associated cancer risk, while multiple measurements would be necessary for public health and policy.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.59 no.3
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• pp.279-285
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• 2005

Background : Ambient particles during Asian dust events are usually less than $10{\mu}m$ in size, and known to be associated with the adverse effects on the general population. There is little evidence linking Asian dust to adverse effects on the airways. In 2002, the authors found that particulate matter during Asian dust events had an effect on the symptoms and pulmonary function of patients with bronchial asthma. An aggravating factor might be that of a viral infection, but this remains unclear. Conversely, it has been speculated that African dust may carry the virus responsible for foot and mouth disease. Asian dust events are also likely to be responsible for transporting viruses, some of which are pathogenic, and common in many environments. Therefore, in this study, air samples were screened for the presence of viruses. Methods : Air samples were collected 20 times each during Asian dust events and under non-dust conditions, for at least 6 hours per sample, using a high volume air sampler (Sibata Model HV500F), with an airflow rate of 500L/min, between April and August 2003, and between April and August 2004. The samples were then screened for the presence of targeted viruses (Influenza A, B, Hog cholera virus, and Aphthovirus) using a polymerase chain reaction method. Results : One Asian dust event occurred between April and August 2003, and 3 between April and August 2004, with a 24 hour average PM10 level of $148.0{\mu}g/m^3$. The 24 hour average PM10 level was $57{\mu}g/m^3$. There was a significant difference in the PM10 concentration between dusty and clear days. No viruses (Influenza virus, Aphthovirus, and Hog cholera virus) were identified in the air samples obtained during the dusty days. Conclusions : Although no virus was detected in this study, further studies will be needed to identify suspected viruses carried during Asian dust events, employing more appropriate virus detection conditions.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.425-437
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• 2007

Flow distribution of water and sedimentation rate were investigated to understand the hydrodynamics and settling characteristics of particulate materials in a constructed wetland for treatment of non-point sources pollutants, the Sihwa constructed wetland, Korea. The Sihwa constructed wetland is divided into three sub-wetlands(the Banwol, the Donghwa and the Samhwa wetlands) to treat the polluted water from three streams, the Banwol stream, the Donghwa stream and the Samhwa stream. From the results of water flow experiment using dye(Rhodamine 50WT Red), it was found that the water flow in the wetland was prevailing at the waterway and open water. Dye was spread slowly in the closed water area planted by plants. The mean hydraulic retention time(HRT) at the upper area of high wetland and lower wetland of Banwol, was found to be 34.1 hr at the upper area and 74.6 hr at the lower area respectively, totaling approximately 108.7 hr(4.5 days). The sedimentation rate was higher at lower area(sites of B, C and D) of the wetland than upper area(site of A which is settling zone). Based on the forecast for 20 years as to the amount of sediment that can be deposited in the open water in the future, the sediment depth of each area would be like this: A: 6.3 cm, B: 8.3 cm, C: 7.0 cm, D: 9.5 cm. The contents of organic materials in the sediment deposited within the sediment trap were found to be higher overly in the first investigation period which had much rainfall, and B, C and D areas were found to have an increased COD accumulation than A area. Also, nitrogen and phosphorus were found to increase in the down-stream of the wetland. The results of this study suggest that a sustainable research and management for the characteristics of water flow pattern and sedimentation changeable as time passes is needs to maintain or improve the efficiency of water treatment in the constructed wetland.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.279-288
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• 2016

Stable Isotope Analysis(SIA) of carbon and nitrogen is useful tool for the understanding functional roles of target organisms in biological interactions in the food web. Recently, mixing model based on SIA is frequently used to determine which of the potential food sources predominantly assimilated by consumers, however, application of model is often limited and difficult for non-expert users of software. In the present study, we suggest easy manual of R software and package SIAR with example data regarding selective feeding of crustaceans dominated freshwater zooplankton community. We collected SIA data from the experimental mesocosms set up at the littoral area of eutrophic Chodae Reservoir, and analyzed the dominant crustacean species main food sources among small sized particulate organic matters (POM, <$50{\mu}m$), large sized POM (>$50{\mu}m$), and attached POM using mixing model. From the results obtained by SIAR model, Daphnia galeata and Ostracoda mainly consumed small sized POM while Simocephalus vetulus consumed both small and large sized POM simultaneously. Copepods collected from the reservoir showed no preferences on various food items, but in the mesocosm tanks, main food sources for the copepods was attached POM rather than planktonic preys including rotifers. The results have suggested that their roles as grazers in food web of eutrophicated reservoirs are different, and S. vetulus is more efficient grazer on wide range of food items such as large colony of phytoplankton and cyanobacteria during water bloom period.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.437-449
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• 2023

This study measured PM₁₀ concentrations and wind speeds in buffer green spaces and neighborhood parks located along the road, and compared them with roadside measurementresults to understand the effect of mitigating PM₁₀ concentrations by type of green space and the influence of wind speeds on it. As a result of the analysis, the effect of mitigating PM₁₀ concentration was different depending on the type of roadside green space, and an increase in wind speed had a significant effect on reducing PM₁₀ concentration. In buffer green areas with high planting density, wind speed was low and PM₁₀ stagnated inside, resulting in the highest concentration. On the other hand, green areas in neighborhood parks with relatively low planting density had high wind speeds and the lowest PM₁₀ concentration. The non-green area within the neighborhood park recorded the highest wind speed, which was advantageous for the spread of PM₁₀, but the concentration was higherthan that of the green area. Therefore, in orderto reduce PM₁₀ concentration in roadside green space, it is necessary to create green space with good ventilation, and the combined effect of green space and wind speed seems to be more advantageous in reducing PM₁₀ concentration. Green spaces capture and remove PM inside, contributing to reducing the concentration of PM outside. In order to manage PM in the entire city and on roads, it is necessary to increase planting density and leaf area in roadside green spaces, such as buffer green spaces, so that PM can be removed within the green spaces. However, in green spaces such as neighborhood parks that are actively used by city residents, in orderto minimize damage to users due to PM, it is desirable to create green spaces with a structure that allows PM to spread to the outside rather than stagnate inside.