• Development and Reproduction
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.155-163
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• 2022

Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) can give rise to a vast array of differentiated derivatives, which have gained great attention in the field of in vitro toxicity evaluation. We have previously demonstrated that hPSC-derived alveolar epithelial cells (AECs) are phenotypically and functionally similar to primary AECs and could be more biologically relevant alternatives for assessing the potential toxic materials including in fine dust and cigarette smoking. Therefore, in this study, we employed hPSC-AECs to evaluate their responses to exposure of various concentrations of diesel particulate matter (dPM), cigarette smoke extract (CSE) and nicotine for 48 hrs in terms of cell death, inflammation, and oxidative stress. We found that all of these toxic materials significantly upregulated the transcription of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1α, IL-β, IL-6, and TNF-α. Furthermore, the exposure of dPM (100 ㎍/mL) strongly induced upregulation of genes related with cell death, inflammation, and oxidative stress compared with other concentrations of CSE and nicotine. These results suggest that hPSC-AECs could be a robust in vitro platform to evaluate pulmotoxicity of various air pollutants and harmful chemicals.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2021.05a
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• pp.74-75
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• 2021

In the recent 2017 annual average fine dust concentration (PM2.5) statistics released by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Korea has a high concentration of 25.14㎍/m3, which is about twice the average of 12.5㎍/m3 in OECD countries. Fine dust (PM2.5) is the main source of secondary pollutant production by the reaction of primary pollutants emitted from automobiles and thermal power plants, mainly composed of sulfates, nitrates, and organic carbon. The permeable block is an eco-friendly product that prevents rainwater from collecting on the surface of the road because it does not penetrate the groundwater properly, and is widely constructed on sidewalks or parking lots to recharge groundwater in case of rain. In addition, the pavement of the permeable block is a fundamental solution to reduce pollution by preventing rainwater from flowing into the stream, and it also has the advantage of easy replacement as well as low replacement costs. Therefore, this study was a basic experiment to produce permeable blocks mixed with TiO2 and diatomite to improve indoor air quality, and intended to analyze the flexural strength and compressive strength of permeable blocks mixed with TiO2.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.143-149
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• 2001

A contact oxidation canal system with sedimentation basin was installed to study the efficiency of water quality purification. The primary sedimentation basin with 60 min of HRT (Hydraulic Retention Time) included in the system was aimed to sediment pollutants in the water and the deposit being released by the drainage culvert located at the bottom of the system. The oxidation canal aerated by nozzle was to contact the pollutants and oxygen in the surface of plastic filter to purify the water. Discharge, HRT, length of the oxidation canal were $200\;m^3/day$, 90 min, 20 m, respectively. The treatment efficiency of total nitrogen was lower compared with other water quality items such as SS, BOD, TP because the anoxic condition for denitrification was not ensured after the oxidation canal. However, $25%{\sim}89.6%$ of SS, $75.0%{\sim}91.5%$ of BOD, $44.3%{\sim}95.3%$ of TP were removed in this system. Overall, the results indicates that this system appears to have a potential capability for water quality improvement of the reservoirs or the canals in the agricultural watershed.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.43-50
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• 2020

The aim of this study is toxicity assessment using two types of sea urchins (H. pulcherrimus, M. nudus) that can representative primary consumers in potential coastal environments pollutants, Zinc undecylenate (ZU), which is used for various purposes, such as pharmaceutical agents and anti-bacterial and anti-fungi. The Fertilization rate and normal embryogenesis rate of H. pulcherrimus and M. nudus were concentration-dependent decreased. Besides, EC₅₀ of fertilization rate with H. pulcherrimus and M. nudus were 11.27 mgl^-1 and 1.48 mgl^-1, and EC₅₀ of normal embryogenesis were 0.94 mgl^-1 and 3.78 mgl^-1. NOEC of normal embryogenesis were 0.20 and 0.78 mgl^-1, respectively. In addition, to find the safety criteria of the ZU on the marine environment. PNEC value was 0.0094 mgl^-1, calculated using the toxicity values of two species of sea urchin derived from this study and the acute toxicity results of the coastal area through literature research. The above results will be used as basic data for establishing environmental protection strategies for marine environmental pollutants.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.276-285
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• 2010

Recently the Korean government has tried to cut down the $PM_{10}$ concentration by the Special Law for Air Quality Improvement. But the concentrations of $PM_{10}$ have exceeded the air quality standard at most monitoring stations. Primary $PM_{10}$ emitted from various sources and emission data have large uncertainty. The biomass burning is one of the major sources of $PM_{10}$ emission. The biomass burning is composed of wood stove usage, meat cooking and agricultural combustion etc.. Activity data and emission factors for the biomass burning are limited, and it is hard to calculate the air pollution emissions from these sources. In this study, we tried to estimate the air pollution emission from residential wood stove usage. The number of total wood stoves is estimated by the survey of wood stove manufacturer. And air pollution emission factors for the wood stove are investigated using the flue gas measurement by U.S. EPA particulate test method (Method 5G). As the results, the $PM_{10}$ and CO emission factors of wood stove are estimated as 7.7 g/kg-wood and 78.8 g/kg-wood respectively. The annual $PM_{10}$ and CO emissions from wood stove are calculated as 1,200~3,600 ton/year and 12,600~36,400 ton/year in Korea. It is confirmed that wood stove is the one of major sources of biomass burning, and the survey for activity data and the measurement for emission factors are needed for reducing the uncertainty of these emission data.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.272-279
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• 2016

Understanding sources and contributions of $PM_{2.5}$ mass and particulate PAHs from traffic-related pollution can provide valuable information for alleviating air contamination from car emissions in urban areas. Two sampling sites at the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST, $35.228^{\circ}N$, $126.843^{\circ}E$) and National institute of environmental research NamBu Supersite (NNBS, $35.226^{\circ}N$, $126.848^{\circ}E$) were selected for comprehensive road-oriented-PM investigations. Continuous measurements from optical particle sizer (OPS) and optical particle counter (OPC) with 24 hr integrated filter based samplers for organic carbon, water soluble organic carbon, and Poly Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) were conducted during Nov. 3 through 22 in 2014. As a result, $PM_{2.5}$ mass concentrations using OPC and OPS in NNBS presented about twice higher than in GIST due to road dust impacts based on wind direction analysis. In addition, ratios of elemental carbon (EC) to organic carbon (OC) and water insoluble organic carbon (WIOC) to organic carbon (OC) supported an additional evidence of the primary pollutant contributions oriented from road dust. PAHs related to 5 rings such as benzo(e&a)pyrene indicates higher associations.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.18 no.3 s.49
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• pp.78-88
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• 2003

This study was conducted to investigate the relation between ozone concentration and the affecting factors in Seosan City of Korea from Jan. 2002 to Dec. 2002. We analyzed the air pollutants such as NO$_2$, PM$_{10} $,SO$_2$, CO and the meteorological factors including solar radiation, air temperature, wind speed and relative humidity. The analytical data were taken statistics by SPSS method. The results were as follows: The seasonal average concentration of ozone were detected 35.0 ppb in Spring, 25.4 ppb in Summer, 23.5 ppb in Autumn and 21.4 ppb in Winter. So the difference of concentrations showed significantly in statistics. The hourly ozone concentration in a day was increased at 7-9 AM, peaked at 3-4 PM. The correlation coefficients was negative to ozone concentration and NO$_2$, SO$_2$, CO, relative humidity, but positive to solar radiation, air temperature, wind speed. With stepwise multiple regression analysis on the 8 factors such as NO$ _2$, PMSO$_{10}$,SO$_2$, CO, solar radiation, air temperature, wind speed and relative humidity, the seasonal primary factors were air temperature in spring, relative humidity in summer and solar radiation in autumn and winter. The above results suggest that ozone is the secondary pollutant by photochemical reaction as the concentration of ozone was increased with the raise of solar radiation.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.173-184
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• 1990

A mathematical model was proposed to predict the predominant reactions and transport pathways of anthracene in a conventional activated sludge wastewater treatment system. The model consists of five differential equations with seven kinetic parameters and eighteen input variables. Volatilization, biodegradation, adsorption/desorption as well as the convective inputs and outputs are included in the model. The steady state calculations showed that volatilization (61%) in aeration tank and the withdrawal of primary sludge (33%) were two major pathways for removal of anthracene from the system. The overall removal was about 97%. The system reached a practical steady state at about 160 hours via dynamic modeling. The proposed model can give plausible predictions of the fate of priority organic pollutants in activated sludge processes.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.333-339
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• 2008

This study was carried out to assay the relationships between empirical factors and water quality in 23 agricultural reservoirs. Based on the trophic state index (TSI) deviation analysis, phosphorus in type II and III was the primary limiting factor on algal growth. BOD, COD, TP and chl.a concentration in type III reservoirs showed higher concentration than those of other types, while SS and TN concentration was no noticeable difference among three types. Characteristics of type III reservoirs showed large reservoir surface and drainage area, large surface area to volume (SAV) ratio, small drainage area to reservoir area (DA/RA) ratio, relatively old age, large paddy field and upland field to drainage area ratio (Mean 17.4%) and high generation and discharge loads compared to other types of reservoirs. In type I and II reservoirs, trends of BOD, TN, TP concentration in water column, were similar to those of the discharge load of pollutants. Although type II reservoirs generally showed low phosphorus discharge loads compared to type I reservoirs, TP and chl.a concentration in water column was greater than that of type I. Characteristics of type II reservoirs showed relatively large SAV ratio and old age compared to type I reservoirs and was similar to those of type III including eutrophic reservoirs.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.81-90
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• 2003

This study was conducted to contribute to the basic data for decisions on environment policy improvement in health promotion for students in elementary, middle and high schools. This study was carried out to investigate the extent of indoor air pollution in elementary, middle and high schools in residential, traffic congestional and industrial areas. The concentrations of major indoor air pollutants(carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, respiratory particulate, radon) and thermocircumstance (temperature, relative humidity, intensity of illumination) indices were observed from June to August 2000. As results of the survey, the mean values of thermocircumstance in school were $26.94{\pm}1.15^{\circ}C$ of temperature, $68.88{\pm}5.31%$ of humidity and $268.26{\pm}164.60$ Lux of intensity of illumination. The mean concentrations of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, respiratory particulate were $8.36{\pm}0.29\;ppm$, $547.66{\pm}175.58\;ppm$, $36.23{\pm}48.39\;{\mu}g/m3$, respectively. These values were lower than those of the indoor environmental standard on the first clause of Article 45 of public utilization service notified public hygiene of the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs. The mean concentration of radon was $20.07{\pm}17.95\;Bq/m3$. Which was below the U.S. EPA radon action level.