• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.438-449
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• 2016

Objectives: Exposure to airborne bacteria is associated with adverse health effects such as respiratory and infectious diseases. This study evaluated airborne bacterial concentrations in the living rooms, kitchens, and toilets of 30 homes. Methods: Bacteria were sampled with an MAS100 impactor in three spaces in the subject homes between April 2014 and February 2015. Bacteria were grown on TSA plates for 48 hours at $35^{\circ}C$. The bacterial strains were isolated and amplified by polymerase chain reaction. Results: The most culturable bacteria were found in toilets ($624.0CFU/m^3$, GM: $417.3CFU/m^3$), followed by in the kitchen ($503.8CFU/m^3$, GM: $324.9CFU/m^3$). The dominant genera identified were: Staphylococcus sp.(19%), Micrococcus sp.(16%), and Bacillus sp.(11%) in the indoor air and Bacillus sp. (30%) in the outdoor air. Gram-positive bacteria comprised more than half of all colonies. Conclusion: In this study, culturable bacteria concentrations were higher than those reported in other spaces. Therefore, it is important to control relative humidity and remove moisture to prevent bacteria from multiplying. Additionally, the dominant species in indoor air were Staphylococcus sp. and Micrococcus sp. These are found on the human skin, mucous membranes, and hair, so human activity can affect bacterial distribution. Therefore, cleaning and controlling moisture are important for reducing indoor bacterial concentrations.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.37 no.6 s.169
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• pp.613-629
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• 2004

Contamination of groundwater by volatile organic compounds (VOCs) was investigated for 168 groundwater wells in Ulsan area to study the natural attenuation of organic compounds in the aquifers. As groundwater contamination by VOCs is closely related to land use, 168 groundwater samples were classified into 4 different groups; agricultural, forestry, industrial, and residential & business. From analysis 65 out of 168 groundwater samples contained more than one VOC. Analysis of samples were performed fir 36 halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbons and 25 petroleum hydrocarbons set up by NAWQA of US geological survey. Twelve petroleum hydrocarbons were detected in 26 groundwater wells, but their concentrations were less than 1.5 g/L except for MTBE. Twenty three chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons, composed of 11 methanes, 6 ethanes and 6 ethenes, were detected in 63 groundwater samples. The range of methanes concentration was $ND\~330\;/gL,\;ethanes\;ND\~84\;gL$, and PCE and their derivatives $ND\~62\;g/L$. As the study area was comprised of the aerobic/denitrification zones and $Fe^{+3}$ redox condition, most of petroleum hydrocarbons were degraded well, while halogenated hydrocarbons were slowly biodegradation.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.18 no.3 s.49
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• pp.100-109
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• 2003

Recently, Indoor air quality(IAQ) in workplace, residential environments and schools has been concern of people, scientists and related the public. And so in Seoul has recognized the healthy effect related to IAQ in schools. Therefore, the objective of this study reported in this article were to measure and compare the perception of IAQ of selected air pollutants at three different schools in Seoul. We performed a questionnaire survey of 400 students about their awareness for the importance of IAQ in our school. And we measured the IAQ of 3 schools considering as site region, construction year and studying level. The indoor air pollutants and parameters such as temperature, relative humidity, respirable particulate matter(PM10), formaldehyde(HCHO), total bacteria counts(TBC), carbon dioxide(CO$_2$), and noise were monitored in indoors. In results, all most response of occupant has recognized the awareness of IAQ at schools. The PMIO, TBC and Noise level of all schools were higher than the standard of the public 150 ${mu}$g/m$^3$ and 500CFU/m$^3$, the level formaldehyde(HCHO) was below 0.1 ppm of the healthy guideline of Korea And the concentration of CO$_2$ were investigated below 1,000 ppm of the standard implying ventilation in 2 schools except for 1 school(c school). Finally, the control of most important pollutants of IAQ in school were PM10, TBC and Noise. Therefore, it can be concluded that the indoor air quality of selected 3 schools studied was perceived as acceptable, it is recommended that the government related IAQ was suggested the guideline and control of IAQ problems in schools, and all member relating school need to be effort to reduce the exposure of sources to undesirable indoor pollutants such as Particlate and Noise.

• Journal of Satellite, Information and Communications
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.18-25
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• 2017

Recently, disasters have become bigger and more complex, and the economic damage has increased due to the increase of urbanization and the concentration of infrastructure. These large complex disasters occur simultaneously in the second and third disasters due to the first single disaster, but the existing disaster management system in Korea is less adaptable because it is divided into natural disasters and social disasters. The cause of the complex disaster is the rapid urbanization of the residential environment caused by the change of the industrial structure, and the threat factors are various and unpredictable in the living environment. Natural disasters are becoming larger and more complex due to climate change due to global warming. Unlike the past, natural disasters are likely to develop into multiple disasters such as urban paralysis. Therefore, this paper considers natural disasters and social disasters in a comprehensive concept in order to overcome limitations of disaster management by existing single factors and manage disasters effectively and rationally. It is expected that it will play a big role in protecting the lives and property of the people through the establishment of a preemptive disaster management framework.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.237-250
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• 2013

At Gosan ABC superstation in Jeju Island, we measured organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) in $PM_{2.5}$ from October 2009 to June 2010 using a Sunset Laboratory Model-4 Semi-Continuous OC/EC Field Analyzer. It employs TOT (Thermal-Optical-Transmittance) method with NIOSH 5040 protocol and enables to continuously monitor OC and EC concentrations with 1-hour time resolution. The mean values of OC and EC for the entire period of measurements were $2.1{\pm}1.4{\mu}g/m^3$ and $0.7{\pm}0.6{\mu}g/m^3$, respectively. The OC/EC ratio was 3 and EC accounted $25{\pm}2.1%$ of total carbon (TC, TC=OC+EC). Although OC and EC showed similar trend in seasonal variation, the ratio of OC to EC was the highest in early summer when temperature was the highest and the air was affected by biomass burning in the southern part of China. In winter, the high OC and EC concentrations were likely influenced by increased coal combustion from residential heating. The high OC and EC concentrations were observed during events such as haze, dust, and the combination of the two. During the haze events, OC and EC were enhanced with increase in $PM_{10}$, $PM_{2.5}$, $SO_2$, and $NO_2$ with broad maxima. When dust occurred, both OC and EC started decreasing after reaching their maxima a couple of hours before $PM_{10}$ maximum. The peak separation of carbonaceous species and aerosol masses with time was more noticeable when haze event was followed by dust plume. These results confirm that OC and EC are key components of haze occurring in the study region.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.269-280
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• 2018

This paper reports the results of field evaluation to determine the levels of heavy metals in major industrial complexes in Korea over a seven year period (2007~2013). The measurement of heavy metal was conducted using quartz fiber filter sampling and ICP-AES analysis. In order to validate the analytical performance of these methods, studies were also carried out to investigate data quality control(QC) parameters, such as the method detection limit (MDL), repeatability, and recovery efficiencies. The average concentrations of total suspended particulates (TSP) for the nine industrial complexes in Korea were $104{\sim}169{\mu}g/m^3$, which was higher than other industrial complexes and urban areas. The Sihwa and Banwol industrial complexes were shown to be the biggest contributing sources to high TSP emission ($159{\mu}g/m^3$ and $169{\mu}g/m^3$, respectively). The concentrations of heavy metals in TSP were higher in the order of Fe>Cu>Zn, Pb, Mn>Cr, Ni, As and Cd. It was observed that Fe was the highest in the Gwangyang and Pohang steel industrial complexes. The concentrations of Zn and Pb were high in Onsan, Sihwa and Banwol industrial complexes, and this was attributed to the emission from the nonferrous industry. Additionally, Cr and Ni concentrations were high in the Sihwa and Banwol industrial complexes due to plating industry. On the other hand, Ulsan and Onsan industrial complexes showed high Cr and Ni concentrations as a response to the emission of metal industry related to automobile. The correlation analysis revealed the high correlation between Cr and Ni in plating industry from Sihwa and Banwol industrial complexes. Adding to this, components related to coal combustion and road dust showed high correlation in Pohang and Gwangyang industrial complexes. Then Onsan and Ulsan industrial complexes showed high correlation among components related to the nonferrous metals.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.45-56
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• 2013

This study was suggested as fundamental data to control medical materials remained in Nakdong range gauge. The level of Iopromide detected in Nakdong mainstream was $0.0015{\sim}0.37{\mu}g/L$, Mefenamic acid $0.0087{\sim}0.056{\mu}g/L$, Diclofenac $N.D.{\sim}0.01{\mu}g/L$, Atenolol $N.D.{\sim}0.024{\mu}g/L$, Propranolol $N.D.{\sim}0.0038{\mu}g/L$, Lincomycin $0.0005{\sim}0.038{\mu}g/L$, and Trimethoprim $N.D.{\sim}0.0083{\mu}g/L$. At sewage disposal plant in the region, most of them were detected high levels of density. Especially, the level of Iopromide was found the highest up to $5.38{\mu}g/L$. At livestock wasted water disposal plant, the level of lincomycin was detected the highest figure of $477{\mu}g/L$. As a result, medical materials from Nakdong River mainstream got increasing the concentration due to inflow from sewage disposal plant in Gumi and River Geumho in Daegu, which affects residential and industrial areas significantly. Therefore, to control medical materials remained in Nakdong River efficiently, Geumho River and sewage disposal plants shall be continuously monitored and managed, which is recommendable.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.24 no.8
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• pp.711-720
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• 2003

To study characteristics of the heavy metal pollution, sediment samples were collected at 67 sites on the roadside of Jeonju city during summer and winter, 2002. The total concentration of metals including Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, and Mn in the sediment samples were determined. The results indicate that the roadside sediments in Jeonju city have lower (1/2 to 1/7 times) concentrations of Zn, Cu, Pb and Cd than the metal concentrations previously reported for roadside soil, dust and sewage sludges in Seoul. However, the metal concentrations are higher than environmental quality criteria in soil suggested from several countries, and Zn, Cu, Pb and Cd contents are usually 2-7 times higher than the world average contents of the metals in natural soil. Although pollution index and concentrations of Cr, Ni, Pb and Zn in the roadside sediments at industrial area were usually higher than those of downtown and residential area, the metal having small vehicle- and steel-related industries had high concentrations of metals. The results of chemical partitioning analysis showed that Pb, Zn and Mn are mainly associated with carbonate/adsorbed and Fe-Mn oxide phases but that Cu is largely associated with the organic and sulfide fractions. It thus indicates that both large and small (vehicle- and steel-related) industries are main sources of heavy metal contamination. Due to high solubility of the carbonate phases by natural leaching episodes, the carbonate/adsorbed Cd, Co, Ni, Pb, Zn and Mn in the roadside sediments may serve as a potential source of contamination.

• Journal of the Economic Geographical Society of Korea
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.59-77
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• 2008

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of traffic-related air pollution on the urban population in the Metropolitan Seoul area. In particular, this study analyzes urban population exposure to traffic-related particulate materials(PM). For the purpose, this study examines the relationships between traffic flows and PM concentration levels during the last fifteen years. Traffic volumes have been decreased significantly in recent year in Seoul, however, PM levels have been declined less compare to traffic volumes. It may be related with the rapid growth in the population and vehicle numbers in Gyenggi, the outskirt of Seoul, where several New Towns have been developed in the middle of 1990's. The spatial pattern of commuting has changed, and thus and travel distances and traffic volumes have increased along the main roads connecting CBDs in Seoul and New Towns consisting of large residential apartment complexes. These changes in traffic flows and travel behaviors cause increasing exposure to traffic-related air pollution for urban population over the Metropolitan Seoul area. GIS techniques are applied to analyze the spatial patterns of traffic flows, population distributions, PM distributions, and passenger flows comprehensively. This study also analyzes real time base traffic flow data and passenger flow data obtained from T-card transaction database applying data mining techniques. This study also attempts to develop a space-time model for assessing journey-time exposure to traffic related air pollutants based on travel passenger frequency distribution function. The results of this study can be used for the implications for sustainable transport systems, public health and transportation policy by reducing urban air pollution and road traffics in the Metropolitan Seoul area.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.42-46
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• 2008

Even though fuel cell have high efficiency when pure hydrogen from gas tank is used as a fuel source, it is more beneficial to generate hydrogen from city gas (mainly methane) in residential application such as domestic or office environments. Thus hydrogen is generated by reforming process using hydrocarbon. Unfortunately, the reforming process for hydrogen production is accompanied with unavoidable impurities. Impurities such as CO, $CO_2$, $H_2S$, $NH_3$, $CH_4$, and $CH_4$ in hydrogen could cause negative effects on fuel cell performance. Those effects are kinetic losses due to poisoning of the electrode catalysts, ohmic losses due to proton conductivity reduction including membrane and catalyst ionomer layers, and mass transport losses due to degrading catalyst layer structure and hydrophobic property. Hydrogen produced from reformer eventually contains around 73% of $H_2$, 20% or less of $CO_2$, 5.8% of less of $N_2$, or 2% less of $CH_4$, and 10ppm or less of CO. This study is aimed at investigating the effect of carbon dioxide on fuel cell performance. The performance of PEM fuel cell was investigated using current vs. potential experiment, long run(10 hr) test, and electrochemical impedance measurement when the concentrations of carbon dioxide were 10%, 20% and 30%. Also, the concentration of impurity supplied to the fuel cell was verified by gas chromatography(GC).