• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.26 no.9
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• pp.1013-1021
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• 2017

Exposure to Diesel Particulate Matter (DPM) potentially causes adverse health effects (e.g. respiratory symptoms, lung cancer). Due to a lack of data on Elemental Carbon (EC) exposure levels in underground copper ore mining (unlike other underground mining industries such as non-metallic and coal mining), this case study aims to provide individual miners' EC exposure levels, and information on their work practices including use of personal protective equipment. EC measurement was carried out during different work activities (i.e. drilling, driving a loader, plant fitting, plant operation, driving a Specialized Mining Vehicle (SMV)) as per NIOSH Method 5040. The copper miners were working 10 h/day and 5 days/week. This study found that the most significant exposures to EC were reported from driving a loader (range $0.02-0.42mg/m^3$). Even though there were control systems (i.e. water tanks and DPM filters) on the diesel vehicles, around 49.5% of the results were over the adjusted recommendable exposure limit ($0.078mg/m^3$). This was probably due to: (1) driver's frequently getting in and out of the diesel vehicles and opening the windows of the diesel vehicles, and (2) inappropriate maintenance of the diesel vehicles and the DPM control systems. The use of the P2 type respirator provided was less than 19.2%. However, there was no significant difference between the day shift results and the night shift results. In order to prevent or minimize exposure to EC in the copper ore mine, it is recommended that the miners are educated in the need to wear the appropriate respirator provided during their work shifts, and to maintain the diesel engine and emission control systems on a regular basis. Consideration should be given to a specific examination of the diesel vehicles' air-conditioning filters and the air ventilation system to control excessive airborne contaminants in the underground copper mine.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.38-47
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• 2013

$PM_{10}$ concentrations were measured at four monitoring sites at the Daechaung station of the Seoul subway. The four locations included two tunnels, a platform, and a waiting room. The outside site of the subway was also monitored for comparison purposes. In addition, the effect of the platform screen doors (PSDs) recently installed to isolate the $PM_{10}$ in a platform from a tunnel were evaluated, and a comparison between $PM_{10}$ levels during rush and non-rush hours was performed. It was observed that $PM_{10}$ levels in the tunnels were generally higher than those in the other locations. This might be associated with the generation of $PM_{10}$ within the tunnel due to the train braking and wear of the subway lines with the motion of the trains, which promotes the mixing and suspension of particulate matter. During this tunnel study, it was observed that the particle size of $PM_{10}$ ranged from 1.8 to 5.6 ${\mu}m$. It was revealed that the $PM_{10}$ levels in the tunnels were significantly increased by the PSDs, while those in the platform and waiting room decreased. As a result, in order to estimate the effect of ventilation system on $PM_{10}$ levels in the tunnels, fans with inverters were operated. It was found that the concentration of $PM_{10}$ was below 150 ${\mu}g/m^3$ when the air flow rate into a tunnel was approximately 210,000-216,000 CMH.

• Land and Housing Review
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.91-97
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• 2021

High levels of fine dust is an increasing health concern in major cities such as Seoul. To improve the indoor air quality of apartments, this study examined the ability of an air shower system installed in an apartment unit to remove fine dust (as defined by ISO 12103-A2) from various clothing items of building occupants entering their apartment. Results of the experiment indicate that an air shower system is effective in removing final dust from clothing after one pass through the system. The fine dust removal efficiency for various clothing items was 74% for a dress suit, 70.6% for hiking clothes, 63.3% for knit-wear, 50.5% for a cotton t-shirt, and 38.8% for a coat. Fine dust removal efficiency increased with a second and third pass through the air shower system by an average of 9.1 and 13.9 percentage points respectively compared to a single pass through the system.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.323-335
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• 2020

In this study, a series of site measurement of particulate and gases pollutants at five tunnels were carried out along with case studies to review the suitability of the current road tunnel ventilation design standards. Previous studies by other researchers have shown that the ratios of the level of measurement to the standard were 27.9%, 1.6% and 3.4% for TSP, CO and NOx, respectively. Those measured in this site study shows even lower ratios; the ratios were 2.6%, 0.8% and 0.3%, for TSP, CO and NOx, respectively. The particle size analysis of TSP for the five tunnels shows that PM10 including tire wear and re-suspended road dust exceeded 20.4%. This implies that non-exhaust particulate matter must be taken into account, since the current design standards for the particulate matter (visibility) include only the engine emission. Based on the recent research results, for vehicle emission rate and slope-speed correction factors, revision of ventilation design standards for pollutants is required. WRA (PIARC) also emphasizes the necessity of the ventilation design standards for pollutants. In addition, enactment of a new road tunnel ventilation system operation standard or guideline is strongly recommended when considering the low operating rate of the ventilation system with jet-fans.