• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.487-497
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• 2000

Spring time is a favorable season to be easily observed the Yellow Sand phenomenon in East Asia. In particular most of the phenomenon tend to occur in April. However, Yellow Sand phenomenon was observed from almost the whole country of Korea in winter of 1966, 1977 and 1999. The features of the synoptic weather pattern in the source regions, air stream flow between the source region and Korea, the measurement of TSP concentration, aerosol size distribution, and chemical composition of snow samples associated with Yellow Sand phenomenon were investigated. The result showed the characteristic evolutionary feature of the synoptic system associated with Yellow Sand phenomena, that is, a strong low level wind mobilized the dust within 2 or 3 days before Yellow Sand phenomenon being observed in Seoul. The wind was remarkably intensified in the source region on January 24, 1999 under the strong pressure gradient, A trajectory analysis showed that the Yellow Sand particle could be reached to Korea within 2 days from the source region, Gobi desert, through Loess plateau and Loess deposition region. The TSP concentration at the top of Kwanak mountain during the Yellow Sand phenomenon is abruptly increasing than the monthly mean concentration. The size resolved number concentration of aerosols ranging from 0.3 to 25${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ was analyzed during Yellow Sand episode. It was evident that aerosols were distinguished by particles in the range of 2-3 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ to result in the abrupt increase in January 1999, After Yellow Sand phenomenon, there was heavy snow in Seoul. By the analysis of snow collected during that time, it was observed that both the Ca(sup)2+ concentration and pH were increased abnormally compared to those in the other winter season.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.183-191
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• 1990

To check the possible transportation of gaseous air pollutants with the particles of yellow sand in the movement of air masses during the Yellow Sand Phenomenon, the concentrations of such air pollutants as TSP, $SO_2, CO, NO_x, O_3 and N-CH_4$, and wind wpeed were measured during the Yellow Sand Phenomenon (April 8 $\sim 10, 1990) and they were compared with those during the normal times in Korea. Meanwhile dust color of the samples during the Yellow Sand Phenomenon was the color of sand, that during the normal times was dark-brown. The concentrations of dusts; water soluble components, and metallic components of soil-originated elements during the Yellow Sand Phenomenon were higher than those during the normal times. While the metallic components in the dusts during the Yellow Sand Phenomenon were from soil-originated elements, those during the normal times were of both soiloriginated and sea-originated elements. The change of hourly concentrations of air pollutants showed bi-modal distribution during the two periods. Generally, the concentration levels of air pollutants during the Yellow Sand Period were higher than those during the normal times. Although similarity was observed in the primary sources, differences were observed in the dynamics of the secondary sources due to chemical reactions of the air pollutants during the two periods.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.41-51
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• 2002

This research was carried out using Anderson air sampler which were set up on the roof of the Engineering College of Konkuk University at Hwayang-Dong, Kwangjin-Gu, Seoul from Aug. 1992 to foul. 1999. The results are as follows: The major component of yellow sand is soil particles based upon the observation that particles ranging from $3.3~7.0{\mu}m$ occupy 36~63%. It is certain that the increase of fine particles of respirable dust during yellow sand phenomenon in Seoul area affects the human body. The trace metals from natural sources like Al, Ca, Fe, K, Na, and Si show larger mass median diameter(MMD) values during yellow sand phenomenon than in normal situations while the values of MMD for Mn and Pb rarely changes. Noticeably, the changes in value of MMD of water soluble elements like ${NO_3}^{-}$ and ${SO_4}^{2}$ are 2.3 and 6.6 times higher during the yellow sand phenomenon compared to normal situations, respectively. This fact is regarded as decisive evidence showing that ${NO_3}^{-}$ and ${SO_4}^{2}$ in the air are attached to yellow sand and move together.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.71-78
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• 2002

This study was conducted to evaluate the concentration distribution characteristics of air pollutants by the yellow sand from China. The concentrations and chemical properties of FPM contained in the yellow sand were compared with those of air pollutants when having no yellow sand in order to estimate the variation characteristics and the originated source of air pollutants moved by yellow sand. The concentrations of PM-2.5 and PM-10 contained in the yellow sand showed an increase of 2.3 to 2.7 times than usual, and the concentrations of NO2 and SO2 in the gaseous pollutants showed an increase of about 1.6 times by yellow sand, and thus the air contamination was much influenced by yellow sand phenomenon. The concentrations of inorganic elements contained in FPM from the yellow sand showed a higher concentration variation in the order of Al>Mg>Zn>Pb than usual. The concentration coefficient of air aerosol during the yellow sand period showed that Na, K, Ca, Mg and Fe were originated from natural source, and Pb, Cr, Cd, Cu and Zn were originated from artificial source for inorganic elements. The correlation analysis between FPM and inorganic elements showed in the descending order of Al>K>Pb>Mg, and thus the deposited amount of Pb was influenced by that of yellow sand. The average concentrations of PM-10 measured during the yellow sand period exceeded the Korea Air Environmental Standard and showed a excess rate of 3.4 times in the maximum but the average concentrations of PM-2.5 showed within the United States Air Environmental Standard.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.161-177
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• 1993

The Yellow Sand Events observed over the Korean peninsula during 22-24 April, 1993 were examined using the synoptic data and GMS visible image to identify the transport path of the Yellow Sand and the main factor governing the duration of the Yellow Sand phenomenon. The 850 hPa convergence chart and the 700 hPa trajectory analyses of the air mass laden with Yellow Sand particles suggested that the Yellow Sand particles observed over Korea were probably transported from the Gobi Desert and the Loess Plateau. The duration of the Yellow Sand Events was about 35-40 hours rather shorter than normal as the high pressure system centered near the Mongolia region moved rapidly toward the Yellow Sea, which drove away the Yellow Sand particles over the Korean peninsula toward the Japan Islands, furthermore the low-level stratification of the air mass over the Korean penishula showed the unstable atmospheric condition leading to atmospheric diffusion of the particles. The trajectory analyses and the GMS visible image indicated that the long-range transport of the air mass laden with the Yellow Sand particles of this case was more dependent on the 700 hPa air flow than on the 850 hPa air flow.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.52-57
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• 1992

The influence of soil particles on TSP transported from China contient to Seoul by the Yellow sand phenomenon was investigated from the analytical results of TSP during three years, April 1988 through May 1991. The TSP was collected by a high volume air sampler abour five times a month, and then analyzed by A.A.S. and UV-Visible spectrophotometry. During the Yellow sand phenomenon, the mean concentration of TSP at Seoul was about 578 $\mug/m^3$ and three times higher than that in the ordinary time which was about 194 $\mug/m^3$. The mean contribution of soil particles calculated by Al content to TSP was 28% in the ordinary time, but the degree of contribution jumped to about 60% during the Yellow sand phenomena. The concentration of soil particles transported from China continent to Seoul was estimated to be 175.1 $\mug/m^3$ on an average(104 $\mug/m^3-231 \mug/m^3$).

• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.49-55
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• 2000

The Yellow-Sand phenomena occurred during the period from l0C to 14C in Korea have been investigated using the historical record of the Koryosa. It is written as the "dust rain"or "mud" which means the falling down of dust from the sky. The authors have extracted 50 historical writings of dust rain from the Koryosa. The results show that the observation records concerning Yellow-Sand phenomenon for the period of Korea Dynasty (918~1392) are described with the scientific accuracy for the Yellow-Sand phenomena as the pure dust phenomena, the mixture of Yellow Sand with snow or rain, and the Yellow-Sand associated with fog or hail, etc. It is also found that the occurrence of Yellow-Sand phenomena was the incomprehensible natural phenomena such as Yellow-Sand were interpreted as a warning from the Heaven to the king and people of their fail in moral principles.in moral principles.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.575-586
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• 1999

The size-resolved number concentrations of aerosols ranging from 0.3 to 25 $mu extrm{m}$ were observed in Seoul and Anmyondo in the west coast of Korea during an Yellow Sand phenomenon in April 1998. Number size distributions of aerosols observed in both places are characterized by decrease in small particles of diameter less than 1${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ and increase in large size between 1.35 and 10${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ in heavy dust period. For particles in this size range, there was a good correlation between number concentrations observed in both places during the Yellow Sand episode. On the other hand, the number of small particles less than 0.82${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ decreased, but the correlation between these particles in both places was enhanced during more intense dust period. The number of coarse particle larger than 10 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ showed a distince diurnal variation without a significant change in amplitude, which was more visible in Seoul. It suggests that these coarse particles were more affected by local sources. Form these results, it was range of 1~10${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ originated possibly from the dust source regions and the source signature depended on the degree of dust intensity.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.233-244
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• 1994

The phenomenon of yellow sand (dust clouds) occurred in Korea during the spring of 1993 and 1994 is studied in detail. In total 6 cases including 15 days of yellow sand were observed in 1993 and the annual number of these events was found to increased. Examinations in this study include meteorological charts satellite imagery, pilot reports (PIREP) of Korea Air Force, and air concentrations of total suspended particulates(TSP). We present on estimation of total atmospheric loadings based on the observation and theory. According to the PIREP, in general the dust clouds travelled in the lower troposphere up to the level 5km. The visibility within the clouds was in the range of 3-8km The area covered by yellow sand in an event exceeded 0.4 M $\textrm{km}^2$ . According to trajectory analyses, dust clouds invaded Korea in April and May 1993 were landed in the sink area after 2~4 days travelling for 2,000~3,000km from a source region. Estimates of total atmospheric loadings of a dust cloud for April 23~24 in 1993 were 1.5 M ton. In addition, 7 dust storms were also reported in synoptic observations in NW China and Mongolia during the spring in 1994. The yellow sand was not reported with meteorological observations in Korea, however pilots reported significant dust clouds over the Yellow Sea on 8 and 13 April and 20 May 1994.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.105-110
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• 2009

Yellow sand (or Asian dust) occurs mainly in spring in East Asia. Yellow sand from China and its surrounding regions transports air pollutants, such as aerosols, ozone, and heavy metals. The outdoor workers are frequently exposed to heavy metals during yellow sand phenomenon. This study was carried out to investigate the heavy metal levels in blood among 75 outdoor workers (exposed group) and 86 indoor workers (controled group) in Gyeonggi province from March 2008 to May 2009. Heavy metal levels in blood were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Mean blood lead levels in exposed group and controled group were $5.19{\pm}1.64{\mu}g/dL$, $4.24{\pm}1.34{\mu}g/dL$, respectively. Mean blood cadmium levels in exposed group and controled group were $1.28{\pm}0.89{\mu}g/dL$, $0.90{\pm}0.59{\mu}g/dL$, respectively. Lead and Cadmium levels in blood of exposed group were significantly higher than those of controled group. In the comparison of smoking status, lead and cadmium levels of smokers were significantly higher than those of non-smokers. In conclusion, the heavy metal levels of outdoor workers were significantly higher than those of indoor workers. And smoking was hazardous factor to elevate heavy metal levels in blood.