• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.11 no.8
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• pp.25-32
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• 2010

Contamination of soil and groundwater by the compounds of hydrocarbon petroleum has been widely accepted as the main cause that harms the environments and health. To remove those pollutants, absorbing clothes, activated carbons, or oil-water separation devices with the gravity method are employed for treatment. However, those materials and devices cannot remove the emulsion pollutants despite of their efficiency for removing free products. Therefore, we investigated the problems which occur during the groundwater treatment for the highly concentrated suspended solid particles, which can be resulted from excavation, and to propose methods to remove TPH(Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon). After coagulation experiment with high molecular polymers, the concentration of SS(Suspended Solids) and COD(Chemical Oxygen Demand) turned to satisfy the groundwater quality criteria within 5 minutes while the concentration of TPH failed to meet the water quality standard of effluent. Consequently, the water quality criteria for effluent could not be met by single DAF(Dissolved Air Flotation) process. However all water quality criteria could be satisfied after 20 minutes when coagulation reactions are carried out simultaneously in the DAF reactor.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.283-292
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• 2007

Atmospheric concentrations of radon had been continuously observed in Seoul, Korea since December 1999, as a tracer for long-range transport of air pollutants from China continent to Korea. In order to study radon as a tracer of long-range transport, it is important to know information about the atmospheric distribution and variation of radon concentration and its time variation. Atmospheric radon concentration are measured with electrostatic radon monitor(ERM) at Hanyang University located in Eastern area of Seoul. Air sample is taken into a vessel of ERM, and alpha particles emitted by radon daughters $Po^{218}$ are detected with ZnS(Ag) scintillation counter. Hourly mean concentrations and hourly alpha counts are recorded automatically. The major results obtained from time series observation of atmospheric radon were as follows : (1) The mean of airborne radon concentration in Seoul was found to be $7.62{\pm}4.11\;Bq/m^3$ during December $1999{\sim}January$ 2002. (2) The hourly variation of radon concentrations showed the highest in 8:00AM ($8.66{\pm}4.22\;Bq/m^3$) and the lowest in 3:00AM ($6.62{\pm}3.70\;Bq/m^3$) and 5:00AM ($6.62{\pm}3.39\;Bq/m^3$). (3) the seasonal variation of radon concentrations showed higher during winter-to-fall and lower during summer-to-spring. (4) Correlation between airborne radon concentration and the meteorological factors were -0.21 for temperature, 0.09 for humidity, -0.20 for wind speed, and 0.04 for pressure. (5) The mean difference of airborne radon concentration between Asian dust ($5.36{\pm}1.28\;Bq/m^3$) and non-Asian dust ($4.95{\pm}1.49\;Bq/m^3$) phenomenon was significant (p=0.08). We could identify time series distribution of radon concentration related meteorological factors. In addition, radon can be considered a good natural tracer of vertical dispersion and long-range transport.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.298-305
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• 2022

Background: The concentration of air pollutants as measured by the Air Quality Monitoring System (AQMS) is not an accurate population exposure level since actual human activities and temporal and spatial variability need to be considered. Therefore, to increase the accuracy of exposure assessment, the population should be considered. However, it is difficult to obtain population data due to limitations such as personal information. Objectives: The existing population defined in this study is the number of people in each region's grid. The purpose is to provide a methodology for evaluating exposure to PM_2.5 through existing population data provided by the National Geographic Information Institute. Methods: The selected study period was from October 26 to October 28, 2021. Using PM_2.5 concentration data measured at the Sensor-based Air Monitoring Station (SAMS) installed in Guro-gu and Wonju-si, the concentration for each grid was estimated by applying inverse distance weights through QGIS version 3.22. Considering the existing population, population-weighted average concentration (PWAC) was calculated and the exposure level of the population was compared by region. Results: The outdoor PM_2.5 concentration as measured through the SAMS was high in Wonju-si on all three days. Wonju-si showed an average 22% higher PWAC than Guro-gu. As a result of comparing the PWAC and outdoor PM_2.5 concentration by region, the PWAC in Guro-gu was 1~2% higher than the observed value, but it was almost the same. Conversely, observations of Wonju-si were 10.1%, 11.3%, and 8.2% higher than PWAC. Conclusions: It is expected that the Geographic Information System (GIS) method and the existing population will be used to evaluate the exposure level of a population with a narrow activity radius in further research. In addition, based on this study, it is judged that research on exposure to environmental pollutants and risk assessment methods should be expanded.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.17 no.10
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• pp.1169-1182
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• 2008

The chemical and meteorological effects on the concentration variations of air pollutants ($O_3$ and its precursors) were evaluated based on ground observation data in coastal and inland regions, Busan during springs and summers of 2005-2006. For the purpose of this study, study areas were classified into 5 categories: coastal area (CA), industrial area (IA), downtown area (DA), residential area (RA), and suburban area (SA). Two sites of Dongsam (DS) and Yeonsan (YS) were selected for the comparison purpose between the coastal and inland regions. $O_3$ concentrations in CA and SA were observed to be highest during spring (e.g., 40 ppb), whereas those in DA and RA were relatively low during summer (e.g., $22\sim24$ ppb). It was found that $O_3$ concentrations in IA were not significantly high although high VOCs (especially toluene of about 40 ppb) and $NO_x$ ($\geq$ 35 ppb) were observed. On the other hand, the concentration levels of $O_3$ and $PM_{10}$ at the DS site were significantly higher than those at the YS site, but $NO_x$ was slightly lower than that at the YS site. This might be caused by the photochemical activity and meteorological conditions (e.g., sea-land breeze and atmospheric stagnance). When maximum $O_3$ (an index of photochemical activity) exceeds 100 ppb, the contribution of secondary $PM_{10}\;((PM_{10})_{SEC})$ to total observed $PM_{10}$ concentrations was estimated up to 32% and 17% at the DS and YS sites, respectively. In addition, the diurnal variations of $(PM_{10})_{SEC}$ at the DS site were similar to those of $O_3$ regardless of season, which suggests that they are mostly secondary $PM_{10}$ produced from photochemical reactions.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.63-70
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• 1995

Continuous measurements of ground-level ozone (O3) were made in five minutes intervals in the rural area of Korea from July 1993 to June 1994. This site is located in Chongwon, near latitude 36.4$^{\circ}$N, longitude 127.6$^{\circ}$E. The results show that the one-year mean value was 17 ppb, and monthly mean ranged from 6 to 47 ppb. A pronounced maximum in summer and a minimum in winter were found, and these were related to anthropogenic emission and photochemical reaction. Diurnal variations of ozone minimum at 07:00 - 08:00. During the period when ozone concentration was very high (> 80 ppb), the stable winds were from N and UW; on the other hand, when ozone concentration was very low, air movement in the large scale was from the North Pacific Ocean. This suggests that in the rural area the long range transport of anthropogenic pollutants from distant sources can contribute to the larger contribution than the generation of ozone from local sources in the rural area.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.19-25
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• 2019

The CleanSYS(Clean SYStem) is operated to monitor air pollutants emitted from specific industrial complexes in Korea. So the industrial complexes without the system are directly monitored by the control officers. For efficient monitoring, studies using various sensors have been conducted to monitor air pollutants emitted from industrial complex. In this study, hyperspectral sensors were used to model and verify the equations for estimating the concentration of $NO_2$(nitrogen dioxide) in air pollutants emitted. For development of the equations, spectral radiance were observed for $NO_2$ at various concentrations with different SZA(Solar Zenith Angle), VZA(Viewing Zenith Angle), and RAA(Relative Azimuth Angle). From the observed spectral radiance, the calculated value of the difference between the values of the specific wavelengths was taken as an absorption depth, and the equations were developed using the relationship between the depth and the $NO_2$ concentration. The spectral radiance mixed gas of $NO_2$ and $SO_2$(sulfur dioxide) was used to verify the equations. As a result, the $R^2$(coefficient of determination) and RMSE(Root Mean Square Error) were different from 0.71~0.88 and 72~23 ppm according to the form of the equation, and $R^2$ of the exponential form was the highest among the equations. Depending on the type of the equations, the accuracy of the estimated concentration with varying concentrations is not constant. However, if the equations are advanced in the future, hyperspectral sensors can be used to monitor the $NO_2$ emitted from the industrial complex.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.557-574
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to analyze the cause of high PM2.5 mass concentrations in Cheongju for the period of non-Asian dust days using the weather chart, the stream lines at 850 hPa, the backward trajectory, and the weather and air quality model. As a result of analyzing the time series of PM2.5 concentrations and weather charts for the episodic days in Cheongju, the weather patterns were shown in related to long-range transport of PM2.5 from China or surrounding areas. In fact, in the PM2.5 time series, 60-80 ㎍ m-3, which is more than 2-3 times higher than the concentration attributed to Cheongju activities, was observed as a background concentration related to long-range transport. The distribution of high PM2.5 concentration was typically dependent on the locations of the high and low pressures above the ground while the upper jet stream passed through the Korean Peninsula. Consequently, the high PM2.5 concentration in Cheongju is due to massive air pollutants in the form of smog originated from industrial, household and energy combustion sources of Beijing and other nearby regions of China. These air pollutants move along a fast zonal wind caused by the atmospheric pressure arrangement. high concentration of PM2.5 in Cheongju City is because the mass of air pollutants in the form of smog generated from industrial, household and energy combustion origins in Beijing or other nearby regions of China move along a fast wind speed zone according to the atmospheric pressure arrangement of long-distance transportation. Air pollutants including PM2.5 show an M-shaped pattern that passes through the topography of the Cheongju basin from north to south as a belt or band-shaped pollutant. The ground high pressure according to the above-ground high pressure expansion area and cut-off low or low pressure arrangement, or the bands in the form of river stems appear in a gradual incremental pattern that changes into a U-shape under the influence of the wind.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.41 no.12
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• pp.328-335
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• 2017

Background: Some researchers have attempted to evaluate the ecological function of various additional services, away from the main point of view on the timber production of Korean forests. However, basic data, evaluation models, or studies on the absorption of air pollutants related to major plant communities in Korea are very rare. Therefore, we evaluated the functional value of the forest ecosystem in Gongju-city. Plantation manual for air purification, supplied from the Ministry of Environment in Japan, was referred to process and method for assessment of air pollutant absorption. Results: Gross primary production was calculated about average 18.2 t/ha/year. It was a relatively low value in forests mixed with deciduous broad and evergreen coniferous compared to pure coniferous forest. Net primary production was the highest value in deciduous coniferous and was the lowest value in mixed forest with deciduous broad and evergreen broad. And the mean sequestration amount of each air pollutant per unit area per year assessed from gross primary production and concentration of gas was the highest with 75.81 kg/ha/year in $O_3$ and was 16.87 and 6.04 kg/ha/year in $NO_2$ and $SO_2$, respectively. In addition, total amounts of $CO_2$ absorption and $O_2$ production were 716,045 t $CO_2$/year and 520,760 t $O_2$/year in all forest vegetation in Gongju-city. Conclusions: In this study, we evaluated the absorption ability of air pollutant in 2014 on forest in Gongju-city area. Gongju-city has the broad mountain area about 70.3%, and area of deciduous broad leaves forest was established the broadest with 47.4% of genus Quercus. Pg was calculated about average 18.2 t/ha/year. The mean sequestration amount of each air pollutant per unit area per year assessed from Pg and $C_{gas}$ was the highest with 75.81 kg/ha/year in $O_3$ and were 16.87 and 6.04 kg/ha/year in $NO_2$ and $SO_2$, respectively. Absorption rates of $O_3$, $NO_2$, and $SO_2$ were the highest in evergreen coniferous forest about $14.87kgO_3/ha/year$, $3.30kgNO_2/ha/year$, $1.18kgSO_2/ha/year$, and the lowest were $5.95kgO_3/ha/year$, $1.32kgNO_2/ha/year$, and $0.47kgSO_2/ha/year$ in deciduous broad forest. In conclusion, it was evaluated that Japanese model is suitable for estimating air pollutants in Japan to Korean vegetation. However, in Korea, there is a very limited basic data needed to assess the ability of forests to absorption of air pollutants. In this study, the accuracy of a calculated value is not high because the basic data of trees with similar life form are used in evaluation.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.112-121
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• 2006

To evaluate the performance of ventilation system properly, the correlations among the ventilation rate, indoor air-quality and cooling/heating load should be analysed. In this study, simulation tool to analyze the performance of ventilation system was developed. The simulation tool is based on the TRNSYS and some modules to calculate concentration of pollutants with the operation of ventilation system and to decide the signal of ventilation system were newly developed in this study. And these modules coupled with building load and heating/cooling simulation modules. To verify the validity of developed simulation tool, comparison study between simulation and field study were accomplished. As results, the simulation tool developed in this study can be used to predict the performance of ventilation system with accuracy.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2006.11a
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• pp.143-146
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• 2006

There has been growing concern regarding IAQ(Indoor Air Quality) recently, and IAQ problems from the air-tightness and use of chemical materials addition to the building materials have become increasingly important factors in the built environment. Ventilation is supposed as the solution of healthy indoor quality, and Korea government requests that all new apartment buildings must have a ventilation system as a matter of duty since January, 2006. The purpose of this study is to investigate the indoor concentration change of VOCs include the Formaldehyde according to many different ventilation supply types. Results showed that the reduction effect of target pollutants by the ventilation system was very slight. The cause of these results was attribute to increase the emission rate of building materials by increasing the ventilation rate.