• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
• /
• v.5 no.3_4
• /
• pp.19-28
• /
• 1990

Nitroarenes are ubiquitous environmental pollutants displaying potent mutagenicity in bacteria and carcinogenicity in mammal. In this study, the concentration of nitroarenes in coarse and fine particles and mutagenicity of POC$\_$N/ fraction was investigated in suspended particulates at the Shinchon and Bulkwang area of Seoul. The suspended particulates were collected bimonthly by a high volume cascade impactor air sampler from July 1987 to May 1988. Extractable organic matter was obtained by ultrasonic extraction on diethly ether/cyclohexane (8/2, v/v). Neutral fraction was obtained by liquid-liquid extraction. Polar neutral organic compounds (POC$\_$N/) was fractionated by thin-layer chromatography. Finally, the concentrations of nitroarenes in POC$\_$N/ fraction were measured and determined by capillary gas chromatography. Direct and indirect mutagenicity of POC$\_$N/ fraction were measured using Salmonella typhimurium TA 98. The result were as follows: 1) Major nitroarenes at the Shinchon area was 1-nitropyrene and at the Bulkwang area it was 2,7-dinitro-9-fluorenone during the year. 2) Average concentration of total nitroarenes measured was 67.26 ng/m$^3$in fine particles which was 1,3 folds higher that in coarse particle (52.30 ng/m$^3$). 3) Annual pattern of nitroarenes concentrations revealed that concentration during heating season (Feb., Jan., Mar.) was 2.2 folds higher than that in non heating season (May, Jul., Sep.). Concentration of each season has 157.68 ng/m$^3$and 80.39 ng/m$^3$. 4) The mutagenic activity of POC$\_$N/ fraction from fine particles was higher compared to that of coarse particles and was increased when metabolically activated, with 59 mixture. Mutagenicities, Metabolically activated, were significantly different between Shinchon and Bulkwang area, 322.8 rev/250 $\mu\textrm{g}$/plate and 286.8 rev/250 $\mu\textrm{g}$/plate, respectively. 5) Annual pattern of mutagenicity of POC$\_$N/ fraction revealed that mutagenicity during the heating season was 1.7 folds higher at Shinchon area and 1.2 folds higher at Bulkwang than during the non heating season. The variable contents and levels of nitroarenes in suspended particulates may affect human health significantly. Further studies such as risk assessment should be conducted on the basis of these kind of studies.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.26 no.5
• /
• pp.475-489
• /
• 2010

In order to verify the enhancement of ozone and carbon monoxide (CO) during springtime in East Asia, we investigated weather conditions and data from remote sensors, air quality models, and air quality monitors. These include the geopotential height archived from the final (FNL) meteorological field, the potential vorticity and the wind velocity simulated by the Meteorological Mesoscale Model 5 (MM5), the back trajectory estimated by the Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model, the total column amount of ozone and the aerosol index retrieved from the Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS), the total column density of CO retrieved from the Measurement of Pollution in the Troposphere (MOPITT), and the concentration of ozone and CO simulated by the Model for Ozone and Related Chemical Tracers (MOZART). In particular, the total column density of CO, which mightoriginate from the combustion of fossil fuels and the burning of biomass in China, increased in East Asia during spring 2000. In addition, the enhancement of total column amounts of ozone and CO appeared to be associated with both the upper cut-off low near 500 hPa and the frontogenesis of a surface cyclone during a weak Asian dust event. At the same time, high concentrations of ozone and CO on the Earth's surface were shown at the Seoul air quality monitoring site, located at the surface frontogenesis in Korea. It was clear that the ozone was invaded by the downward stretched vortex anomalies, which included the ozone-rich airflow, during movement and development of the cut-off low, and then there was the catalytic photochemical reaction of ozone precursors on the Earth's surface during the day. In addition, air pollutants such as CO and aerosol were tracked along both the cyclone vortex and the strong westerly as shown at the back trajectory in Seoul and Busan, respectively. Consequently, the maxima of ozone and CO between the two areas showed up differently because of the time lag between those gases, including their catalytic photochemical reactions together with the invasion from the upper troposphere, as well as the path of their transport from China during the weak Asian dust event.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
• /
• v.47 no.5
• /
• pp.580-586
• /
• 2009

In this study, co-combustion characteristics of Chinese bituminous coal and North Korean anthracite were investigated using a 2 MWe scale circulating fluidized bed power plant. At first, the combustion efficiency of bituminous coal of China and Australia as a function of excess air ratio and temperature were observed. The results showed that the combustion efficiency was influenced by particle size and volatile content of coal, the combustion efficiency of Chinese bituminous coal was over 99.5%. The unburned carbon particles from fly ash and bottom ash were a content 5~7% and 0.3%, respectively. The combustion efficiency with the mixture ratio 20% of bituminous coal and anthracite decreased over 5% because of the increase of entrained particles by a small average particle size of anthracite in the combustor. However, the outlet concentration of $SO_2$ and $NO_x$ was not changed remarkably. The concentrations of the typical air pollutants such as $NO_x$ and $SO_2$ were 200~250 ppm($O_2$ 6%), 100~320 ppm($O_2$ 6%) respectively. The outlet concentration of $NO_x$ was decreased to 30~65% with $NH_3$ supplying rate of 2~13 l/min in SCR process. The $SO_x$ removal efficiency was up to 70% by in-furnace desulfurization using limestone with Ca/S molar of approximately 6.5. With wet scrubbing using $Mg(OH)_2$ as absorbent, the $SO_x$ removal efficiency reached 100% under near pH 5.0 of scrubbing liquid.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
• /
• v.22 no.6
• /
• pp.480-490
• /
• 2001

The soil-air exchange processes of Hg were investigated from the Hari area of Kang Hwa Island during the late March 2001. In the course of our study, we determined the concentration gradients of Hg and combined these gradient data with micrometeorological components to derive its fluxes. Results of our study indicate that the concentration levels of Hg in the study area are notably lower than those typically found in urbanized areas of Korea. However, the computed fluxes were seen to be significantly larger for relatively remote areas, reaching over 200 ng/m$^2$/hr. Comparison of environmental conditions shows that the concentrations of most pollutant species including NO$_X$ and PM were significantly higher during emission, while meteorological conditions were characterized by high temperature and low humidity. Results of correlation analysis also indicate that such pollutants as hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, and PM generally exhibit strong positive correlations with Hg-related parameters during emission events, while such relationships were reversed during dry deposition events. The results of our present study suggest the possibility that the concentrations and fluxes of total gaseous Hg observed during deposition events can be influenced by the processes that are also important for the fine, rather than coarse, size fraction of particles.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.23 no.5
• /
• pp.547-556
• /
• 2007

The release, sampling and analytical methods have been developed and tested for perfluorocarbons (PFCs) atmospheric tracers in order to gain insight into the atmospheric transport and dispersion over the urban conditions of Seoul, Korea. Although PFCs tracer experiments provide unique opportunities to test local and urban scale of transport and dispersion, no previous experiment with PFCs has been conducted in Korea. PMCH and PDCH were chosen as targeted tracers in our study due to their extreme low ambient concentrations and great sensitivities among various PFCs. For PFCs release system, a set of micro-metering pump, electronic balance, vaporizing furnace and high speed blower was constructed for precise and accurate release of tracers. The precision of released rate by this system was estimated to be 1%. Samplings of PFCs were carried out by fabricated portable air samplers with micro pumps and rotameters into glass tubes packed with 150 mg of Carboxen-569. The uncertainty of these sampling system was maintained below 14%. PMCH and PDCH were quantified in GC/ECD with preconditioned injection system to eliminate the interference compounds using traps and subsequent catalytic conversion system prior to column separation. Three intensive field test were undertaken during the springtime of 2002 to 2004 in eastern part of Seoul. Daily background samples were collected to characterize the background levels of PMCH and PDCH prior to their release. The observed background concentrations of PMCH ranged from 3.5 to 10.1 fL/L and varied randomly in location and time in this study. Its mean and standard variation of background concentration ($6.8{\pm}1.9\;fL/L$) are higher than those ($3.2{\sim}5.8\;fL/L$) of other historic tracer studies. Identified uncertainty for background PMCH was $1.7{\sim}2.0\;fL/L$ using this analytical system. Combined relative uncertainty in determining the tracer's concentrations was estimated as 17%. However, its background concentrations and uncertainty in concentration determination were found to be low and stable enough for tracer study.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.33 no.2
• /
• pp.87-96
• /
• 2017

In this study, 4 gases containing typical chlorinated volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were treated by ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. The typical chlorinated VOCs are dichloromethane (DCM), trichloromethane (TCM), carbon tetrachloride (CTC) and trichloroethylene (TCE). The removal efficiency (RE) and the products of chlorinated VOCs by UV irradiation are investigated. At this time, 2 types of background gas (air and nitrogen) were used to figure out the RE by photooxidation and photolysis. The specification of UV-lamp used in this study was low-pressure mercury lamp emitting wavelength of 185~254 nm. The experimental conditions were set as initial VOC concentration of $180{\pm}10ppm$, empty bed retention time (EBRT) of 53 s, temperature of $23{\pm}2^{\circ}C$ and relative humidity of $65{\pm}5%$. In the photolysis condition with nitrogen ($N_2$) as background gas, the averaged RE of the 4 types of chlorinated VOCs was about 24% higher than that with photooxidation; and the REs of VOCs except CTC were confirmed as >99%. The composition of off-gases after UV photooxidation in air was investigated and several intermediates from DCM, TCM and TCE were detected by GC/MS. Among them, phosgene which is a toxics was detected as an intermediate of TCM. In addition, the concentration of carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) in the off-gases was measured to calculate the mineralization rate (MR). With the photooxidation, TCE showed the highest RE (>99%) while MR was the lowest (17%); and the MR of DCM was the highest (86%). In addition, particulate matters (PM) in the off-gases was also detected and high concentrated $PM_{10}$ ($21,580{\mu}g{\cdot}m^{-3}$) and $PM_{2.5}$ ($6,346{\mu}g{\cdot}m^{-3}$) were detected in TCE off-gas. More than 99% of the chlorinated VOCs could be removed using UV254-185 nm lamp, while it is necessary to conduct further studies on the production and treatment of secondary pollutants.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.35 no.10
• /
• pp.717-723
• /
• 2013

The Korea Ministry of Environment prepares some paticulate matter eliminate measures for national health protection, as the Paticulate Matter ($PM_{2.5}$) exceeds the standard at more than half of the monitoring posts installed in the nation's big cities. At the center of JeonJu, when measuring the ultrafine particles of inner car at the different driving conditions, at the condition of the Actuator of inner recirculation mode and the Blower of 2-speed, the reduction speed of the ultrafine particles is most fast and the concentration stays low. When the windows are opened during driving, outer pollutants enter the car and also inner paticulate matter flies in all direction, and the increase of passengers causes the scattering of the ultrafine paticles. As the filter for air cleaning, the using of polypropylene non-woven fabric (used commonly now) is most excellent, but for the removal of volatile organic substance as well as the paticulate matter, it is thought that the using of activated carbon fiber filter, carbon adsorbent, is even more excellent.

• Journal of Internet of Things and Convergence
• /
• v.6 no.4
• /
• pp.7-14
• /
• 2020

This study analyzed the effect of the number of deaths of circulatory system diseases according to 12-day short-term exposure of carbon monoxide from January 2010 to December 2018, and predicted the future treatment cost of circulatory system diseases according to increased carbon monoxide concentration. Data were extracted from Air Korea of Korea Environment Corporation and Korea Statistical Office, and analyzed using Poisson regression analysis and ARIMA intervention model. For statistical processing, SPSS Ver. 21.0 program was used. The results of the study are as follows. First, as a result of analyzing the relationship between the impact of short-term carbon monoxide exposure on death of circulatory system diseases from the day to the previous 11 days, it was found that the previous 11 days had the highest impact. Second, with the increase in carbon monoxide concentration, the future circulatory system disease treatment cost was estimated at 10,123 billion won in 2019, higher than the observed value of 9,443 billion won at the end of December 2018. In addition, when summarized by month, it can be seen that the cost of treatment for circulatory diseases increases from January to December, reflecting seasonal fluctuations. Through such research, the future for a healthy life for all citizens can be realized by distributing various devices and equipment utilizing IoT to preemptively respond to the increase in air pollutants such as carbon monoxide.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.22 no.10
• /
• pp.1893-1904
• /
• 2000

Nitrogen compounds are one of the major pollutants which cause eutrophication problems of the river or lake and red tides problems of the ocean. Currently available technologies for the removal of nitrogen compounds are mostly biological treatment. However, biological treatment is only effective for the wastewater which contains low concentration of nitrogen compounds. Leachate from solid waste landfill or industrial wastewater which contains high concentration of nitrogen can not be effectively treated by most of the currently available biological treatment technologies. With this connection. the objective of this study is to examine the applicability of ammonia stripping technology for the removal of high concentration of ammonia nitrogen compounds of the leachate from solid waste landfill. It can be concluded that ammonia stripping technology which was placed before the biological treatment process was very effective for the removal of high concentration of ammonium compounds. The chemical cost for the ammonia stripping was 16 percent higher than MLE process, so other methods like sludge recycling are needed for the reduction of operation cost. Further details are discussed in this paper.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.241-250
• /
• 2018

The objective of this study was to estimate air quality trends in the study area by surveying monthly and seasonal concentration trends. To do this, the mass concentration of $PM_{10}$ samples and the metals, ions, and total carbon in the $PM_{10}$ were analyzed. The mean concentration of $PM_{10}$ was $33.9{\mu}g/m^3$. The composition of $PM_{10}$ was 39.2% ionic species, 5.1% metallic species, and 26.6% carbonic species (EC and OC). Ionic species, especially sulfate, ammonium, and nitrate, were the most abundant in the $PM_{10}$ and had a high correlation coefficient with $PM_{10}$. Seasonal variation of $PM_{10}$ showed a similar pattern to those of ionic and metallic species. with high concentration during the winter and spring seasons. $PM_{10}$ showed high correlation with the ionic species $NO_3{^-}$ and $NH_4{^+}$. In addition, $NH_4{^+}$ was highly correlated with $SO{_4}^{2-}$ and $NO_3{^-}$. We obtained four factors through factor analysis and determined the pollution sources using the United States Environmental Protection Agency(U.S. EPA) pollution profile. The first factor accounted for 51.1% of $PM_{10}$ from complex sources, that is, soil, motor vehicles, and secondary particles: the second factor indicated marine sources; the third factor, industry-related sources; and the last factor, heating-related sources. However, the pollution profile used in this study may be somewhat different from the actual situation in Korea because it was from US EPA. Therefore, to more accurately estimate the pollutants present, it is necessary to create a pollution profile for Korea.