• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.61-69
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• 2011

Perceived air quality (PAQ) is defined as evaluation of indoor air satisfaction and comfortable sensory by occupants. However, there are differences between criteria of indoor pollutants and lowest sensory thresholds. In this study, we compared indoor PAQ by questionnaire with measured benzene, toluene and nitrogen dioxide ($NO_2$) concentrations in home indoors. The $NO_2$ concentration was the highest in Seoul, while benzene and toluene were the highest in Asan. Average PAQ score in winter was higher than that in summer. Significant correlations between PAQs of home indoor air pollution and measured pollutant concentrations were not shown and correlation coefficients (r) ranged between -0.453

• International Journal of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.48-54
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• 2020

Researchers recognized air pollution changes causing diseases and difficulties in living due to environmental pollution following various human activities, and have studied how to avoid fine dust harmful to the human respiratory system to be healthy. To this end, Arduino is used to equip fine dust level sensors in drones to measure the fine dust levels, visualize the measurements with LED indicator colors depending on the measurements to inform users of the danger of fine dust, and use the benefits of drones to specify dangerous fine dust zones and measure the fine dust levels. Users can see the changes depending on the fine dust levels in real time with the LED indicators. This will contributes to measuring fine dust levels easily in dangerous areas. Mission Planner (ArduPilot) is used to set up the GPS of drone, and store the data from the dust sensor as contents. This study aims to establish a method for improving the environment to measure fine dust levels with drones with LED indicators for fine dust, and reduce fine dust.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.490-498
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• 2010

HCFC-22 (chlorodifluoromethane, $CHClF_2$), one of the major components in various refrigeration, is emitted mostly from developing countries, as its consumption is not limited until 2013 by the Montreal Protocol. In addition, HFC-23 (trifluoromethane, $CHF_3$), a by-product in the manufacture of HCFC-22, is also a powerful greenhouse gas. Here, we discuss the regional emission characteristics of these compounds based on high-frequency in-situ measurements using the "Medusa" GC-MS system. HCFC-22 and HFC-23 baseline concentrations measured at Gosan (Jeju Island, Korea) from November 2007 to December 2008 increased by 1.8 ppt/yr and 0.6 ppt/yr, respectively. Pollution events of these compounds were observed, very frequently (e.g., ~2~3 times) at Gosan than baseline levels. All the measurement data were divided into four groups by simultaneously considering the ratio (HFC-23/HCFC-22) and concentration (HCFC-22) at Trinidad Head (TH, California, USA). The residence time of trajectories were then analyzed in each of the four groups. The results exhibited the existence of a strong correlation with air mass origin for each group: 1) Air masses originating from Siberia in the north and from the Pacific in the south had ratios of 0.08~0.12 and concentrations of 196.9~254.3 ppt which is highly comparable to background air at TH. 2) Air masses passing over the Southern China exhibited similar ratios but higher HCFC-22 concentrations. 3) Air masses passing over the Northern China had ratios of 0.12~0.21. 4) Air masses passing over Korea and/or Japan had ratios of 0.01~0.08. Our results suggest that the HFC-23/HCFC-22 ratio can be used as a good indicator for the assessment of the pollution with Chinese origin. We also confirmed differences in air masses traveling over Northern and Southern China, most likely due to differences in air mass travelling speed over these regions before arriving at Gosan. This signature may be treated as one of the critical components in identifying the emission sources from different parts of China.

• Atmosphere
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.439-454
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• 2020

This study investigates the change in the fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentration and World Health Organization (WHO) air quality index (AQI) in East Asia (EA) under Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs). AQI is an indicator of increasing levels about health concern, divided into six categories based on PM2.5 annual concentrations. Here, we utilized the ensemble results of UKESM1, the climate model operated in Met Office, UK, for the analysis of long-term variation during the historical (1950~2014) and future (2015~2100) period. The results show that the spatial distributions of simulated PM2.5 concentrations in present-day (1995~2014) are comparable to observations. It is found that most regions in EA exceeded the WHO air quality guideline except for Japan, Mongolia regions, and the far seas during the historical period. In future scenarios containing strong air quality (SSP1-2.6, SSP5-8.5) and medium air quality (SSP2-4.5) controls, PM2.5 concentrations are substantially reduced, resulting in significant improvement in AQI until the mid-21st century. On the other hand, the mild air pollution controls in SSP3-7.0 tend to lead poor AQI in China and Korea. This study also examines impact of increased in PM2.5 concentrations on downward shortwave energy at the surface. As a result, strong air pollution controls can improve air quality through reduced PM2.5 concentrations, but lead to an additional warming in both the near and mid-term future climate over EA.

• Proceedings of the Korea Air Pollution Research Association Conference
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• 2003.05b
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• pp.137-138
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• 2003

광화학 오존의 생성에 필수적인 3가지 요소 중에서 인위적으로 조절가능한 부분은 질소화합물과 유기화합물의 배출량이다. 하지만 배출량 감소를 유도하여 이들의 대기 중 농도를 줄일 경우 오존 발생이 저감될 지의 여부는 매우 다양하고 복잡한 화학반응들을 평가한 결과 단순한 상관 관계가 아닐 수 있다는 것이 밝혀져 있다. 이는 어떤 경우 이들 오염물질의 배출량 감소에도 불구하고 오존의 농도는 오히려 증가할 수 있는 가능성을 지시한다. 결국 오존발생에 관여하는 질소 화합물과 휘발성유기화합물의 정확한 정량적인 평가가 우선되어야 한다. (중략)

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.491-502
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• 2003

In the present work, the distribution characteristics of ambient volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were investigated at high temporal resolution from a monitoring station located in a mid-eastern area of Seoul. A total number of 587 samples were collected during December 2002 to January 2003. The measurements of VOC were conducted by a combination of on-line air sampling and thermal desorption unit (TDU) coupled with capillary GC/FID analysis. A total of five aromatic compounds (BTEX: benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, m, p-xylene, and o-xylene) were measured routinely at hourly intervals during the whole study period. The mean concentrations of BTEX measured in our study period were found in the order: toluene (8.99 $\pm$5.38 ppb) > benzene (0.92$\pm$0.52 ppb) > m, p-xylene (0.51$\pm$0.34 ppb) > 0- xylene (0.48$\pm$0.35 ppb) > ethyl benzene (0.43$\pm$ 0.32 ppb). The BTEX concentrations were generally higher during the daytime than the nighttime, exhibiting certain patterns on a weekly basis. Results of our analysis indicate that the unusually high concentrations of toluene, while showing good correlations with other VOCs, can be a good indicator of air pollution in the study area.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.29-41
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• 1988

This study was performed to investigate the air pollution levels in Daegu area titrough measuring of contents of water, chlorophyll, water soluble sulfur and lead metal in the leaves of roadside trees and chemical properties of soil under the urban trees. The results can be summarized as follows 1. The range of water content was from 60.4% to 74.6%. The comparisons of chlorophyll, water soluble sulfur and water content were regression equation, chlorophyll=0.1981+ 0.0040 water content (July), water soluble sulfur=3,139-0.0416 water content (July). and correlation coefficient, r=0.561 and r=0.549 respectively 2. Average contents of chlorophyll, water soluble sulfur and lead metal in the leaves of roadside tree at sampling sites were chlorophyll 0.050, 0.072mg/cm$^2$, water soluble sulfur 0.244, 0.333%, and lead metal 12.25, 12.68ppm in Oct. and Jul. respectively. 3. Correlation between chlorophyll and contents of water soluble sulfur and lead metal in the leaves of roadside tree at sampling sites were water soluble sulfur r=-0.564, -0.613 and lead metal r=-0.693, -0.699 in October and July, respectively. 4. Correlation between chlorophyll and water content, water soluble sulfur and lead metal in the leaves of tree showed positive significance.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.293-301
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• 2016

Objectives: This paper presents the current development progress of environmental health indicators (EHIs) in the Republic of Korea and discusses the utilization, limitations and prospects of EHIs. Methods: The development process and assessment criteria of EHIs were established based on the DPSEEA (Driving force-Pressure-State-Exposure-Effect-Action) framework with reference to that of the World Health Organization-Europe. In order to explore the applicability of EHIs, a case study was performed to compare the atmospheric environmental health status between the Republic of Korea and European region countries using six indicators. Results: Through the development process, 23 indicators in five areas including air quality, indoor air quality, climate change, chemicals, and water quality were developed, mostly using national statistical data. As a result of the case study comparing environmental health indicators in air quality between the Republic of Korea and Europe, it could be useful to understand the different situation of air pollution source, emission, exposure and health effects. Conclusion: In order for EHIs to compare environmental health status and be used as an environmental health policy development tool for vulnerable areas and related factors, it is necessary to develop further indicators for various issues other than air quality and conduct additional research on their interpretation and related implications, such as policy implementation effects.

• Proceedings of the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.62-69
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• 2021

This study aimed to verify the suitability of an air quality regulating service for wetland ecosystem service evaluation by investigating the effect of reducing particulate matter (PM) on vegetation in wetlands. We installed tunnel-type experimental plots at Yonghwasil Pond in the National Institute of Ecology and set up the input and output of PM by applying the natural vegetation of the relevant wetlands. We took measurements by replicating four different conditions four times each. The air quality regulating service in each experimental plot was measured based on PM10 concentration; further, the difference between the input and the output concentration of PM passing through the Phragmites australis community tunnel was measured using a light scattering method. For the Phragmites australis community in the outdoor conditions and bare land, the PM concentration was measured with the same specifications as tunnel-type experimental plots without setting up the input and output. For the tunnel-type experimental plots, PM10 concentration was significantly lower in the output than in the input. Furthermore, in the outdoor conditions, a comparison between the Phragmites australis community and bare land showed that the concentration was relatively low in the former than in the latter. This confirmed the PM reducing effect due to the blockage and absorption of PM depending on the growth of Phragmites australis. Based on the results of this study, we assessed the air quality regulating service in wetlands as an evaluation indicator.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.49-57
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• 2014

Orb-web spiders can be considered as an effective bio-indicative animal to monitor the ecological air pollution of certain habitat since they have limited shifting ability during their life spans. In this study we revealed the fine structural characteristics of booklung in the orb-web spider Nephila clavata, and its bio-indicative significance in the monitoring environmental asbestos exposure. The high resolution scanning electron microscopy results suggest that the cuticular spikes near the atrium could be act as an effective filtering structure for dust materials. Furthermore, inner cuticular spikes which protruded across the air sacs, have the functions not only sustaining appropriate respiratory volume of each air sac but also help to enhance respiratory capacity by maximizing the gross surface area for gas exchange. Interestingly, in spite of short exposure, the asbestose fibrils were effectively captured on the surface of the atrial cuticular spikes. Furthermore, histologic damages were observed due to penetration of asbestos fibrils through air sacs and fixed on the hemolymph space. In addition, although accumulated mass of hemocytes were observed near the fibrils, there were no asbestos bodies or coagulated hemocytes were found on the surface of the fibrils, This could be mainly due to the short exposure period towards asbestos. Briefly, these results indicate the spider's booklung could be valuable tool in the detection ecological air pollutants.