• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.27 no.7
• /
• pp.597-610
• /
• 2018

This study observed particulate matter ($PM_{2.5}$ and $PM_{10}$) in the downtown area of Jeju City, South Korea, to understand the chemical composition of particulates based on an analysis of the water-soluble ionic species contained in the particles. The mass fraction of the ionic species in the sampled $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ was 44.3% and 42.2%, respectively. In contrast, in Daegu City and Suwon City, the mass fraction of the ionic species in $PM_{2.5}$ was higher than that in $PM_{10}$. The chloride depletion percentage of $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ in Jeju City was higher than 61% and 66%, respectively. The contribution of sea-salt to the mass of $PM_{10}$ (5.9%) and $PM_{2.5}$ (2.6%) in Jeju City was similar to that in several coastal regions of South Korea. The mass ratio of $Cl^-$ to $Na^+$ in the downtown area of Jeju City was comparable to that in some coastal regions, such as the Gosan Area of Jeju Island, Deokjeok Island, and Taean City. The mass fraction of sea-salt in $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ was very low, and the concentration of sodium and chloride ions in $PM_{10}$ was not correlated with those in $PM_{2.5}$ ($R^2$ < 0.2), suggesting that the effects of sea-salt on the formation of particulate matter in Jeju City might be insignificant. The relationship between $NH_4{^+}$ and several anions such as $SO_4{^{2-}}$, $NO_3{^-}$, and $Cl^-$, as well as the relationship between the measurement and calculation of ammonium ion concentration, suggested that sea-salts may not react with $H_2SO_4$, and $(NH_4)_2SO_4$ may be a major secondary inorganic aerosol component of $PM_{2.5}$ and $PM_{10}$ in Jeju City.

• Journal of KIBIM
• /
• v.12 no.4
• /
• pp.104-115
• /
• 2022

Fine Dust in Korea has been classified as a social disaster since 2019 due to continuous increase in concentration of Particulate Matter 10(PM 10) and PM 2.5. The fine dust issue has negative physical and mental impacts, especially on vulnerable population including children and the elderly. Seoul metropolitan government have installed fine dust shelters since 2019. However, there is a lack of research that evaluates spatiotemporal distribution of these facilities. Therefore, the first aim of this study is to find the relationship between PM levels and dust scattering construction sites, or air pollutant emission sites through in depth spatial analyses. The second purpose is to analyze the spatial distribution of PM shelters in Seoul, and to evaluate the location efficiency of them. Kernel density, krigging, and network analyses were conducted, and floating population was considered instead of census data for this research. The reults of network analysis based on the road system showed that Yangcheon-gu, Songpa-gu, Seongbuk-gu, and Dobong-gu were found to need additional fine dust shelters. Also, the results from analyzing the floating population that includes children and the elderly showed that Songpa-gu, Seodaemun-gu, Gangdong-gu, Seocho-gu, and Dongdaemun-gu need more placements of find dust shelters. The results of this study are expected to provide implications for urban planners to enhance find dust shelter placement in urban areas, and vulnerable population issues would be considered in many ways.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.1-10
• /
• 1990

Total suspended particulate (TSP) in the atmosphere was collected and size-fractionated by Andersen high volume air sampler for the past two years (Mar. 1987-Feb. 1989) in Seoul. The concentrations of several polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heavy metals were determined to investigate the atmospheric concentrations, seasonal variations and its relationship with the size distribution of suspended particulate matter. The arithmetic mean concentration of total suspended particulate was $229.48\;{\mu}g/m^3$. The concentrations of heavy metals were $2971.94\;ng/m^3$ for Fe, $767.75\;ng/m^3$ for Zn, $765.80\;ng/m^3$ for Pb, $218.40\;ng/m^3$ for Cu, $129.91\;ng/m^3$ for Mn, respectively. And the concentration of PAHs were $3.23\;ng/m^3$ for benzo(a)pyrene, $2.71\;ng/m^3$ for benzo(k)fluoranthene, $4.53\;ng/m^3$ for benzo(ghi)perylene, respectively. The mass-size distribution of TSP was lowest in the particle size range $1.1-3.3\;{\mu}m$ increased as the particle size increased or decreased. But PAHs, Pb and Zn abounded in particles below $2.0\;{\mu}m$, while Fe and Mn abouned in particles above $2.0\;{\mu}m$. TSP and its chemical compositions showed the seasonal variations. The concentrations of anthrophogenic origin like TSP, PAH and heavy metals in the fine particles were highest in winter and lowest in summer. PAH and Ph analyzed showed significant correlations with each other and with TSP concentration in fine particles, indicating that the particles in which they are contained have a similar behavior in the atmosphere.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.11 no.4
• /
• pp.254-269
• /
• 2017

The work describes an assessment of the major air pollutants, $NO_2$, $SO_2$, CO, $O_3$, $NH_3$, coarse and fine particulate matter ($PM_{10}$, $PM_{2.5}$) in ambient air in and around a 3 million tonne Petroleum Refinery and the possible impacts on a pristine area marked by the presence of the world-famous Kajiranga National Park, a world heritage site and habitat for the most number of one-horned rhinos in the world. The Refinery is at an aerial distance of 20-25 km from the wildlife habitat. The assessment is based on regular monitoring at four stations around the Refinery and one station near the National Park. Heavy rains during June to August influence the pollutant concentrations while at other times of the year, large traffic volume adds to the pollutant concentrations that peak during November to March, the dry months of the year. Correlation analysis by scatter technique is utilised to obtain the enhancement ratios to predict the variations in the concentrations of the pollutants and their spatial distribution. Computation of air quality index (AQI) indicates that the coarse and the fine particulates in the ambient air could be a major hazard to wildlife in the area.

• Particle and aerosol research
• /
• v.5 no.4
• /
• pp.171-178
• /
• 2009

$PM_{2.5}$ is one of critical air pollutants due to its high absorbability of heavy metallic fumes, PAH and bacillary micro organisms. Such a fine particulate matter is often formed through various nucleation processes including condensation. This study attempts to find the nucleation behaviors of $PM_{2.5}$ arisen from coal power stations using a classical heterogeneous Fletcher's theory. The numerical simulation by C-language could approximate the nucleation process of $PM_{2.5}$ from water vapor, of which approach revealed the required energy for embryo formation and embryo size and nucleation rate. As a result of the calculation, it was found that wetting agents could affect the particle nucleation in vapor condensation. In particular, critical contact angle relates closely with the vapor saturation. Particle condensation could be reduced by lowering the angles. The wetting agents aid to decrease the contact angle and surface tensions, thereby may contribute to save the formation energy.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.294-299
• /
• 2002

PM (Particulate Matter) samples contained fungal spores were collected in the ambient air of Seosan, west Korea, in springtime of 2000 and 2001. PM concentrations were $199.8\mu{g}\;m^{-3}$ in the 1st Asian Dust Storm period (March, 23 ~ 24) and $249.4\mu{g}\;m^{-3}$ in the 2nd period (April, 7~9), 2000. Compared with the concentrations in 2000, relatively low PM concentration ($157.3\mu{g}\;m^{-3}$ ) was measured in the Asian Dust Storm period (April, 24 ~ 20) of 2001. Although there were somewhat differences for the total PM concentrations among the three periods, majorities of the PM were composed of coarse particles sized about 5 ~ 6 $\mu{m}$ over the periods of the two years. Diverse molds grown from fungal aerosols were observed in the PM samples and identified at the genus level. All the genera, Fusarium, Aspergillus, Penicillium, Basipetospora, Epicoccum and Monotospora are hyphomycetes in the division Fungi imperfecti (Deuteromycota). Especially, morphologically more diversified mycelia of hyphomycetes were grown on the fine PM sample (1.1 ~ 2.1 $\mu{m}$) than coarse PM samples in the periods of 2000. Furthermore, some molds were grown on even the background PM sample less than 0.43 $\mu{m}$ in the period of 2001. It was thought that some kinds of ultra fine sized fungal spores were transported by the Asian Dust Storm and suspended in the ambient air of study area during the events.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Industry Convergence
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.339-343
• /
• 2017

Masks are a portable functional product for daily use. They can protect user health by filtering harmful fine particles in the air. In the past decade, there have been approximately 10 yellow dust incidences per year, amounting to a total duration of 20 days, and they continue to increase year after year. In addition, the frequency of yellow dust incidences in Korea has increased by more than four times compared to levels from the 1970s. Statistical reports indicate that annual damages caused by yellow dust amount to more than six trillion KRW. This study developed a zero-fog multi-layer mask with a collection efficiency and yellow dust and particulate matter filtration areas that are at least thrice as effective as existing masks. The new mask also reduces pressure drag by half.

• Proceedings of the Korea Air Pollution Research Association Conference
• /
• 2003.05b
• /
• pp.305-307
• /
• 2003

우리가 숨쉬고 있는 대기 중에는 많은 부유 먼지가 존재하고 있으며, 이는 산업활동의 증가와 도시화, 차량 수 등의 증가로 인하여 그 종류와 농도가 크게 변화하여 자연 생태계 및 인체 건강에 심각한 영향과 피해를 유발시키고 있다(1989; 1996). 이러한 부유 먼지는 거대먼지(coarse particle)와 미세먼지(fine particle)로 분류할 수 있다. 미세먼지에는 여러 가지 금속성분, 유기물질,virus, 조류 및 곰팡이 등이 포함되어 있으며, 다환 방향 족 탄화수소(polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, PAH) 등의 발암성 물질이 포함되어 있다. (중략)

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
• /
• v.20 no.4 s.51
• /
• pp.365-374
• /
• 2005

Ambient air particulate matters are classified into two distinct modes in sire distribution, namely the coarse and fine particles. Correlation between high particulate concentration and adverse effect on human populations has long been recognized. However, the toxicology of these adverse efforts has not been clarified. We investigated the genotoxic effect of PM 2.5 collected from urban area in Seoul by comet assay (A549 cells), CBMN assay (CHO-K1 cells) and EROD-microbioassay (H4IIE cells). Results from in vitro micronucleus assay and comet assay showed that PM 2.5 samples collected from traffic area, residential area and indoor air induced chromosomal damage and DNA breakage in a non-cytotoxic dose. The complex mixture effect of these PM 2.5 extracts was quantified by EROD-microbioassay in terms of its bio-TEQ (biologiral -TCDD equivalent concentration) which was 70.87$\pm$28.07, 93.55$\pm$21.80 and 14.31 $\pm$ 1.10 ng/g-PM 2.5 in traffic area, residental area and indoor air samples, respectively. Conclusively, we suggested that PM 2.5 collected from traffic area and residential area contains CYPIA inducer and genotoxic materials.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.36 no.4
• /
• pp.306-312
• /
• 2010

This field study was performed to evaluate the efficiency of a plasma ion-operated air cleaner in temporal reduction of airborne pollutants emitted from a pig housing facility. In the case of gaseous pollutants, the plasma ion air cleaner was not effective in reducing levels of ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, nitrogen dioxide, or sulfur dioxide (p>0.05). In the case of particulate pollutants, however, the air cleaner was effective in reducing levels of particulate matter ($PM_{2.5}$ and $PM_1$) by 79(${\pm}6.1$) and 78(${\pm}3.0$)%, respectively. Unlike the case of these fine particle fractions, the reduction of total suspended particles (TSP) and $PM_{10}$ following treatment was almost negligible. In the case of biological pollutants, the mean reduction efficiencies for airborne bacteria and fungi were relatively low at 22(${\pm}6.6$) and 25(${\pm}8.7$)%, respectively. Taken together, these results indicate that in terms of air pollutants released from this pig housing facility, the plasma ion air cleaner was primarily effective in reducing levels of $PM_{2.5}$ and $PM_1$.