• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.567-587
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• 2018

A severe haze event occurred in October 2015 in Gwangju, Korea. In this study, the driving chemical species and the formation mechanisms of $PM_{2.5}$ pollution were investigated to better understand the haze event. Hourly concentrations of $PM_{2.5}$, organic and elemental carbon, water-soluble ions, and elemental constituents were measured at the air quality intensive monitoring station in Gwangju. The haze event occurred was attributed to a significant contribution (72.3%) of secondary inorganic species concentration to the $PM_{2.5}$, along with the contribution of organic aerosols that were strongly attributed to traffic emissions over the study site. MODIS images, weather charts, and air mass backward trajectories supported the significant impact of long-range transportation (LTP) of aerosol particles from northeastern China on haze formation over Gwangju in October 2015. The driving factor for the haze formation was stagnant atmospheric flows around the Korean peninsula, and high relative humidity (RH) promoted the haze formation at the site. Under the high RH conditions, $SO{_4}^{2-}$ and $NO_3{^-}$ were mainly produced through the heterogenous aqueous-phase reactions of $SO_2$ and $NO_2$, respectively. Moreover, hourly $O_3$ concentration during the study period was highly elevated, with hourly peaks ranging from 79 to 95ppb, suggesting that photochemical reaction was a possible formation process of secondary aerosols. Over the $PM_{2.5}$ pollution, behavior and formation of secondary ionic species varied with the difference in the impact of LTP. Prior to October 19 when the influence of LTP was low, increasing rate in $NO_3{^-}$ was greater than that in $NO_2$, but both $SO_2$ and $SO{_4}^{2-}$ had similar increasing rates. While, after October 20 when the impact of haze by LTP was significant, $SO{_4}^{2-}$ and $NO_3{^-}$ concentrations increased significantly more than their gaseous precursors, but with greater increasing rate of $NO_3{^-}$. These results suggest the enhanced secondary transformation of $SO_2$ and $NO_2$ during the haze event. Overall, the result from the study suggests that control of anthropogenic combustion sources including vehicle emissions is needed to reduce the high levels of nitrogen oxide and $NO_3{^-}$ and the high $PM_{2.5}$ pollution occurred over fall season in Gwangju.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.423-438
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• 2008

BEIS2 (Biogenic Emissions Inventory System version 2) and BEIS3.12 (BEIS version 3.12) were used to estimate hourly biogenic emissions over South Korea using a set of vegetation and meteorological data simulated with the MM5 (Mesoscale Model version 5). Two biogenic emission models utilized different emission factors and showed different responses to solar radiations, resulting in about $10{\sim}20%$ difference in the nationwide isoprene emission estimates. Among the 11-vegetation classes, it was found that mixed forest and deciduous forest are the most important vegetation classes producing isoprene emissions over South Korea comprising ${\sim}90%$ of the total. The simulated isoprene concentrations over Seoul metropolitan area show that diurnal and daily variations match relatively well with the PAMS (Photochemical Air Monitoring Station) measurements during the period of June 3${\sim}$June 10, 2004. Compared to BEIS2, BEIS3.12 yielded ${\sim}35%$ higher isoprene concentrations during daytime and presented better matches to the high peaks observed over the Seoul area. This study showed that the importance of vegetation data and emission factors to estimate biogenic emissions. Thus, it is expected to improve domestic vegetation categories and emission factors in order to better represent biogenic emissions over South Korea.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.310-320
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• 2008

Concentration of tropospheric ozone ($O_3$) was investigated for the South Korea. And then the critical ozone levels, expressed as AOT40 (Accumulated exposure over a threshold of 40 ppb) to vegetation have been used in this region within the UNECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe) Convention on Long-Range Trans-boundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP). Hourly ozone concentration data from 1996 to 2001 at 26 air monitoring stations was used to estimate the exceedance of the critical levels. It was calculated for daylight hours for each station, and mapped using surface interpolation over the South Korea. The critical levels of ozone have shown the highly exceeded value in the Gyeonggi region, southern coastal region and central inland of the South Korea. It was some different from the typical ozone distribution which represented highly in the western inland and coastal regions. The area exceeding the critical level for crops was founded to be more than 40% of the whole South Korean territory. While that for trees was to be about 17% of the South Korea. The critical ozone critical level was based upon data from experiments on specific species, and thus may not be fully representative for all types of vegetation. Nevertheless, the critical level and its exceedance of the ozone concentration would be one of the useful tools for international agreements on abatement strategies to prevent ecosystem damage.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.63 no.5
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• pp.640-648
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• 2020

Objective : This study aimed to assess the relationship between increased intracranial pressure (ICP) and mastoid effusions (ME). Methods : Between January 2015 and October 2018, patients who underwent intracranial surgery and had ICP monitoring catheters placed were enrolled. ICP was recorded hourly for at least 3 days. ME was determined by the emergence of opacification in mastoid air cells on follow-up brain imaging. C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, presence of endotracheal tube (ETT) and nasogastric tube (NGT), duration of intensive care unit (ICU) stay, duration of mechanical ventilator application, diagnosis, surgical modalities, and presence of sinusitis were recorded. Each factor's effect on the occurrence of ME was analyzed by binary logistic regression analyses. To analyze the independent effects of ICP as a predictor of ME a multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed. Results : Total of 61 (53%) out of 115 patients had ME. Among the patients who had unilateral brain lesions, 94% of subject (43/50) revealed the ipsilateral development of ME. ME developed at a mean of 11.1±6.2 days. The variables including mean ICP, peak ICP, age, trauma, CRP, ICU stays, application of mechanical ventilators and presence of ETT and NGT showed statistically significant difference between ME groups and non-ME groups in univariate analysis. Sex and the occurrence of sinusitis did not differ between two groups. Adding the ICP variables significantly improved the prediction of ME in multivariable logistic regression analysis. Conclusion : While multiple factors affect ME, this study demonstrates that ICP and ME are probably related. Further studies are needed to determine the mechanistic relationship between ICP and middle ear pressure.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.367-374
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• 2016

In this study, the RDII impact on sewer designing in the upstream monitoring area (A site) was considered. Based on the long-term (1/1/2011~12/31/2011) rainfall and flow data consisting of 10-min interval sampling in the nearby design area (B site), the maximum RDII/DWF ratio was selected. The sewer network system at B site was evaluated by the Manning equation. Scenario 1 considering the hourly maximum flow with respect to the flow velocity showed that none of the sewer pipes satisfied the minimum flow velocity condition (0.6 m/s), and 40 pipes did not achieve half of the velocity condition. In scenario 2 considering I/I, 1 the pipes satisfied 0.6 m/s, and 35 pipes showed 0.3 m/s. Scenario 3 reflected the effect of RDII. Velocities in 26 pipes were less than 0.3 m/s, and 4 pipes satisfied the velocity condition. With respect to the allowance rate, 17 pipes were shown to have more than 99%, and none of the pipes satisfied less than 95% of the allowance rate in scenario 1. In scenario 2, 17 Ed: Per the Table pipes showed more than 99% and one pipe showed less than 95%. In scenario 3, 16 pipes showed more than 99% of the allowance rate, and 19 pipes showed less than 95%. Based on these results, it is predicted that deposition would occur due to the slow flow velocity; however, capacity would not be a problem.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.9-20
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• 2016

Ozone has been a problem in big cities. That is secondary air pollutant produced by nitrogen oxide and VOCs in the atmosphere. In order to solve this, the first to be the analysis of the $NO_x$ and VOCs. The main source of nitrogen oxide is the road mobile. Industrial sources in Seoul are particularly low, and mobile traffics on roads are large, so 45% of total $NO_x$ are estimated that road mobile emissions in Seoul. Thus, it is necessary to clarify the relation with the activity of road mobile source and $NO_x$ concentration. In this study, we analyzed the 4 locations with roadside automatic monitoring systems in their center. The V.K.T. calculating areas are set in circles with 50 meter spacing, 50 meter to 500 meter from their center. We assumed the total V.K.T. in the set radius affect the $NO_x$ concentration in the center. We used the hourly $NO_x$ concentrations data for the 4 observation points in July for the interference of the other sources are minimized. We used the intersection traffic survey data of all direction for construction of the V.K.T. data, the mobile activities on the roads. ArcGIS application was used for calculating the length of roads in the set radius. The V.K.T. data are multiplied by segment traffic volume and length of roads. As a result, the $NO_x$ concentration can be expressed as linear function formula for V.K.T. with high predictive power. Moreover we separated background concentration and concentrations due to road mobile source. These results can be used for forecasting the effect of traffic demand management plan.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.612-624
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• 2007

The real-time monitoring of radon ($^{222}Rn$) concentrations has been carried out to evaluate its ambient background concentration levels in Gosan site, Jeju Island between January 2001 and December 2004. In addition, the atmospheric TSP aerosols have been sampled, and their ionic and metallic components were analyzed to understand the characteristics of air pollution. The mean concentration of radon was $3,121{\pm}1,627\;mBq/m^3$, and the seasonal mean concentrations for spring, summer, fall and winter seasons were 2,898, 2,398, 3,571 and $3,646\;mBq/m^3$, respectively, The hourly concentrations have shown the highest value at 7 a.m. and the lowest value at 2 p.m. From the backward trajectory analyses, the radon concentrations have increased, when the air parcels were moved from the Chinese continent to Jeju area. On the other hand, they have decreased, when the air parcels from the North Pacific Ocean. In the analytical results of ionic species and metal elements of TSP aerosols, the concentrations of $nss-{SO_4}^{2-}$ and S were higher in June and March. Meanwhile, the concentrations of other anthropogenic species as well as soil components were mostly higher in March and April. On the basis of factor analysis, the TSP aerosols at Gosan area were largely influenced by soil sources, followed by anthropogenic sources and marine sources. From the result of backward trajectory analyses, the concentrations of $nss-{SO_4}^{2-},\;{NO_3}^-$, Al and Ca were mostly higher, when the air parcels moved from Chinese continent to Jeju area. On the other hand, their concentrations were lower, when the air parcels drifted from the North Pacific Ocean.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.767-778
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• 2006

This study was carried out to evaluate the temporal variations of VOCs at an urban site, and to compare the concentrations of VOCs at an urban site in Daegu with those at a suburban site in Gyeongsan. Three hourly VOC samples in the ambient air were collected using a sequential tube sampler (STS 25, Perkin Elmer) throughout two weeks during May and July representing spring and summer seasons, respectively. The VOC concentrations were determined by an automatic thermal desorption apparatus with GC/MS analysis. A total of 12 VOCs of environmental concern were determined, which are chloroform, benzene, trichloroethylene, toluene, tetra-chloroethylene, ethylbenzene, m+p-xylenes, o-xylene, styrene, 1,3,5- and 1,2,4-trimethylbenzenes. Among 12 target VOCs, the most abundant compound appeared to be toluene, being followed by xylenes. The mean concentrations at the urbn site were 1.2 pub for benzene and 20.4 ppb for toluene (n=221) while the mean levels at the suburban site were 0.9 ppb and 4.3 ppb for benzene and toluene (n=96), respectively. The urban site concentrations were typically several-fold higher than those measured at the suburban site. It was found that general trends of VOC levels were significantly dependent on traffic conditions at the sampling site since VOC concentrations were at their maximum during rush hours, i.e. $9{\sim}12a.m$ and $6{\sim}9p.m$. Statistical investigations were conducted to investigate any significant relationships between VOC concentrations and affecting factors. Calculated correlation coefficients among VOCs were positively significant at a level of 0.05 in most cases. Increased concentrations of toluene in the urban site were estimated to reflect the effect of large industrial sources, mainly from textile industry.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.98 no.1
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• pp.8-15
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• 2009

The purpose of this research was to develop a web based visitor utilization analysis program for a more structured national park visitor management. Rather than employing the current human resources to understand and manage the visitor utilization, the database could classify and analyze information hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, annually etc, and use entrance/exit information to understand visitor usage period. Also with a web based park usage analysis program, visitor monitoring could be done without any limitation in regards to time and space. The visitor use analysis program developed by this research will not only achieve a more structured and efficient visitor management, but also will provide basic information to make park management decisions.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.425-434
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• 2022

Objectives: This study analyzes TVOC concentrations in root industry workplaces in order to prevent probable occupational disease among workers. Root industry includes all the infrastructure of manufacturing, such as casting and molding. Methods: Real-time TVOC sensors were deployed in three root industry workplaces. We measured TVOC concentrations with these sensors and analyzed the results using a data-analysis tool developed with Python 3.9. Results: During the study period, the mean of the TVOC concentrations remained in an acceptable range, 0.30, 2.15, and 1.63 ppm across three workplaces. However, TVOC concentrations increased significantly at specific times, with respective maximum values of 4.98, 28.35, and 26.65 ppm for the three workplaces. Moreover, the analysis of hourly TVOC concentrations showed that during working hours or night shifts TVOC concentrations increased significantly to higher than twice the daily mean values. These results were scrutinized through classical decomposition results and autocorrelation indices, where seasonal graphs of the corresponding classical decomposition results showed that TVOC concentrations increased at a specific time. Trend graphs showed that TVOC concentrations vary by day. Conclusions: Deploying a real-time TVOC sensor should be considered to reflect irregularly high TVOC concentrations in workplaces in the root industry. It is expected that the real-time TVOC sensor with the presented data analysis methodology can eradicate probable occupational diseases caused by detrimental gases.