• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.115-140
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• 2010

Great concerns about atmospheric aerosols are attributed to their multiple roles to atmospheric processes. For example, atmospheric aerosols influence global climate, directly by scattering or absorbing solar radiations and indirectly by serving as cloud condensation nuclei. They also have a significant impact on human health and visibility. Many of these effects depend on the size and composition of atmospheric aerosols, and thus detailed information on the physicochemical properties and the distribution of airborne particles is critical to accurately predict their impact on the Earth's climate as well as human health. A single particle analysis technique, named low-Z particle electron probe X-ray microanalysis (low-Z particle EPMA) that can determine the concentration of low-Z elements such as carbon, nitrogen and oxygen in a microscopic volume has been developed. The capability of quantitative analysis of low-Z elements in individual particle allows the characterization of especially important atmospheric particles such as sulfates, nitrates, ammonium, and carbonaceous particles. Furthermore, the diversity and the complicated heterogeneity of atmospheric particles in chemical compositions can be investigated in detail. In this review, the development and methodology of low-Z particle EPMA for the analysis of atmospheric aerosols are introduced. Also, its typical applications for the characterization of various atmospheric particles, i.e., on the chemical compositions, morphologies, the size segregated distributions, and the origins of Asian dust, urban aerosols, indoor aerosols in underground subway station, and Arctic aerosols, are illustrated.

• Proceedings of the SAREK Conference
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• 2008.06a
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• pp.754-757
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• 2008

To maintain the indoor air quality, many ventilation systems and technologies have been developed in the highly insulated and air tight buildings. In this study, a porous construction material, which is applicable to passive ventilation system, is developed and measured the performances of the permeability and the resistance of water vapor, and the dust collection efficiency. The average coefficient of water vapor permeability shows $3.6\;g/m^2{\cdot}h{\cdot}mmHg$, which is slightly higher than Hanji ($2.4{\sim}3.2\;g/m^2{\cdot}h{\cdot}mmHg$) and the average water vapor resistance factor shows $0.303\;g/m^2{\cdot}h{\cdot}mmHg/g$, which is slightly smaller than Hanji($0.309{\sim}0.315\;g/m^2{\cdot}h{\cdot}mmHg/g$). The pressure drop of the porous construction material is smaller than the HEPA filter and the minimum dust collection efficiency shows 82.8% in the range of $2{\sim}9\;cm/s$.

• Proceedings of the Korea Committee for Ocean Resources and Engineering Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.260-265
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• 2004

The materials of ship screw propeller are commonly the manganese bronze. The seawater corrosion and cavitation of the screw propeller reduce tire propulsive performance of ship. In screw manufactory, tire corrosion rust of tire screw propeller is removed by a hand grinding. The grinding work makes the dust of the heavy metals from the manganese bronze. The dust makes indoor working environment poor. A friendly-environmental and automatic corrosion removing apparatus was developed for the improvement of screw processing and working environment. The corrosion rust of a screw propeller was remarkably removed by using apparatus. And the screw surface roughness was improved by a blasting effect of the apparatus performance test. Anode polarization curves on jour processing conditions, that is to say, grinding, blasting, wire-brushing, fine sand papering, were confirmed by a potentiostat. Especially, two kinds of medias, alumina and emery, were used in the blasting processing. Then, investigated tire cavitation erosion of specimen. This result proved that tire blasting work has considerably improved the corrosion resistance of a screw propeller.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.354-363
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• 2018

We examined the levels of brominated flame-retardants (BFRs) including polybrominateddiphenyl ethers (PBDEs), tetrabromobisphenol-A (TBBPA), hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), and phthalates in indoor dusts in residential houses in Korea, and their distribution patterns depending on building characteristics. Mean concentrations of phthalate esters ($1,825{\mu}g\;g^{-1}$) were significantly higher than that of BFRs (PBDE: $1,332ng\;g^{-1}$, HBCDs: $459ng\;g^{-1}$, and TBBPA: $213ng\;g^{-1}$), indicating more frequent use of phthalate-containing products such as PVC flooring in the Korean houses. PVC flooring house was associated with higher concentrations of DEHP (p = 0.001) and BBP (p = 0.012), indicating that exposure to phthalate was higher in the PVC flooring house. Building age was significantly related with levels of PBDEs especially BDE-47 (p = 0.062), BDE-203 (p = 0.007), DEHP (p = 0.004), and BBP (p = 0.070), respectively, indicating that older buildings can produce higher amounts of PBDEs and phthalates. Our study can provide important information on the sources of BFRs and phthalates in residential houses in Korea.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2021.05a
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• pp.313-314
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• 2021

An old building over 30 years old continue to increase. Therefore, there will be more dismantling of old buildings in the future. Safety management of dismantling works is being strengthened. However, no consideration has been given to the effects of dismantling workers and their residents due to environmental hazards arising from the demolition process. Only spray and dust prevention measures are subject to inspection to minimize dust generation considering civil complaints around the site of dismantling work. In this paper, residential buildings, which account for the largest proportion of old buildings, were collected and identify total airborne bacteria and floating fungi among environmental hazards caused by non-structural dismantling work. Measurement results showed that workers during dismantling work are working in places with 4.8 times more total airborne bacteria than indoor air quality maintenance standards. Related research is needed for the health of dismantling workers.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.175-187
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• 2014

The subways play an important part in serious traffic problems. Almost seven million citizens a day are using subways as a means of traffic communication in the Seoul metropolitan city in 2012. However, the subway system is a semi-closed environment, so many serious problems occurred in subway stations and injured passengers' health. Platform screen doors (PSD) are expected to prevent negligent accident such as injury or death from falling and improve the air quality of the subway station. Installation of PSD at stations in Seoul metropolitan subway had been completed in December 2009. Consequently, the underground transportation system became a closed environment, so the air quality has improved the platforms, but it has deteriorated in the tunnels. Especially, the subway cabin has many doors, and the doors are frequently opened and closed. For this reason, the effect of door opening on subway cabin, dust flow inside the subway cabin. In this process, the maintenance work may influence the health of people who work underground, as well as that of subway users (passengers). In this study, we measured air quality inside and outside of the subway cabin line 2 in Seoul, Korea. This study focused on the investigation of Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) and measurement target pollutants are PM10, CO, $CO_2$, $NO_2$, $O_3$. It was found that levels of PM10, $CO_2$, and $NO_2$ inside subway cabin line 2 exceeded the Korea IAQ standard. Concentrations of PM10, $CO_2$, and $NO_2$ inside of the cabin are higher than outside of the cabin (Indoor Outdoor ratio is higher than 1.). Concentrations of CO, $O_3$ inside of the cabin are lower than outside of the cabin (Indoor Outdoor ratio is lower than 1.). There is a high correlation between $CO_2$ and passengers inside of the cabin and PM10 is only the weakest correlation with passengers. Therefore, it is important to find out the emission source of $NO_2$. The results of this study will be useful as fundamental data to study indoor air quality of a subway cabin.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.339-355
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• 2021

Background: Particulate matter (PM₁₀, PM_2.5) and black carbon contribute to poor air quality in urban areas, and can also affect indoor environments. Exposure to PM can be associated with respiratory and lung diseases. Objectives: This study investigated the indoor and outdoor concentration distribution patterns of PM₁₀, PM_2.5, and black carbon at an apartment building, a typical residential space in the metropolitan areas of South Korea, by season, day of the week (weekday vs. weekend), and time of the day. It aims to obtain foundational data for the effective management of pollutants and investigate the difference in pollution levels between indoor and outdoor environments. Methods: Indoor and outdoor concentrations of PM and black carbon were measured at an apartment building located in Namyangju, Gyeonggi-do Province, using dust sensors and an Aethalometer AE51 (AethLabs, San Francisco, CA, USA) over the course of a year from June 2020 to May 2021. The concentration distribution patterns were analyzed by season and time of day. Results: PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 concentrations in the outdoor environment were higher than those in the indoor environment, regardless of the season. By contrast, the indoor black carbon concentration was higher than that in the outdoor environment during summer and autumn. The concentrations of PM₁₀, PM_2.5 and black carbon were found to be higher on weekdays than during weekends, especially during rush hour, with concentrations of 25.92~56.58 ㎍/m³, 21.12~44.82 ㎍/m³, 0.63~3.40 ㎍/m³. Conclusions: The outdoor concentrations of PM₁₀, PM_2.5, and black carbon were higher during the weekdays, especially during rush hour, than during weekends. This study is expected to provide basic data for the health management of apartment occupants because it is measured over a period of more than one year.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Floral Art and Design
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• no.44
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• pp.3-31
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• 2021

To verify the types of effects that plants have in our general living conditions, I examined an air quality in living rooms of the three, 129.78m² size, apartments that were with and without plants. and the findings of the study were as addressed below. 1) Experiments showed no statistically significant differences in Case A. However, in Case B and Case C, the standard deviation of PM10, PM2.5 and PM 1.0 verified that each had statistically significant (p<.01) differences. 2) It is believed that the effect of reducing particle matters due to the installation of plants in the indoor space is to vary significantly depending on the indoor environmental conditions, the cleanliness of the room, and the amount of furniture and may also differ depending on the daily dietary cooking method. In addition, it is believed that the planterior will not only reduce indoor fine dust, but also reduce the psychological comfort and eye fatigue of the residents. Nevertheless, supplementary research is needed. 3) In the planterior design for reducing indoor particle matters, various measures were examined. Among them, the vertical wall design method was tested and suggested through empirical experiments. In addition, maintenance methods were proposed depending on the type of indoor plant.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Rural Architecture
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.17-26
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• 2014

This study examined the trend of floor space characteristics, size characteristics and modeling characteristics so as to evaluate the satisfactory level of subjects living in Hanok. By doing so, the type of Hanok was classified into 5 groups. The satisfactory level was evaluated after the subjects resided in Hanok based on each type of housing. In the satisfactory level investigation, which was conducted after the residence, the overall satisfactory level on Hanok showed to be high. In the evaluation on the residence scale, positive results were generally achieved regarding 'full size of residence', 'number of rooms compared to residence size', 'size of living room', etc. The indoor environment of residence evaluation mainly showed positive results regarding 'ventilation', but most subjects were unsatisfied in regard to 'heating', 'noise', 'lighting', etc. In the behavioral factor evaluation of residents, positive results were gained regarding 'health', but comparatively negative results showed based on items of 'construction expense', 'burden of maintenance expense', 'investment value', etc. After analyzing the influential factors on the overall satisfactory level, results showed that 'dust inflow' of the physical site environment evaluation, 'size of living room' of the residence size evaluation, 'heating' of the residence indoor environment evaluation, and 'burden of maintenance expense' in the behavioral factor evaluation significantly influences the overall satisfactory level.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.105-110
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• 2009

Yellow sand (or Asian dust) occurs mainly in spring in East Asia. Yellow sand from China and its surrounding regions transports air pollutants, such as aerosols, ozone, and heavy metals. The outdoor workers are frequently exposed to heavy metals during yellow sand phenomenon. This study was carried out to investigate the heavy metal levels in blood among 75 outdoor workers (exposed group) and 86 indoor workers (controled group) in Gyeonggi province from March 2008 to May 2009. Heavy metal levels in blood were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Mean blood lead levels in exposed group and controled group were $5.19{\pm}1.64{\mu}g/dL$, $4.24{\pm}1.34{\mu}g/dL$, respectively. Mean blood cadmium levels in exposed group and controled group were $1.28{\pm}0.89{\mu}g/dL$, $0.90{\pm}0.59{\mu}g/dL$, respectively. Lead and Cadmium levels in blood of exposed group were significantly higher than those of controled group. In the comparison of smoking status, lead and cadmium levels of smokers were significantly higher than those of non-smokers. In conclusion, the heavy metal levels of outdoor workers were significantly higher than those of indoor workers. And smoking was hazardous factor to elevate heavy metal levels in blood.