• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.31-44
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• 2017

The aim of this study is to evaluate the accuracy and variability of the oak pollen concentrations over the Seoul metropolitan region (SMR) simulated by the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ)-based pollen dispersion model, which is the CMAQ-pollen model integrated with the improved oak pollen emission model(PEM-oak). The PEM-oak model developed is based on hourly emission flux parameterization that includes the effects of plant-specific release, meteorological adjustment, and diurnal variations of oak pollen concentrations. A 33 day-run for oak pollen simulation was conducted by the CMAQ-pollen model with a 3 km spatial resolution for the SMR during the 2014 spring pollen season. Modeled concentrations were evaluated against the hourly measurements at three Burkard sampling sites. Temporal variations of oak concentrations were largely well represented by the model, but the quantitative difference between simulations and measurements was found to be significant in some periods. The model results also showed that large variations in oak pollen concentrations existed in time and space and high concentrations in the SMR were closely associated with the regional transport under strong wind condition. This study showed the effective application of the CMAQ-pollen modeling system to simulate oak pollen concentration in the SMR. Our results could be helpful in providing information on allergenic pollen exposure. Further efforts are needed to further understand the oak pollen release characteristics such as interannual variation of the oak pollen productivity and its spatio-temporal flowering timing.

• Atmosphere
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2019

For the allergy patient who needs to know the situation about the extent of pollen risk, the National Institute of Meteorological Sciences developed a pollen forecasting system based on the Community Multiscale Air Quality Modeling (CMAQ). In the old system, pollen emission from the oak was estimated just based on the airborne concentration and meteorology factors, resulted in high uncertainty. For improving the quality of current pollen forecasting system, therefore the estimation of pollen emission is now corrected based on the observation of pollen emission at the oak forest to better reflect the real emission pattern. In this study, the performance of the previous (NIMS2014) and current (NIMS2016) model system was compared using observed oak pollen concentration. Daily pollen concentrations and emissions were simulated in pollen season 2016 and accuracy of onset and end of pollen season were evaluated. In the NIMS2014 model, pollen season was longer than actual pollen season; The simulated pollen season started 6 days earlier and finished 13.25 days later than the actual pollen season. The NIMS2016 model, however, the simulated pollen season started only 1.83 days later, and finished 0.25 days later than the actual pollen season, showing the improvement to predict the temporal range of pollen events. Also, the NIMS2016 model shows better performance for the prediction of pollen concentration, while there is a still large uncertainty to capture the maximum pollen concentration at the target site. Continuous efforts to correct these problems will be required in the future.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.165-169
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• 2014

In this study, we measured antioxidant activity as DPPH radical scavenging and the total polyphenol content of pulverized and lyophilized oak pollens inoculated with fungi to confirm the husk removal effect. The total polyphenol content of oak pollen was highest in lyophilized pollen medium inoculated with Armillaria mellea, and was lowest in pollen inoculated with Lentinula edodes. Total polyphenol content of the lyophilized pollen was higher than that of the refined pollen and the pulverized pollen in oak pollen germinated with A. mellea. The total polyphenol content of the lyophilized oak pollen germinated with A. mellea was 1.4-fold higher than that extracted with water. Measurement of antioxidant activity using the DPPH (2, 2 diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) free radical scavenging method showed that the lyophilized oak pollen germinated with A. mellea had the highest and that germinated with L. edodes was lowest in antioxidant activities. The lyophilized oak pollen germinated with A. mellea was 2 to 4 times higher than that extracted with water in the antioxidant activity of DPPH free radical scavenging. Many germinated cells were formed around pore of acorn pollen inoculated with L. edodes, while those were formed at the end of hyphae derived from oak pollen inoculated with A. mellea.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.780-788
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• 2013

This study attempted to determine important meteorological parameters related to airborne pollen concentrations in urban areas. Hourly pollen measurement data were prepared from a regular sampling with a volumetric Burkard spore trap at a site in the Ulsan city, during the spring season (March~May) of 2011. Results showed that the daily mean and maximum concentrations for total pollen counts during the spring season were statistically significantly correlated with both air temperature and wind speed; daily mean pollen concentration was the most highly related to daily maximum temperature (r=0.567, p<0.001). It was also identified that pollen concentration has a stronger relationship with wind speed at the rural site than at the urban one, which confirms that strong wind conditions over the pollen sources area can be favorable for pollen dispersal, resulting in increases in airborne pollen concentrations downwind. From the results of an oak-pollen episode analysis, it was found that there was a significant relationship between hourly variation of oak pollen concentrations and dynamic meteorological factors, such as wind and mixing height (representing the boundary layer depth); especially, a strong southwestern wind and elevated mixing height was associated with high nocturnal concentrations of oak pollen. This study suggests that temperature, wind, and mixing height can be important considerations in explaining the pollen concentration variations. Additional examination of complex interactions of multiple meteorological parameters affecting pollen behavior should be carried out in order to better understand and predict the temporal and spatial pollen distribution in urban areas.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.833-837
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• 2005

Antioxidative activities of pine, oak, and lily pollen extracts were evaluated based on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging ability and inhibition of lipid peroxidation in animal tissues. Each pollen was extracted with 50% ethanol, 100% ethanol or water. DPPH radical-scavenging capacity of 50% ethanol extract ($EC_{50}$ 40.0 mg/mL) of pine pollen was higher than those of water (46.8 mg/mL) and 100% ethanol (131.2 mg/mL) extracts of pollen. Fifty percent ethanol (3,2 mg/mL) was also better than 100% ethanol (4.5 mg/mL) and water (8.3 mg/mL) for extraction of oak pollen. For preparation of lily pollen extracts, 100% ethanol was most effective (14.0 mg/mL), followed by water (18.8 mg/mL) and 50% ethanol (24.0 mg/mL). Oak pollen showed higher DPPH radical-scavenging activity than others. Lipid peroxidation in rat brain homogenate induced by ascorbate-Fe3+-EDTA and rat kidney homogenate were inhibited by water extracts of all pollens in dose-dependent manner. Extracts of oak and lily pollen showed higher lipid peroxidation inhibition than pine pollen extract. Polyphenol content was highest in oak pollen extract $(32.5{\pm}0.7\;{\mu}g/mg\;pollen)$, followed by lily extract $(25.9{\pm}1.4\;{\mu}g/mg\;pollen)$ and pine extract $(9.3{\pm}0.7\;{\mu}g/mg\;pollen)$.

• Atmosphere
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.221-233
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• 2015

Pollen is closely related to health issues such as allergenic rhinitis and asthma as well as intensifying atopic syndrome. Information on current and future spatio-temporal distribution of allergenic pollen is needed to address such issues. In this study, the Community Multiscale Air Quality Modeling (CMAQ) was utilized as a base modeling system to forecast pollen dispersal from oak trees. Pollen emission is one of the most important parts in the dispersal modeling system. Areal emission factor was determined from gridded areal fraction of oak trees, which was produced by the analysis of the tree type maps (1:5000) obtained from the Korea Forest Service. Daily total pollen production was estimated by a robust multiple regression model of weather conditions and pollen concentration. Hourly emission factor was determined from wind speed and friction velocity. Hourly pollen emission was then calculated by multiplying areal emission factor, daily total pollen production, and hourly emission factor. Forecast data from the KMA UM LDAPS (Korea Meteorological Administration Unified Model Local Data Assimilation and Prediction System) was utilized as input. For the verification of the model, daily observed pollen concentration from 12 sites in Korea during the pollen season of 2014. Although the model showed a tendency of over-estimation in terms of the seasonal and daily mean concentrations, overall concentration was similar to the observation. Comparison at the hourly output showed distinctive delay of the peak hours by the model at the 'Pocheon' site. It was speculated that the constant release of hourly number of pollen in the modeling framework caused the delay.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.735-749
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• 2020

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate airborne pollen counts, inhalant allergen sensitization rate, and allergic disease prevalence among elementary school children in Ulsan, South Korea during 2012-2018. Methods: Burkard samplers for pollen were installed on rooftops in suburban and urban areas in Ulsan. A 24-hour sampling of airborne allergens was conducted six days/week from January 1, 2013 to November 31, 2018. Skin prick tests were done with a total of 4,246 primary school students residing in urban and suburban areas in 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2018. This study examined sensitization to 20 major inhalant allergens. Results: The highest monthly counts of airborne pollen were observed in April and September each year. Among the pollen identified over the six years, pine showed the highest pollen counts (44.3%), followed by oak (22.3%), alder (6.3%) and Japanese hops (4.3%). Tree pollen predominated from March to June, and weed pollen predominated from August to October. Higher sensitization rates for inhalant allergens were observed in Dermatophagoides farinae (42.4%), Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (43.6%), cat fur (12.1%), birch (9.9%), oak (9.6%), and alder (8.7%). The inhalant allergen sensitization rate was highest in the group with comorbidity (asthma and/or rhinitis and atopic dermatitis), and respiratory allergic disease (asthma and/or rhinitis) was higher than that of atopic dermatitis. Conclusion: Both the counts of tree pollen in the air and the sensitization rate for tree pollen were high in Ulsan. The temporal change in respiratory allergic diseases was similar to that for the sensitization rate of tree pollen, such as oak. In the future, it is considered that additional continuous research on various inhalant allergens and pollen should be conducted.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.37-53
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• 1982

Pollen analysis from lake districts, Youngnangho, Wolhamji and Bangeojin, revealed vegetational patterns in Korea. The pollen stratigraphy was divided into five zones, zone L, I, II, IIIa and IIIb for the past 15,000 years. During zone L (earlier than 10,500 yr BP), late-glacial period, Youngnangho was vegetated with a coniferous forest dominated by spruce, larch, haploxylon pine and fir with considerable amount of herbs. Zone I(10,500~7500 yr BP) was predominantly herbaceous vegetationj with significant amount of oak and diploxylon pine. It suggests that the overall environment became milder and drier than late-glacial period. Zone II(7,500~4,000 yr BP), hypsithermal period, showed significant warming condition, indicated by high pollen concentrations of oak, diploxylon pine and hornbeam, and by more diverse flora of deciduous broad-leaved trees than before. Herbs were not an important part of vegetation. Zone III$^a$(4,000~1,500 yr BP) had pine and oak as main elements. Birch increased slightly while hornbeam decreased in this time. It indicates cooling condition. Zone III$^b$(1,5000-present) which can be called pine period showed obvious human interference. Following forest clearance, agriculture was intensified. The beginning of logging and agriculture was discernible by a sudden decline of arboreal species and by considerable amount of rice, buckwheat, sorrel and plantain. Numerous charcoal fragments were observed in zone I and zone III$^b$.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.414-425
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• 2011

The aim of this research is to infer paleovegetation and paleoclimate in the Hwajeon archeological site of Gwangju city during mid-Holocene through the analysis of pollen, waterlogged woods, and sediments. Between 8200 ~ 6800 years ago, relatively dry climate resulted in a weakened dominance of oak and high diversity of tree genus. During the Holocene climatic optimum period (6800 ~ 5900 years ago), oak forests expanded while wetland areas diminished as warm/humid climate intensified. Between 5900 ~ 4700 years ago, the entire forest area as well as oak climax forests was reduced due to a relatively cool/dry climate. However at the end of this period, oak forests expanded since a favorable climate condition temporarily resumed. Lastly, between 4700 ~ 3300 years ago, oaks dominated but alders were weakened. The density of forest was low because of a relatively dry climate in this period.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.59-65
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• 1992

Pollen analysis to clear vegetational history of korea was carried out on the deposite taken from the pit of the miruksa site, south-western korea(36o00'18'N, 127o1'12'E, 10m in alt.). This area has been known as the cool temperate zone(southern zone) according to yim and kira(1975). But, now we can not found the original vegetation because the area has been disturbed severely and almost area changed to cultivated land.the area is one of the most developd area in early agricultural stage of korea. By the pollen diagram, three local pollen zones are distinguished in this site, bottom to surface, as following. is-Ⅰ :pinus-quercus zone (140∼120 cm, sample 1 and 2) is-Ⅱ :ulmus+zelkova zone(120∼84 cm, sample 3∼6) is-Ⅲ :pinus zone(84∼0 cm, sample 7 ∼13) is-Ⅰ is characterized by high values in frequences of pinus, the temperate conifer and quercus the cool temperate oak, and is-Ⅱ zone by the decrease of quercus and increase of ulmus and increase of ulman+zelkova as ravine forest elements, isⅢ zone is characterized by pinus, especially, based on data of sample no.9.