• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.562-569
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• 2019

Niacinamide (NIA) is a water-soluble vitamin that is widely used in the treatment of skin diseases. Moreover, NIA displays antioxidant effects and helps repair damaged DNA. Recent studies showed that particulate matter 2.5 ($PM_{2.5}$) induced reactive oxygen species (ROS), causing disruption of DNA, lipids, and protein, mitochondrial depolarization, and apoptosis of skin keratinocytes. Here, we investigated the protective effects of NIA on $PM_{2.5}$-induced oxidative stress in human HaCaT keratinocytes. We found that NIA could inhibit the ROS generation induced by $PM_{2.5}$, as well block the $PM_{2.5}$-induced oxidation of molecules, such as lipids, proteins, and DNA. Furthermore, NIA alleviated $PM_{2.5}$-induced accumulation of cellular $Ca^{2+}$, which caused cell membrane depolarization and apoptosis, and reduced the number of apoptotic cells. Collectively, the findings show that NIA can protect keratinocytes from $PM_{2.5}$-induced oxidative stress and cell damage.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.443-457
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• 2019

Objectives: This study aimed to review the clinical research trends in respiratory diseases related to particulate matter (PM) to help design clinical studies on herbal medicine that protects against PM. Methods: We searched three international databases (Pubmed, EMBASE, and CENTRAL) to investigate clinical studies on respiratory diseases related to PM and to analyze their study design, respiratory-related disease, inclusion/exclusion criteria, study period, outcome measure, study results, measurement method of PM and range of PM. Results: A total of 18 studies were finally selected, including 13 observational studies and 5 randomized controlled trials. The selected studies showed an increasing trend from 1985 to 2018 and were conducted mostly in North America, followed by Europe and Asia. Subject disease and age were decided in variety by each study objective, although asthma accounted for the majority. For the outcome assessment, pulmonary function test was mostly used for lung function. Quality of life questionnaires and biomarkers in blood and sputum were also used. Conclusion: A well-designed clinical study on herbal medicine that protects against PM is needed, and this study is expected to be used as base data.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.22-28
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• 2024

Background: Particulate matter (PM) has been extensively observed due to its negative association with human health. Previous research revealed the possible negative effect of air pollutant exposure on oral health. However, the predictive model between air pollutant exposure and the prevalence of periodontitis has not been observed yet. Therefore, this study aims to propose a predictive model for the number of patients with periodontitis exposed to PM and atmospheric factors in South Korea using deep learning. Methods: This study is a retrospective cohort study utilizing secondary data from the Korean Statistical Information Service and the Health Insurance Review and Assessment database for air pollution and the number of patients with periodontitis, respectively. Data from 2015 to 2022 were collected and consolidated every month, organized by region. Following data matching and management, the deep neural networks (DNN) model was applied, and the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) value was calculated to ensure the accuracy of the model. Results: As we evaluated the DNN model with MAPE, the multivariate model of air pollution including exposure to PM_2.5, PM₁₀, and other atmospheric factors predict approximately 85% of the number of patients with periodontitis. The MAPE value ranged from 12.85 to 17.10 (mean±standard deviation=14.12±1.30), indicating a commendable level of accuracy. Conclusion: In this study, the predictive model for the number of patients with periodontitis is developed based on air pollution, including exposure to PM_2.5, PM₁₀, and other atmospheric factors. Additionally, various relevant factors are incorporated into the developed predictive model to elucidate specific causal relationships. It is anticipated that future research will lead to the development of a more accurate model for predicting the number of patients with periodontitis.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.588-609
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• 2018

The objective of this study is to provide information for improving the domestic particulate matter (PM) management. To achieve the study goal, we reviewed the past and current practice of PM management in the United States (US). Our review includes the assessment about the philosophical foundation and effectiveness of PM management, systematic program implementation to reach desirable PM conditions, and steady development of analytical tools including photochemical air quality models. We noticed that the current US PM management approach has improved annual $PM_{2.5}$ concentrations 22-48% in various parts of the US in the last 16 years. In addition, we analyzed strengths and difficulties in the past US PM management implementation. Based on the results of our analyses, we propose key elements to establish more effective domestic PM management in the future than now: steady investment in technological innovations and close-communications between local governments and the central government at various stages of PM management.

• Land and Housing Review
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.93-98
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• 2020

This study examined the particulate removal performance of three different types of air filters inside a heat exchanger. Of interest was the ability of each filter type in reducing the transmission of outdoor particulate matter of PM10 from entering an apartment while the heat exchanger was in operation. The study tested one commonly used medium filter (E11 grade) and two HEPA filters (H13 grade) of different thicknesses. Two different concentrations of particulate matter were used in the experiment to address different ambient air quality conditions in Korea, 32.75 ㎍/㎥ and 67.26 ㎍/㎥. Study results indicated that under the particulate matter concentration of 32.75 ㎍/㎥, all three filters were capable of removing more than 95% of the fine dust. However at a particulate matter concentration of 67.26 ㎍/㎥, the medium E11 grade filter was only able to remove about 90% of the particulates whereas the HEPA H13 grade filters were able to remove 95% or more of the particulates. The thicker HEPA filter (40T) was also more effective in removing particulates than the thinner HEPA filter (20T) by about 1.6 to 3 percentage points. Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended that HEPA filters of 20T thickness or greater be used during the high air pollution seasons of winter and spring in Korea while medium filters can be used during the other seasons to reduce outdoor air pollution transmission indoors.

• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.31-38
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• 2019

Experiments were carried out to investigate the effects of mosses on the removal of particulate matter (PM 10) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in an indoor space and on the composition of air. For particulate matter removal experiments, 0.2 g mosquitto coil was burned in a glass chamber, where three kinds of mosses (Plagiomnium cuspidatum, Myuroclada maximowiczii, Etodon luridus) were placed. For VOCs removal experiments, 1 mL paint thinner was volatilized in a glass chamber, where Plagiomnium cuspidatum and Myuroclada maximowiczii were used. As a result, it was found that particulate matter was effectively removed by the three mosses, and the removal efficiency of particulate matter increased as the amount of mosses increased. The amount of VOCs was similar to the level in the control when a low amount of mosses (2 and 4 plates) was used. However, the removal efficiency of VOCs was significant when 6 plates of mosses were used. On the other hand, formaldehyde concentration was 40 times more than the control and carbon monoxide 30 times, when 0.2 g of mosquito repellent was completely burned in a glass chamber. Also formaldehyde removal effect was significant when 6 plates of mosses were placed. However, there was no change in the concentration of indoor oxygen, temperature and humidity by moss plants. In conclusion, the moss plants were effective in removing particulate matter and VOCs, and they are expected to be used for indoor decoration and landscape in order to improve indoor air quality in the future.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.68-77
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• 2024

Airborne particulate matter (PM) is an environmentally hazardous pollutant that originates from various sources. PM is comprised of solid particles and liquid droplets of diverse composition and size. Hazardous chemical compositions of PM include elemental and organic carbon, organic compounds, biological compounds and metals. Upon acute and chronic PM exposure, toxic contaminants enter and accumulate within physiological systems and prompt cell structure changes accompanied with intracellular endoplasmic reticulum stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, inflammation, lipid accumulation, and cell cycle arrest. Ultimately, these cellular response leads to the development of key characteristics of aging. In addition, PM internalization enhances autophagy reflux and lysosomal dysfunction, which is involved in cell aging. Previous studies have emphasized a positive association between PM and increased mortality or decreased lifespan, although these are evidenced mostly by observational studies. Direct evidence of the link between PM and aging is still limited. This review evaluates the evidence from not only observational studies but also in vitro and in vivo evidence of PM on aging progression and age-related diseases development. This evidence is based on age-associated cellular changes including endoplasmic reticulum stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, inflammation, adipose accumulation, autophagy, which strengthen the association between PM exposure and aging. Understanding the underlying cellular responses under PM may allow for the development of new therapeutic targets for PM-induced aging.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.9-19
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• 2010

The size distribution of airborne particulate matter (PM) and the concentrations of associated metallic elements were investigated in a busy urban region of a typical Korean industrial city. The PM concentrations measured during the spring, except for those in the size range of 1.1 to 2.1 ${\mu}m$, were slightly higher than the PM concentrations in the summer. Coarse particles contributed greatly to the variation in PM concentrations in the spring, while fine and submicron particles contributed largely to the variation in PM concentrations in the summer. The difference in size modes of the PM concentrations between spring and summer may be explained by the Asian dust effect and its accompanying wind direction and speed. Extremely high enrichment factors (EFs) values (6,971 to 60,966) for all of the size distributions in PM were identified for cadmium (Cd). High EFs values (12 to 907) were also identified for other heavy metals including Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn and Mn. Low EF values (0.29 to 8.61) were identified for Ca, K, Mg and Na. These results support the common hypothesis that most heavy metals in ambient PM have anthropogenic sources and most light metals have crustal sources. The results of principal components analyses and cluster analyses for heavy metals indicate that the principal sources of PM and metals were emissions from non-ferrous metal smelters, oil combustion, incinerators, vehicular traffic and road dust.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.457-461
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• 1999

Recently, increasing usage of diesel vehicle, many countries try to reduce the pollutant materials by emission regulation standard. Particularly, in our country, the supplement ratio of diesel vehicle is high, and air pollution by particulate matter(PM) is very serious. So, in theoretical study wer analyzed the formation principle of gaseous emission and PM, the characteristics of CVS-75 mode. In experimental study, we tested exhaust gas reduction of emission and PM, the characteristics of CVS-75 mode. In experimental study, we tested exhaust gas reduction of disel oxidation catalyst(DOC) by CVS-75 mode in light duty diesel vehicle. In case of an automobiletest with the 2,956cc diesel engine which DOC was equipped, CVS-75 mode which is similar to driving conditions on the road was chosen as the restrictive mode of light duty diesel automobile in our country. According to the Pt, the reduction rate of exhaust emission was estimated with using 0.1% high sulfur fuel and 0.05% low sulfur fuel.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.237-245
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• 2015

Particulate matter in indoor environments has caused public concerns in recent years. The objective of this research is to explore the influence of radiators on particle size distributions and concentrations. The particle size distributions as well as concentrations above radiators and in the adjacent indoor air are monitored in forty-two indoor environments in Xi'an, China. The temperatures, relative humidity and air velocities are also measured. The particle size distributions above radiators at ten locations are analyzed. The results show that the functional difference of indoor environments has little impact on the particle size distributions above radiators. Then the effects of the environmental parameters (particle concentrations in the adjacent indoor air, temperatures, relative humidities and air velocities) on particle concentrations above radiators are assessed by applying multiple linear regression analysis. Three multiple linear regression models are established to predict the concentrations of $PM_{10}$, $PM_{2.5}$ and $PM_1$ above radiators.