• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.315-325
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• 2013

The possibility of acute hepatotoxicity caused by dimethylformamide (DMF) requires regular monitoring of the workers who are using DMF to prevent the occupational disease. The authors performed ambient and biological monitoring of workers involved in synthetic leather manufacturing processes using DMF to assess the correlation between the markers of ambient and biological monitoring of DMF. The authors monitored 142 workers occupationally exposed to DMF from 19 workshops in the synthetic leather and ink manufacturing industries located in northern region of Gyeonggi-do. The subjects answered questionnaire on work procedure and use of personal protective equipment to be classified by exposure type. DMF in air samples collected using personal air samplers, diffusive and active sampler, was analysed using gas chromatograph-flame ionization detector (GC-FID) with DB-FFAP column (length 30 m, i.d. 0.25 mm, film thickness 0.25 ${\mu}m$). Urinary N-methylformamide (NMF) was analysed using gas chromatograph-mass selective detector (GC-MSD) at selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode with DB-624 column (length 60 m, i.d. 0.25 mm, film thickness 1.40 ${\mu}m$). Geometric mean (GM) and geometric standard deviation (GSD) of the ambient DMF was $6.85{\pm}3.43$ ppm, and GM and GSD of urinary NMF was $42.3{\pm}2.7$ mg/L. The ratio of subjects with DMF level over 10 ppm was 44%, and those with urinary NMF over 15 mg/L was 87%. NMF in urine adjusted by DMF in air was $4.61{\pm}2.57$ mg/L/ppm and $9.50{\pm}2.41$ mg/L/ppm, respectively, with or without respirator. There was seasonal differences of NMF in urine adjusted by DMF in air, $7.63{\pm}2.74$ mg/L/ppm in summer and $4.53{\pm}2.29$ mg/L/ppm in winter. The urinary NMF concentration which corresponds to 10 ppm of ambient DMF was 52.7 mg/L (r=0.650, n=128). Considering the difference of the route of exposure which resulted from the compliance of wearing personal protective equipment, the estimated contribution of respiratory and dermal exposure route for DMF was 48.5% vs. 51.5%.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.202-211
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• 2014

In this study, long-term rainfall data with irregular spatial distribution in Seoul, Korea, were separated into individual precipitation events by the inter-event time definition of 6 hours. Precipitation washout of $PM_{10}$ and $NO_2$ concentrations in the air considering various complex factors were analyzed quantitatively. Concentrations of $PM_{10}$ and $NO_2$ in the atmosphere were lower under condition of rainfall compared to that of non-precipitation, and a noticeable difference in average $PM_{10}$ concentrations was observed. The reduction of concentrations of $PM_{10}$ and $NO_2$ by rainfall monitored at road-side air monitoring sites was also lower than that of urban air monitoring sites due to continuous pollutant emissions by transportation sources. Meanwhile, a relatively smaller reduction of average $PM_{10}$ concentration in the atmosphere was observed under conditions of light rainfall below 1 mm, presumably because the impact of pollutant emission was higher than that of precipitation scavenging effect, whereas an obvious reduction of pollutants was shown under conditions of rainfall greater than 1 mm. A log-shaped regression equation was most suitable for the expression of pollutant reduction by precipitation amount. In urban areas, a lower correlation between precipitation and reduction of $NO_2$ concentration was also observed due to the mobile emission effect.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.295-304
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• 2023

Background: Adolescents are relatively more sensitive than adults to exposure to indoor pollutants. The indoor air quality in classrooms where students spend time together must therefore be managed at a safe level because it can affect the health of students. Objectives: In this study, three types of green-wall models were applied to classrooms where students spend a long time in a limited space, and the resulting effects on reducing PM were evaluated. Methods: In the middle school classrooms which were selected as the experimental subjects, IoT-based indoor air quality monitoring equipment was installed for real-time monitoring. Three types of plant models (passive, active, and active+light) were installed in each classroom to evaluate the effects on improving indoor air quality. Results: The concentration of PM in the classroom is influenced by outdoor air quality, but repeated increases and decreases in concentration were observed due to the influence of students' activities. There was a PM reduction effect by applying the green-wall model. There was a difference in PM reduction efficiency depending on the type of green-wall model, and the reduction efficiency of the active model was higher than the passive model. Conclusions: The active green-wall model can be used as an efficient method of improving indoor air quality. Additionally, more research is needed to increase the efficiency of improving indoor air quality by setting conditions that can stimulate the growth of each type of plant.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.285-295
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• 2002

In this study, several types of gravimetric methods (such as high, medium, low, and ultra low volume sampling methods) were applied to determine suspended particulate matter concentrations in both ambient and indoor environments. Comparative evaluations were undertaken with SPM data obtained using a variety of samplers (TSP, PM10, and PM4.0) at different sampling flow rates. Correlation coefficients between TSP and PM10 concentrations measured at different flow rates fell in the range of 0.73∼0.94 (n=40). In addition, correlation coefficients for PM concentrations measured by different TSP samplers were in the range of 0.90∼0.95 (n=36 or n=38), while 0.77∼0.91 (n=38) for PM10 samplers. Correlation analysis was also conducted on indoor monitoring data that were measured using ultra-low-volume samplers at both different or identical flow rates. The correlation coefficients were in the range of 0.98∼0.99 (n=38) between TSP and TSP and 0.92∼0.94 (n=38) between TSP and PM10. The mean ratio for high volume PM10 to TSP concentration that was monitored at identical flow rates in the ambient air appeared to be 0.72. The mean ratios of PM10 to TSP and PM4.0 to TSP observed with identical flow rates at indoor environments were 0.47 and 0.40. The results of this study may provide empirical information concerning the compatability of aerosol data obtained by gravimetric sampling methods at different flow rates.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.209-222
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• 2015

Fine and coarse PM had been collected by LVCI (low volume cascade impactor) and HVAS (high volume air sampler) during January 1989 to April 2012 at Kyung Hee University, Global Campus located on the boarder of Yongin and Suwon. The database of PM mass concentration was constructed and then intensively and extensively investigated to understand monthly, seasonal, and annual patterns of each PM behavior. Especially the study separated all the PM data into the 5 Period Zones, which were classified on the basis of social, political, and environmental issues that might be influencing local ambient air quality during the monitoring period. The overall $PM_{10}$ level had been continuously decreased until 2005 and after then was staggering due to rapidly increasing $PM_{2.5}$ level in $PM_{10}$. The annual average of $PM_{2.5}$ concentration varied from $34.3{\mu}g/m^3$ to $59.0{\mu}g/m^3$, which were much higher than the 2015 ambient air quality standard. The $PM_{2.5}$ level was strongly associated with haze events, while both $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ levels were associated with Yellow storm events. Daily concentrations of $PM_{2.5}$ were ranged $13.1{\sim}212.9{\mu}g/m^3$ in haze days and $33.6{\sim}124.6{\mu}g/m^3$ in Asian dust days. The study also intensively investigated annual and seasonal patterns of $PM_{2.5}/PM_{10}$ ratios.

• Proceedings of the Korea Air Pollution Research Association Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.329-330
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• 2001

대기오염물질은 입자상물질과 가스상물질로 구분되는데, 이 중 입자상물질은 시정을 감소시키고 인체 건강에 유해한 영향을 미친다. 일반적으로 입자크기가 큰 거대입자는 인체 호흡기관에서 대부분 차단되거나 다시 밖으로 나오게 되지만, 입자크기가 작은 미세입자의 경우 대부분 폐의 깊은 곳에 침착하여 인체에 매우 유해하다. 이러한 미세입자의 유해성 때문에 우리나라도 1995년부터 PM10에 대한 대기환경기준을 설정하여 그 양을 규제하고 있다. 최근에는 폐에 높은 침착률을 보이는 PM2.5에 대한 관심이 집중되고 있다. (중략)

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.30 no.7
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• pp.1505-1515
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• 2009

A new method to semicontinuously determine $PM_{2.5}$ ionic species with a short time resolution is described in detail. In this system, a particle collection section (mixing part, particle collection chamber, and air/liquid separator) was developed. A Y-type connector was used to mix steam and an air sample. The particle collection chamber was constructed in the form of a helix coil and was cooled by a water circulation system. Particle size growth occurred due to the high relative humidity and water absorbed particles were efficiently collected in it. Liquid samples were drained out with a short residence time (0.08-0.1 s). The air/liquid separator was also newly designed to operate efficiently when the flow rate of the air sample was 16.7 L $min^{-1}$. For better performance, the system was optimized for particle collection efficiency with various types of test aerosols such as ($NH_4)_2SO_4,\;NaCl,\;NH_4HSO_4,\;and\;NH_4NO_3$. The particle collection efficiencies were almost 100% at different concentration levels in the range over 500 nm in diameter but 50-90% in the range of 50-500 nm under the following experimental conditions: 15 coil turns, a water flow rate for steam generation of 0.65 mL $min^{-1}$, and an air sample flow rate of 16.7 L $min^{-1}$. Finally, for atmospheric applications, chemical compositions of $PM_{2.5}$ were determined with a time resolution of 20 min on January 11-24, 2006 in Seoul, Korea, and the chemical characteristics of $PM_{2.5}$ ions were investigated.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.1879-1887
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• 2013

To investigate the level of genotoxicity over Bangkok atmosphere, $PM_{10}$ samples were collected at the Klongchan Housing Authority (KHA), Nonsree High School (NHS), Watsing High School (WHS), Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), Chokchai 4 Police Station (CPS), Dindaeng Housing Authority (DHA) and Badindecha High School (BHS). For all monitoring stations, each sample covered a period of 24 hours taken at a normal weekday every month from January-December 2006 forming a database of 84 individual air samples (i.e. $12{\times}7=84$). Atmospheric concentrations of low molecular weight PAHs (i.e. phenanthrene, anthracene, pyrene and fluoranthene) were measured in $PM_{10}$ at seven observatory sites operated by the pollution control department of Thailand (PCD). The mutagenicity of extracts of the samples was compared in Salmonella according to standard Ames test method. The dependence of the effects on sampling time and on sampling location was investigated with the aid of a calculation of mutagenic index (MI). This MI was used to estimate the increase in mutagenicity above background levels (i.e. negative control) at the seven monitoring sites in urban area of Bangkok due to anthropogenic emissions within that area. Applications of the AMES method showed that the average MI of $PM_{10}$ collected at all sampling sites were $1.37{\pm}0.10$ (TA98; +S9), $1.24{\pm}0.08$ (TA98; -S9), $1.45{\pm}0.10$ (TA100; +S9) and $1.30{\pm}0.09$ (TA100; -S9) with relatively less variations. Analytical results reconfirm that the particulate PAH concentrations measured at PCD air quality monitoring stations are moderately low in comparison with previous results observed in other countries. In addition, the concept of incremental lifetime particulate matter exposure (ILPE) was employed to investigate the potential risks of exposure to particulate PAHs in Bangkok atmosphere.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.24 no.8
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• pp.963-969
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• 2020

Cities in the region have a problem in that they cannot accurately monitor small areas because the number of air pollution is differently observed depending on variables such as population, season, traffic volume, and industrial complexes. In order to solve this problem, in this paper, comparative analysis was performed on small areas where representative air pollutants SO2, PM10, NO2, CO, and O3, which adversely affect the human body, are observed through coefficient of determination. In addition, based on Bonferroni's multiple comparative analysis, the air pollution level by period is shown. The map for the monitoring system was linked with the coordinates of each small city to visualize air pollutants for small cities based on the analysis data. Through this, it is possible to provide the user with a monitoring system of air pollutants for the region more precisely, and to prevent them from accidents that may occur due to air pollution in everyday life.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.677-688
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to predict occurrence of earthquakes in Korea by measuring the concentration of radon radioactivity in the air and in the underground water. Two monitoring systems of radon concentration detection in the air were installed in Seoul, East Coast area, whereas of radon concentration in the underground water in Kyungju area during December, 1999 to June, 2001. The distribution of radon concentration in the air in Seoul is as follows Winter(10.10 $\pm$ 2.81 Bq/㎥), autumn(8.41 $\pm$ 1.35 Bq/㎥), summer(5.83 $\pm$ 0.05 Bq/㎥) and spring (5.34 $\pm$ 0.44 Bq/㎥), whereas the distribution of radon in the air in the East Coast area showed some difference as follows : autumn (14.08 $\pm$ 5.75 Bq/㎥), Summer (12.04 $\pm$ 0.53 Bq/㎥), Winter (12.02 $\pm$ 1.40 Bq/㎥) and spring (8.93 $\pm$ 0.91 Bq/㎥). In the meanwhile, the distribution of radon in the water is as follows : spring (123.59 $\pm$ 16.36count/10min), Winter (93.95 $\pm$ 79.69counter/10min), autumn (68.96 $\pm$ 37.53counter/10min) and spring (34.45 $\pm$ 9.69counter/10min). The daily range of the density of radon concentration in Seoul and East Coast area was between 5.51 Bq/㎥ - 9.44 Bq/㎥, 7.15 Bq/㎥ - 15.27 Bq/㎥, respectively. Correlation of the distributions of radon concentrations in the air and in underground water with earthquake showed considerable variations of radon concentration before the occurrence of the earthquake. The results suggested that radon radioactivity seemed to be helpful for the prediction of the occurrence of earthquake.