• IEMEK Journal of Embedded Systems and Applications
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.179-185
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• 2018

Particulate Matter (PM2.5) has various adverse effects on health. Climate and industry activity and traffic volume are the main causes, especially in urban area. In order to construct an effective forecasting system, many measurement systems are required, but it is impossible in reality. Therefore, in this study, we propose a method to infer PM2.5 condition by using rule induction technique. The experimental results showed a classification accuracy of 71%.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.165-172
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• 2015

Under a very tough situation that there has been increasing concern to the air quality in underground subway spaces, this study set sights on the thorough estimation of the chemical properties and source apportionment of particulate matter (PM) collected on an underground subway platform by a cooperative approach of semi-bulk and single particle analyses. The size-resolved PMs were intensively collected on the platform of Miasageori station on the Seoul Subway Line-4, and then, they were semibulkily analyzed by a PIXE and the TOR$^{(R)}$ method, and individually analyzed by a SEM-EDX. Overwhelmingly enriched iron was a notable feature of elemental concentration of $PM_{2.5}$. Source classification of iron in $PM_{10-2.5}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ performed along with their elemental concentrations, indicates that the railway originated iron accounts for 95.71% and 66.39% of total iron in $PM_{10-2.5}$ and $PM_{2.5}$, respectively. Via a stoichiometric categorization, $Fe_2O_3$, $CaAl_2Si_2O_8$, $Al_2O_3$, and $CaCO_3$ show more than 85% abundance ratio in individual coarse particles. The result of theoretical estimation of the subway derived organic carbon ($OC_{Subway}$) suggests that $OC_{Subway}$ in $PM_1$ and $PM_{2.5-1}$ account for 75.86% and 51.88% of total organic carbon, respectively.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.479-487
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• 2007

[ $PM_{2.5}$ ], particulate matter less than 2.5 um in a diameter, can penetrate deeply into the lungs. Exposure to $PM_{2.5}$ has been associated with increased hospital visits for respiratory aliments as well as increase mortality. $PM_{2.5}$ is a byproduct of combustion processes and as such has a complex composition including a variety of metallic elements, inorganic and organic compounds as well as biogenic materials (microorganisms, proteins, etc). In this study, the average concentrations of fine particulates $PM_{2.5}$ have been measured simultaneously in Asan and Seoul, Korea, by using particulate matter portable sampler from September 2001 to August 2002. Sample collection filters were analyzed by ICP-OES to determine the concentrations of metallic elements (As, Ni, Fe, Cr, Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, Si). Annual mean $PM_{2.5}$ concentrations in Asan and Seoul were 37.70 and $45.83\;{\mu}g/m^3$, respectively. The highest concentrations of $PM_{2.5}$ were found in spring season in both cities and the concentrations of measured metallic elements except As in Asan were higher than those in Seoul, suggesting that yellow dust in spring could affect $PM_{2.5}$ concentrations in Asan rather than Seoul. The correlation coefficients of Pb and Zn were 0.343 for Asan and 0.813 for Seoul during non-yellow dust condition, suggesting that Pb and Zn were influenced with the same sources. The correlation coefficients between Si and Fe in the fine particulate mode were 0.999 (Asan) and 0.998 (Seoul) during yellow dust condition. It was suggested that these two elements were impacted by soil-related transport from China during the yellow dust storm condition.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.1-9
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• 1994

In order to investigate the regional level of air pollutants at Kangwha island situated on the western coast in Korea, the suspended particulate matter samples were collected by using the low volume air sampler on ten interval from March 1992 to February 1993 and the mass concentration of suspended particulate matter (SPM) and the chemical composition of water-soluble major ionic components in SPM samples were measured. During the sampling period, the average concentration of SPM under diameter 10 $\mu$m was found to be 48 $\mu$g/m$^3$ (+ 12). The seasonal concentration of SPM was showed in order of spring>fall>winter>summer. It was considered that higher concentration on spring than other season was affected by the long-range transport of Yellow sand particulate from China continent and lower concentration on summer by the washout and rainout effect of large rainfall. The content of water-soluble component in SPM samples was founded to be about 31% (14.69 $\mu$g/m$^3$) and 65% was unknown or unanalyzed. The content of cationic component showed in order of NH$_4^+$ (44.6%)>Na$^+$ (21.2%)>K$^+$ (14.7%)>Ca$^{2+}$ (13.6%)>Mg$^{2+}$ (5.9 %) and the content of anionic component SO$_4^{2-}$ (62.5%)>NO$_3^-$ (22.3%)>Cl$^-$ (15.2%), respectively. This fact indicates that ammonium and sulfate ion of water-soluble component in SPM sample were dominant in this region. From the chemical composition of water-soluble component, the most of Na$^+$, Mg$^{2+}$ and Cl$^-$ were originated from seawater source but K$^+$, Ca$^{2+}$ and SO$_4^{2-}$ were originated from other non-marine source. The contribution of seasalt to the composition of precipitation was 23%.

• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.647-654
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• 2020

Background and objective: Particulate matter (PM) is one of the serious environmental problems and threatens human health. Plants can clean the air by removing PM from the atmosphere. This study was carried out to investigate the PM removal efficiency of 12 species of woody plants. Methods: Actinidia arguta, Dendropanax morbiferus, Fraxinus rhynchophylla, Parthenocissus tricuspidata, Pittosporum tobira, Rhaphiolepis indica, Rhapis, Salix integra, Salix koreensis, Schisandra chinensis, Viburnum odoratissimum var. awabuki, and Vitis coignetiae were used as plant material. Six 15 cm (D) pots were placed in an acrylic chamber of 800 (D) × 800 (W) × 1000 (H) mm. The LED panel was used as a light source. The reduction of PM10, PM2.5, and PM1 for 300 minutes after the injection of PM was automatically measured. Results: The leaf area and the amount of PM in the chamber showed a negative correlation. 12 species of plants were compared by dividing the plants into 3 groups according to their characteristics: vines, trees, and shrubs and small trees. In the vine plant group, the averages of PM10, PM2.5, and PM1 were 7.917%, 8.796%, and 30.275%, respectively. In the shrubs and small trees group, the average of PM10, PM2.5, and PM1 were 10.142%, 11.133%, and 36.448%, respectively. In the trees group, the average of PM10, PM2.5, and PM1 were 11.475%, 12.892%, and 40.421%, respectively. When the initial concentration was 100%, PM10, PM2.5, and PM1 of Viburnum odoratissimum var. awabuki with the largest leaf area were 5.6%, 6.3%, and 21.0% after 5 hours, respectively, the best results among 12 species of plants. Conclusion: The vine plant group was more effective in removing PM than the other two groups. In the tree groups, the fact that the leaf development was relatively inactive at a plant height of 30 cm was considered to have an effect on the removal of particulate matter.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.35-44
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• 2017

Disposal of municipal solid waste has become a major problem in many countries around the world. As landfill space for the disposal of ash from Municipal Solid Waste Incineration (MSWI) becomes scarce, numerous reports and researches address the various environmental issues about the municipal solid waste incineration waste management and other particulate matters with the range of 10 ~ 2.5. Although in many developing and industrialization countries landfill with the disposal of municipal solid waste, open incineration has become a common practice. Large municipal waste incinerators are major industrial facilities and have the potential to be significant sources of environmental pollution. Despite the significant volume reduction from incineration, waste recycling is important to ensuring the future welfare of mankind. The main goal of the present work is the physical and chemical characterization of the local incineration bottom ash towards its eventual re-utilization. In this paper, we reported the studies on physical and chemical characteristics of municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) fly ash and bottom ash containing particulate matter whose particulate sizes are lower than $PM_{10}$, $PM_{2.5}$ and heavy metal were investigated.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.395-403
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• 2019

Purpurogallin, a natural phenol obtained from oak nutgalls, has been shown to possess antioxidant, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory effects. Recently, in addition to ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation that induces cell apoptosis via oxidative stress, particulate matter 2.5 ($PM_{2.5}$) was shown to trigger excessive production of reactive oxygen species. In this study, we observed that UVB radiation and $PM_{2.5}$ severely damaged human HaCaT keratinocytes, disrupting cellular DNA, lipids, and proteins and causing mitochondrial depolarization. Purpurogallin protected HaCaT cells from apoptosis induced by UVB radiation and/or $PM_{2.5}$. Furthermore, purpurogallin effectively modulates the pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic proteins under UVB irradiation via caspase signaling pathways. Additionally, purpurogallin reduced apoptosis via MAPK signaling pathways, as demonstrated using MAPK-p38, ERK, and JNK inhibitors. These results indicate that purpurogallin possesses antioxidant effects and protects cells from damage and apoptosis induced by UVB radiation and $PM_{2.5}$.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.36 no.6_3
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• pp.1691-1710
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• 2020

We measured PM2.5 and PM10 (particulate matter less than 2.5 ㎛ and 10 ㎛ in diameter, respectively) simultaneously at 16 locations around an elementary school and classrooms in Busan and Pyeongtaek, South Korea. In this study, we compared the results of this field intensive with those in the literature (144 cases of 30 studies), focusing on I/O (Indoor/Outdoor) ratios. We also reviewed the results of previous studies, categorizing them into related sub-categories for indoor-activities, seasons, building-uses, and the surrounding environment. We conclude that indoor PM10 is affected more by indoor-sources (e.g., physical activities) than PM2.5 in the absence of combustion sources like smoking and cooking. Additionally, PM10 and PM2.5 likely have different indoor-outdoor infiltration efficiencies. Conclusively, PM10 in classrooms can be more sensitively affected by both indoor activities and ambient concentrations, and mechanical ventilation can be more efficient in reducing PM concentrations than natural ventilation.

• Proceedings of the Korea Air Pollution Research Association Conference
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• 2008.10a
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• pp.53-56
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• 2008

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.149-157
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• 2019

Infiltration characteristics of airborne particulate matter had been investigated in real-life for about 90 days over 2 years in a Korean apartment building where a 3-person household had lived and the exclusive private area was 84.9 ㎡. Airtightness was measured by fan depressurization, and the ACH₅₀ was 2.41 times per hour. In and outdoor particle concentrations were measured by optical particle counters. Infiltration factors and filtration efficiencies of the house, which reflect the removal of outdoor particles penetrating building envelope and the deposition inside a building, were obtained from data screened based on an empirical evaluation process. Infiltration factor of fine particles showed a range from about 42% at 0.4 m/s of wind speed to 72% at 4.2 m/s of wind speed with closed windows and doors. Filtration efficiency was like a MERV 13 grade filter with an open window outside at a balcony at low outdoor wind speed under 1 m/s. The grade decreased to MERV 11 by opening another outside window at the other balcony. Filtration efficiencies decreased as much as 29% in average at a range of 0.3~2.5 ㎛.