• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.334-343
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• 2023

Background: South Korea's Act on Registration and Evaluation, etc. of Chemicals (known as K-REACH) was established to protect public health and the environment from hazardous chemicals. 4,4'-Methylenedianiline (MDA), which is used as a major intermediate in industrial polymer production and as a vulcanizing agent in South Korea, is classified as a toxic substance under the K-REACH act. Although MDA poses potential ecological risks due to industrial emissions and hazards to aquatic ecosystems, no ecological risk assessment has been conducted. Objectives: The aim of this study is to assess the ecological risk of MDA by identifying the actual exposure status based on the K-REACH act. Methods: Various toxicity data were collected to establish predicted no effect concentrations (PNECs) for water, sediment, and soil. Using the SimpleBox Korea v2.0 model with domestic release statistical data and EU emission factors, predicted environmental concentrations (PECs) were derived for ten sites, each referring to an MDA-using company. Hazard quotient (HQ) was calculated by ratio of the PECs and PNECs to characterize the ecological risk posed by MDA. To validate the results of modeling-based assessment, concentration of MDA was measured using in-site freshwater samples (two to three samples per site). Results: PNECs for water, sediment, and soil were 0.000525 mg/L, 4.36 mg/kg dw, and 0.1 mg/kg dw, respectively. HQ for surface water and sediment at several company sites exceeded 1 due to modeling data showing markedly high PEC in each environmental compartment. However, in the results of validation using in-site surface water samples, MDA was not detected. Conclusions: Through an ecological risk assessment conducted in accordance with the K-REACH act, the risk level of MDA emitted into the environmental compartments in South Korea was found to be low.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.439-454
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to extensively identify $PM_{10}$ sources and to estimate their contributions to the study area, based on the analysis of the $PM_{10}$ mass concentration and the associated inorganic elements, ions, and total carbon. The contribution of $PM_{10}$ sources was estimated by applying a receptor method because identifying air emission sources were effective way to control the ambient air quality. $PM_{10}$ particles were collected from May to November 2007 in the Yongin-Suwon bordering area. $PM_{10}$ samples were collected on quartz filters by a $PM_{10}$ high-volume air sampler. The inorganic elements (Al, Mn, V, Cr, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, Si, Ba, Ti and Ag) were analyzed by an ICP-AES after proper pre-treatments of each sample. The ionic components of these $PM_{10}$ samples ($Cl^_$, $NO_3^-$, $SO_4^{2-}$, $Na^+$, $NH_4^+$, $K^+$, $Ca^{2+}$, and $Mg^{2+}$) were analyzed by an IC. The carbon components (OC1, OC2, OC3, OC4, OP, EC1, EC2 and EC3) were also analyzed by DRI/OGC analyzer. Source apportionment of $PM_{10}$ was performed using a positive matrix factorization (PMF) model. After performing PMF modeling, a total of 8 sources were identified and their contribution were estimated. Contributions from each emission source were as follows: 13.8% from oil combustion and industrial related source, 25.4% from soil source, 22.1% from secondary sulfate, 12.3% from secondary nitrate, 17.7% from auto emission including diesel (12.1%) and gasoline (5.6%), 3.1% from waste incineration and 5.6% from Na-rich source. This study provides information on the major sources affecting air quality in the receptor site, and therefore it will help us maintain and manage the ambient air quality in the Yongin-Suwon bordering area by establishing reliable control strategies for the related sources.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.108-121
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• 2009

The suspended particulate matters have been collected on membrane filters and glass fiber filters by an 8-stage cascade impactor for 2 years (Sep. 2005${\sim}$Sep. 2007) in Kyung Hee University-Global Campus located on the border of Yongin and Suwon. The 20 chemical species (Al, Mn, Si, Fe, Cu, Pb, Cr, Ni, V, Cd, Ba, $Na^+$, ${NH_4}^+$, $K^+$, $Mg^{2+}$, $Ca^{2+}$, $Cl^-$, ${NO_3}^-$, and ${SO_4}^{2-}$) were analyzed by an ICP-AES and an IC after performing proper pre-treatments of each sample filter. Based on these chemical information, the PMF receptor model was applied to identify the source of ambient size-by-size particulate matters. The receptor modeling is the one of the statistical methods to achieve resonable air pollution management strategies. A total of 10 sources was identified in 9 size-ranges such as long-range transport, secondary aerosol, $NH_{4}NO_{3}$ related source, coal combustion, sea-salt, soil, oil combustion, auto emission, incineration, and biomass burning. Especially, the secondary aerosol source assorted in fine and coarse modes was intensively studied.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.133-145
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• 2001

The receptor modeling is one of the statistical methods to achieve reasonable air pollution strategies. The pur-pose of this study was to survey the concentration variability oi inorganic elements and ionic species in the PM-10 particles, to qualitatively characterize emission sources by an advanced algorithm called positive matrix factoriza-tion(PMF) as a receptor model that can strictly provide results in every loading matrix. A total of 254 samples was collected by a PM-10 high volume air sampler from Mar. 1997 to Feb. 1998 in Kyung Hee University at Suwon Campus. Fourteen chemical species(Zn, Cu, Fe, Pb, Al, Mn, $Na^{+}$, NH$_4$+, $K^{+}$, $Mg^{2+}$, $Ca^{2+}$, $SO_4^{2-}$, $NO_{3}^{-}$, and $Cl^{-}$) were determined by AAS and IC methods. The study results showed that the average monthly concentration of PM-10 particles were 86.3$\mu\textrm{g}$/$\textrm{m}^3$ in March (maximum) and 28.5$\mu\textrm{g}$/$\textrm{m}^3$ in August(minimum), respectively. The concentrations of Na+, NH$_4$+, $K^{+}$ and $Cl^{-}$ in winter, $Mg^{2+}$, $Ca^{2+}$ and $NO_{3}^{-}$, in spring, and $SO_4^{2-}$ in summer showed the largest peak concentration for the respective season. Through and app-lication of a PMF program of Pm-10 concentration data of Suwon, 9 sources were qualitatively identified , such as incineration source, oil burning source, soil related source, open burning source automobile source, coal burning sources, secondary sulfate related source, and secondary nitrate related source.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.209-218
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• 2016

PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 samples were collected at the 1100 site of Mt. Halla in Jeju Island during 2011~2012, and their ionic and elemental species were analyzed, in order to investigate the characteristics of emission sources as well as aerosol compositions. The mass concentrations of PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 were 22.0±13.1 µg/m³ and 11.3±6.1 µg/m³, respectively, showing 2.4~2.6 times lower than those of the capital city area of Korea. The composition ratios of major secondary pollutants (nss-SO₄²⁻, NH₄⁺, and NO₃⁻) were the highest as 85.5 % for PM₁₀ and 91.3 % for PM_2.5, and followed by the order of marine (Na⁺, Cl⁻, and Mg²⁺), organic acid (HCOO⁻ and CH₃COO⁻), and soil (nss-Ca²⁺) sources. Among the elemental species in PM₁₀, soil-originated components (Al, Fe, and Ca) were consisted of 50.9 %, which was higher proportion than marine and anthropogenic elements. The acidification of the fine particulate matters was found to be influenced mostly by sulfuric and nitric acids, and these acids were mainly neutralized by calcium carbonate in PM₁₀ and by ammonia in PM_2.5. The clustered back trajectories showed that 47 % of total air mass inflows was from the China, and the concentrations of NO₃⁻ and nss-Ca²⁺ were especially high corresponding to the inflows.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.409-416
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• 2015

ICP-AES has been used in many laboratories due to the advantages of wide calibration range and multi-element analysis, but it may give erroneous results and suffer from spectral interference due to the large number of emission lines associated with each element. In this study, certified reference materials (CRMs) and field samples were analyzed by ICP-AES and HG-AAS according to the official Korean testing method for soil pollution to investigate analytical problems. The applicability of HG-ICP-AES was also tested as an alternative method. HG-AAS showed good accuracies (90.8~106.3%) in all CRMs, while ICP-AES deviated from the desired range in CRMs with low arsenic and high Fe/Al. The accuracy in CRM030 was estimated as below 39% at the wavelength of 193.696 nm by ICP-AES. Significant partial overlaps and sloping background interferences were observed near to 193.696 nm with the presence of 50 mg/L Fe and Al. Most CRMs were quantified with few or no interferences of Fe and Al at 188.980 nm. ICP-AES properly assessed low and high level arsenic for field samples, at 188.980 nm and 193.696 nm, respectively. The importance of the choice of measurement wavelengths corresponding to relative arsenic level should be noted. Because interferences were affected by the sample matrix, operation conditions and instrument figures, the analysts were required to consider spectral interferences and compare the analytical performance of the recommended wavelengths. HG-ICP-AES was evaluated as a suitable alternative method for ICP-AES due to improvement of the detection limit, wide calibration ranges, and reduced spectral interferences by HG.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.388-395
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• 2004

This study was carried out to determine the application rate of pig slurry for red pepper. Field experiment was designed with non-fertilizer, chemical fertilizer recommended by soil testing (CFRST) and pig slurry treatments. In pig slurry (PS) plots, pig slurry was applied as basal fertilizer with different equivalents to nitrogen of chemical fertilizer plot (60%: PS60, 80%: PS80, 100%: PS100, 120%: PS120) and chemical fertilizer was top-dressed additionally. Soil organic matter contents after 50 day of planting and after experiment in the plots treated with PS were higher than that of CFRST plot, whereas content of $NO_3-N$ of CFRST plot was higher than that of PS plot. Growth of red pepper were lowest in the non-fertilizer plot. Plant lengths of red pepper at 50 day after planting were similar among the different treatments, plant lengths of red pepper of PS100, PS120 and CFRST at 100 day after planting were higher than those of the PS60 and PS80 plots. But Main stem and stem diameter of red pepper were not different among the treatments. Uptake rate of N, P and K by red pepper plant were 27-44, 9-16 and 41-68% for total N, $P_2O_5$ and $K_2O$, respectively. Utilization of applied fertilizer ingredient by red pepper plant were in the order of PS80> PS60> FRST> PS100> PS120. Yield of red pepper tends to increase by 3% in the PS100 compared with the CFRST, but there was not significant difference between PS120 and CFRST. Chemical component of run-off collected from the furrow of the red pepper field was not different among the treatments. Greenhouse gases ($CH_4$ and $N_2O$) emission of non-fertilizer, PS100 and CFRST during the whole red pepper growth period were 4.0, 4.8 and $5.9kg\;CH_4\;ha^{-1}$, and 0.74, 6.68 and $8.38kg\;N_2O\;ha^{-1}$. Emission of $CH_4$ and $N_2O$ in PS100 was higher than those of CFRST by 23% and 26%, respectively. In this connection, to be used the pig slurry for red pepper, it is required that pig slurry must be decomposed for six months or more. Consequently, pig slurry equivalent to nitrogen of basal fertilizer of CFRST with additional top dressing of chemical fertilizer is recommend as an optimum application rate of pig slurry for red pepper.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.310-318
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• 2011

The collection of atmospheric $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ particle samples was made at Gosan site of Jeju Island, which is one of the most representative background sites in Korea. Their chemical compositions have been analyzed to explore the pollution characteristics and emission sources. The mass concentrations of $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ particles were $37.6{\pm}20.1$ and $22.9{\pm}14.3{\mu}g/m^3$, respectively, with the content of $PM_{2.5}$ to $PM_{10}$ as 61%. The $PM_{2.5}/PM_{10}$ ratios of nss-$SO_4^{2-}$, $NO_3^-$, and $NH_4^+$ were 0.94, 0.56, 1.02, respectively, indicating that these components were distributed mostly in the fine fractions. Based on the factor analysis, it was found that the compositions of fine particles were mainly influenced by anthropogenic sources, followed by soil or marine sources. The results of the backward trajectory analysis indicate that the concentrations of nss-$SO_4^{2-}$, $NO_3^-$, $NH_4^+$, nss-$Ca^{2+}$, and Pb were high when the air parcels moved from the China continent, while relatively low with the air parcels coming from North Pacific Ocean and/or East Sea.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.502-509
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• 2013

To estimate greenhouse gas (GHG) emission, we established inventory of conventional rice cultivation from farmers in Gunsan and Iksan, Jeonbuk province in 2011~2012. This study was to calculate carbon footprint and to analyse the major factor of GHGs. We carried out a sensitivity analysis using the analyzed main factors of GHGs and estimated the mitigation potential of GHGs. Also we tried to suggest agricultural methods to reduce GHGs that farmers of this case study can apply. Carbon footprint of rice production unit of 1 kg was 2.21 kg $CO_2.-eq.kg^{-1}$. Although amount of $CO_2$ emissions is largest among GHGs, methane had the highest contribution of carbon footprint on rice production system after methane was converted to carbon dioxide equivalent ($CO_2$-eq.) multiplied by the global warming potential (GWP). Source of $CO_2$ in the cultivation of rice farming is incomplete combustion of fossil fuels used by agricultural machinery. Most of the $CH_4$ emitted during rice cultivation and major factor of $CH_4$ emission is flooded paddy field in anaerobic condition. Most of the $N_2O$ emitted from rice cultivation process and major sources of $N_2O$ emission is application of fertilizer such as compound fertilizer, urea, orgainc fertilizer, etc. As a result of sensitivity analysis due to the variation in energy consumption, diesel had the highest sensitivity among the energies inputs. If diesel consumption is reduced by 10%, it could be estimated that $CO_2$ potential reduction is about 2.5%. When application rate of compound fertilizer reduces by 10%, the potential reduction is calculated to be approximately 1% for $CO_2$ and approximately 1.8% for $N_2O$. When drainage duration is decreased until 10 days, methane emissions is reduced by approximately 4.5%. That is to say drainage days, tillage, and reducing diesel consumption were the main sources having the largest effect of GHG reduction due to changing amount of inputs. Accordingly, proposed methods to decrease GHG emissions were no-tillage, midsummer drainage, etc.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.17-23
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• 2019

Sources of NOx are both anthropogenic (e.g. fossil fuel combustion, vehicles, and other industrial processes) and natural (e.g. lightning, biogenic soil processes, and wildfires). The nitrogen stable isotope ratio of NOx has been proposed as an indicator for NOx source partitioning, which would help identify the contributions of various NOx sources. In this study, the ${\delta}^{15}N-NO_2$ values of vehicle emissions were measured in an urban region, to understand the sources and processes that influence the isotopic composition of NOx emissions. The Ogawa passive air sampler was used to determine the isotopic composition of $NO_2$(g). In urban tunnels, the observed $NO_2$ concentration and ${\delta}^{15}N-NO_2$ values averaged $3809{\pm}2656ppbv$ and $7.7{\pm}1.8$‰, respectively. The observed ${\delta}^{15}N-NO_2$ values are associated with slight regional variations in the vehicular $NO_2$ source. Both $NO_2$ concentration and ${\delta}^{15}N-NO_2$ values were significantly higher near the expressway ($965{\pm}125ppbv$ and $5.9{\pm}1.4$‰) than at 1.1 km from the expressway ($372{\pm}96ppbv$ and $-11.5{\pm}2.9$‰), indicating a high proportion of vehicle emissions. Ambient ${\delta}^{15}N-NO_2$ values were used in a binary mixing model to estimate the percentage of the ${\delta}^{15}N-NO_2$ value contributed by vehicular NOx emissions. The calculated percentage of the ${\delta}^{15}N-NO_2$ contribution by vehicles was significantly higher close to the highway, as observed for the $NO_2$ concentration and ${\delta}^{15}N-NO_2$.