• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.19-25
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• 1992

The study was carried out to investigate the correlation between the heavy metals emitted by the motor vehicles with the heavy traffic road side environment (soil, leave, bark, ambient air). The Pb, Cu, Zn contents in road side soil sand leaves, barks from Ginkgo, biloba and ambient air adjacent to the heavy traffic road side from June to August, 1992 Suwon city were analyzed by Atomic absorption spectrometry and Inductively coupled plasma emission spectrophotometry. The results were as follows: 1) The high levels of heavy metals concentration were Pb, at city-terminal in soil (186 $\mu$g/g), Cu, at city-terminal in soil (221 $\mu$g/g), Zn, at city-terminal in ambient air (252 $\mu$g/m$^{3}$). 2) The low leves of heavy metals concentration were Pb, at North-gate in ambient air (1.65$\mu$g/m$^{3}$), Cu, at North-gate in ambient air (4 $\mu$g/m$^{3}$), Zn, at North-gate in ambient air (15.31$\mu$g/m$^{3}$). 3) The regional distribution of Pb, Cu, Zn in road side soils, leaves and barks from Ginkgo, biloba, ambient air show high levels in turn, city4erminal, Guan Sean Dong, South gate, North gate. 4) The concentration of heavy metals (Pb, Cu, Zn) in soils, leaves, barks, ambient air was highly correlated with the traffic volume of the sampling sites (r=0.64~0.96). To conclude that the high levels of Pb, Cu, Zn contaminations were positively related to motor vehicles-borne pollutants and road side soils, trees, ambient air adjacent to a high density building area with low road coverage and heavy traffic volume were reflected strongly by the hazardous pollutants emitted by motor vehicles.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제55권6호
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• pp.185-192
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• 2012

The prevalence of allergic diseases has increased worldwide, a phenomenon that can be largely attributed to environmental effects. Among environmental factors, air pollution due to traffic is thought to be a major threat to childhood health. Residing near busy roadways is associated with increased asthma hospitalization, decreased lung function, and increased prevalence and severity of wheezing and allergic rhinitis. Recently, prospective cohort studies using more accurate measurements of individual exposure to air pollution have been conducted and have provided definitive evidence of the impact of air pollution on allergic diseases. Particulate matter and ground-level ozone are the most frequent air pollutants that cause harmful effects, and the mechanisms underlying these effects may be related to oxidative stress. The reactive oxidative species produced in response to air pollutants can overwhelm the redox system and damage the cell wall, lipids, proteins, and DNA, leading to airway inflammation and hyper-reactivity. Pollutants may also cause harmful effects via epigenetic mechanisms, which control the expression of genes without changing the DNA sequence itself. These mechanisms are likely to be a target for the prevention of allergies. Further studies are necessary to identify children at risk and understand how these mechanisms regulate gene-environment interactions. This review provides an update of the current understanding on the impact of air pollution on allergic diseases in children and facilitates the integration of issues regarding air pollution and allergies into pediatric practices, with the goal of improving pediatric health.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• 제2권2호
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• pp.90-101
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• 2008

The chemical compositions of $PM_{2.5}$ and $PM_{10}$ and associated high-molecular-weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were investigated during winter and summer at a roadside and an urban background site in Saitama, Japan. The average concentrations of $PM_{2.5}$ exceeded the United States Environmental Protection Agency standards during both periods. Carbonaceous components were abundant in both the observed and calculated (by means of a mass closure model) chemical composition of $PM_{2.5}$. Traffic-related pollutants (elemental carbon and high-molecular-weight PAHs) were strongly associated with $PM_{2.5}$ rather than with larger particles. The mass concentrations of $PM_{2.5}$, as well as those of EC and PAHs associated with the particles, at the two sites were strongly correlated. Comparison of our data with source profile ratios indicates that diesel-powered vehicles were probably the main source of the measured PAHs. The PAHs concentrations were affected by meteorological conditions during our study. Our results highlight the need for the establishment of standards for $PM_{2.5}$ in Japan.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• 제8권1호
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• pp.33-43
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• 1999

This paper aims to describe the characteristics of air pollution using air pollutants concentration and meteorological data observed at Kimhae from December 1996 to November, 1997. The results are as follows : The concentration distribution of sulfur dioxide($SO_2$), carbon monoxide(CO), particulate matter(PM-10), and nitrogen dioxide($NO_2$) is high during the late fall and winter and low during the summer, but ozone concentration is low during the winter season and high during summer season except Jangma period and these distributions appear to be closely connected with insolation and the number of clear day. Diurnal variation of concentrations for sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, and carbon monoxide are high during the rush hours and nighttime and low during the daytime and these variations are distinct toward the winter season. And diurnal variation of nitrogen dioxide concentration has also same pattern and these patterns are closely related to the increasing traffic volume at rush hours. Diurnal variation of ozone concentration is generally increase for daytime and decrease for the late afternoon and are closely related to the insolation and photochemical reaction. The 24 hour average concentrations of air pollutant observed at Kimhae represented a positive correlation and a negative correlation for $O_3$ and also a negative correlation for the meteorological elements such as wind speed and cloud cover.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 한국지하수토양환경학회 2000년도 창립총회 및 춘계학술발표회
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• pp.28-32
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• 2000

There are many different chemical pollutants that originate from atmospheric deposition and transportational activities along roads. This paper review the characteristics of heavy metal pollution, relationships between land use and pollutant load in urban area. Four land use areas in Seoul were selected for sampling and study with different characteristics during the period from April 1998 and February 2000. A series of studies have been carried out concerning the physicochemical characteristics of the sediments settling down in a gully pot to evaluate the contamination for heavy metals. The sediment samples from gully pots were characterized by the chemical extraction experiments. Sediments are characterized by very high concentrations of heavy metals, probably because of a long-term accumulation of vehicle- and industrial-related pollutants. The characteristics of heavy metal pollution show that each land use has different sources of contaminations. Mean Zn concentration in Yeouido and Junggu areas is 2-3 times higher than those in Dobonggu area. This suggests that Zn may be derived from the source of automobile traffic. The mean concentrations of Cu and Cr are very significantly high in Junggu and Gurogu areas and indicate that the industrial activities may contribute to the accumulation of Cu and Cr in sediments. The low Pb levels throughout the whole study areas in Seoul can be accounted for the use of unleaded gasoline since 1987.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• 제43권6호
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• pp.478-490
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• 2017

Objectives: The association of air pollution levels and land-use types with changes in the prevalence of allergic diseases (allergic conjunctivitis, allergic rhinitis, asthma, and atopic dermatitis) was investigated for seven metropolitan cities in Korea Methods: Data on daily hospital visits and admissions (of those under 19 years old) for 2003-2012 were obtained from the National Health Insurance Cooperation. Meteorological data on daily mean temperature, humidity, and air pressure were obtained from the Korea Meteorological Administration. Daily mean or maximum concentration data for five pollutants ($PM_{10}$, $O_3$, $NO_2$, $SO_2$, and CO) as measured at air quality monitoring sites operated by the Ministry of Environment were used. We estimated excess risk and 95% confidence intervals for the increasing interquatile range (IQR) of each air pollutant using Generalized Additive Models (GAM) appropriate for time series analysis. Results: In this study, we observed a significant association between the IQR increases of air pollutants and the prevalence risk of allergic diseases (allergic conjunctivitis, allergic rhinitis, asthma, and atopic dermatitis) in all metropolitan cities after adjusting for temperature, humidity, and air pressure at sea level. Among the air pollutants, $NO_2$ and $PM_{10}$ were associated with the prevalence of asthma, and $O_3$ was associated with only allergic conjunctivitis in regression analysis. However, in GAM analysis considering land-use, $O_3$ and $SO_2$ were associated with allergic conjunctivitis, PM10, O3, NO2, and CO were associated with allergic rhinitis, and $PM_{10}$, $O_3$ and $NO_2$ were associated with asthma in industrial area. Conclusion: This study found a significant association between air pollution and the prevalence of allergic related diseases in industrial areas. More detailed research considering mixed traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) and conducting meta-analyses combining data of the all cities is required.

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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• 제27권6호
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• pp.139-146
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• 2009

While air pollutants emission caused by the traffic is one of the major sources, few researches have done. This study investigated the extent to which traffic and road related characteristics such as traffic volumes, speeds and road weather data including wind speed, temperature and humidity, as well as the road geometry affect the air pollutant emission. We collected the real time air pollutant emission data from Seoul automatic stations and real time traffic volume counts as well as the road geometry. The regression air pollutant emission models were estimated. The results show followings. First, the more traffic volume increase, the more pollutant emission increase. The more vehicle speed increase, the more measurement quantity of pollutant decrease. Secondly, as the wind speed, temperature, and humidity increase, the amount of air pollutant is likely to decrease. Thirdly, the figure of intersections affects air pollutant emission. To verify the estimated models, we compared the estimates of the air pollutant emission with the real emission data. The result show the estimated results of Chunggae 4 station has the most reliable data compared with the others. This study is differentiated in the way the model used the real time air pollutant emission data and real time traffic data as well as the road geometry to explain the effects of the traffic and road characteristics on air quality.

• Anxiety and mood
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.57-75
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• 2020

Particular matter is steadily increasing due to environmental factors at domestic and abroad such as industry and economy. Recently, the exposure particular matters has been reported to increase the risk not only for morbidity and mortality, but also for diseases of the respiratory system, cardiovascular system and central nervous system/neuropsychiatric disorder. Although the causes of neuropsychiatric diseases are genetic and environmental factors, it is necessary to pay more attention to environmental factors in terms of prevention. We mainly describe environmental factors that affect neuropsychiatric disorders, mainly on particular matter, which is one of harmful environmental substances. In the current study, we reviewed evidence for the presence of particular matter or particular matter related harmful air pollutants-O₃, SO₂, NO₂/NOx, traffic related air pollution, that may represent risk factors for the development of neuropsychiatric disorder.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• 제31권4호
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• pp.367-377
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• 2021

Objectives: Taxi drivers are exposed to various hazards, such as long periods of sedentary work and traffic-related air pollutants. However, studies on the health effects among taxi drivers in South Korea are insufficient. Methods: To assess subclinical hematologic change related to cardiovascular disease among male taxi drivers, we analyzed data from the second Korean National Environmental Health Survey. Fifty-nine taxi drivers and 1,912 controls were included in the analysis. Propensity score matching was performed to adjust for age, body mass index, and urinary cotinine. A total of 295 subjects were matched with 59 taxi drivers. Leukocyte count, platelet count, hematocrit, triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol land total IgE of the taxi drivers were compared with the control groups. Results: Taxi drivers showed significantly elevated blood leukocytes and platelets. Serum total IgE was significantly reduced in taxi drivers. However, blood leukocytes, platelets, and serum total IgE were not significantly correlated with work period among taxi drivers. Conclusions: Regarding the change of the blood leukocyte count, platelet count, and serum total IgE, taxi driving has the possibility to be associated with peripheral inflammation, humoral immunity and cardiovascular risk.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• 제32권5호
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• pp.457-468
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• 2016

Traffic-related air pollutants and particulates from diesel exhaust cause for increasing respiratory health problem. Recent epidemiologic studies have reported adverse effects of urban air pollution on various aspects of respiratory health. Bus or truck terminal workers have high probability of exposure to diesel exhaust particle than general office worker. This study was designed to evaluate the relationship between pulmonary function of people who working at the high-density area of diesel vehicles and pulmonary function of people who working at general office in Seoul. So, this study explored the effects on people with exposure to diesel traffic or exposure to diesel traffic, through the pulmonary function test (PFT). There were significant difference in Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) and Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second ($FEV_1$) between high-exposure group and control. High-exposure to diesel particle were increased risk of reduction in pulmonary function in this study. These results provide the necessity additional research that manage people who working at the high-density area of diesel vehicles.