• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.231-241
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• 1997

A tracer model was applied in the Far East Asia to investigate the dry deposition rates of air pollutants on Korean Peninsula originated from different countries including China and Japan. Wind direction was chosen to predict the maximum deposition rates and SO$_2$ was chosen as a tracer to estimate the source strength. Model simulation shows that inflow, deposition and airborne ratios of China-originated SO$_2$ were 50%, 8% and 30%, respectively, at most. Also it was found that deposition, outbounded and airborne ratios of Korea-originated SO$_2$ were 15~77%, 8~75%, and 3~30%, respectively Model simulation also shows that inflow, deposition and airborne ratios of Kyushu-originated SO$_2$ were, 30~45%, 8~14％ and 20~25%, respectively. This study shows that tracer model can be applied on the estimation of air pollutants partitioning in regional scale and that more sophisticated modules and schemes can be developed and applied to better predict the transboundary amounts of air pollutants in this region.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.305-311
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• 2023

Background: The National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER)'s classification of and airborne fraction ratio for consumer chemical products (CCP) does not reflect the characteristics of various product classifications. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to reclassify the types of spray products according to the diverse spray characteristics of CCPs to evaluate the airborne fraction ratio of representative spray types and to compare them with previous CCPs types and airborne fraction ratios. Methods: One thousand seven hundred two products were selected through market research, and 932 newly reported products were selected. After that, 200 were selected to evaluate products with potential inhalation exposure. After classifying six product types that are expected to show differences in the airborne fraction ratio according to the type of product, a final 38 products were selected for use in the airborne fraction ratio through random sampling. Results: CCP has been reclassified from two to six types so that the characteristics of all products are well-reflected. The NIER simply had two airborne fraction ratios, but the results of experiments with six types of products showed a significant difference in values (p<0.01). Airborne fraction ratios of propellant general foam, pump general aerosol, and pump trigger foam in spray type, which were not previously present in NIER, were 7.1%, 24.4%, and 3.5%, respectively. Conclusions: For the diversified types of CCPs, the newly proposed classification was more appropriate than the existing NIER classification. The airborne fraction ratio was also different for each type, so a new value was suggested.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.105-113
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• 2013

We constructed and tested an airborne peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) monitoring system based on luminol chemiluminescence detection with fast gas chromatography. This system allowed for simultaneous measurement of PAN and nitrogen dioxide ($NO_2$) with a time resolution of <2 min. Actual sample masses within the fixed volume sample loop at various altitudes and temperatures were adjusted to standard atmosphere, using measured pressures and temperatures. The airborne PAN measurement system was evaluated during two field studies above the southern Korean Peninsula in August and October 2009. The detection limit based on the ISO approach was 0.035 ppbv PAN, well below the observed concentrations of 0.185-1.49 ppbv during these studies. Under these conditions, the PAN mixing ratios were positively correlated with $O_x$ ($O_x=O_3+NO_2$), with slopes varying between 0.014 and 0.033 and intercepts between 22.6 and 55.1 ppbv $O_x$. The intercepts corresponded roughly to background $O_x$ mixing ratios in central Europe; however, the slopes were above the range of slopes reported in other studies. We also enhanced the durability, safety, and ease of maintenance of the PAN monitoring system by redesigning the structure of the conventional luminol cell.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.165-175
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• 1996

Fourteen(14) large commercial buildings located in Seoul with friable sprayed-on surface insulation material on ceiling were investigated for fiber types in bulk material and for airborne fiber concentrations in buildings by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in order to compare the results with those by polarized light microscopy (PLM) and phase contrast microscopy (PCM). The results were as follows: 1. Chrysotile asbestos was found in one bulk sample out of total 14 bulk samples collected. Glass fiber and mineral wool were the two major constituents of the bulk samples. 2. The Na-Mg-Si-Ca-Fe-Al ratios of the EDX spectra which were normalized with the Si peak were 0-1.0-10-8.3-4.0-4.0 in mineral wool and 0-5-10-21-0-0 in chrysotile asbestos, respectively. 3. Airborne fiber concentrations were log-normalcy distributed and the geometric mean (geometric standard deviation) fiber concentrations by TEM in the underground parking lots and inside buildings were 0.0048 f/cc(1.93) and 0.0040 f/cc(2.27), respectively with no statistical difference. In the outdoor ambient air, statistically significantly lower concentration of 0.0018 f/cc(2.04) was measured. 4. The TEM/PCM ratios of airborne fiber concentrations ranged 0.5 - 2.0 for 80 % of airborne samples analyzed, end the regression equation between TEM and PCM was PCM=-0.2724+1.1355(TEM) with the coefficient of determination $R^2=0.52$. The results of this study confirmed that the sprayed-on surface insulation material found in some commercial buildings may possibly be contaminated with asbestos fiber. Since statistically significant relationship of fiber concentrations measured by PCM and TEM inside buildings and ambient air was found, previous results by PCM in ambient air could be used to estimate the ambient fiber concentrations in knowing the ratio of TEM/PCM.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.19-27
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• 2007

Hazardous polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and nitropolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (NPAHs) are mainly originated from imperfect combustion of fossil fuels such as petroleum and coal. The consumptions of not only petroleum but also coal have been increasing in the East Asian countries. This review describes the result of international collaboration research concerning characteristics and major contributors of atmospheric PAHs and NPAHs in cities in Japan, Korea, China and Russia. We collected airborne particulates in ten cities in the above countries and six PAHs and eleven NPAHs were determined by HPLC methods using fluorescence and chemiluminescence detections. The total PAH concentrations were much higher in Chinese cities (Fushun, Tieling, Shenyang and Beijing) than those in other cities (Vladivostok, Busan, Kanazawa, Kitakyushu, Sapporo and Tokyo). The total NPAH concentrations were also higher in Chinese cities than those in the other cities. The [NPAH]/[corresponding PAH] ratios are much larger in diesel-engine exhaust particulates than those in coal-burning particulates. The [1-nitropyrene]/[pyrene] ratio of airborne particulates was much smaller in the four Chinese cities, suggesting that coal combustion systems such as coal heaters were the main contributors. On the other hand, the ratios were larger in Korean and Japanese cities, suggesting the large contribution of diesel-engine vehicles.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.21-28
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• 2000

Various man-made mineral fibers(MMMF) including refractory ceramic fiber(RCF) have been used widely in industries as insulation materials. The effect of fibrous dust on human health depends on fiber size, concentration (exposure level), and durability in biological system. Therefore, these parameters should be determined to evaluate accurately the potential risk of fibers on human health. The purpose of this study was to characterize the size of airborne fiber and the workers＇ exposure to airborne fibers in refractory ceramic fiber manufacturing and processing factories. Airborne fibers were collected on 25-mm mixed cellulose ester membrane filters at personal breathing zones, and analyzed by A and B counting rules of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health(NIOSH) Method # 7400. The average ratios of the fiber density by B rule to the fiber density by A rule was 0.84. This result indicates that the proportion of respirable fibers (<3 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ diameter) in air samples was high. The average diameter and length of airborne fibers were 1.05${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ and 35${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$, respectively. The average fiber concentrations (GM) of all personal samples was 0.26f/cc, and the average concentration was highest at blanket cutting and packing processes. The fifty seven percent of personal air samples was exceeded the proposed American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists(ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value(TLV), i.e. 0.2 f/cc. It was concluded that the RCF industrial workers had the higher potential health risk due to small fiber diameter, long fiber length, and high exposure level to the airborne fibers.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.274-281
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• 2010

The objectives of this study are (a) to investigate the distribution patterns and exposure concentrations of biological agents in sawmill industries and (b) to compare sampling methods of biological agents. The representative processes of 5 sawmills were selected to measure total airborne bacteria, fungi, endotoxin as well as dust. Airborne bacteria and fungi were measured with one stage impactor, six stage impactor and gelatin filteration methods. Endotoxin was collected with polycarbonate filters and analysed by kinetic chromogenic Limulus Amebocyte Lysate method. Geometric mean levels of airborne bacteria, fungi, endotoxin and dust were 1,864 CFU/$m^3$, 2,252 CFU/$m^3$, 31.5 EU/$m^3$ and 2.4 mg/$m^3$. The ratios of indoor/outdoor concentrations were 3.7 for bacteria, 4.1 for fungi, 3.3 for endotoxin and 9.7 for dust. The respiratory fractions of bacteria were 68.0, 50.9, 49.2 and 45.1% in band-saw, table-saw, rip-saw process and outdoor air. The respiratory fractions of fungi were 78.7, 90.8, 87.5 and 84.8% in band-saw, table-saw, rip-saw process and outdoor air, respectively. There was no significant differences in bacterial concentrations among single stage, six stage impaction and filteration methods. But, fungal concentrations measured with filtration methods were significantly higher than those with impaction methods. Geometric mean levels of airborne bacteria and fungi were higher than the OSHA guideline values of 1,000 CFU/$m^3$. The respiratory fractions of fungi were above 75%. The concentrations of biological agents were significantly different among culture-based sampling methods. In the exposure assessments of biological agents, further studies are needed for the comparisons of diverse sampling methods and the investigations of environmental factors.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.52-58
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• 2009

Airborne particulates were collected in three different size fractions (>7 ${\mu}m$; 2.1-7 ${\mu}m$; < 2.1 ${\mu}m$) by using Andersen low-volume air samplers at three sites in Tieling city, Liaoning Province, a typical local city in northeast China, in every season during the period from July 2003 to May 2004. Nine polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and seven nitropolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (NPAHs) in the airborne particulates were determined by HPLC with fluorescence and chemiluminescence detection, respectively. The mean total concentrations of the nine PAHs and seven NPAHs were highest at The mixed residential and light industrial site, and lowest at the residential site near the suburbs. At all sites, more than 70% of the total PAHs and more than 60% of the total NPAHs were found in the finest particulate (< 2.1 ${\mu}m$) fraction. Both cluster analysis and several diagnostic ratios showed that the major contributors of PAHs and NPAHs in airborne particulates were coal combustion systems such as domestic stoves and coal boilers in all seasons in Tieling city.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.41-46
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to assess the level of fungi concentration in the university laboratories in Seoul, Korea, and to investigate factors contributing to these concentrations. The samples were taken from three spots in each laboratory; the top of sink, the center of laboratory, and the front of ventilation system, i.e fume hood at the chemical laboratory and clean bench/biosafety cabinet at the microbial laboratory. Air samples were collected using the single-stage Anderson sampler (Quick Take 30) at a flow rate of 28.3 l/min for 5 min on nutrient media in Petri-dishes located on the impactor. Fifty-two air samples were collected from 19 different laboratories (13 microbiology laboratories, 6 chemistry laboratories) in the university, and concentrations of airborne fungi showed no significant difference (p>0.05) between microbiology and chemistry laboratory, and also no significant difference at three locations (sink, center, front of ventilation system) in microbiology and chemistry laboratories. Average concentrations of fungi in 19 laboratories ranged from 7 to 459 cfu/$m^3$, with an overall Geometric Mean of 52 cfu/$m^3$. Airborne fungi concentrations of 6 samples (12 %) exceeded 150 cfu/$m^3$, the guideline of WHO. The ratios of Indoor/Outdoor for airborne fungi ranged from 0.2 to 4.8 (mean = 1.6). Related factors were measured such as relative humidity, temperature, and laboratory area. Temperature and laboratory area showed no significant relations to concentrations of airborne fungi except for relative humidity in the laboratory Concentrations of fungi were significant different (p<0.01) between rainy or cloudy and sunny. However, there was no significant difference between general ventilation and nongeneral ventilation.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.727-738
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• 1999

Total 76 aerosol samples were collected at Sungsan in Cheju Inland by high volume air sample for 1 year, from May 1995 to April 1996, and were analyzed for major elements(Na, Mg, Ca, Al, Fe) and trace elements(Mn, Co, Ni, Zn, Cd, Pb, U) by ICP/AES and ICP/MS. This study aims to determine the concentrations of trace metals and their seasonal variations in the atmosphere of Cheju Island, where is the remote area from pollution sources and also is the midway of transport of Asian continental materials into the western North Pacific. The concentrations of Na and Mg contributed by sea-salt aerosols were similar to those in the western part of Cheju island(Kosan) and in the western coast of Korea(Mallipo). They showed the highest value in summer and the lowest in spring and winter. Crustal metals(Al, Fe, Ca, Mn, Co, U) were 2~3 times lower than those of Mallipo. These metals showed the lowest values in summer and the highest in spring. Pollution-derived metals (Zn, Cd and Pb) were 2~4 times lower than those in Malipo. Some elemental ratios in aerosols grouped by three wind directions(north-northwest, east, and south-southwest) such as Fe/Al and Pb/Zn are presented as useful tracers indicating source areas, and their differentiation may be explained by geology and fuel types of source areas.