• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.743-757
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• 2006

Volatile organic compound (VOC) has been well-known to Korea since the end of 1990's however, it has not been well documented until now. In this study, present ambient VOC levels, VOC emission sources, and VOC control technologies were reviewed and discussed. In addition, VOC management strategies to cut down ozone concentrations were suggested based on the present VOC database. For anthropogenic VOC reduction, VOC emitted from painting processes and automobiles should be controlled in the first place in large cities such as Seoul, Daegu, and Incheon. For natural VOC management, low emission trees need to be planted in those cities. It is also very significant to keep updating present and future VOC emission inventories for efficient VOC control strategies. As a conclusion, more systematic VOC control road-map based on BACT (best available control technology) needs to be made up. and more economical and efficient VOC control techniques have to be developed under strong national support in order to lower toxic VOC and photochemical oxidant levels.

• Proceedings of the KSEEG Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.237-237
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• 2003

Preliminary studies on the seasonal variations in abundance of stable isotopes were carried out on the snow and rainwater samples from urban area. Stable isotopes and other geochemical data as a tool for characterizing the seasonality and source of pollutants were examined in study areas, especially to trace the sources of sulfate in precipitation and to distinguish sulfates of natural and anthropogenic origin. (omitted)

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.73-86
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• 2011

Haze phenomena were analyzed to assess the impact of long range transport process on the air quality of Seoul and Busan. We statistically classified haze days observed in both Seoul and Busan into two types of haze cases: stagnant case and long-range transport case, and analyzed the air pollutant levels comparatively for each of the two cases for the period of 2000~2007. The results showed that the long-range transport haze case occurs less frequently with the occurrence frequency of 35.5% than stagnant case with the occurrence frequency of 64.5%. During the observed all haze days, all pollutants have high concentration in comparison with those under other meteorological conditions (Rain, Mist, Dust, Clear, Rain+Mist) except for only $PM_{10}$ of Dust case where its level shows highest among total 6 categorized conditions. The long range transport haze case shows similar levels of $PM_{10}$ and $NO_2$, but higher $SO_2$ and lower $O_3$ compared with stagnant haze cases, suggesting the importance of sulfur chemistry for long range transport haze case and local photochemistry for stagnant haze case. In addition, by employing the NOAA/HYSPLIT-4 backward trajectory model, we subdivided the long range transport haze cases into two different sources: urban anthropogenic high emission areas of central China, and natural emission sources over north China and/or Mongolia. The former long range transport haze case shows higher occurrence (with Seoul 70% and Busan 85%) than the latter haze case (with Seoul 30% and Busan <10%). This is also implying that the long haze phenomena occurred over Korea have been influenced by not only the anthropogenic emissions but also the natural dust emissions. These both emission sources can be good contributors in calculating the source-receptor relationship over Korean atmospheric environment.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.612-624
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• 2007

The real-time monitoring of radon ($^{222}Rn$) concentrations has been carried out to evaluate its ambient background concentration levels in Gosan site, Jeju Island between January 2001 and December 2004. In addition, the atmospheric TSP aerosols have been sampled, and their ionic and metallic components were analyzed to understand the characteristics of air pollution. The mean concentration of radon was $3,121{\pm}1,627\;mBq/m^3$, and the seasonal mean concentrations for spring, summer, fall and winter seasons were 2,898, 2,398, 3,571 and $3,646\;mBq/m^3$, respectively, The hourly concentrations have shown the highest value at 7 a.m. and the lowest value at 2 p.m. From the backward trajectory analyses, the radon concentrations have increased, when the air parcels were moved from the Chinese continent to Jeju area. On the other hand, they have decreased, when the air parcels from the North Pacific Ocean. In the analytical results of ionic species and metal elements of TSP aerosols, the concentrations of $nss-{SO_4}^{2-}$ and S were higher in June and March. Meanwhile, the concentrations of other anthropogenic species as well as soil components were mostly higher in March and April. On the basis of factor analysis, the TSP aerosols at Gosan area were largely influenced by soil sources, followed by anthropogenic sources and marine sources. From the result of backward trajectory analyses, the concentrations of $nss-{SO_4}^{2-},\;{NO_3}^-$, Al and Ca were mostly higher, when the air parcels moved from Chinese continent to Jeju area. On the other hand, their concentrations were lower, when the air parcels drifted from the North Pacific Ocean.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.9-18
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• 1986

For identification and apportionment of sources emitting particulate matters in environment, the multi-elemental characterization of size-density fractionated particulate matters was carried out. Eight types of samples were tested; soil, flyash released from burning of bunker-Coil, diesel oil, coal, and soft coal, urban road-way dust, urban dust fall, and airborne particulate matter. The fractions of particulate matters obtained by heavy liquid separation methos with a series of dichloromethane-bromoform were then analyzed using atomic absorption spectrophotometry for Ni, Cr, Cu, An, Fe, Al, and Mg. Each sample showed a different concentration profile as a function of density, and a number of useful conclusions concerning characterization of elemental distribution were obtained. From the density distributions of elements in soil, the maximum value was found for all elements in the density range of 2.2 $\sim 2.9g.cm^{-3}$, including the density of $SiO_2$. However, the distribution of metallic compounds with the density lower than $2.2g.cm^{-3}$ was prevalent in urban roadway dust, urban dust fall, and airborne particulate matter. And the density distribution curves of these urban dusts also have the higher distribution at the density of 2.2 - 2.9g.cm^{-3}$, including the density of wind-blown silica. This tendency generally was prevalent in the natural source elements, such as Al, Fe, Mn, and Mg. The maximum values were found in the density ranges of 1.3 $\sim 2.2g.cm^{-3}$ from the density distribution of elements in oil fired flyash. These distributions of anthropogenic source elements, such as Zn, Ni, Cu, and Cr were higher predominately than those of natural source elements. And the higher distribution was found in the density range of $2.2 \sim 2.9g.cm^{-3}$ from the density distribution of elements in coal and soft-coal fired flyash. These distributions showed similar patterns to soil. But anthropogenic source elements somewhat predominated at the density ranges of $1.3 \sim 2.2g.cm{-3} and 2.9g.cm^{-3}$ to soil. Therefore the higher distribution of anthropogenic source elements in the density ranges of $1.3 \sim 2.2g.cm^{-3} and 2.9g.cm^{-3}$ was considered as anthropogenic origin.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.304-315
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• 2008

The total suspended particles (TSP) collected at the 1100 site of Mt. Halla have shown higher compositions for the anthropogenic components followed by marine and soil originated ones. The concentrations of the soil originated nss-$Ca^{2+}$, Al, Fe, Ca components have been increased in spring, and the anthropogenic $NH{_4}^+$, $K^+$, nss-$SO{_4}^{2-}$ components showed high concentrations in June. Meanwhile, the concentration of $NO{_3}^-$ as same as nss-$Ca^{2+}$ was higher in spring. It's likely due to the influence of its long-range transport from China. Compared to the non-Asian Dust periods, the concentrations of nss-$Ca^{2+}$, Al, Ca, and Fe have been increased 7.2~9.5 times in Asian Dust storm periods, and those of nss-$SO{_4}^{2-}$ and $NO{_3}^-$ were 1.3 and 3.8 times, respectively. From the factor analysis, the TSP compositions were influenced mainly by anthropogenic emission sources, followed by oceanic and soil sources. The backward trajectory analysis has shown that the concentrations of the anthropogenic and soil components were increased when the air parcels had been moved into Jeju island via China in a northwesterly wind.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.285-296
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• 1997

The suspended particulate matters had been collected on quartz fiber fiters by a cascade impactor having 9 size stages for 4 years (Sep. 1991 to Dec. 1995) in Kyung Hee University-Suwon Campus. Membrane filters were used to collected the particulate matters on each stage. The weight concentration on each stage was obtained by a microbalance and further chemical element levels were determined by an x-ray fluorescence system. Based on these chemical information, our study focused on applying the target transformation factor analysis (TTFA), a receptor model, to identify aerosol sources and to apportion quantitatively their mass contribution. There are total of 63 ambient data sets. Each data set consists of the 8 size-ranged subdata sets characterized by 16 elemental variables. By the results, four to five sources were extracted from each size range and some sources reappeared in other size ranges. Then total of 8 source profiles were statistically generated from all the ranges, such as oil burning source, soil source, field burning source, gasoline related source, coal burning source, marine source, glass related source, and unknown sources. Apportioning aerosol mass to each source was intensively examined by investigating emission inventories near the study area. The results showed that soil particle source was the most significant contributor. However, coal and oil burning sources were the major anthropogenic ones. The study finally proposed some air quality control strategies to achieve the clean air quality in Suwon area.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.743-753
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• 2014

The number concentrations and the water soluble ionic concentrations of $PM_{2.5}$ have measured at Gosan site in Jeju, Korea, from March 2010 to December 2010, to clarify their characteristics. $PM_{2.5}$ number concentrations vary from 22.57 to $975.65particles/cm^3$ with an average value of $240.41particles/cm^3$, which have been recorded evidently high in spring season as compared with those in other season. And the concentrations in small size ranges are greatly higher than those in large size ranges, so the number concentration in the size range $0.25{\sim}0.45{\mu}m$ has more than 94% of the total number concentration of $PM_{2.5}$. The major ionic components in $PM_{2.5}$ are $SO{_4}^{2-}$, $NH_4{^+}$ and $NO_3{^-}$, which are mainly originated from anthropogenic sources, on the other hand, the concentrations of $Cl^-$, $K^+$, $Ca^{2+}$ and $Mg^{2+}$ are recorded relatively lower levels. The concentrations of the major ionic components are very high in spring season, but the concentration levels of the other components are recorded significantly high in winter season. On the other hand, in summer season, the lowest concentration levels are observed for overall components as well as the sum of them. The concentration ratios of nss-$SO{_4}^{2-}/SO{_4}^{2-}$ and nss-$Ca^{2+}/Ca^{2+}$ are 98.1% and 88.9%. And the concentration ratio of $SO{_4}^{2-}/NO_3{^-}$(3.64) is greatly higher than the value in urban area due to no large $NO_x$ emission sources in the measurement. In addition, the correlation and the factor analysis for the number and the ionic concentrations of $PM_{2.5}$ are performed to identify their sources. From the Pearson correlation analysis and the factor analysis, it can be suggested that the smaller parts(< $0.5{\mu}m$) of $PM_{2.5}$ is contributed by anthropogenic sources, but the sources of the remaining larger parts of $PM_{2.5}$ are not able to be specified sources in this study.

• Ocean Science Journal
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.261-290
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• 2006

The concentrations of man made radionuclides in surface seawater since early '60s are here reported as measured in Italy and Japan. Most of the data refers to $^{90}Sr$ and $^{137}Cs$, but occasionally the concentrations of $^{89}Sr$ and $^{134}Cs$ in some Italian samples are also given. The main sources of man made radionuclides were the global fallout produced by the nuclear weapon tests and the Chernobyl accident. The respective contributions to the contamination of surface seawater around both countries are discussed.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.138-147
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• 2020

The Singil Stream, flowing into an artificial lake, Lake Shihwa (South Korea), experiences a strong anthropogenic pressure with continuous organic matter (OM) inputs from rural, urban, and industrial areas. In this study, we investigated suspended particulate matter (SPM) and streambed sediments collected along the Singil Stream in 2014 and 2016, by applying a dual element approach (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) to identify OM sources. The SPM and streambed sediment samples from the indusrial area showed higher organic carbon and nitrogen concentrations (or contents) than those from the other areas, with distinctively lower δ¹⁵N values. Accordingly, our dual element approach indicates that the industrial area was the predominant OM source influencing OM quality and thus water quality of the Singil Stream flowing into Lake Shihwa during the study periods. However, further studies are necessary to better constrain OM sources in the Singil Stream since OM sources from the industrial area appear to be complex.