• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.131-157
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• 2016

A smog chamber has been an effective tool to study air quality, particularly secondary organic aerosol (SOA), which is typically formed by atmospheric oxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In controlled environments, smog chamber studies have validated atmospheric oxidation by identifying, quantifying and monitoring products with state-of-art instruments (e.g., aerosol mass spectrometer, scanning mobility particle sizer) and provided chemical insights of SOA formation by elucidating reaction mechanisms. This paper reviews types of smog chambers and the current state of smog chamber studies that have accomplished to find pathways of SOA formation, focusing on gas-particle partitioning of semivolatile products of VOC oxidation, heterogeneous reactions on aerosol surface, and aqueous chemistry in aerosol waters (e.g., cloud/fog droplets and wet aerosols). For future chamber studies, then, this paper discusses potential formation pathways of fine particles that East Asia countries (e.g., Korea and China) currently suffer from due to massive formation that gives rise to fatal health problems.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.302-313
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• 2008

The purposes of this study are to investigate the concentration levels of fine particles, so called PM$_{2.5}$, to identify the affecting sources, and to estimate quantitatively the source contributions of PM$_{2.5}$. Ambient air sampling was seasonally carried out at two sites in Pohang(a residential and an industrial area) during the period of March to December 2003. PM$_{2.5}$ samples were collected by high volume air samplers with a PM$_{10}$ Inlet and an impactor for particle size segregation, and then determined by gravimetric method. The chemical species associated with PM$_{2.5}$ were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma spectrophotometery(ICP) and ion chromatography(IC). The results showed that the most significant season for PM$_{2.5}$ mass concentrations appeared to be spring, followed by winter, fall, and summer. The annual mean concentrations of PM$_{2.5}$ were 36.6 $\mu$g/m$^3$ in the industrial and 30.6 $\mu$g/m$^3$ in the residential area, respectively. The major components associated with PM$_{2.5}$ were the secondary aerosols such as nitrates and sulfates, which were respectively 4.2 and 8.6 $\mu$g/m$^3$ in the industrial area and 3.7 and 6.9 $\mu$g/m$^3$ in the residential area. The concentrations of chemical component in relation to natural emission sources such as Al, Ca, Mg, K were generally higher at both sampling sites than other sources. However, the concentrations of Fe, Mn, Cr in the industrial area were higher than those in the residential area. Based on the principal component analysis and stepwise multiple linear regression analysis for both areas, it was found that soil/road dust and secondary aerosols are the most significant factors affecting the variations of PM$_{2.5}$ in the ambient air of Pohang. The source apportionments of PM$_{2.5}$ were conducted by chemical mass balance(CMB) modeling. The contributions of PM$_{2.5}$ emission sources were estimated using the CMB8.0 receptor model, resulting that soil/road dust was the major contributor to PM$_{2.5}$, followed by secondary aerosols, vehicle emissions, marine aerosols, metallurgy industry. Finally, the application and its limitations of chemical mass balance modeling for PM$_{2.5}$ was discussed.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.38-55
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• 2013

This study has been performed to select several indicators of long-range transport process that can be applied to the Northeast Asia. We first classified high air pollution days into long-range transport (LRT) dominant cases and the local emission dominant (LED) cases based on the synoptic meteorological variables including vorticity and geostrophic wind speed/direction at a geopotential level of 850 hPa. LRT cases were further categorized into two types: LRT-I type with air mass pathways from northern China and/or Mongolia, and LRT-II type from central and southern China. In each categorized case, we examined the difference of both measured aerosol optical properties of AERONET at two sites in western Korea, and the simulated characteristics of LRT process by MM5-CMAQ model. We contrasted LRT case with LED case, and then generated the LRT indicators applicable to Northeast Asia. The results showed that fine and coarse modes of LRT-II were relatively smaller than LED and LRT-I cases, respectively. Aerosol size distribution showed significantly higher concentration of fine-mode particle (mainly smoke or urban aerosols) in LED case in comparison with that of LRT groups (LRT-I, II), suggesting the amplitudes fine modes of LRT relative to LED as a possible LRT indicator. From the results of MM5-CMAQ modeling, we concluded that the conversion ratios for sulfur ($F_s$) were the most effective indicators of LRT cases, and the ratio of VOC to NOx and NOx to CO were found to be the second most effective indicators of LED case.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.216-221
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• 2016

Background: Very fine radiation-induced aerosol particles are produced in intense radiation fields, such as high-intensity accelerator rooms and containment vessels such as those in the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant (FDNPP). Size measurement of the aerosol particles is very important for understanding the behavior of radioactive aerosols released in the FDNPP accident and radiation safety in high-energy accelerators. Materials and Methods: A combined technique using wire screens and imaging plates was developed for size measurement of fine radioactive aerosol particles smaller than 100 nm in diameter. This technique was applied to the radiation field of a proton accelerator room, in which radioactive atoms produced in air during machine operation are incorporated into radiation-induced aerosol particles. The size of $^{11}C$-bearing aerosol particles was analyzed using the wire screen technique in distinction from other positron emitters in combination with a radioactive decay analysis. Results and Discussion: The size distribution for $^{11}C$-bearing aerosol particles was found to be ca. $70{\mu}m$ in geometric mean diameter. The size was similar to that for $^7Be$-bearing particles obtained by a Ge detector measurement, and was slightly larger than the number-based size distribution measured with a scanning mobility particle sizer. Conclusion: The particle size measuring method using wire screens and imaging plates was successfully applied to the fine aerosol particles produced in an intense radiation field of a proton accelerator. This technique is applicable to size measurement of radioactive aerosol particles produced in the intense radiation fields of radiation facilities.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.69-77
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• 2022

In order to understand the characteristics of fine particles emitted from coal-fired power plant stacks, it is important to analyze the size distribution and components of particles. In this study, particle size distributions were measured using the ejector-porous tube dilution device and an ELPI system at a stack in a coal-fired power plant. Main elemental components of particles in each size interval were also identified through TEM-EDS analysis for the particles collected in each ELPI stage. Particle size distributions based on number and mass were analyzed with component distributions from 0.006 to 10 ㎛. The highest number concentration was about 0.01 ㎛. The main component of the particles consisted of sulfur, which indicated that sulfate aerosols were generated by gas-to-particle conversion of SO2. In a mass size distribution, a mono-modal distribution with a mode diameter of about 2 ㎛ was shown. For the components of PM1.0 (particles less than 1 ㎛), the abundance order was F > Mg > S > Ca, and however, for the components of PM10 (particles less than 10 ㎛), it was in the order of Fe > S > Ca > Mg. The elemental components by particle size were confirmed.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.675-687
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• 2005

In this study, the cyclone/denuder/filter pack sampling system was used to measure the daily concentrations of water soluble inorganic compounds of fine ($D_{p}< 2.5\;{\mu}m$) and coarse ($D_{p}<10{\mu}m$m) size fractions of aerosol and related gases at Gosan super site during ABC-EAREX 2005. The mean concentrations for $HNO_{3},\;HNO_{2},\;NH_{3}$, were 0.39, 0.08, and $0.29\;{\mu}g/m^3$. respectively. Average concentrations of sulfate, nitrate, and ammonium in $PM_{2.5}$ were 3.39, 1.06, and $1.04\;{\mu}g/m^3$, which occupied about $26\%$ of total $PM_{2.5}$ mass. In particular, more than half of these ionic species were found in size of less than $2.5\;{\mu}m$. Gas phase nitric acid concentrations have shown high correlation coefficient with $HNO_{2}$(R=0.80) and $O_{3}$(R=0.78), implying the active photochemical reactions from its precursors. Equivalent molar ratios between major ion components, $NH_{4}\;^{+}/nss\;SO_4\;^{2-},(0.83\;for\;PM_{2.5},\;0.86\;for\;PM_{10})$, revealed that the existing forms of the secondary aerosols were probably $(NH_{4})_{2}SO_{4}\;and\;(NH_{4})_{3}H\;(SO_{4})_{2}$. Especially, $(NH_{4}\;^{+}+K^{+}+Ca^{2+}+Mg^{2+})/(NO_{3}\;^{-}+nss\;SO_{4}\;^{2-}) (0.99\;for\;PM_{2.5},\;1.05\;for\;PM_{10})$ indicated that some of them existed not only as $NH_{4}NO_{3}$ but also as $CaSO_{4}\;or\;KNO_{3}$, which pointed out the probability of influences from the abundant soil components during Asian dust (AD) periods. These neutralized types of secondary aerosols showed that pollutants could be aged and transported from a distance.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.67-81
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• 2016

In order to examine the variation characteristics of chemical compositions in accordance with the different meteorological conditions, $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ were collected at Gosan site of Jeju Island in 2014, and then their ionic and elemental species were analyzed. The concentrations of nss-$SO{_4}^{2-}$ and $NH_4{^+}$ were respectively 4.3 and 3.3 times higher in fine particle mode ($PM_{2.5}$) compared to coarse particle mode ($PM_{10-2.5}$), however $NO_3{^-}$ concentration was 1.6 times higher in coarse mode compared to fine particle mode. During Asian dust days, the concentrations of nss-$Ca^{2+}$ and $NO_3{^-}$ increased highly as 7.7 and 4.5 times in coarse particle mode, and 3.0 and 4.9 times higher in fine particles, respectively. Especially, the concentrations of the crustal species (Al, Fe, Ca, K, Mn, Ba, Sr, etc.) indicated a noticeable increase during the Asian dust days. For the haze days, the concentrations of secondary pollutants increased 2.2~2.7 and 2.9~6.0 times in coarse and fine particles, respectively, and they were 0.8~1.1 and 1.8~2.4 times, respectively, during the mist days. The aerosols were acidified largely by sulfuric and nitric acids, and neutralized mainly by ammonia in fine particle mode during the haze days, but neutralized by calcium carbonate in coarse particle mode during the Asian dust days. The clustered back trajectory analysis showed that the concentrations of nss-$SO{_4}^{2-}$, $NO_3{^-}$, and $NH_4{^+}$ were relatively high when the inflow pathway of air mass was from the southern part of China.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.217-235
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• 2012

We evaluated the geochemical characteristics and their potential pollution of Asian Dusts in Daejeon, Korea during spring 2007. Compared with the chemical compositions of soils in source area of Asian Dust, those of aerosols in Daejeon were enriched with trace elements (ten to hundred fold), inferring that pollutants from China have affected on local environment in adjoining country such as Korea. Chemical analysis of aerosols during Asian dust showed that fine particles ($PM_{2.5}$) contained high contents of trace elements such as Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn, V, S, As, Cd, Co, Ni, Mo, Sb, Cs, Rb, Th, Sc and Y. In the case of TSP (Total Suspended Particle), Zr, Sr, Ba, Li, Th and U were contained much more than other trace elements. The contents of some elements (i.e. Li, Cs, Co, U, Cr, Ni, Rb, V, Th, Y, Sr and Sc) in aerosols collected in Asian Dust period, which are not likely enriched by air pollutants, were higher (2 - 4.2 fold) than those in Non Asian Dust period, indicating that these elements could be used as indicator elements for determining the occurrence of Asian Dust phenomena (especially, Sr, V, Cr & Li). In the case of Asian Dust coming through the big cities and/or industrial areas of China, the domestic aerosols had higher contents of trace elements (such as S, Cd, Zn, Pb, Cu, Mo and As) than those from Northeastern China via North Korea, indicating that the transportation courses of air mass are very important to determine the pollution degrees. Using the enrichment factors of trace elements in aerosols during Asian Dust and Non Asian Dust, we identified that some elements (i.e. S, Zn, Cu, Pb, As, Mo and Cd) were most problematic in terms of environmental hazard aspects, and these elements could affect adverse effects on human health as well as ecosystem and surface environment (soil and water) through long-lived precipitation.

• Atmosphere
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.407-420
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• 2007

Optical characteristics of aerosols in Seoul are investigated from the measurements of sky radiance by Skyradiometer at Yonsei University from December 2005 to November 2006. Aerosol optical depth (AOD) shows a maximum in June due to weak ventilation and particle growth by aging process and hygroscopic effect. Single scattering albedo (SSA) and Angstrom Exponent (AE) show the lowest value in spring due to the Asian dust. It is clear that coarse mode is dominant in spring and fine mode is dominant in summer from the volume size distribution measured in this study. The explanations on the changes of aerosol loadings are provided through the correlation between AOD and AE, while the pattern of wavelength dependency related to particle size is shown through the correlation between SSA and AE. Backward trajectory analysis by HYSPLIT provides information about origin of aerosol, which allows us to classify the case according to the source region and the path distance. Although the direction of backward trajectory traces back mostly to west, coarse mode particle is dominant in the case of long pathway and fine mode particle is dominant in the case of short pathway. This discrepancy is caused by the regional difference of emitted particles.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.651-666
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• 2013

This study introduces a novel approach to the differentiation of two phenomena, Asian Dust and haze, which are extremely difficult to distinguish based solely on comparisons of PM10 concentration, through use of the Optical Particle Counter (OPC), which simultaneously generates PM10, PM2.5 and PM1.0 concentration. In the case of Asian Dust, PM10 concentration rose to the exclusion of PM2.5 and PM1.0 concentration. The relative ratios of PM2.5 and PM1.0 concentration versus PM10 concentration were below 40%, which is consistent with the conclusion that Asian Dust, as a prime example of the coarse-particle phenomenon, only impacts PM10 concentration, not PM2.5 and PM1.0 concentration. In contrast, PM10, PM2.5 and PM1.0 concentration simultaneously increased with haze. The relative ratios of PM2.5 and PM1.0 concentration versus PM10 concentration were generally above 70%. In this case, PM1.0 concentration varies because a haze event consists of secondary aerosol in the fine-mode, and the relative ratios of PM10 and PM2.5 concentration remain intact as these values already subsume PM1.0 concentration. The sequential shift of the peaks in PM10, PM2.5 and PM1.0 concentrations also serve to individually track the transport of coarse-mode versus fine-mode aerosols. The distinction in the relative ratios of PM2.5 and PM1.0 concentration versus PM10 concentration in an Asian Dust versus a haze event, when collected on a national or global scale using OPC monitoring networks, provides realistic information on outbreaks and transport of Asian Dust and haze.