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Atmosphere
Special Issues
Air Quality and Public Health Effects in Korea
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Air Quality and Public Health Effects in Korea

A special issue of Atmosphere (ISSN 2073-4433). This special issue belongs to the section "Air Quality and Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (27 May 2022) | Viewed by 18850

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Jong-sang Youn

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Energy and Environmental Engineering, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 07345, Korea
Interests: indoor/outdoor air quality; air pollution; air pollutants emission; particulate matter; aerosol chemistry and physics; health effects; climate change

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Air pollution is an important component in the Earth’s atmosphere. They have been shown to reduce visibility and degrade air quality and have a negative impact on human health and geochemical cycling of nutrients. In Korea, a serious air pollution issue has arisen over the last few years, and this is very complicated due to anthropogenic and natural factors.

Over recent years, the Korean goverment has implemented more strict policies and enacted a special law for air pollution, as well as funded several research and innovation projects. For that, this Special Issue wants to give the opportunity to academia, industry, local authorities, and relevant agencies to publish their original research or review on the subject of “Air Quality and Health Effects in Korea” and identify new research achievements which can be used to address the problem.  Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

-  Air pollution (monitoring, modeling, etc.)

-  Air pollutants emission sources

-  Air pollution and health effects (human exposure)

-  Implementation of urban policy/strategies to improve air quality

-  Air pollutants long-range transport

Dr. Jong-sang Youn
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • air pollution monitoring
  • atmospheric modelling
  • air pollutants emission sources
  • air pollution and public health
  • implementation of urban policy/strategies to improve air quality
  • long-range transport
  • air quality and human exposure

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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10 pages, 1186 KiB  
Article
Association between Long-Term Exposure to Fine Particulate Matter and Asthma Incidence among School-Aged Children
by Hyun-Mook Lim, Seung-Woo Ryoo, Yun-Chul Hong, Soon-Tae Kim, Youn-Hee Lim and Dong-Wook Lee
Atmosphere 2022, 13(9), 1430; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos13091430 - 3 Sep 2022
Viewed by 1773
Abstract
Studies on the correlation of long-term PM2.5 exposure with childhood-onset asthma are limited to western countries. We aimed to study the association between long-term PM2.5 exposure and childhood-onset asthma in South Korea, which has higher ambient PM2.5 levels than western [...] Read more.
Studies on the correlation of long-term PM2.5 exposure with childhood-onset asthma are limited to western countries. We aimed to study the association between long-term PM2.5 exposure and childhood-onset asthma in South Korea, which has higher ambient PM2.5 levels than western countries. We constructed a retrospective cohort of children aged 6–14 years living in seven metropolitan cities using the National Health Insurance service in South Korea from 2011 to 2016. Children who made a hospital visit with asthma from 2008 to 2010 were excluded. A child was diagnosed with asthma incidence if he or she visited the hospital three times or more with a primary diagnostic code of asthma. A time-varying Cox regression model was constructed to investigate the association of long-term district-level PM2.5 exposure with asthma incidence. Of the 1,425,638 children evaluated, 52,133 showed asthma incidence, with an incidence rate of 6.9 cases/1000 person-years. A 10 µg/m3 increase in the 48-month moving average PM2.5 exposure was associated with an elevated risk of asthma incidence, with a hazard ratio of 1.075 (95% confidence interval: 1.024–1.126), and this association was robust for different PM2.5 exposure levels (12-, 36-, and 60-month moving average). In this study, long-term exposure to PM2.5 was associated with asthma incidence in school-aged children in South Korea. Policies to reduce environmental PM2.5 levels and protect children from PM2.5 are necessary to prevent childhood-onset asthma. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Air Quality and Public Health Effects in Korea)
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17 pages, 1438 KiB  
Article
A Study on the Framework for Estimating Ship Air Pollutant Emissions—Focusing on Ports of South Korea
by Tingting Zhao, Maowei Chen and Hyangsook Lee
Atmosphere 2022, 13(7), 1141; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos13071141 - 18 Jul 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2563
Abstract
With the globalization of trade and the rapid development of the world economy, the problem of air pollution emissions produced by shipping is becoming more serious. The exhaust gas emitted by ships has become a significant source of air pollution in ocean and [...] Read more.
With the globalization of trade and the rapid development of the world economy, the problem of air pollution emissions produced by shipping is becoming more serious. The exhaust gas emitted by ships has become a significant source of air pollution in ocean and coastal areas. In recent years, governments have paid more attention to shipping emissions as a major source of environmental problems. Establishing ship emission inventories plays an important role in formulating ship emission control measures and regulations. This study aimed to propose a framework for calculating ship air pollutant emissions by comprehensively considering processes and methods officially used in developed countries such as the US and those in the EU, as well as South Korean circumstances and available data sets. The framework was divided into three sections: defining the inventory, data collection and analysis of the data, and ship air pollutant emission estimation. The results of this study provided a standard for South Korean domestic port emission inventories. A case study focused on the Gwangyang and Yeosu Ports, one of the leading port areas in South Korea, using adaptive data collection and emission-calculation processes. This study can be used as guidelines when the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) or the Ministry of Environment (MOE) adopts a standard process in South Korea in the near future. Subsequently, it is necessary to establish a national port emission management system to respond to world environmental changes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Air Quality and Public Health Effects in Korea)
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16 pages, 1151 KiB  
Article
Comparative Study in Software and Healthcare Industries between South Korea and US Based on Economic Input–Output Analysis
by Junhwan Mun, Eungyeong Yun, Hyoungyong Choi and Jonghyeon Kim
Atmosphere 2022, 13(2), 209; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos13020209 - 27 Jan 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2477
Abstract
In the modern era, software technology is being used not only as a core technology for manufacturing but also in various industries, such as telemedicine services, and the importance of the healthcare industry is being emphasized due to the demand for improved quality [...] Read more.
In the modern era, software technology is being used not only as a core technology for manufacturing but also in various industries, such as telemedicine services, and the importance of the healthcare industry is being emphasized due to the demand for improved quality of life from the increase in the general level of earnings. However, if the industry emits a lot of carbon dioxide (CO2), it is questionable whether it is a sustainable industry. This study aimed to analyze the economic linkage effect of software and healthcare industries in South Korea and the United States by applying input–output analysis and examine whether these industries are sustainable in terms of CO2 emissions. The input–output tables and CO2 emissions from 2005 to 2015 were used for analysis from OECD. As a result of the analysis, CO2 emissions from the software and healthcare industries were less than 1% in both South Korea and the United States, suggesting that these industries are well-suited for low-carbon development in these countries. The forward and backward linkage effects of the software industry are different between South Korea and the United States. Specifically, the backward linkage effect of the software industry is large in South Korea, and the forward linkage effect is large in the United States. The forward linkage effect of the healthcare industry is different in the two countries, but the backward linkage effect is not. It means that there are differences in the industrial structure of the two countries. The software and healthcare industries need to devise strategies to drive production in other industries while maintaining current low carbon emission levels. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Air Quality and Public Health Effects in Korea)
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13 pages, 5300 KiB  
Article
Comparison of Indoor Radon Reduction Effects Based on Apartment Housing Ventilation Methods
by Jiwon Choi, Hyongjin Hong, Jeongsub Lee, Seonhong Kim, Gahyun Kim, Boram Park, Eun-Min Cho and Cheolmin Lee
Atmosphere 2022, 13(2), 204; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos13020204 - 27 Jan 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2680
Abstract
A lack of ventilation in multi-unit dwellings can affect human health adversely owing to accumulated radon gases; therefore, developing immediate and effective methods to reduce radon gas in indoor living environments is urgently needed. Therefore, this study conducted a basic research study to [...] Read more.
A lack of ventilation in multi-unit dwellings can affect human health adversely owing to accumulated radon gases; therefore, developing immediate and effective methods to reduce radon gas in indoor living environments is urgently needed. Therefore, this study conducted a basic research study to develop ventilation guidelines for radon through assessments of various ventilation strategies on indoor radon concentration in multiple-unit dwellings, a typical residential type in Korea. Radon measurement was conducted in November 2020 using RAD 7 Radon Detector (Durridge Co., Billerica, MA, USA) for living rooms and rooms of an apartment located in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi-do, Korea. The radon reduction effect according to the ventilation conditions per hour was compared and evaluated by performing seven natural ventilation scenarios through opening and closing windows leading to the outside and three types of mechanical ventilation with high, middle, and low operating intensity. The concentration ratio (Cr) was estimated to present the indoor radon increase/decrease ratio. Among the natural ventilation scenarios, Case 3 had the highest radon reduction rate in the living room and Case 1 in the room, and Case 2 using natural ventilation equipment showed the lowest reduction rate in both the room and the living room. When ventilated by mechanical ventilation conditions, the radon reduction rate (Pr) was 70% or less under all conditions. Under the natural ventilation measurement condition, when every doors and windows was opened, it showed an effective ventilation in a short time. With high mechanical ventilation, the radon reduction effect in a relatively large space was better. Additionally, with middle and low mechanical ventilation, the reduction effect seems to be good in a relatively narrow space. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Air Quality and Public Health Effects in Korea)
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12 pages, 6787 KiB  
Article
Reaction Characteristics of NOx and N2O in Selective Non-Catalytic Reduction Using Various Reducing Agents and Additives
by Poong-Mo Park, Young-Kwon Park and Jong-In Dong
Atmosphere 2021, 12(9), 1175; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12091175 - 13 Sep 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2693
Abstract
Artificial nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions due to the combustion of fossil fuels constitute more than 75% of the total NOx emissions. Given the continuous reinforcement of NOx emission standards worldwide, the development of environmentally and economically friendly NOx [...] Read more.
Artificial nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions due to the combustion of fossil fuels constitute more than 75% of the total NOx emissions. Given the continuous reinforcement of NOx emission standards worldwide, the development of environmentally and economically friendly NOx reduction techniques has attracted much attention. This study investigates the selective non-catalytic reduction (SNCR) of NOx by methane, ammonia, and urea in the presence of sodium carbonate and methanol and the concomitant generation of N2O. In addition, the SNCR mechanism is explored using a chemical modeling software (CHEMKIN III). Under optimal conditions, NOx reduction efficiencies of 80–85%, 66–68%, and 32–34% are achieved for ammonia, urea, and methane, respectively. The N2O levels generated using methane (18–21 ppm) were significantly lower than those generated using urea and ammonia. Addition of sodium carbonate and methanol increased the NOx reduction efficiency by methane to ≥40% and 60%, respectively. For the former, the N2O level and reaction temperature further decreased to 2–3 ppm and 850–900 °C, respectively. The experimental results were well consistent with simulations, and the minor discrepancies were attributed to microscopic variables. Thus, our work provides essential guidelines for selecting the best available NOx control technology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Air Quality and Public Health Effects in Korea)
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Review

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15 pages, 5779 KiB  
Review
Reduction of NOx Emission from the Cement Industry in South Korea: A Review
by Ji-Hyeon Kim, Jin-Ho Kim, Hyo-Sik Kim, Hyun-Ji Kim, Suk-Hwan Kang, Jae-Hong Ryu and Soon-Seop Shim
Atmosphere 2022, 13(1), 121; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos13010121 - 12 Jan 2022
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 5333
Abstract
As climates change around the world, concern regarding environmental pollutants emitted into the atmosphere is increasing. The cement industry consistently produces more than 4000 million metric tons of cement per year. However, the problem of air pollutants being emitted from the calcination process [...] Read more.
As climates change around the world, concern regarding environmental pollutants emitted into the atmosphere is increasing. The cement industry consistently produces more than 4000 million metric tons of cement per year. However, the problem of air pollutants being emitted from the calcination process is becoming more critical because their amount increases proportionally with cement production. Each country has established regulatory standards for pollutant emission. Accordingly, the cement industry is equipped with facilities to reduce air pollutants, one of which is the NOx removal process. NOx reduction processes under combustion conditions are modified to minimize NOx generation, and the generated NOx is removed through post-treatment. In terms of NOx removal efficiency, the post-treatment process effectively changes the combustion conditions during calcination. Selective non-catalytic reduction (SNCR) and selective catalytic reduction (SCR) processes are post-treatment environmental facilities for NOx reduction. Accordingly, considering the stringent NOx emission standards in the cement industry, SNCR is essential, and SCR is selectively applied. Therefore, this paper introduces nitrogen oxide among air pollutants emitted from the South Korean cement industry and summarizes the technologies adapted to mitigate the emission of NOx by cement companies in South Korea. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Air Quality and Public Health Effects in Korea)
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