Characteristics of PM10 Levels Monitored for More than a Decade in Subway Stations in South Korea

Choi, Sangjun; Park, Ju‐Hyun; Bae, Seo-Yeon; Kim, Soyeon; Byun, Hyaejeong; Kwak, Hyunseok; Hwang, Sung‐Ho; Park, Jihoon; Park, Hyunhee; Lee, Kyong-Hui; Kim, Won; Park, Dong-Uk

doi:10.4209/aaqr.2019.05.0263

Cited by 7 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…According to Park et al 11 , the size characteristics of PM is the total amount of air pollutants including endotoxin and heavy metals exposure among subway employees, maintenance workers, and subway office workers, and reported that most of the fine or ultrafine particles are assumed to stem from the use of diesel engine vehicles and heavy equipment for tunnel maintenance. Using diesel engine vehicles in semi-confined underground environments causes not only exposure to high levels of diesel engine exhaust emissions, but also an increase in PM in subway platforms and waiting rooms 24 . Another major source of PM is the widespread use of diesel-powered vehicles during maintenance of tunnels and subway facilities 24 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Using diesel engine vehicles in semi-confined underground environments causes not only exposure to high levels of diesel engine exhaust emissions, but also an increase in PM in subway platforms and waiting rooms 24 . Another major source of PM is the widespread use of diesel-powered vehicles during maintenance of tunnels and subway facilities 24 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Correlation between levels of airborne endotoxin and heavy metals in subway environments in South Korea

Hwang

Kim²,

Choi

et al. 2021

Sci Rep

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This study aimed to evaluate the exposure levels and variation in airborne endotoxin and heavy metals such as aluminum, chromium (Cr), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), zinc, and lead (Pb) in the three different South Korean subway environments (driver room, station office, and underground tunnel) and identify subway characteristics influencing endotoxin and heavy metals levels. Air samples were collected and analyzed using the kinetic Limulus Amebocyte Lysate assay and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometers. The geometric mean was determined for endotoxin levels (0.693 EU/m3). It was also found that Fe (5.070 µg/m3) had the highest levels in subway environments while Pb (0.008 µg/m3) had the lowest levels. Endotoxin levels were higher in the underground tunnel and lower in the station office; the total heavy metal levels showed the same pattern with endotoxin levels. Endotoxins and total heavy metal levels were higher in the morning than at night. Positive correlations were found between endotoxin and Cr, Fe, Mn, and Ni levels. Given the correlation between airborne endotoxins and heavy metals, further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to identify the correlation between levels of airborne endotoxin and heavy metals.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Correlation between levels of airborne endotoxin and heavy metals in subway environments in South Korea

Hwang

Kim²,

Choi

et al. 2021

Sci Rep

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“…As a prevalence-based technique that calculates the economic cost of all cases in a particular time, we computed the yearly costs related to the health impact endpoints of COPD, asthma, and IHD. The major source for cost estimates was the NHIS claims database, which contained virtually all of Korea’s claim records [ 51 , 52 ]. A person was considered a patient if they had at least one inpatient or outpatient claim that included a diagnosis.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of Health Economic Loss Due to Particulate Matter Pollution in the Seoul Subway, South Korea

Thangavel

Kim

Park

et al. 2023

Toxics

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Evaluating an illness’s economic impact is critical for developing and executing appropriate policies. South Korea has mandatory national health insurance in the form of NHIS that provides propitious conditions for assessing the national financial burden of illnesses. The purpose of our study is to provide a comprehensive assessment of the economic impact of PM2.5 exposure in the subway and a comparative analysis of cause-specific mortality outcomes based on the prevalent health-risk assessment of the health effect endpoints (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and ischemic heart disease (IHD)). We used the National Health Insurance database to calculate the healthcare services provided to health-effect endpoints, with at least one primary diagnosis in 2019. Direct costs associated with health aid or medicine, treatment, and indirect costs (calculated based on the productivity loss in health effect endpoint patients, transportation, and caregivers, including morbidity and mortality costs) were both considered. The total cost for the exposed population for these endpoints was estimated to be USD 437 million per year. Medical costs were the largest component (22.08%), followed by loss of productivity and premature death (15.93%) and other costs such as transport and caregiver costs (11.46%). The total incurred costs (per 1000 persons) were accounted to be USD 0.1771 million, USD 0.42 million, and USD 0.8678 million for COPD, Asthma, and IHD, respectively. Given that the economic burden will rise as the prevalence of these diseases rises, it is vital to adopt effective preventative and management methods strategies aimed at the appropriate population.

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“…On average, 7.2 million passengers per day and 2.6 billion passengers per year use SMRT 16 . No extensive studies have been done evaluating the substances in the SMRT which may be related to the health of the commuters 17 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal variations of the airborne microbial assemblages of the Seoul subway, South Korea from 16S and ITS gene profiles with chemical analysis

Hassan

Cho

Park

et al. 2022

Sci Rep

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In this study, we determined the seasonal airborne microbial diversity profiles at SMRT stations by sequencing the 16S rRNA and ITS. Particulate matter samples were collected from air purifiers installed in the platform area of the SMRT subway stations. Three stations that included the most crowded one were selected for the sampling. The sampling was done at each season during 2019. After extracting the total DNA from all seasonal samples, PCR was performed with Illumina overhang adapter primers for the V3–V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene and ITS2 region of the ITS gene. The amplified products were further purified, and sequencing libraries were made. Sequencing was carried with the Illumina Miseq Sequencing system (Illumina, USA) followed by in-depth diversity analyses. The elemental composition of the particulate matter samples collected from the different subway stations were obtained using a WD-XRF spectrometer. The SMRT microbiome showed extensive taxonomic diversity with the most common bacterial genera at the subway stations associated with the skin. Overall, the stations included in this study harbored different phylogenetic communities based on α- and β-diversity comparisons. Microbial assemblages also varied depending upon the season in which the samples were taken and the station. Major elements present at the subway stations were from aerosols generated between wheels and brake cushions and between the catenaries and the pantographs. This study shows that the microbial composition of the SMRT subway stations comes from a diverse combination of environmental and human sources, the season and the lifestyle of commuters.

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Characteristics of PM10 Levels Monitored for More than a Decade in Subway Stations in South Korea

Cited by 7 publications

References 27 publications

Correlation between levels of airborne endotoxin and heavy metals in subway environments in South Korea

Correlation between levels of airborne endotoxin and heavy metals in subway environments in South Korea

Evaluation of Health Economic Loss Due to Particulate Matter Pollution in the Seoul Subway, South Korea

Seasonal variations of the airborne microbial assemblages of the Seoul subway, South Korea from 16S and ITS gene profiles with chemical analysis

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