Ambient particulate matter (PM10) concentrations in major urban areas of Korea during 1996-2010

Atul Prakash Sharma, Ki Hyun Kim, Ji Won Ahn, Zang Ho Shon, Jong Ryeul Sohn, Jin Hong Lee, Chang Jin Ma, Richard J.C. Brown

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

40 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In this study, ambient particulate matter pollution was investigated using monthly PM10 concentration data collected from seven major cities in Korea from 1996 to 2010. The highest mean value for the whole study period is seen from the capital city, Seoul (63.2±17.9 μg m-3), while the lowest is from Ulsan (46.7±14.8 μg m-3). The concentrations of PM10 in all cities exhibited seasonal variations with the peak values occurring consistently in spring (March or April). The PM10 data in each city consistently exhibited strong correlations (p<0.01) with gaseous pollutants (SO2, NO2, and CO), except for O3 (p>0.05). The analysis of long term trends of PM10 levels indicates a weak but consistent decline in concentrations in most cities with the relative average annual reductions of between 0.4 and 2.8% y-1.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)161-169
Number of pages9
JournalAtmospheric Pollution Research
Volume5
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2014 Jan

Keywords

  • Korea
  • Long term study
  • Regulated pollutants
  • Spatio-temporal variation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Waste Management and Disposal
  • Pollution
  • Atmospheric Science

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Ambient particulate matter (PM10) concentrations in major urban areas of Korea during 1996-2010'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this