Comparison of Physicochemical Characteristics of Suspended Air Particulates in Seoul Between Cities. Y. Chung, D. C. Shin, and S. E. Park, Department of Preventive Medicine and Institute for Environmental Research, Yonse, University college of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
Last decade, efforts were made given to ameliorate the polluted air of Seoul. However the results are not very successful because while irritant gases are reduced in the air, the organic pollutants increased due to the rapid increase in number of automobiles. Also, there were changes in fuel consumption and type during the some period. Therefore, this study was conducted to compare the physicochemical characteristics of organic pollutants in suspended particulates in Seoul according to the change of emission variables such as number and types of cars, fuel type and consumption, population size, and so on. Particulate size and concentration, extractable organic matter, and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons in both the traffic and the non-traffic area of Seoul were measured at periodic intervals between 1986 to 1993.
We will compare the data of Seoul to that of Berlin obtained by same sampling and analytical methodology and also to those of other cities in the U.S. Health risk due to potential carcinogens in the organic fraction was estimated and compared.