Analysis of High Concentration Diffusion Pattern by Air Pollutions in Port Industry Interfaces

Purpose - Port is vital for international trade accounting for approximately 80% of world cargo transportation in the global trade sector. Air pollutants emitted owing to the related industry interfaces developed around the port spread throughout the dense population region can have harmful effects on the nearby residents. This study aims to analyze high-concentration diffusion pattern by air pollutants, considering the main management periods by air pollutants. Design/methodology - Employing the concentration criteria per main air pollutant, the analyses of concentration change patterns per air pollutant, wind characteristics that directly affected the air pollutant diffusion, distribution types per air pollutant, and high-concentration diffusion patterns by season according to time changes were conducted. Findings - The substances that caused harmful levels of air pollution in the hinterland living zone of the Busan New Port were PM_10, PM_2.5, and NO_2. Furthermore, the intensive management periods were as follows: For PM_10, 24-h (spring), 12:00-16:00 (summer), 12:00-16:00 (summer), 20:00-12:00 (fall), and 24:00-20:00 (winter), and for PM_2.5, 24-h (all four seasons), and for NO_2, 23:00-04:00 (spring), 23:00-08:00 (summer), and 20:00-08:00 (fall), and 23:00-04:00 (winter). Originality/value - Research finding indicates that regular monitoring and countermeasures to reduce air pollution for each air pollutant makes it possible to achieve effective air quality control in the port and hinterland living zones.