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Abstract

    Fine dust pollution in the atmosphere has been an increasing problem for human health around the globe. Specifically, neighboring countries of China, such as Korea, have experienced more severe consequences of fine dust pollution due to Chinese development. The chemical compounds existing in fine dust pose harmful effects on the health of all generations, presenting increased statistics of various pulmonary diseases. Chemical compounds found in fine dust can be categorized into three different classes: agricultural, heavy metal, and emission pollutants. Although how these chemical compounds impact human health have been studied before, no studies have been conducted on how these compounds can impact different organisms and ecological stability. 

    In this study, two chemical compounds from each class were utilized: bifenthrin and gamma-cyhalothrin from agricultural pollutants, copper nitrate and iron nitrate from heavy metals, and sulfuric acid and nitric acid from emission pollutants. The compounds were used to observe acute physiological effects of daphnia magna, specifically the heartbeat rate and phototactic swimming rate. Each Daphnia's heartbeat rate and phototactic swimming rate were evaluated after 30 minutes of incubation. Although the results varied, there were significant statistical differences in both the heart rate and phototactic swimming rate when compared with that of original parameters. Therefore, the results concluded that the chemical compounds existing in fine dust can cause acute physiological effects on daphnia magna.