• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.248-256
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• 2024

The purpose of this study was to identify the household air pollutants most significantly impacting hearing loss, using data from the 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Of the 1,980 participants, those with missing data were excluded from the study population, resulting in the final inclusion of 298 participants. Mild hearing loss is defined as a unilateral or bilateral pure-tone threshold average (PTA) of 26~40 dB, and moderate hearing loss is defined as a unilateral or bilateral PTA of 41 dB or higher. The mean of the PTAs for both ears is defined as the sum of the PTAs of the left and the right ears divided by 2. Complex samples multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that formaldehyde exposure independently significantly increased the risk of moderate hearing loss (odds ratio=1.050, P<0.001). Additionally, in the complex samples general linear model, toluene exposure (B=0.026, P<0.001) was found to be independently significantly associated with an increase in the mean of PTAs for both ears, where a higher mean of the PTAs for both ears indicates a decrease in hearing ability. These results suggest a strong association between hearing loss and the presence of toluene or formaldehyde in indoor air.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.54-67
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• 2006

This study was performed to deduct the extension possibility of the standards establishment for $NO_2$, $O_3$, Asbestos, Radon, total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) excluded in the indoor air part of Industrial Safety Acts in Korea. The air pollutants were sampled for 30 office buildings from August to September, 2005 in the metropolitan area. The airborne concentrations of $NO_2$, $O_3$, Radon and TVOC were 0.0092 ppm, 0.0035 ppm, 0.57 pCi/L and $423{\mu}g/m^3$, respectively. The management plan and reduction methods is required in the aspect of indoor air quality(IAQ) because the emission sources of those also exist in indoor as well as outdoor even though those were not exceeded the standards of the Ministry of Environment in Korea. The standard for TVOC in the new and remodeling office has to be established based on the risk assessment when hazard index exceeded "1" in the worst case scenario. In the state of art, the management of each volatile organic compounds has a difficulty due to not enough data for toxicological reference. Therefore, it is suggested that first of all, the standard for TVOC be established and then expanded to each materials for decision-making of improvement of IAQ in office.

• KIEAE Journal
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.125-131
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• 2017

Purpose: The study is to measure concentrations of indoor air pollutants in housing and to analyze the characteristics of pollutants in housing indoor-air between summer and winter comparatively. The research result could be used as data for public health through indoor air quality management of existing housing and more as a reference for new housing. Method: It was investigated 24 middle class housings of metropolitan area in winter which have been built for the past 30 years. Concentration of HCHO, TVOC was investigated in living room at morning and night and concentration of $CO_2$ was investigated in living room and master bedroom at morning and night. SKT100-X5 was used for concentration of HCHO, TVOC and ZGm053UK for concentration of $CO_2$. The characteristics of HCHO, TVOC, $CO_2$ concentration in winter were analyzed and then the concentrations in winter were analyzed the concentrations in summer being preceding research comparatively. Result: Average concentration of TVOC in winter was 2.7 times more than that of TVOC in summer, average concentration of HCHO in winter was about 2.0 times more than that of HCHO in summer. Average concentration of $CO_2$ in the morning at living room in winter was 1.3 times more than that of $CO_2$ in summer. Average concentration of $CO_2$ in the morning at master bedroom in winter was 1.1 times more than that of $CO_2$ in summer. Average concentration of TVOC was 1.31 times more than that of HCHO and standard deviation of that was 1.73 times higher. Average concentration of $CO_2$ was almost nearly close or over to 1,000ppm being criteria of the Ministry of Environment.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.1-8
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• 2008

Soil vapor extraction (SVE) is an effective and cost efficient method of removing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and petroleum hydrocarbons from unsaturated soils. However, soil vapor extraction becomes ineffective in soils with low gas permeability, for example soils with air permeabilities less than 1 Darcy. The aim of this study is to investigate numerically the performance of a prefabricated vertical drain (PVD) as a SVE well, and the pattern of the induced air flow. A validated numerical model for a single PVD extraction well is developed based on the result of a well-designed laboratory model test. The validity of the simple analytical approach to determine air permeability based on the results of model tests is also discussed.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.491-497
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• 2005

In this study, we investigated $PM_{10},\;NO_2$, and l-hydroxypyrene(1-OHP) in urine at indoor environments which are 35 houses and 20 hospitals for using air cleaner and non-using air cleaner in Seoul metropolitan area and Kyoung-gi province from April, 2003 to February, 2004. Moreover, we examined effect of improvement for indoor air quality and health effect by concentration of 1-OHP also we investigated removal efficiency by air cleaner for $PM_{10},\;NO_2$, and 1-OHP that were 28.5\%,\;27.4\%,\;and\;42.1\%$ respectively. Concentration of$PM_{10},\;NO_2$, and 1-OHP were $19.02\pm18.14{\mu}g/m^3,\;8.66\pm3.06ppb,\;and\;0.19\pm0.18{\mu}g/g$, creatinine when air cleaner was no worked. The concentration for $PM_{10},\;NO_2$. and 1-OHP were $13.60\pm10.79{\mu}g/m^3,\; 6.29\pm2.71ppb,\;and\;0.11\pm0.10{\mu}g/g$ creatinine, respectively. It was significant statistically. Therefore, it is considered using the air cleaner to remove the partial pollutants in indoor environment and is positive effect for health.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.570-574
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• 2010

The main function of conventional insulation materials is only to block the heat transfer and reduce heat loss from the building. On the other hand, thermal storage materials can work as an energy saver by absorbing or emitting heat within a specific temperature range. Thermal storage materials for building can maintain a constant temperature by effectively regulating the cycle of indoor temperature. As a result, we can enhance the performance of a cooling and heating system efficiently. In this study, phase change materials (PCMs) were added as thermal storage materials into gypsum boards which are extensively used for building material and we found out the thermal environmental characteristics. In addition, we checked out some problems when applying the thermal storage materials to buildings. Finally, This study set out to examine the degree of environmental-friendly characteristics of thermal storage building materials by analyzing the amount of TVOC and HCHO contents with the possibility of pollutants emission.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.605-617
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• 2015

The ultimate goal of this research is to develop a botanical biofiltration system that combines a green interior, biofiltering, and automatic irrigation to purify indoor air pollutants according to indoor space and the size of biofilter. This study was performed to compare the stability of air flow characteristics and removal efficiency (RE) of fine dust within a wall-typed (vertical) botanical biofilter depending on humidifying cycle and to investigate RE of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by the biofilter. The biofilter used in this experiment was designed as an integral form of water metering pump, water tank, blower, humidifier, and multi-level planting space in order to be suitable for indoor space utilization. As a result, relative humidity, air temperature, and soil moisture content (SMC) within the biofilter showed stable values regardless of three different humidifying cycles operated by the metering pump. In particular, SMCs were consistently maintained in the range of 27.1-29.7% during all humidifying cycles; moreover, a humidifying cycle of operating for 15 min and pausing for 45 min showed the best horizontal linear regression (y = 0.0008x + 29.09) on SMC ($29.0{\pm}0.2%$) during 120 hour. REs for number of fine dust (PM10) and ultra-fine dust (PM2.5) particles passed through the biofilter were in the range of 82.7-89.7% and 65.4-73.0%, respectively. RE for weight of PM10 passed through the biofilter was in the range of 58.1-78.9%, depending on humidifying cycle. REs of xylene, ethyl benzene, total VOCs (TVOCs), and toluene passed through the biofilter were in the range of 71.3-75.5%, while REs of benzene and formaldehyde (HCHO) passed through the biofilter were 39.7% and 44.9%, respectively. Hence, it was confirmed that the wall-typed botanical biofilter suitable for indoor plants was very effective for indoor air purification.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.293-301
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• 2008

A study on the operational variables of the UV-TiO$_2$ based photocatalytic air cleaning system was tried. In this study, to examine effects as various air cleaning system conditions, a duct-type reactor was made, and TiO$_2$ was immobilized on a stainless mesh. Benzene was chosen as a target compound. Removal experiments for benzene were done under different initial benzene concentration, air velocity, TiO$_2$ loading, area coated TiO$_2$ as the same TiO$_2$ loading, and UV light intensity conditions. During the experiments, relative humidity was 55%, and reactor temperature was 45$^{\circ}C$. As a result, the photocatalytic degradation of benzene decreased as the inlet concentration increased. But the photocatalytic degradation increased as the concentration boundary layer thickness, amount of TiO$_2$, area coated TiO$_2$ as the same amount of TiO$_2$, and UV light intensity increased. Based on results of current study, they can be applied to the design of air cleaning system over low level VOCs in the indoor air.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.33 no.2 s.95
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• pp.92-97
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• 2007

A series of source tests were conducted to characterize emissions of nitrogen oxide(NOx, NO, $NO_2$), carbon mon oxide(CO), carbon dioxide$(CO_2)$ and total VOCs from portable combustion devices in steady-state using well-mixed chamber. Since use of portable gas range is widespread in houses and restaurants in Korea, it is important to characterize the emission of air pollutants and suggest optimum ventilation rate. Ranges of emission rates of air pollutants from portable gas ranges were $NO \;0.551\sim0.939mg/hr,\;NO_2\;0.354\sim1.080mg/hr,\;NO_x\;1.207\sim1.631mg/hr,\;CO\;1.389\sim4.21mg/hr,\;CO_2\;2426.823\sim2973.495mg/hr$, and VOCs $0\sim0.119mg/h$. Mean of personal exposure and indoor environment level of $NO_2$ by combustion of portable gas range were 74.7 ppb and 65.4 ppb, respectively, suggesting persons using portable gas range in houses and restaurants might be highly exposed. Required ventilation rate to control the air pollutants emitted from portable gas range was maximumly $3.131m^3/hr$ on the basis of $NO_2$ indoor air quality standard.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.169-177
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• 2004

The permeation movements of groundwater recharge and contaminate materials receive a eat effect due to porosity and effective porosity of porous media which is composing underground consisted of saturation and unsaturated states. This study developed Frequency Domain Reflectometry(FDR) system and measurement sensor, and then carried out the laboratory experiments to measure effective porosity for unsaturated porous media. Also, I suggested dielectric mixing models(DMMs) which can calculate the effective porosity from relation of measured dielectric constants. In the experimental results the extent range of effective porosity of standard sand and river sand which are unsaturated soil sample were measured in about 65∼85 % for porosity. In relation of effective porosity and porosity, especially, effective porosity confirmed that displays decreasing a little tendency as porosity increases. This is because unsaturated soil did not reach in saturation enough by air of very small amount that exist in pore between soil particles.