• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.545-552
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• 2000

Eight aromatic hydrocarbons were quantified in a newly constructed building before occupancy during the period of November 1997 to January 1998. Air samples were collected in 6 L stainless steel canisters for 8 hours based on working hour. It was found that the measured total concentration of aromatic hydrocarbons decreases rapidly with time up to a steady-state value. However, the fractions for each aromatic hydrocarbon were greatly changed with time. The concentration ratios of indoor to outdoor for aromatic hydrocarbons are greater than 1 during early period of the measurement, and the ratios decrease with time. The concentrations of toluene, m+p-xylene, ethylbenzene, and o-xylene are much higher than those of styrene, 1, 2, 4-trimethylbenzene, and 1, 3, 5-f trimethylbenzene in indoor air. The concentration fractions of m+p-xylene, ethylbenzed, and o-xylene in indoor air are about twice as hight as those in outdoor air measured during the similar period. It was concluded that the aromatic hydrocarbons were emitted from building materials, paints, and adhesives in an-built building.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.495-503
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• 2000

Dust samples were collected from 17 middle and high schools in the Jeonju-city. heavy metal concentrations were determined for the dry-deposited dusts from indoor and outdoor of classroom and playground of each sampling site. Concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn in indoor\`s dusts were highly concentrated. Also heavy metal concentrations in outdoor\`s dusts were similar to that of indoor\`s dusts. Concentrations of Cd, Cu, and Zn in the dusts were much higher than the world average contents in soil and environmental orientation value. These levels are similar to those of the dust samples at middle schools located at Kangseo-gu and Yangchon-gu , Seoul. Playground dusts in 6 schools exhibited the enhanced heavy metal pollution with a pollution index (by Kloke) greater than 1.0. Most indoor and outdoor dusts exhibited the enhanced heavy metal pollution with a pollution index(by Cullbard et al.) greater than 1.0.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.85-91
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• 2002

Workers who work at indoor and outdoor environment near busy road are suspected to be exposed to high-elevated air pollutant levels during working hours. This study evaluated the working-time nitrogen dioxide ($NO_2$) exposure for workers (repairmen and polishers) of shoe-stalls. Since shoe-stalls have particularly been located near busy road in Korea, workers might be high exposure to $NO_2$ from traffic exhaust as well as indoor sources of shoe-stall such as portable gas range (butane gas) during working hours. In this study, we measured the indoor and outdoor $NO_2$ concentrations of shoe-stalls. Simultaneously, outdoor $NO_2$ concentrations of building through sidewalk from shoe-stall were measured. High $NO_2$ exposure for workers of shoe-stalls was considered to be inflow of outdoor source of exhausted emission from vehicles and indoor source from usage of gas range to polish the shoe. Indoor/outdoor $NO_2$ concentration ratio ($0.94{\pm}0.22$) in Seoul was higher than that ($1.06{\pm}0.34$) in Asan, because ambient $NO_2$ level was high in Seoul and usage of gas range was prevalent in Asan. According to $NO_2$ concentrations by distance from roadside to building through sidewalk, $NO_2$ concentrations showed the decreased trend with distance. The results of this study can be utilized by municipal authorities in urban planning for evaluating effects of future traffic planning and land use.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.199-206
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• 2008

This study was conducted to estimate nitrogen dioxide levels and health risk in various locations/situations for two groups. The nitrogen dioxide levels were measured for residents of a study group (industrial area within 5 km) and a control group (15 km farther), respectively using the nitrogen dioxide filter badge as a passive sampler from August, 2006 to September, 2006. The means of indoor, outdoor, work and personal levels of nitrogen dioxide were $34.65{\pm}1.95\;{\mu}g/m^3$, $34.83{\pm}11.78\;{\mu}g/m^3$, $34.98{\pm}19.11$ and $35.38{\pm}10.74$ respectively in the study area. Mean ratio of indoor to outdoor $NO_2$ concentration was 0.99. The means of indoor, outdoor and personal level of nitrogen dioxide were $23.66{\pm}7.19\;{\mu}g/m^3$, $18.22{\pm}4.06\;{\mu}g/m^3$ and $27.27{\pm}18.93\;{\mu}g/m^3$ respectively in the control area. Mean ratio of indoor to outdoor $NO_2$ concentration was 1.39. People spent 80.9% of their time in indoor at the study area and 76.9% at the control area. The percentages of time spent in outdoor were 14.9% and 20.9% at the study area and the control area respectively. The percentages of time spent in a car were 4.2% and 2.2% in the study and control areas respectively. The levels of indoor, outdoor, workplace nitrogen dioxide in the study area and the control area were found below the permissible level of health-hazardous effects.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.16-24
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• 2024

Background: Indoor PM_2.5 concentrations in residential houses can be affected by various factors depending on the season. This is because not only do the climate characteristics depend on the season, but the activity patterns of occupants are also different. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to compare factors affecting indoor PM_2.5 concentrations in apartments and detached houses in Daegu according to seasonal changes. Methods: This study included 20 households in Daegu, South Korea. The study was conducted during the summer (from July 10 to August 10, 2023) and the autumn (from September 11 to October 9, 2023). A sensor-based instrument for PM_2.5 levels was installed in the living room of each residence, and measurements were taken continuously for 24 hours at intervals of one minute during the measurement period. Based on the air quality monitoring system data in Daegu, outdoor PM_2.5 concentrations were estimated using ordinary kriging (OK) in Python. In addition, the indoor activities of the occupants were investigated using a time-activity pattern diary. The affecting factors of indoor PM_2.5 concentration were analyzed using multiple regression analysis. Results: Indoor and outdoor PM_2.5 concentrations of the residences during summer were 15.27±11.09 ㎍/m³ and 11.52±7.56 ㎍/m³, respectively. Indoor and outdoor PM_2.5 concentrations during autumn were 13.82±9.61 ㎍/m³ and 9.57±5.50 ㎍/m³, respectively. The PM_2.5 concentrations were higher in summer compared to autumn both indoors and outdoors. The primary factor affecting indoor PM_2.5 concentration in summer was occupant activity. On the other hand, during the autumn season, the primary affecting factor was outdoor PM_2.5 concentration. Conclusions: Indoor PM_2.5 concentration in residential houses is affected by occupant activity such as the inflow of outdoor PM_2.5 concentration, cooking, and cleaning, as found in previous studies. However, it was revealed that there were differences depending on the season.

• International Journal of High-Rise Buildings
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.71-82
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• 2019

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the indoor air quality (IAQ) and energy benefits of a dedicated outdoor air system (DOAS) and compare them with a conventional variable air volume (VAV) system. The DOAS is a decoupled system that supplies only outdoor air, while reducing its consumption using an enthalpy wheel. The VAV system supplies air that is mixed outdoor and transferred indoor. The VAV has the issue of unbalanced ventilation in each room in multiple zones because it supplies mixing air. The DOAS does not have this problem because it supplies only outdoor air. That is, the DOAS is a 100% outdoor air system and the VAV is an air conditioning system. The transient simulations of carbon dioxide concentration and energy consumption were performed using a MATLAB program based on the thermal loads from the model predicted by the TRNSYS 18 program. The results indicated that when the air volume is large, such as in summer, the distribution of air is not appropriate in the VAV system. The DOAS however, supplies the outdoor air stably. Moreover, in terms of annual primary energy consumption, the DOAS consumed approximately 40% less energy than the VAV system.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.627-635
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• 2004

Evaluated were household THMs exposure associated with the use of municipal tap water treated with chlorine and with ozone-chlorine. The current study measured the THMs concentrations in the tap water and indoor and outdoor air in the two types of household, along with an estimation of THMs exposure from water ingestion, showering, and the inhalation of indoor air. Chloroform was the most abundant THMs in all three media, yet no bromoform was detected in any sample. Contrary to previous findings, the fall water THMs concentrations exhibited no significant difference between the chlorine and ozone-chlorine treated water. However, the spring median chloroform concentration in the tap water treated with chlorine (17.6 ppb) was 1.3 times higher than that in the tap water treated with ozone-chlorine (13.4 ppb). It is suggested that the effects of the water parameters should be considered when evaluating the advantage of ozone-chlorine disinfection for THMs formation over chlorine disinfection. The indoor air THMs concentration trend was also consistent with the water concentration trend, yet the outdoor air THMs concentrations did not differ significantly between the two types of household. The indoor to outdoor air concentration ratios were comparable with previous studies. The THMs exposure estimates from water ingestion, showering, and the inhalation of indoor air suggested that, for the residents living in the surveyed households, their exposure to THMs in the home was mostly associated with their household water use, rather than the indoor air. The THMs exposure estimates from tap water ingestion were similar to those from showering.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.15 no.10
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• pp.913-918
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• 2006

Despite the wide distribution of air pollutants, the concentrations of indoor air pollutants may be the dominant risk factor in personal exposure due to the fact that most people spend an average of 80% of their time in enclosed buildings. Researches for improvement of indoor air quality have been developed such as installation of air cleaning device, ventilation system, titanium dioxide$(TiO_2)$ coating and so on. However, it is difficult to evaluate the magnitude of improvement of indoor air quality in field study because indoor air quality can be affected by source generation, outdoor air level, ventilation, decay by reaction, temperature, humidity, mixing condition and so on. In this study, evaluation of reduction of formaldehyde and nitrogen dioxide emission rate in indoor environments by $TiO_2$ coating material was carried out using mass balance model in indoor environment. we proposed the evaluation method of magnitude of improvement in indoor air quality, considering outdoor level and ventilation. Since simple indoor concentration measurements could not properly evaluate the indoor air quality, outdoor level and ventilation should be considered when evaluate the indoor net quality.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.339-355
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• 2021

Background: Particulate matter (PM₁₀, PM_2.5) and black carbon contribute to poor air quality in urban areas, and can also affect indoor environments. Exposure to PM can be associated with respiratory and lung diseases. Objectives: This study investigated the indoor and outdoor concentration distribution patterns of PM₁₀, PM_2.5, and black carbon at an apartment building, a typical residential space in the metropolitan areas of South Korea, by season, day of the week (weekday vs. weekend), and time of the day. It aims to obtain foundational data for the effective management of pollutants and investigate the difference in pollution levels between indoor and outdoor environments. Methods: Indoor and outdoor concentrations of PM and black carbon were measured at an apartment building located in Namyangju, Gyeonggi-do Province, using dust sensors and an Aethalometer AE51 (AethLabs, San Francisco, CA, USA) over the course of a year from June 2020 to May 2021. The concentration distribution patterns were analyzed by season and time of day. Results: PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 concentrations in the outdoor environment were higher than those in the indoor environment, regardless of the season. By contrast, the indoor black carbon concentration was higher than that in the outdoor environment during summer and autumn. The concentrations of PM₁₀, PM_2.5 and black carbon were found to be higher on weekdays than during weekends, especially during rush hour, with concentrations of 25.92~56.58 ㎍/m³, 21.12~44.82 ㎍/m³, 0.63~3.40 ㎍/m³. Conclusions: The outdoor concentrations of PM₁₀, PM_2.5, and black carbon were higher during the weekdays, especially during rush hour, than during weekends. This study is expected to provide basic data for the health management of apartment occupants because it is measured over a period of more than one year.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.251-258
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• 2001

Indoor and outdoor nitrogen dioxide(NO$_2$) concentrations of 122 houses were measured and compared with measurements of personal NO$_2$ exposure simultaneously . Time activity patterns were used to determine the impacts on NO$_2$ exposure assessment and time weighed average model to estimate the personal NO$_2$ exposure. Most people spent their times more than 80% of indoor and more than 50% in home, respectively. Personal NO$_2$ esposure was found to be significantly associated with both indoor NO$_2$ concentration(r=0.70) and outdoor NO$_2$ concentration (r=0.68). Using time weighted average model, personal NO$_2$ exposure was estimated with NO$_2$ measurements in indoor home, indoor workplace and outdoor home. The estimated NO$_2$ measurements were significantly correlated with measured personal exposures(r=0.69, N=122). For the difference between measured and estimated NO$_2$ exposures by multiple regression analysis showed that NO$_2$ concentrations in near workplace and other outdoors of no NO$_2$ measurements affected the personal NO$_2$ exposures(p=0.023).