• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.1-9
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• 1989

A pilot study was conducted in order to measure indoor and outdoor formaldehyde levels during August 3 - 22, 1988 in several underground spaces in Seoul. Formaldehyde concentrations were monitored during 1 week in selected sampling areas (subway station, underground shopping center, underpass, tunnel, underground parking lot) using passive formaldehyde monitors. In order to investigate a relationship between respiratory prevalence and levels of formaldehyde, each subject was asked to answer respiratory questions. The mean formaldehyde concentrations were 60.1 ppb in subway station, 122.2 ppb in underground shopping stores, 72.1 ppb in underpasses, 39.7 ppb in tunnel, and 75.9 ppb in underground parking lots, respectively. The mean indoor formaldehyde concentrations in underground environments varied from 28.6 ppb to 118.7 ppb. Generally, the mean formaldehyde concentrations in ticketing office in subway stations appeared higher than those level measured in platform. The mean formaldehyde concentrations of underground shopping center in Gangnam Terminal were higher than any other areas and it exceeded 100 ppb of the American Ambient Air Quality Standards of formaldehyde. Prevalence rates of respiratory symptoms of dwellers seemed to be related to higher indoor formaldehyde levels.

• 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 the Korean Institute of Rural Architecture
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.39-51
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• 2018

In order to improve the housing environment and quality of life for the rural elderly, this study aims to identify and present the status of community centers, most widely used by the elderly in rural areas. Through the literature review, type and space elements of community centers were derived and selected three target areas were investigated. As a result of literature analysis, the space type of rural community centers were classified as indoor space and outdoor space. The indoor space types were classified as entry space, public space, sanitary space and the outdoor space were classified as entry space and leisure space. Some community centers were surveyed in Seocheon-gun, Wanju-gun, and Cheongju-city. Results indicate the indoor and outdoor space design and elements were undergoing a lot of inconvenience partly because standard design was considered and the space was not planned for the physical, psychological and social health of the rural elderly. Therefore, this study will be used as a basis for building healthier and more friendly residential environments that can enhance the health and quality of life for the elderly in rural areas.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.163-176
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• 1998

In this study, airborne particle samples were obtained to determine the concentrations of particulate air pollutants in indoor and outdoor air of public facilities in Taegu area. Total of 12 public facilities, regulated by the Public Sanitary Law, were selected as sampling sites, which include three underground arcades, one railway and two bus terminals, three general hospitals, and three department stores. In each place, sampling was carried out seasonally during the period of October 1994 to July 1995, and four samples per each site per season were collected both indoors and outdoors simultaneously. After determination of suspended particulate matter (SPM) mass concentrations, the particle samples were divided into two parts for subsequent chemical analysis: one for the analysis of trace elements and the other for water soluble ions. Seasonal levels of SPM appeared to be the highest in spring and the lowest in summer both indoors and outdoors, while locational variations of highest in statioyterminals, and lowest in department stores . SPM concentrations indoors and outdoors did not show any significant differences each other in most places . However, there were significant correlations between indoor and outdoor levels of SPM and other chemical species . These results indicates that indoor SPM levels are likely to be significantly affected by outdoor sources in many places. The most significant source of SPM was estimated to be the resuspension of soil/road dust both indoors and outdoors . The concentrations of toxic heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu) in underground arcades appeared to be very much lower than the established air quality guidelines for underground environments. In addition, it is likely that micro-environmental parameters such as temperature, humidity, and air velocity, play a less significant role than outdoor air quality as a factor affecting the levels of particulate pollutants in indoor environments of public facilities in Taegu area.

• KIEAE Journal
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.141-150
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• 2013

As longevity of human-beings is extended and the population of aged people increases, diverse issues related with the aged people are presented. The neighborhood space for the aged people is required to be designed based upon the understanding of such difficulties of the elderly and the public outdoor environment is an important environmental resource that can enhance the quality of life and promote the health of the elderly in underprivileged area without burdening them economically. This study aims to research the daily life of the elderly in underprivileged urban area and their utilization styles of outdoor environments in order to find out the push factors and pull factors that induce the aged people to use the outdoor environments. For this purpose, this study carried out an interview survey upon 69 elderly residents and surveyed on 363 elderly residents of low income class who are aged 60 and over and living in decaying area in Jeonju. For the analysis of the collected data, a qualitative and a quantitative analysis were accomplished. As results of study, the elderly in underprivileged area use such outdoor environments as resting facilities, exercise equipment, parks, farming gardens and waterfronts, and the push factors for them to use the outdoor environments were sordid indoor spaces, sense of isolation or loneliness, and the desire for maintaining good health. And the pull factors for them to use the outdoor environments were natural factors, opportunities for social interactions, space for exercise. The obstacles that hinder the elderly in using outdoor environments were the bad health of the elderly, lack of facilities, accessibility and weather conditions. Thus, the results of this study are expected to provide basic data for designing the outdoor environments to promote the health of the elderly in urban underprivileged area and to relieve the burdensome problems related with ageing societies.

• Journal of the Korean housing association
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.51-66
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• 1995

The Purpose of this study was to examine the environmental characteristics of housing for the elderly preferred by the middle aged. The residential environments include three types of elderly housing differred in the availability of care service as well as indoor and outdoor environmental characteristics of the housing. The results of this study were as follows: The most preferred type of the elderly was the elderly housing with no care service followed by the housing with intermediated care service and dependent housing with full care service. The preferred type of housing for the elderly was significantly related to the demands for the demands for the indoor and outdoor environmental characteristics of the comimg elderly.

• 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.2
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• pp.193-201
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• 2001

Acidic air pollutants were collected to characterize indoor air quality in a residential area in the summer. All indoor and outdoor samples were measured simultaneously using an annular denuder system(ADS) in Seoul. The data set was collected from July 26 to September 11, 1997. The mean indoor/outdoor ratios measured from this study were : 0.34 for $HNO_3$; 0.91 for $HNO_2$; 0.22 for $SO_2$; 1.34 for $NH_3$; 0.78 for $PM_{2.5}(d_p$ <2.5 $mutextrm{m}$); 0.90 for $SO_{4}^{2-}$; 0.68 for $NO_{3}^{-}$ and 0.79 for $NH_{4}^{+}$. Indoor concentrations of $HNO_3$, $SO_2$ and $PM_{2.5}$ were highly correlated with the outdoor concentrations. The relationship between indoor and outdoor air is dependent, to a large extent, on the rate of air exchange between these two environments. A tracer-gas decay technique with sulfur hexafluoride ($SF_{6}$) as a tracer gas was used to estimate the air exchange of a private home in the summer. The average air exchange rate was estimated to be 23.7 hr(sup)-1. The deposition velocities for $SO_{4}^{2-}$, $NO_{3}^{-}$ and $NH_{4}^{+}$ calculated were 0.17, 0.69 abd 0.39 cm/sec, respectively.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2022.04a
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• pp.29-30
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• 2022

Tile defects in apartment houses are caused by a combination of various factors. These factors cannot be specified, and it is difficult to determine the exact cause because a number of causes are intertwined. In addition, because the climate of Korea is different by season, the coefficient of thermal expansion between materials is different, which is a major cause of tile defects. Therefore, this study analyzed the difference between the construction location and the period of defect occurrence according to the types of tile defects caused by environmental differences between indoor and outdoor environments. Two-way ANOVA was used, indoor and outdoor spaces were selected, and defect types were selected accordingly to show the difference in the occurrence period of each defect.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.12 no.9
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• pp.967-976
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• 2003

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are present in essentially all natural and synthetic materials from petrol to flowers. In this study, indoor and outdoor VOCs concentrations of houses, offices and internet-cafes were measured and compared simultaneously with personal exposures of each 50 participants in Asan and Seoul, respectively. Also, factors that influence personal VOCs exposure were statistically analyzed using questionnaires in relation to house characteristics, time activities, and health effects. All VOCs concentrations were measured by OVM passive samplers (3M) and analyzed with GC/MS. Target pollutants among VOCs were Toluene, o-Xylene, m/p-Xylene, Ethylbenzene, MIBK, n-Octane, Styrene, Trichloroethylene, and 1,2-Dichlorobenzene. Indoor and outdoor VOCs concentrations measured in Seoul were significantly higher than those in Asan except Ethylbenzene. Residential indoor/outdoor (I/O) ratios for all target compounds ranged from 0.94 to 1.51 and I/O ratios of Asan were a little higher than those of Seoul. Relationship between personal VOCs exposure, and indoor and outdoor VOCs concentrations suggested that time-activity pattern could affect the high exposure to air pollutant. Factors that influence indoor VOCs level and personal exposure with regard to house characteristics in houses were building age, inside smoking and house type. In addition insecticide and cosmetics interestingly affected the VOCs personal exposure. Higher exposure to VOCs might be caused to be exciting increase and memory reduction, considering the relationship between measured VOCs concentrations and questionnaire (p<0.05).