• The Journal of Sustainable Design and Educational Environment Research
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2010

It is indispensable for child care centers to investigate and manage indoor air quality (IAQ) because they perform education and day care for children who usually have weak immunity. Nevertheless, there is insufficient research being done, given its importance. This study aims to investigate indoor pollutants' concentration and to seek the causes in order to improve the air quality conditions. Also it aims to secure data which can be used for further researches. Measurements were performed for air temperature, relative humidity, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, fine particle mass, formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds. Temperature, humidity, CO and CO2 were measured 30times(1min/time) and PM10 was measured 10times (3min/time). Formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds were measured and analyzed based on The Indoor Air Quality Official Test Method. The results show that the temperatures were within the comfort zone in over half of the centers. CO2 was found to be the main pollutants as its concentration exceeded the IAQ standard. The concentrations of TVOC and PM10 exceeded the standard, by 32% and 24% respectively, whereas those of HCHO and CO were under the standard. HCHO and CO concentrations were under the guideline. 24% of child care centers for education were found to exceed the standard in 2 or more of the pollutants. 82% of were found to exceed the standard by 1 or more. Therefor it is requested for IAQ to manage and improve in child care center for education.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.494-503
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• 2013

In this study, $CO_2$ adsorbent was produced for minimizing energy loss due to ventilation within the building. For improved selectivity about low concentration of $CO_2$ in multiple-use facilities, the ball type adsorbent was modified from a commercial zeolite, alumina, alkali metals and activated carbon with mixing LiOH, binder, and $H_2O$. We measured specific surface area, pore characteristic, and crystal structure of the modified adsorbent. Effects of alkalization on the absorptive properties of the adsorbents were investigated. Continuous column tests (2,000 ppm) and batch chamber tests ($4m^3$, 5,000ppm) showed that the modified adsorbent indicated about the selectivity of $CO_2$ more than 9.7% (0.613 mmol/g) compared with ordinary adsorbents and $CO_2$ removal efficiency of 88.8% within l hour, respectively. It was estimated that the modified adsorbent was applicable to indoor environments.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.389-396
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• 2015

Objectives: A hospital is a complex building that serves many different purposes. It has a major impact on patient's well-being as well as on the work efficiency of the hospital staff. Thermal comfort is one of the major factors in indoor comfort. The purpose of this study was to determine thermal comfort in various locations in a hospital. Methods: Various indoor environmental conditions in a general hospital were measured in February 2014. The predicted mean vote (PMV) and carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) concentration were measured simultaneously in the lobby, office, restaurant, and ward. Results: The ward was the most thermally comfortable location (PMV=0.44) and the lobby was the most uncomfortable (PMV = -1.39). However, the $CO_2$ concentration was the highest in the ward (896 ppm) and the lowest in the lobby (572 ppm). The average PMV value was the most comfortable in the ward and the lowest in the lobby. In contrast, for concentration of carbon dioxide, the highest average was in the ward and the lowest in the lobby. Due to air conditioner operation, during operating hours the PMV showed values close to 0 compared to the non-operating time. Correlation between PMV and $CO_2$ differed by location. Conclusion: The PMV and concentration of carbon dioxide of the hospital lobby, office, restaurant and ward varied. The relationship between PMV and carbon dioxide differed by location. Consideration of how to apply PMV and carbon dioxide is needed when evaluating indoor comfort.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.447-455
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• 2013

Objectives: This study aims to understand the concentration, diversity, and antibiotic characteristics of staphylococci present in the indoor air of child-care facilities. Methods: Air sampling was performed from October 2012 to January 2013 in 120 child-care facilities in Seoul, Korea. Methicillin-resistant bacteria were selected from the total obtained airborne bacteria and subjected to 16S rRNA analysis for methicillin-resistant staphylococcal species determination. Identified staphylococcal strains were tested for resistance to a range of antibiotics. Results: Average total airborne bacterial concentration was $508.9{\pm}246.3CFU/m^3$. Indoor concentration of total airborne bacteria had a significant positive correlation with the $CO_2$ concentration in the child-care facilities. Methicillin-resistant staphylococci were present in 13.3% of the child-care facilities studied. A total of four species (S. epidermidis, S. cohnii, S. saprophyticus, S. sp.) and 55 strains were identified from the indoor air of the child-care facilities. Staphylococcus cohnii was the most common species (54.5%), followed by S. epidermidis (38.2%). All of the isolated staphylococcal strains exhibited high resistance to oxacillin, erythromycin, mupirocin, and ceftizoxime. Especially, S. saprophyticus strains showed more multidrug resistance to oxacillin, vancomycin, clindamycin, erythromycin, lincomycin, ceftizoxime, mupirocin, and tetracycline than did other species. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that a monitoring system for multidrug-resistant bacteria is needed in facilities for children, as the community-associated infections of these bacteria are increasing.

• KIEAE Journal
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.31-36
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• 2011

People spend most of their time inside buildings recently, so the indoor air quality is one of the most important factors to human health. Furthermore, minimum energy use with proper ventilation systems for pleasant indoor environment is necessary because of energy shortage over the world. The concern to maintain proper indoor air quality at home has been increased, and a proper indoor air quality is continuously requested by the residents. By measuring and analyzing the density fluctuation of $CO_2$ through indoor humidity and testing personal reactions regarding comfort condition, we can obtain a way to effective ventilation. Heat and carbon dioxide emissions from resident's metabolism and construction materials could be the causes of indoor air pollution. If these materials stay indoors for a long time, it could directly influence the resident's health condition with diseases. It also leads massive energy use. Therefore, the way to save energy and to have effective control of indoor ventilation is needed. This study presented the control method of bedroom ventilation by $CO_2$ concentration change and subjective evaluation.

• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.63-74
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• 2007

Together with the concern about the indoor all quality as sick house syndrome, the Ministry of Environment announced "Indoor Air Quality Control Law for the Multi Purpose Facility," which made the interests to be focused in the urgent understanding of current condition and preparation of measures about the indoor air pollution. In Dec 2005, the law was revised to obligatorily notify the amount of Formaldehyde and Volatile Organic Compounds in the case of newly constructed apartments with more than 100 houses. School also have its own indoor air quality guideline, Indoor air quality in school is very important because, children who very weak to indoor pollutants reside long time in there. The purpose of this paper is to survey indoor air qualify in school by field measurement. Field measurements were performed in 11 schools which were selected from 3 major cities(Incheon, Dae-jeon, chuncheon) in korea, during July, 2004. Totally concentration of Indoor pollutants were determined in 27 classroom. Target air pollutants were TVOC, formaldehyde, dust, CO, CO2 and NO2. For the result of this investigation, Indoor air quality in classroom was very poor and it was found that some pollutants (TVOC, float bacteria) exceed the guideline.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.4335-4347
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• 2015

The objective of this study was to investigate $PM_{10}$ and $CO_2$ concentrations in the classrooms of 286 elementary schools in Suwon, Ansan, and Hwaseong in the province of Gyeonggi between August 2008 and December 2012. By gaining an understanding of the environmental factors that influence these concentrations, this study also aimed to establish a management plan for indoor air quality in schools, which substantially affects the health of elementary students. When the schools were classified by region, no statistically significant difference in $PM_{10}$ concentration was observed. However, $PM_{10}$ concentration was relatively high in industrial areas and low in rural areas. No difference in $CO_2$ concentration was observed among the surveyed cities. Analysis of annual $PM_{10}$ concentration showed that the highest values for Suwon and Hwaseong occurred in 2008 and 2009, respectively (p<0.01). In the case of Ansan, the highest concentration occurred during 2009, but the difference was not significant compared to the other years. Analysis of the annual $CO_2$ concentration of each city shows no significant difference among the cities (p-value=0.366,0.730,0.210). According to a time series analysis of $PM_{10}$ and $CO_2$ by season, from autumn 2008 to winter 2012, $PM_{10}$ concentration was high during 2009, then it gradually decreased until 2012, and started to increase again. While no difference in annual $CO_2$ concentration was observed, the concentration had a tendency to be higher in spring and winter than in summer. By analyzing the relationship between $PM_{10}$ and $CO_2$ and the environmental factors (years of construction, average students of classroom, temperature, and humidity), it showed a significant negative correlation was found between $CO_2$ and the environmental temperature and humidity, at -0.329 and -0.188, respectively (p<0.01).

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.142-151
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• 2011

In this study, we have observed PM-10 and $CO_2$ concentration in the subway cabins and analyzed the factors affecting air quality using a multivariate statistical analysis. The measurements have been conducted at Seoul metropolitan subway lines. The results show that the mean concentration of the PM-10 and $CO_2$ inside subway cabins is in the range of 62.6 to 108.0 ${\mu}g/m^3$ and 907 to 2,008 ppm, respectively. $CO_2$ level in specific sections during the rush hours has exceeded air quality guidelines for public transportation, which requires designated train ventilation controls. Correlation and regression analyses of influencing factors imply that $CO_2$ level is severely influenced by the number of passengers and PM-10 level is also correlated with the number of passengers. In particular, PM-10 level in the cabins indicates a positive correlation with outdoor PM-10 level. In addition, the PM concentration has been highly affected by the number of passengers and distance between stations.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.203-209
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• 2010

This study was performed to investigate photosynthetic responses of 4 foliage plants in relation to light intensity, carbon dioxide concentration, and media, and to select efficient plants for the indoor environment control based on the results. Four foliage plants used in this study included Syngonium podophyllum, Schefflera arboricola cv. Hong Kong, Dieffenbachia amoena, and Dracaena deremensis cv. Warneckii Compacta. The plants cultivated in two different growth media, peatmoss and hydroball, and subjected to various light intensities (0, 30, 50, 80, 100, 200, 400, and $600\;{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$ PPFD) and $CO_2$ levels (0, 50, 100, 200, 400, 700, 1000, and $1500\;{\mu}mol{CO_2}{\cdot}mol^{-1}$). As a result of the photosynthetic rate of foliage plants according to change of light intensity and $CO_2$ levels, Schefflera arboricola and Dieffenbachia amoena showed high apparent quantum yield, which stands for the photosynthetic rate under low light intensity, and both plants also recorded higher photosynthetic rate under high $CO_2$ concentration compared to the other two indoor plants. Dracaena deremensis showed the lowest photosynthetic rate under the low light intensity or high $CO_2$ concentration. There were inconsistent results in photosynthetic rate of foliage plants grown in peatmoss or hydroball. Higher photosynthetic rate was observed in Schefflera arboricola with peatmoss rather than hydroball as light and $CO_2$ concentration increased. However, hydroball had a positive effect on Dieffenbachia amoena in terms of photosynthetic rate. In case of Syngonium podophyllum, peatmoss induced higher photosynthetic rate according to increased light intensity, but there was no effect of media on the rate under various $CO_2$ treatements. In contrast, media did not affect to photosynthetic efficiency of Dracaena deremensis subjected to various light intensities and the rate of Dracaena deremensis with peatmoss was a little high when $CO_2$ concentration increased. In conclusion, potential plants for the indoor air pulification and environmental control were Schefflera arboricola and Dieffenbachia amoena because they showed high photosynthetic rate under typical indoor conditions, low light intensity and high $CO_2$ concentration.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.250-258
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• 2018

Objectives: The study examined indoor air quality during daytime and commute times in underground parking lots in five apartments located in northern Gyeonggi province. Methods: This study examined the temporal characteristics of $PM_{10}$, $CO_2$, CO, HCHO and VOCs in the indoor air quality of the underground parking lots in five apartments. Results: $PM_{10}$ concentration in daytime were ranged from 37.4 to $69.9{\mu}g/m^3$ which complied with the indoor air quality maintenance standard ($200{\mu}g/m^3$) and Gyeonggi province ordinance standard ($180{\mu}g/m^3$). However $PM_{10}$ concentrations in commuting time were in range of $447.3{\sim}944.0{\mu}g/m^3$ that exceeded for both criteria. The $CO_2$, CO and HCHO concentrations complied with the standard. The VOCs indicated high tendency in the order of toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene and benzene. This tendency was more apparent in commuting time than daytime. Conclusion: All indoor parking lots of five apartments were equipped with ventilators. However the most apartment residents did not operate blowers to save electricity and the lack of interest for indoor air quality. In order to improve the indoor air quality of underground parking lots in apartment, operating ventilation system during commuting time is recommended.