• Title/Summary/Keyword: Indoor Air Quality

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Measurement and Evaluation of Indoor Air Quality in Small-scale apartments in Daegu (대구지역의 신축 소규모 공동주택에 있어서 실내공기질 측정 및 평가)

  • Park, Hyun-Sik;Kim, Hyun-Tae;Hong, Won-Hwa
    • Journal of the Architectural Institute of Korea Structure & Construction
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    • v.35 no.10
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    • pp.217-223
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    • 2019
  • The purpose of this study was to measure the indoor air quality of small-scale apartments and then proposed a method to improve the indoor air quality of the small-scale apartments by comparing with the result of indoor air quality in the Clean-Healthy House. In case of formaldehyde, a highly volatile organic compound, the concentrations of indoor measured both in small-scale apartments and the Clean Healthy houses did not exceed- the guideline of Korea. The guideline of Korea for acetaldehyde was not available, so the guidelines of Japan and the World Health Organization were used to measure the concentration of acetaldehyde. The study results demonstrated that three out of seven small-scale apartments investigated exceeded the guideline of Japan; and the preliminary research on the Clean-Health Houses was low at about 30-60% of the guideline of Japan. The result of the VOCs measurement showed that toluene, ethylbenzene, and styrene in some small-scale apartments exceeded the guideline of Korea. However, the Clean-Healthy Houses in the previous studies did not exceed the guideline of Korea with regard to all the pollutants. Therefore, this study suggests the application of the construction standards of the Clean-Healthy house in order to improve the indoor air quality of small-scale apartments. In addition, the current study anticipates that improvement of the indoor air quality in the residential environments should be universally applied, not limited to the type and size of the residence.

Problems of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Outbreak from the Perspective of Environmental Health - Focusing on Control of Indoor Air Quality in Hospitals - (환경보건학적 관점에서 본 메르스 사태의 문제점 - 병원 실내공기질 관리를 중심으로 -)

  • Heo, Da-An;Lee, Junghyun;Huh, Eun-Hae;Moon, Kyong Whan
    • Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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    • v.41 no.3
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    • pp.216-221
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    • 2015
  • Since Patient Zero of MERS was diagnosed in May 20, 2015, cases of MERS continued to grow. The current situation, which people have been confirmed to be infected, suggested that contaminated indoor air could be the potential cause of hospital-acquired infections. It is important to address the indoor air quality in hospitals because pathogens can spread through air. While the heating, ventilating and air conditioning(HVAC) system is useful managing indoor air quality in hospitals, it can transmit the pathogens if operated improperly. Therefore, it is necessary to remove contaminants in hospitals and operate the HVAC system according to the guidelines, in order to maintain clean indoor air.

Query-based Indoor air Quality monitoring system Using wireless sensor network inside the Building (빌딩내에서 무선센서네트워크를 이용하는 쿼리기반의 실내공기 질 모니터링시스템)

  • Lee, Seung-Chul;Chung, Wan-Young
    • Proceedings of the IEEK Conference
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    • 2008.06a
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    • pp.627-628
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    • 2008
  • This paper proposes an indoor air Quality monitoring system for measuring various indoor air qualities using IEEE 802.15.4 based wireless sensor network. For indoor air quality monitoring, sensor nodes include carbon monoxide sensor and dust sensor were used. The wireless network by deployed sensor nodes has limited energy, computing, communication capabilities and memory sizes. In this paper, the query process in indoor air quality monitoring was designed to improve the limited sensor node resources such as battery consumption and networking.

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Evaluation of Ventilation System Performance Using Indoor Air Quality Model (실내공기질 모델을 이용한 환기 시스템의 공기 정화 효율성 평가)

  • 최성우
    • Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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    • v.23 no.4
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    • pp.57-66
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    • 1997
  • Successful energy conservation and good indcfor air quality (IAQ) are highly dependent on ventilation system. Air filtration is a primary solution of indoor air control strategies in terms of reducing energy consumption and improving ihdoor air quality. A conventional system with bypass filter, as it is called variable-air-volume/bypass filtration system (VAV/BPFS), is a variation of the conventional variable air volume (VAV) systems, which is designed to eliminate indoor air pollutant and to save energy. Bypass filtration system equipped with a high-efficiency particulate filter and carbon absorbent provides additional cleaned air into indoor environments and maintain good IAQ for human health. The objectives of this research were to compare the relative total decay rate of indoor air pollutant concentrations, and to develop a mathematical model simulating the performance of VAV/BPFS. All experiments were performed in chamber under the controlled conditions. The specific conclusions of this research are: 1. The VAV/BPFS system is more efficient than the VAV system in removing indoor air pollutant concentration. The total decay rates of aerosol, and total volatile organic compound (TVOC) for the VAV/BPFS system were higher than those of the conventional VAV system. 2. IAQ model predictions of each pollutant agree closely with the measured values. 3. According to IAQ model evaluation, reduction of outdoor supply air results in decreased dilution removal rate and on increased bypass filtration removal rate with the VAV/BPFS. As a results, we recommends the VAV/BPFS as an alternative to conventional VAV systems.

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Photocatalytic Destruction of Chlorinated and Aromatic Hydrocarbons for Low-Level Indoor Air Cleaning (저농도 실내공기 정화를 위한 염소화 및 방향족 탄화수소의 광촉매 분해)

  • Jo, Wan Geun;Gwon, Gi Dong;Choe, Sang Jun;Song, Dong Ik
    • Journal of Environmental Science International
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    • v.13 no.9
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    • pp.767-777
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    • 2004
  • This study evaluated the technical feasibility of the application of $TiO_2$ photocatalysis for the removal of volatile hydrocarbons(VHC) at low ppb concentrations commonly associated with non-occupational indoor air quality issues. A series of experiments was conducted to evaluate five parameters (relative humidity (RH), hydraulic diameter (HD), feeding type (FT) of VHC, photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) reactor material (RM), and inlet port size (IPS) of PCO reactor) for the PCO destruction efficiencies of the selected target VHC. None of the target VHC presented significant dependence on the RH, which are inconsistent with a certain previous study that reported that under conditions of low humidity and a ppm toluene inlet level, there was a drop in the PCO efficiency with decreasing humidity. However, it is noted that the four parameters (HD, RM, FT and IPS) should be considered for better VHC removal efficiencies for the application of $TiO_2$ photocatalytic technology for cleansing non-occupational indoor air. The PCO destruction of VHC at concentrations associated with non-occupational indoor air quality issues can be up to nearly 100%. The amount of CO generated during PCO were a negligible addition to the indoor CO levels. These abilities can make the PCO reactor an important tool in the effort to improve non-occupational indoor air quality.

A Study on the Field Evaluation about the Indoor Air Quality of Schools Newly Built in Changwon (창원지역 신축학교의 실내공기질 현장평가 연구)

  • Yoo, Jong-Hoon;Kang, Eun-Hye;Son, Young-Hwan;Ha, Suk-Yong;Choi, Jeong-Min
    • Proceedings of the SAREK Conference
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    • 2006.06a
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    • pp.1244-1249
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    • 2006
  • Because students are spending more time in their classroom for learning and study, indoor air quality problems in school classrooms are very important. when the classroom is built for the first time, namely newly built school, the selection of inside finishing material is directly connected with indoor air quality problems especially with HCHO and TVOC. But until now, there is no plenty of study about this. Moreover, there are some concerns about the desks and chairs which are used in classroom will affect the air quality. but almost no study is being made at all Therefore, this study focuses on the field survey and analysis of classroom indoor air quality in newly built schools in Changwon. In this study filed surveys and analysis are conducted as follows. 1) The effect of the material difference in general classroom. 2) The effect of the material and loading ratio difference in special classroom. 3) The effect of the desks and chairs in general classroom.

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A Study on the Standards of Volatile Organic Compounds in Indoor Air of Office (사무실 실내공기중 휘발성유기화합물의 기준설정에 관한 연구)

  • Kim, Yoon-Shin;Lee, Cheol-Min;Roh, Young-Man;Lee, So-Dam;Sohn, Jong-Ryeul;Kim, Seok-Won
    • Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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    • v.16 no.4
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    • pp.413-427
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    • 2006
  • It is necessary to study and develop guidelines for providing comfort and health indoor air quality for office workers since air-tight envelope system of current office building may cause poor indoor air quality. The purpose of this study is to propose guideline for volatile organic compounds in office base on the field study, human health risk assessment and cost-benefit analysis. The field study was conducted to survey the concentrations of volatile organic compounds in indoor air of 69 offices from June to September, 2005 in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do. The rate of excess to guideline of volatile organic compounds in indoor air of new apartment on the Ministry of Environment in Korea(MOE) was surveyed 37.6% for benzene, 6.8% for toluene, and 1.5% for ethylbenzene. As the result of human health risk assessment, mean cancer risk did not exceed 10-6 which is guideline of US.EPA. Also, total hazard index did not exceed 1 which is guideline of US.EPA. Through the cost-benefit analysis of angle on the social-economics to verify the necessary to establish the standards of volatile organic compounds for improvement and development of indoor air quality in office, the present value of benefit was higher than the present value of cost. With the above considerations in mind, it is suggested that the field study for indoor air quality in offices should be expanded and human health risk assessment and cost-benefit analysis be performed th offer scientific data for decision-making of policy for improvement and management of indoor air quality in office.

A Review of Some Representative Techniques for Controlling the Indoor Volatile Organic Compounds

  • Kabir, Ehsanul;Kim, Ki-Hyun
    • Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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    • v.6 no.3
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    • pp.137-146
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    • 2012
  • Poor indoor air quality is now worldwide concern due to its adverse impacts on our health and environment. Moreover, these impacts carry a significant burden to the economy. Various technical approaches (e.g., biological, activated carbon fiber (ACF), photocatlytic oxidation (PCO), etc.) have gained popularity in controlling indoor volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This is because removing indoor VOC sources or increasing ventilation rates is often not feasible or economical. This review provides an overview of the various air purification technologies used widely to improve indoor air quality. Although most of these technologies are very useful to remove indoor VOCs, there is no single fully satisfactory method due to their diversity and presence at the low concentration. To achieve technical innovations and the development of specific testing protocols, one should possess a better knowledge on the mechanisms of substrate uptake at VOC concentrations.

Adsorption Properties of Indoor Air Pollutants in Blast Furnace Slag Matrix with Active Alumina Gel (활성 알루미나 겔을 혼입한 고로슬래그 경화체의 실내오염물질 흡착 특성)

  • Park, Chae-Wool;Lee, Sang-Soo
    • Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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    • 2019.11a
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    • pp.29-30
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    • 2019
  • The indoor air quality of modern people who work indoors more than 80 percent a day has also become a very important factor in their lives. But most indoor air quality is highly polluted due to energy conservation and lack of ventilation. This can lead to pneumonia, asthma and even lung cancer, which can be fatal to children, the elderly and the elderly. Indoor pollutants are caused by boards, wallpaper, paint, etc. used in interior By producing indoor finishing materials using active alumina gel, which is used as dehumidifier, indoor pollutants will be reduced and the possibility of developing respiratory diseases and lung cancer will be reduced.

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A Study for the Indoor Air Concentration of VOCs and HCHO in Newly Built and Remodeled Classrooms (신개축 교사내 실내공기중 휘발성유기화합물과 폼알데히드의 농도 특성)

  • Park, Jeong Ho;Yang, Su Myoung
    • Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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    • v.23 no.3
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    • pp.222-228
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    • 2013
  • Objectives: The indoor air quality of newly-built (NC) and remodeled (RC) school classrooms was assessed. The primary aim was to show correlations between volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and formaldehyde (HCHO) pollutant levels. Methods: This study investigated the indoor air concentrations of VOCs and HCHO at 26 sites of newly built and 68 sites of remodeled classrooms located in South Gyeongsang Province between 2010 and 2012. VOCs in the indoor air were determined by adsorbent tube (Tenax TA) and automatic thermal desorption coupled with GC-MS analysis. Target analytes were five VOCs: benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, and styrene. HCHO was collected with a 2,4-DNPH cartridge and analyzed by HPLC. Conclusions: This study estimated that indoor VOCs and HCHO concentrations in the classrooms were mainly affected by interior building materials and classroom equipment. For proper indoor air quality in schools, classroom air should be improved through reduction of hazardous materials by adequate ventilation, selecting environmental friendly materials, etc.