• 한국환경보건학회지
• /
• 제35권4호
• /
• pp.239-248
• /
• 2009

The Institute of Medicine of the National Academies of Science in the United States concluded in its 2004 report that excessive indoor dampness is a public health hazard and that its prevention should be a public health goal. Water damage in buildings, such as leaks from roofs, walls, or windows, may increase indoor moisture levels. Excessive dampness may promote microbial proliferation in indoor environments, increase occupants' exposure to microbial agents, and eventually produce adverse health effects in building occupants. Epidemiological studies to demonstrate the causal association between exposure to indoor microbial agents and health effects require reliable exposure assessment tools. In this review, I discuss various sampling and analytical methods to assess human exposure to biological agents in indoor environments, their strengths and weaknesses, and recent trends in research and practice in the USA.

• 한국환경과학회지
• /
• 제9권6호
• /
• pp.495-503
• /
• 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.

• 한국대기환경학회지
• /
• 제22권5호
• /
• pp.719-723
• /
• 2006

House dust mite was the most important cause of allergic asthma and rhinitis. More than 70% of Korean children and about 50% of adult with respiratory allergy were sensitive to house dust mite. This experiment was indoor environment in house and house dust mite existence inquiry. From 23rd December 2005 to 28th February 2006, dust samples were collected from the bedclothes by a vacuum cleaner and air sampler And the levels of Der f1 and Der p1 were determined by ELISA((Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay). The results were as follows : 1 The dust mites allergy contaminations of bedclothes in house were higher than international standards(2000 ng/g). 2. In type of dust mite, the Korean house the almost have the D. farinae other than D. pteronyeeinus of mite. 3. The Der f1 and Der p1 levels per gram of dust from the bedclothes were 2074.99 ng on average, but they did not exist in air. The concentrations of house dust mite were significantly high in the bedclothes. This results suggest that the bedclothes have enough concentrations of dust mites to develop the sensitization. The control of indoor environment should be emphasized to prevent the sensitization by the repeated exposure to dust mite.

• 한국환경보건학회지
• /
• 제40권4호
• /
• pp.304-312
• /
• 2014

Objectives: This study was performed to examine bioaerosols in indoor air in public restrooms, as well as to assess the effects of air temperature and relative humidity on bioaerosol levels. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was performed in ten male and ten female restrooms. An air sampler (Anderson type) was used for sampling total suspended bacteria (TSB), Gram-negative bacteria (GNB), Gram-positive bacteria (GPB), opportunistic bacteria (OP), Staphylococcus spp., and total suspended fungi (TSF). Results: The levels of TSB were $10-10^2CFU/m^3$ and TSF $10-10^2CFU/m^3$, respectively. The GNB level was $0-10CFU/m^3$, and GPB and OP levels were $10-10^2CFU/m^3$. Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) were detected in 90% of the restrooms. The GPB level was higher in the female restrooms than in the male restrooms (p < 0.05). TSB, GNB, and TSF showed higher levels in restrooms in buildings over 30 years old (p < 0.01). The main effect of air temperature or relative humidity and interaction effect of the two factors on the TSB level were significant (p < 0.05), while the effect of relative humidity on the TSF level was significant (p < 0.001). Conclusions: These results indicate that there is a wide variation in the bioaerosol levels among different restrooms. The observed differences in bioaerosol levels reflect different building histories. The effects of air temperature and/or relative humidity reveal that bioaerosol levels may vary according to season or time of day. Future research is needed to further characterize the relation between the bioaerosol levels and surface contamination in restrooms.

• KIEAE Journal
• /
• 제4권3호
• /
• pp.203-210
• /
• 2004

This dissertation identifies and investigates the possible control modes of hybrid ventilation system in applying to general apartments. It evaluates range of hybrid ventilation control modes in terms of indoor air quality, thermal comfort, and energy consumption in a living room and a kitchen of the $1000m^2$ apartment. The TRNSYS simulation program was used for evaluating the following four ventilation types : A ventilation mode relying on only infiltration for supplying air, A natural ventilation mode considering with weather condition, A hybrid ventilation (natural + mechanical ventilation) mode allowing minimum ventilation with no heat exchange, and a hybrid ventilation mode with heat exchange. This study shows the following results. As temperature being controlled by heating cooling equipments, there is without significant difference in thermal performance among ventilation types. Regarding Indoor Air quality, Indoor air contamination level of the hybrid ventilation case consistently keep the lower levels. The hybrid ventilation modes consume more energy by a 49% as compared to the A ventilation mode relying on only infiltration for supplying air. It is caused by the continuous ventilation for keeping good indoor air quality; the increase of energy consumption can be attributable to the increase of the heating energy. Therefore, the heat exchange between indoor and outdoor air is required during heating season in severe weather conditions. During the cooling seasons, Introducing natural ventilation can achieve energy saving by 40 ~ 45%. Thus, it can be an effective strategies for energy saving. Based on these results, a hybrid ventilation system can be suggested as an effective ventilation strategy for archiving high level of indoor air quality, thermal comfort, and energy consumption.

• 한국지구과학회지
• /
• 제27권1호
• /
• pp.73-82
• /
• 2006

먼지시료는 전라북도 고창군에 있는 10개 중 고등학교에서 채취하였다. 교실 내의 칠판 위, 전등 반사판 위, 게시판 위, 물품장 위에 쌓인 분진 등의 먼지와 창틀 밖 난간 등에 쌓인 먼지시료, 그리고 운동장에서 총 45개의 시료를 채취했다. 채취한 먼지 시료를 Thompson and Wood(1982)의 방법으로 화학처리 한 후 Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, Mn 등 8개의 원소를 정량 분석했다. 교실 내 먼지 시료 중에 Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn 등의 중금속 함량이 높았다. 또한 교실 외 먼지 시료 중에는 Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn의 함량이 높았다. 먼지 시료 중 Cd(4.6 ppm), Cu(124 ppm), 그리고 Zn(350 ppm) 농도는 세계 평균 지표 토양과 환경오염기준 보다 매우 높다. 이러한 경우는 전주시 중 고등학교의 먼지 시료 분석과 유사하다. 국내 선행연구와 비교했을 때 교실 내 외 환경은 Cu, Zn을 제외하고 농축이 심하다. 운동장 환경은 전주시의 교통량이 많은 주거 도로와 주 도로변, 운동장에 있는 먼지 중의 중금속 함량 보다 낮았다. 운동장 먼지 시료에서 오염지수가 1.0 이상인 중금속 오염은 1개 학교에서 나타났지만 교실 내 외 먼지 시료에서 오염지수가 1.0 이상인 중금속 오염은 7개 학교에서 나타났다. 산업화가 덜 된 농촌 지역의 학교라 할지라도 교실 내에는 중금속의 오염양상이 도시 지역의 학교와 같았다. 이는 교통량의 상대적 차이나 산업화의 정도와 관계없이 실내에서 중금속 오염이 동일하게 일어나고 있음을 보여준다.

• 환경위생공학
• /
• 제21권1호
• /
• pp.12-20
• /
• 2006

This paper was conducted concerning the degree of indoor air quality in public transport vehicles such as taxicabs, buses and subway trains, as sampled through the active participation of drivers and passengers in Seoul between 13th August 2005 and 2nd November 2005. The results were summarized as follows: 1. Among the measured substances especially respirable particulate matters ($PM_{10}$), total bacteria counts (TBC) and carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) exceeded the standard level of $150{\mu}g/m^3,\;800CFU/m^3$ and 1000ppm. 2. The concentration of carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) in taxi recorded 2491ppm, which is more than the standard amount of 1000ppm. This level was comparatively higher than all other public transportation methods. Total bacteria counts (TBC) in bus and subway recorded $1082CFU/m^3\;and\;1856CFU/m^3$, respectively. 3. The drivers who regularly work long hours showed the higher concern about contamination of the air inside the public transport vehicles and they considered it to be worse than the air outside. In contrast, the general public showed less concern about the air quality inside the public transport vehicles. However, they too acknowledged that the quality of the air inside the public transport vehicles was poor. In regards to the degree of indoor air quality in the public transport vehicles, a counterplan must be implemented urgently to effectively combat the excessive levels of $PM_{10}$, microorganism and $CO_2$. We need to gather more conclusive evidence pertaining to other possible contaminants and influencing factors.

• 한국산업보건학회지
• /
• 제28권4호
• /
• pp.382-392
• /
• 2018

Objective: Allergic diseases such as asthma due to fungal exposure in houses have increased, and proper management is urgent. Mold can grow in the air, floor, walls, and other areas according to environmental conditions, and there are many limitations to the conventional methodology for examining fungal exposure. For this reason, the degree of fungal contamination is being evaluated by ERMI (Environmental Relative Moldiness Index), a quantitative analysis method proposed by the EPA. In this study, we compared ERMI values between water-damaged dwellings and non-damaged ones to evaluate the effectiveness of Korean ERMI values. We also explored the association of ERMI values with the level of airborne mold and characteristics of dwellings. Methods: Floor dust was collected after installing a Dustream collector on the suction port of a vacuum cleaner. The collected samples were filtered to remove only 5 mg of dust, and DNA was extracted using the FastDNA SPIN KIT protocol. Results: The ERMI values were found to be 19.6 (-6.9-58.8) for flooded houses, 7.5 (-29.2-48.3) for leaks/condensation, and 0.8 (-29.2-37.9) for non-damaged dwellings. The airborne concentration of mold for flooded, leakage or condensed, and non-damaged houses were $684CFU/m^3$, $566CFU/m^3$, and $378CFU/m^3$, respectively. The correlation between ERMI values and the levels of airborne mold was low (R = 0.038), but a weakly significant association of the ERMI values with the concentration of particulate matter ($PM_{10}$) was observed as well(R=0.231,P<0.05). Conclusions: Our findings show that the reference value using ERMI can be used to distinguish water-damaged and non-damaged dwellings. It is believed that ERMI values could be a promising tool for assessing long-term fungal exposure in dwellings.

• 한국조경학회지
• /
• 제46권2호
• /
• pp.62-68
• /
• 2018

본 연구는 실내공간을 모형화한 아크릴챔버($600{\times}800{\times}1,200mm$, $L{\times}W{\times}H$)와 공기정화 장치인 그린바이오필터($495{\times}495{\times}1,000mm$, $L{\times}W{\times}H$)를 아크릴로 제작하여 광량 0, 30, $60{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}PPFD$의 3수준에 따른 디펜바키아와 스파티필럼의 미세먼지(PM10) 및 초미세먼지(PM1) 제거능과 두식물의 광합성율, 기공전도도, 기공수를 비교하였다. PM10이 $1{\mu}g$이 될 때까지 걸리는 시간에 있어서 디펜바키아는 광의 유무에 따른 차이가 유의하게 나타났으며, 30과 $60{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}PPFD$에서는 유의적인 차이가 없었다. 스파티필럼은 0과 $30{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}PPFD$에서는 유의적인 차이가 없었으나, $60{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}PPFD$에서 유의적인 차이를 보였다. 90분 경과 후, $60{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}PPFD$에서 스파티필럼의 PM1, PM10 잔존량이 가장 적었으며, 이때 이산화탄소 잔존량도 가장 낮은 것으로 나타났다. 스파티필럼은 $0{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}PPFD$에서도 PM1, PM10 잔존량이 디펜바키아보다 낮은 것으로 나타났다. 두 식물 모두 광량이 높을수록 광합성율이 높게 나타났으며, 기공전도도는 유의적인 차이가 없었다. 스파티필럼은 디펜바키아보다 광합성율과 기공전도가 높았고, 기공수가 많았으며, 잎의 앞 뒷면 모두에서 기공이 관찰되었다. 이러한 식물적 특성으로 인하여 같은 광량에서 스파티필럼의 공기정화 효과가 디펜바키아보다 더 좋았던 것으로 판단된다. 따라서 효과적인 실내 미세먼지 제거를 위해서는 실내광량에 따른 식물의 광합성율과 기공수, 기공의 배치형태 등 식물 각각의 특성을 고려해야 할 것으로 판단된다.