• Proceedings of the SAREK Conference
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• 2008.06a
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• pp.1220-1224
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• 2008

Because of the high airtightness and insulation of the building, indoor environment has been largely polluted resulted from insufficient ventilation and occurrence of new air pollutant. These factors have made worse indoor air quality and caused symptoms of the SHS(Sick House Syndrome), MCS(Multi Chemical Sensitivity). The purpose of this study is to present the fundamental strategies for improving the Indoor Air Quality(IAQ) in newly-constructed apartment buildings. To investigate the concentration of indoor air pollutants such as Formaldehyde and VOCs, the field measurement were conducted.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.134-144
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• 1998

A comprehensive air quality monitoring was carried out to investigate the criteria concentration of air pollutant in indoor of subway stations of Seoul City. The samples were collected twice per year (the first and the second half of the year) at each sampling point from February to September in 1997. Sampling point of subway stations was ticket office and platform. The measurement of indoor air pollutants such as sulfur dioxide(SO$_2$), nitrogen dioxide(NO$_2$), carbon monoxide(CO), carbon dioxide(CO$_2$), total suspended particulate(TSP) was performed to determine the indoor air quality. Heavy metals(Pb, Cd, Cu, Cr, As, Hg) were also measured together with those air pollutants. The annual average concentration of CO$_2$ and TSP in subway stations were relatively high while those of heavy metals were within 10% of environmental recommended standard concentration in all stations. As results of regression analysis between line and line of air factors, the concentrations of CO, CO$_2$, TSP, Pb, Cd, Cr and Cu were highly correlated, but those of $SO_2, NO_2$ and Hg were not correlated. As results of regression analysis between ticket office and platform, the concentrations of heavy metals such as Cr and Cu were highly correlated. Results of oneway analysis of variance between the first and the second half of the year air factors also indicated that CO, CO$_2$, Cd, Cu, Hg were significant($\alpha$=0.01), respectively. The average contration of total suspended particulate(TSP) in subway line No. 1 was shown high concentration(200 $\mu g/m^3\cdot$ day) level.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.127-138
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• 2018

This study measured indoor and outdoor levels of hydrocarbon volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene isomers (collectively referred to as BTEX), as well as 13 carbonyl compounds, at 20 homes in Seoul, South Korea. Along with the sampling of BTEX and carbonyls, indoor concentrations of the air pollutants nitrogen oxide (NO) and carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) were also measured at each home. These measurements were used to understand the characteristics of BTEX and carbonyls by calculating the various ratios and correlation coefficients between measured contaminant levels. We found that carbonyls were mostly originated from indoor sources, while BTEX were originated from both indoor and outdoor sources. A high correlation between indoor levels of NO and BTEX indicated that traffic emissions were also an important sources of BTEX.

• Proceedings of the SAREK Conference
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• 2006.06a
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• pp.1174-1179
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• 2006

This study aims to reduce the pollutant emission for improving the IAQ by finishing with natural materials. To investigate the concentration of pollutants such as Vocs, HCHO, both the chamber experiment and field measurement were conducted. The results of the study can be summarized as flows. (1) According to the chamber experiment of pollutant-emitting porwer of diatomite materials showed that VOCs and formaldehyde emission rates were lower and satisfied to the most on the HB Grade. (2) The field measurement of pollutant-emitting concentration of clay materials were lower 35% than other materials. (3) The Vocs and formaldehyde were most emitted from furnitures and the emission rate were found to be proportional to indoor air temperature. To control the emitted pollutants efficiently, the reasonable selection of finishing with natural materials are required.

• 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.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.197-202
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• 2007

Formaldehyde is a typical indoor air pollutant that has numerous adverse health problems in modern living conditions. Phytoremediation that use plants to remove contaminants from polluted media can be applied to improve indoor air quality. Two sets of experiments; 1) two rooms in newly built auditorium and 2) a bed room in 2-year-old apartment; were performed to investigate plant effects on indoor formaldehyde concentration. It was observed from the experiments that plant can help decontaminating formaldehyde at low concentration level (0.1 ppm) but the effects decreased considerably at hish concentration (1ppm). The purification effects of indoor plant also showed the periodic pattern due to its physiological activity. More purification was observed as increasing plant density in the bed room but the formaldehyde concentration returned the original concentration level in two days after removing plants. It was suggested from the results that air purification using plants is an effective means of reduction on indoor formaldehyde level, though, reduction of source is highly desirable when the concentration level is high. The results also suggest that introducing supplementary purifying aids and/or efficient ventilation could be considered due to periodic removal pattern of plant.

• Journal of the Architectural Institute of Korea Structure & Construction
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.187-194
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• 2020

This study presents the energy-saving sequential control algorithm to handle indoor CO₂ and PM2.5 for the improvement of the air quality of school classrooms. To solve indoor air quality (IAQ) problems, air cleaning and ventilation systems are mainly used for school classrooms. Although air cleaning is able to collect PM2.5, it is difficult to remove harmful gas substances. The ventilation system is suitable to tackle CO and CO₂, the volume ventilation, however, is relatively small. In this paper, to remove CO₂ and PM2.5, the pollutant balance equation for improving indoor air quality is reviewed. The sequential control algorithm of the ventilation and air cleaning system with four levels of criteria is introduced for the effective removal of pollutants. The proposed sequential control algorithm confirms that indoor CO₂ and PM2.5 can be properly controlled below the standard value. In addition, the sequential operation of air cleaning and ventilation systems has shown significant improvement in IAQ compared to the independent ventilation system operation. Particularly, such systems are efficient when outdoor PM2.5 is high.

• Proceedings of the SAREK Conference
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• 2006.11a
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• pp.30-30
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• 2006

• Proceedings of the Korea Air Pollution Research Association Conference
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• 2010.04a
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• pp.644-645
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• 2010

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.479-487
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• 2009

Because of the building is made airtight, Indoor Air Quality(IAQ) is go from bad to worse. There are many source of indoor pollution in any home. These include irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, headaches, dizziness, and fatigue. Such immediate effects are usually short-term and treatable. In this study was measured and analyzed VOCs exposure levels and characteristic of Indoor air pollutant from new apartments in Korea. VOCs were measured indoor pre-residential and residential in new apartment and analyzed GC/MS. The concentration levels of indoor respirable TVOC were found to be higher than those of outdoor TVOC for new apartments. Before occupation, the average indoor and outdoor concentrations were 1498.61 $ug/m^3$ and 468.38 $ug/m^3$, respectively. After being occupied, the average indoor and outdoor concentration were 847.04 $ug/m^3$ and 102.84, respectively. The concentrations of TVOC in new apartments before occupation were shown in the order of Toluene(328.12 $ug/m^3$) > m,p-Xylene(163.67 $ug/m^3$) > Ethy1benzene(80.70 $ug/m^3$>o-XYlene (67.04$ug/m^3$). In addition, the TVOCs concentrations after occupation were also found in the order of Toluene (272.28 $ug/m^3$) > m.p-Xylene(121.79 $ug/m^3$) > Ethylbenzene(53.92 $ug/m^3$)>O-Xylene(24.94 $ug/m^3$). As a result, the concentrations of VOCs in new apartment houses were shown to be affected by indoor environment according activity patterns. So new apartments need to be controled in indoor air quality so that the residents can have more comfortable and healthier living environment.