• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.259-263
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• 2004

This study was performed to investigate airborne formaldehyde concentration in preschool facilities. Arithmetic mean of indoor formaldehyde concentration in urban area was 34.9 ppb(Geometric mean 24.4 ppb) whereas outdoor concentration was 21.5 ppb(GM 11.9 ppb). In rural area, formaldehyde concentrations were 36.4 ppb(GM 28.7 ppb), 4.1 ppb(GM 4.1 ppb), respectively. There is no statistical significance between the formaldehyde concentrations of urban classrooms and those of rural area. We verified that the distribution of airborne formaldehyde concentration was log-normal characteristic using Shapiro and Wilk test. The 6.7% of urban indoor samples was exceeded the domestic standard limit of indoor air quality. From our study and other study, we concluded that the major emission sources of formaldehyde in preschool facilities was in indoor rather than outdoor.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.38-45
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• 2009

Since the seventies and the oil crisis, energy-saving measures have led to a reduction in the ventilation of room. The use of synthetic materials which emit various chemical substances had led to an increase in the concentration of indoor pollutants. "Sick building syndrome (SBS)" and "Sick house syndrome (SHS)" are worldwide problems. Also, the number of complaints about indoor air pollution caused by VOCs (Volatile organic compound) and HCHO (Formaldehyde) has increased. It is important that evaluating and understanding emission of indoor air pollutant from building materials. The object of this study was to evaluate emission test method for flooring such as wood based flooring, carpet tile, rubber tile, PVC sheet and tile, and to determine emission of TVOC and form-aldehyde. The quantity of TVOC and carbonyl compounds emission were sampled and measured by Tenax TA and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MSD), 2,4-DNPH cartrige with ozone scrubber and high performance liquid from flooring. The TVOC concentration emitted from carpet tile was ($7.419\;mg/m^2 h$) the highest among 5 groups of test materials. In wood based flooring and PVC tile, the emitted concentration of toluene was high. And the dodecane emission was highest in carpet. The concentration of TVOC decreased by an increase in emission test period. After 7 days, the concentration of TVOC from floorings were about 50% below of the concentration at the first day. TVOC emission from wood based flooring, carpet tile, rubber tile, PVC sheet and tile were decreased in 28 days and remained steady after about 15 days. The concentration of formaldehyde emission from floorings showed extremely low.

• Architectural research
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.37-45
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• 2006

A fungal spore transportation model that accounts for the concentration of airborne indoor spores and the amount of spores deposited on interior surfaces has been developed by extending the current aerosol model. This model is intended to be used for a building with a mechanical ventilation system, and considers HVAC filter efficiency and ventilation rate. The model also includes a surface-cleaning efficiency and frequency that removes a portion of spores deposited on surfaces. The developed model predicts indoor fungal spore concentration and provides an indoor/outdoor ratio that may increase or decrease mold growth risks in real, in-use building cases. To get a more useful outcome from the model simulation, an uncertainty analysis has been conducted in a real building case. By including uncertainties associated with the parameters in the spore transportation model, the simulation results provide probable ranges of indoor concentration and indoor/outdoor ratio. This paper describes the uncertainty quantification of each parameter that is specific to fungal spores, and uncertainty propagation using an appropriate statistical technique. The outcome of the uncertainty analysis showed an agreement with the results from the field measurement with air sampling in a real building.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.85-92
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• 1999

Indoor air quality tends to be the dominant contributor to personal exposure because most people spend over 90% of their time indoors. For some contaminants, exposure to indoor air poses a potentially greater health threat than outdoor air exposures. Indoor nitrogen dioxide ($NO_2$) levels are mainly affected gas range, flue gas spillage, kerosene heaters, wood-burning appliances and cigarette smoke. In addition, indoor $NO_2$ levels are influenced by such house characterization as surface reaction and air exchange rate. In this study, the measurements of indoor and outdoor $NO_2$ concentrations were taken using identical protocols, and information was collected on housing characteristics using identical questionnaires in 14 houses out of 15 houses for daily 30 daily 30 days in Brisbane, Australia.The usage of gas range was the most contributing factor in indoor $NO_2$ concentration in relation to house characteristics. Average indoor and outdoor ratios of NO2 concentration in electronic and gas cooking houses were $0.6{\pm}0.1$ and $0.9{\pm}0.2$, respectively. The frequency distributions of $NO_2$ concentration in each house were approximately log-normal Geometric mean of indoor $NO_2$ concentrations of electronic and gas cooking houses for daily 30 days ranged from 2.5 ppm to 11.5 ppm with a mean 6.8 and from 4.7 ppm to 28.6 ppm with a mean 15.6 ppm, respectively. The $NO_2$ concentrations between electronic and gas cooking houses were significantly different (p<0.05). Since each house has different life-style and house characteristics, sampling interval to measure the $NO_2$ levels was recommended above 7 days.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.243-249
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• 2018

The indoor radon concentration was measured in the lecture room of the university and the radon concentration was converted to the amount related to the radon exposure using the dose conversion convention and compared with the reference levels for the radon concentration control. The effect of indoor radon inhalation was evaluated by estimating the life effective dose and the risk of exposure. To measure the radon concentration, measurements were made with a radon meter and a dedicated analysis Capture Ver. 5.5 program in a university lecture room from January to February 2018. The radon concentration measurement was carried out for 5 consecutive hours for 24 hours after keeping the airtight condition for 12 hours before the measurement. Radon exposure risk was calculated using the radon dose and dose conversion factor. Indoor radon concentration, radon exposure risk, and annual effective dose were found within the 95% confidence interval as the minimum and maximum boundary ranges. The radon concentration in the lecture room was $43.1-79.1Bq/m^3$, and the maximum boundary range within the 95% confidence interval was $77.7Bq/m^3$. The annual effective dose was estimated to be 0.20-0.36 mSv/y (mean 0.28 mSv/y). The life-time effective dose was estimated to be 0.66-1.18 mSv (mean $0.93{\pm}0.08mSv$). Life effective doses were estimated to be 0.88-0.99 mSv and radon exposure risk was estimated to be 12.4 out of 10.9 per 100,000. Radon concentration was measured, dose effective dose was evaluated using dose conversion convention, and degree of health hazard by indoor radon exposure was evaluated by predicting radon exposure risk using nominal hazard coefficient. It was concluded that indoor living environment could be applied to other specific exposure situations.

• Journal of odor and indoor environment
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.337-345
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• 2018

In this study, we measured the concentration of Particulate Matter($PM_{10}$), Formaldehyde(HCHO), and Total Bacteria Count (TBC) at two facilities: day care centers, and postnatal care centers located in the cities of Gyeonggi, Gangwon, Jeolla and Gyeongsang from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2015. $PM_{10}$ concentration was similar to the day care centers and postnatal care centers. HCHO concentration was the highest in the postnatal care centers. TBC concentration was the highest in the day care centers. Comparing the different cities, $PM_{10}$ concentration was the highest in Gyeonggi, HCHO concentration was the highest in Gyeonggi, and TBC concentration was the highest in Gyeonggi. As a result of HCHO's risk assessment, it was found that adults exceeded the carcinogenicity tolerance of $10^{-6}$ specified by the US EPA. This study is expected to be helpful in preventing damage to health from the contaminated indoor air at sensitive facilities, and can be used as basic data for indoor air quality management.

• KIEAE Journal
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.125-131
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• 2017

Purpose: The study is to measure concentrations of indoor air pollutants in housing and to analyze the characteristics of pollutants in housing indoor-air between summer and winter comparatively. The research result could be used as data for public health through indoor air quality management of existing housing and more as a reference for new housing. Method: It was investigated 24 middle class housings of metropolitan area in winter which have been built for the past 30 years. Concentration of HCHO, TVOC was investigated in living room at morning and night and concentration of $CO_2$ was investigated in living room and master bedroom at morning and night. SKT100-X5 was used for concentration of HCHO, TVOC and ZGm053UK for concentration of $CO_2$. The characteristics of HCHO, TVOC, $CO_2$ concentration in winter were analyzed and then the concentrations in winter were analyzed the concentrations in summer being preceding research comparatively. Result: Average concentration of TVOC in winter was 2.7 times more than that of TVOC in summer, average concentration of HCHO in winter was about 2.0 times more than that of HCHO in summer. Average concentration of $CO_2$ in the morning at living room in winter was 1.3 times more than that of $CO_2$ in summer. Average concentration of $CO_2$ in the morning at master bedroom in winter was 1.1 times more than that of $CO_2$ in summer. Average concentration of TVOC was 1.31 times more than that of HCHO and standard deviation of that was 1.73 times higher. Average concentration of $CO_2$ was almost nearly close or over to 1,000ppm being criteria of the Ministry of Environment.

• KIEAE Journal
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.59-64
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• 2009

The senior citizens population and welfare institution for them is increased. The senior citizens in welfare institution spend a long time in indoor and their health is greatly affected by the indoor environment. Therefore, the indoor environment of senior citizens welfare institution is very important. This study presents some primary data based on the survey of architectural conditions and the measurements of indoor air quality for senior citizens welfare institution. According to characteristic of region, six of Incheon Area's senior citizens public welfare institution are selected. An investigation and analysis into architectural conditions and indoor air quality including temperature, humidity, CO, $CO_2$, PM10, HCHO, TVOC are conducted. The temperature, humidity and $CO_2$ concentration is some high. The HCHO concentration is very high. The indoor flooring and furniture materials highly impacts on the concentration of HCHO and TVOC.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.465-471
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• 2015

Objectives: An objective of this study is to apply a thermal image camera which shows various color according to temperature of indoor surface for estimating concentration of airborne fungi. Materials and Methods: While wall temperature were monitored by applying the thermal image camera, airborne bacteria as well as air temperature and relative humidity have been measured in lecture room and toilet of university for seven months. Results: Based on the results obtained from this study, the ranges of temperature and airborne fungi concentration were $20{\sim}24^{\circ}C$ and $20{\sim}400cfu/m^3 $ for red image, $17.5{\sim}20^{\circ}C$ and $35{\sim}150cfu/m^3$ for orange image, $15.5{\sim}17.5^{\circ}C$ and $25{\sim}650cfu/m^3$ for sky-blue image, and $13.5{\sim}15.5^{\circ}C$ and $50{\sim}200cfu/m^3$ for blue image, respectively. The color of indoor surface taken shot by thermal image camera showed consistent trend with temperature of indoor surface. There is, however, little correlation between color of indoor surface and airborne fungi concentration(p>0.05). Among environmental factors, relative humidity in indoor air showed a significant relationship with airborne fungi concentration(p<0.05). Conclusions: The more measurement data for proving statistically an association between color of indoor surface and airborne fungi concentration should be provided to easily estimate indoor level of airborne fungi.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.736-745
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• 2005

This study is undertaken to evaluate the relationship between the indoor $CO_2$ concentration and the local mean air-age in the lecture room with the occupants. We conducted the experiments to examine the indoor $CO_2$ concentration and the local mean air-age with respect to the supply airflow of the ventilation system and the discharge angle and air-flow of the system air conditioner. Through the experiments, we found out that indoor $CO_2$ concentrations calculated by the prediction equation of Seidel are about 350 ppm lower than those measured by the experiments. The indoor $CO_2$ concentration is not related with the air-flow and the discharge angle of the system air-conditioner, but with the ventilation airflow. From the numerical calculation, the indoor $CO_2$ concentration is not related with the ventilation effectiveness, but strongly with the local mean air-age. In case of our model, the indoor $CO_2$ concentration is likely to fall within the acceptable air quality when the local mean air-age is averagely predicted under 400 seconds.