• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.119-127
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• 2012

Objectives: The aim of this study is to identify concentration characteristics of indoor and outdoor airborne total fiber particles and asbestos in Gyeongnam Provinces. Methods: This study investigated concentration characteristics of indoor fiber particles from 748 schools and 38 public facilities as well as outdoor particles from 11 sites through PCM (phase contrast microscope). SEM/EDX (scanning electron microscope/energy dispersive using X-ray analysis) was used to obtain physicochemical information of asbestos fiber particles. The study identified asbestos rate in the 15 samples from indoor and outdoor airborne total fiber particles. Results: 1. The average indoor airborne concentrations of total fiber particles were $0.0011{\pm}0007$ f/cc in schools and $0.0015{\pm}0007$ f/cc in public facilities by PCM. Over 90% of the fiber particles were identified as single fibers. 2. The average outdoor airborne concentrations of total fiber particles were $0.0007{\pm}0002$ f/cc, and they were lower than those of indoor airborne concentrations. 3. The results showed that the form of asbestiform was diverse as skein of thread like form and long needle, which was relatively narrower than that of glass fiber and rock wool. 4. The results of SEM/EDX analysis of 15 areas where total fiber particle was relatively high showed that the form was rather similar to that of asbestos, but chemical composition was proven to be non-asbestos. Conclusions: The concentration of indoor and outdoor airborne total fiber particles of Gyeongnam Provinces satisfied the IAQ (Indoor air quality) level of 0.01 f/cc and asbestos was not found in most of the samples by SEM/EDX.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.19 no.7
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• pp.807-818
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• 2010

The study is about variations in Carbonyl compounds concentration within apartment buildings according to pre-residence and residence. We consecutively investigated indoor air pollutants in 120 households in 6 cities at pre-residence and residence. Carbonyl compounds were collected using the 2,4-DNPH cartridge and were analyzed using HPLC. The carbonyls concentration of indoor air in the new apartments before occupation measured formadlehyde($76.0\;{\mu}g/m^3$), acetone($85.9\;{\mu}g/m^3$), acetaldehyde($13.8\;{\mu}g/m^3$). The carbonyls concentration of indoor air in the new apartments after occupation measured formadlehyde($233.1\;{\mu}g/m^3$), acetone($128.9\;{\mu}g/m^3$), acetaldehyde($29.8\;{\mu}g/m^3$), respectively. As a result, the mean concentration of carbonyl compounds within the pre-occupancy stage was lower than those of residence.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.512-518
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• 2018

This article measured and analyzed the indoor radon concentrations at one university building in Gyeongju, Republic of Korea, to investigate if there is any relationship between earthquakes and indoor radon concentration. Since 12 September 2016, when two 5.1 and 5.8 magnitude earthquakes occurred, hundreds of aftershocks affected Gyeongju until January 2017. The measurements were made at the ground floor of the Energy Engineering Hall of Dongguk University in Gyeongju over a period between February 2016 and January 2017. The measurements were made with an RAD7 detector on the basis of the US Environmental Protection Agency measurement protocol. Each measurement was continuously made every 30 minutes over the measurement period every month. Among earthquakes with 2.0 or greater magnitude, the earthquakes whose occurrence timings fell into the measurement periods were screened for further analysis. We observed similar spike-like patterns between the indoor radon concentration distributions and earthquakes: a sudden increase in the peak indoor radon concentration 1-4 days before an earthquake, gradual decrease before the earthquake, and sudden drop on the day of the earthquake if the interval between successive earthquakes was moderately longer, for example, 3 days in this article.

• KIEAE Journal
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.115-122
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• 2016

Purpose: The study is to measure indoor air pollutants concentration of existing housing and to analyze the causes and assess in accordance with the government's criteria. 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 summer 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 $CO_2$. Result: 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 to 1,000ppm being criteria of the Ministry of Environment.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.221-229
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• 1997

Wax is a protectant for floors that is used widely in Korea and is considered an emission source of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the indoor environment. This study examined the concentration change of indoor VOCs due to waxing and also due to wiping the floor with an oiled dustcloth. VOCs were identified using a cryogenic concentration/thermal desorption system with capillary GC that utilized a liquid nitrogen cryostat and induction heating. The major components emitted from the waxing were nonane, decane, undecane, $C_2$-benzene, and $C_3$-benzene. The concentrations of nonane were 1,276 $\mu\textrm{g}$/㎥ an hour after wax applications, 832 $\mu\textrm{g}$/㎥ after 3 days, and less than 10$\mu\textrm{g}$/㎥) after 15 days. Another emission source of VOCs in indoor was the oiled dustcloth used for cleaning the floor. The oiled dustcloth gave VOCs concentrations three times higher than the normal undusted floor.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.51-54
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• 1996

This study was conducted to find out the indoor radon concentrations from Jan. 1, to Dec. 31, 1995 in Seoul, and the following results were achieved; 1. The average concentration of indoor radon ranged from $0.51pCi/\ell$ to $0.78pCi/\ell$. 2. The correlation coefficients(r) of radon concentration and indoor meteorological conditions were as follows; 1) temperature : r=0.11 2) atmospheric pressure : r= -0.01 3) humidity : r=0.227.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.545-552
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• 2000

Eight aromatic hydrocarbons were quantified in a newly constructed building before occupancy during the period of November 1997 to January 1998. Air samples were collected in 6 L stainless steel canisters for 8 hours based on working hour. It was found that the measured total concentration of aromatic hydrocarbons decreases rapidly with time up to a steady-state value. However, the fractions for each aromatic hydrocarbon were greatly changed with time. The concentration ratios of indoor to outdoor for aromatic hydrocarbons are greater than 1 during early period of the measurement, and the ratios decrease with time. The concentrations of toluene, m+p-xylene, ethylbenzene, and o-xylene are much higher than those of styrene, 1, 2, 4-trimethylbenzene, and 1, 3, 5-f trimethylbenzene in indoor air. The concentration fractions of m+p-xylene, ethylbenzed, and o-xylene in indoor air are about twice as hight as those in outdoor air measured during the similar period. It was concluded that the aromatic hydrocarbons were emitted from building materials, paints, and adhesives in an-built building.

• KIEAE Journal
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.53-58
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• 2008

With architectural technology, a building has been a far dense and close. So the thermal environment of the building has become pleasant, but the quality of indoor air has been degraded. Using synthetic products for construction materials and furniture indoors escalates the concentration of volatile organic compounds(VOCs) at indoor air, threatening the health of the residents. To reduce the concentration of volatile organic compounds at indoor air, many methods are designed, and of late, concern has been increased about the effect of air purification using air purifying plants. Field measurements were performed using Aglaonema brevispathum, Pachira aquatica and Ficus benjamiana, which were verified as air-purifying plants by NASA. The effect of reducing the concentration of air contaminants by plant studied in a full scale mock-up model. The variations of concentration of Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene and Formaldehyde were monitored. In most cases, the effect was excellent in Toluene and formaldehyde in summer.

• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
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• 2008.06a
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• pp.1816-1820
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• 2008

Indoor air quality in public transportation such as railway, subway and bus is hard to control because of spatial restrict and variation of passenger's number. On January 2007, The Ministry of Environment announced "the guideline of indoor air quality in public transportation" for the concentration managements of particulate matter and carbon dioxide. In this study, we measured the PM10 concentration inside the Mugunghwa-ho passenger cabin and outdoor air and counted passengers. By the statistical analysis using SigmaPlot 2001 and SPSS 13.0, we found that indoor PM10 concentration is significantly affected by outdoor air. It is suggested that the air quality of inflow to the passenger cabin for air exchange must be controlled to support the indoor environment comfortably.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.335-343
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• 2006

Indoor air pollution has been significantly aggravated due to hazardous pollutants emitted from petrochemical finishing materials in new apartments. Pollutants emitted into indoor environment have significant effects on the health of occupants, causing undesirable symptoms related to sick building syndrome such as headache, dizziness, difficulty in concentration, etc. Therefore, this paper attempted to investigate the reduction effect of bake out on VOCs emission in new apartments. Experiments were carried out in three households, one of which was naturally ventilated. The naturally ventilated showed the lowest indoor pollutant concentration and also showed the highest reduction rate by the use of bake out. The most desirable result was observed when the household was naturally ventilated after bake out. More detailed experiments are expected to be carried out afterwards on the prediction of reduction rate of each pollutant.