• Title/Summary/Keyword: Indoor environmental factors

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Human Risk Assessment of Perchloroethylene Considering Multi-media Exposure (다매체 노출을 고려한 Perchloroethylene의 인체위해성평가연구)

  • Seo, Jungkwan;Kim, Taksoo;Jo, Areum;Kim, Pilje;Choi, Kyunghee
    • Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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    • v.40 no.5
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    • pp.397-406
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    • 2014
  • Objectives: Perchloroethylene (PCE) is a volatile chemical widely used as a solvent in the dry-cleaning and textile processing industries. It was evaluated as Group 2 "probably carcinogenic to humans" by the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) of the United State Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) in 2012. In order to provide a scientific basis for establishing risk management measures for chemicals on the national priority substances list, aggregate risk assessment was conducted for PCE, included in the top-10 substances. Methods: We conducted the investigation and monitoring of PCE exposure (e.g., exposure scenario, detection levels, and exposure factors, etc.) and assessed its multi-media (e.g., outdoor air, indoor air, and ground water) exposure risk with a deterministic and probabilistic approach. Results: In human risk assessment (HRA), the level of human exposure was higher in the younger age group. The exposure level through inhalation at home was the highest among the exposure routes. Outdoor air or uptake of drinking water represented less than 1% of total contributions to PCE exposure. These findings suggested that the level of risk was negligible since the Hazard Index (HI) induced by HRA was below one among all age groups, with a maximum HI value of 0.17 when reasonable maximum exposure was applied. Conclusion: In conclusion, it was suggested that despite low exposure risk, further studies are needed considering main sources, including occupational exposure.

A Study on the Lighting Control System using Fuzzy Control System and RGB Modules in the Ship's Indoor (퍼지 제어 시스템과 RGB LED 모듈을 이용한 선박 실내용 조명 제어 시스템에 관한 연구)

  • Nam, Young-Cheol;Lee, Sang-Bae
    • Journal of Navigation and Port Research
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    • v.42 no.6
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    • pp.421-426
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    • 2018
  • With regard to LED lighting devices which have currently been commercialized, LED operating sequences are being sold in a fixed state. In such a state, the external environmental factors are not taken into consideration as only the illumination environment application is considered. Currently, it is difficult to create an optimal lighting environment which can adapt to changes in external environmental factors in the ship. Therefore, it was concluded that there is a need to input the external environment value so that the optimal illumination value can be reflected in real time in order to adapt more organically and actively to the change of external environmental factors. In this paper, we used a microprocessor as an integrated management system for environmental data that changes in real time according to existing external environmental factors. In addition, a controller capable of lighting control of RGB LED module by combining fuzzy inference system. For this, a fuzzy control algorithm is designed and a fuzzy control system is constructed. The distance and the illuminance value from the external environment element are input to the sensor, and these values are converted to the optimum illumination value through the fuzzy control algorithm, and are expressed through the dimming control of the RGB LED module and the practical effectiveness of the fuzzy control system is confirmed.

A Study on Obesity-promoting Factors for the Elementary School Chirdren

  • Cheong, Min-Shon;Kim, Ok-Hyun;Cha, Ki-Chul;Kim, Jung-Hee
    • Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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    • v.2 no.5
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    • pp.680-686
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    • 1997
  • The purpose of this study is to examine the relationships among body composition, dietary intake, exercise, and life style in children(M=80, f=102) of the 5th and 6th grades of elementary school. Anthropometry and multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis were conducted to estimate body composition. Dietary intake, exercise, and life style were determined by using questionnaires. When obesity was classified greater than 120% of the ideal body weight, the prevalence rates of obesity were 31.2% for boy and 20.6% for girl. There were significant differences in body composition between nonobese(NO) and obese(OB) groups. Mean fat mass(FM) and lean body mass(LBM) were 8.6kg and 27.7kg for NO group and 16.7kg and 32.3kg for OB group, respectively. Also a significant difference was found in hydration rate(TBW/body weight)between groups( <0.01). No significant difference was found I total calorie intake and nutrient intakes between groups. No difference was found in the frequency and duration of outdoor exercise and indoor activities. Mean sleeping hours was 8-9hours for 62% of nonobese children and for 59% of obese children. However, calorie intake per body weight was significantly lower inobese children than in nonobese. The present study showed that significant differences existed in their body size and composition between NO and OB groups , while no differences existed in daily calorie intake, excercise , and life style. This may indicate that important obesity-promoting factors of early onset obesity may rely on other factors such as hereditary or environmental factors besides factors considered. Further studies are required to understand obesity-promoting factors in children. (Korean J Community Nutrition 2(5) : 680∼686, 1997)

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Health Risk Assessment of Indoor HAPs in New Apartments (신축공동주택내 실내유해공기오염물질(HAPs)의 건강위해성평가)

  • Kim, Jong-Cheol;Kim, Yoon-Shin;Roh, Young-Man;Hong, Seung-Cheol;Lee, Cheol-Min;Jun, Hyung-Jin
    • Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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    • v.33 no.1 s.94
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    • pp.1-10
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    • 2007
  • This study accomplished to grasp the present condition of HAPs and to examine efficiently carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health effects through health risk assessment in new apartments from June, 2004 to May,2005. Moreover, we performed uncertainty analysis by Monte-Carlo analysis to control uncertainty of exposure factors. The major results obtained from this study were as follows. Firstly, cancer risk of formaldehyde for male was $1.67{\times}10^{-5}$ in CTE in point estimation. Cancer risk of formaldehyde was showed $2.94{\times}10^{-3}$ in RME that applied worst case used results of 95 percentile in point estimation. It exceeds $10^{-6}$ of guide line in US EPA. Moreover, cancer risks of formaldehyde for female were $3.98{\times}10^{-5}$ in CTE and $3.93{\times}10^{-3}$ RME. Secondly, every hazard index for non-carcinogenic pollutants was less than 1 of permitted standards in CTE. However, in RME of male, hazard indexes of 1,2-Dichloropropane and Toluene were 1.3 and 2.0, respectively. Hazard indexes of 1,2-Dichloropropane and Totuene for female in RME were 1.7 and 2.6, respectively.

A Study on the Environmental Design of the classroom in Elementary Schools with Particular Reference to Natural Lighting and Sound Insulation Performance (채광 및 차음성능을 고려한 초등학교 교실의 환경계획적 연구)

  • Son, Chang-Hwan;Choi, Young-Jun;Lee, Kyung-Hoi
    • Journal of the Korean Institute of Educational Facilities
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    • v.4 no.2
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    • pp.13-20
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    • 1997
  • The total evaluation of educational environment is needed with the rapid growth of the number of students. Especially it is very important to evaluate the physical environment of the classroom in elementary schools where the students spend their whole school life. This study aims to evaluate the daylighting and sound insulation performance of the classroom in elementary school, considering factors such as ceiling height and Wi/Wa (Window/Wall) ratio and then to plan the classroom. Analytic results of the daylighting and sound insulation performance show that the optimum Wi/Wa ratio is $35{\sim}45%$. Reduction of the ceiling height from 3.3m has little influence on the distribution of the indoor daylight factor and sound insulation performance

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Accreditation Criteria of Environmentally-Friendly Hospitals in the USA, UK and Australia (해외 친환경 병원 인증기준 고찰 : 미국, 영국, 호주를 중심으로)

  • Kang, Jung-Kyu;Seo, Young-Joon;Park, Hyun-Suk
    • Health Policy and Management
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    • v.20 no.4
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    • pp.139-169
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    • 2010
  • The purpose of this study is to compare accreditation criteria of environmentally-friendly hospitals in the USA, UK and Australia and find out the implications for Korean hospitals. The comparison was made in terms of 11 categories : sustainable site, water efficiency, energy & atmosphere, transportation, indoor environmental quality, health, material & resources, management, waste, innovation, and regional priority. Literature review of the study revealed that most of the environmentally-friendly hospitals have experienced such positive effects as cost saving, health promotion of patients & employees and good reputation etc. The study result implies that the following factors are so critical to settle environmentally-friendly hospitals in Korea: 1) CEO's interest & support, 2) education for employees, 3) efficient renovation of existing facility and 4) data accumulation on the effectiveness of environmentally- friendly hospitals by scientific methods.

A Study on the Push and Pull Factors Affecting the Use of Outdoor Environments for the Elderly : Focus on the Case of Testbed in Jeonju (노인의 옥외환경 이용에 대한 Push and Pull 요인 연구 - 전주시 도시재생 테스트베드 사업지역을 중심으로-)

  • An, So Mi;Lee, Yeun Sook
    • KIEAE Journal
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    • v.13 no.1
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    • pp.141-150
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    • 2013
  • As longevity of human-beings is extended and the population of aged people increases, diverse issues related with the aged people are presented. The neighborhood space for the aged people is required to be designed based upon the understanding of such difficulties of the elderly and the public outdoor environment is an important environmental resource that can enhance the quality of life and promote the health of the elderly in underprivileged area without burdening them economically. This study aims to research the daily life of the elderly in underprivileged urban area and their utilization styles of outdoor environments in order to find out the push factors and pull factors that induce the aged people to use the outdoor environments. For this purpose, this study carried out an interview survey upon 69 elderly residents and surveyed on 363 elderly residents of low income class who are aged 60 and over and living in decaying area in Jeonju. For the analysis of the collected data, a qualitative and a quantitative analysis were accomplished. As results of study, the elderly in underprivileged area use such outdoor environments as resting facilities, exercise equipment, parks, farming gardens and waterfronts, and the push factors for them to use the outdoor environments were sordid indoor spaces, sense of isolation or loneliness, and the desire for maintaining good health. And the pull factors for them to use the outdoor environments were natural factors, opportunities for social interactions, space for exercise. The obstacles that hinder the elderly in using outdoor environments were the bad health of the elderly, lack of facilities, accessibility and weather conditions. Thus, the results of this study are expected to provide basic data for designing the outdoor environments to promote the health of the elderly in urban underprivileged area and to relieve the burdensome problems related with ageing societies.

Levels and Related Factors of Airborne Fungi in Microbial and Chemistry Laboratories in Universities (일부 대학교 미생물실험실 및 화학실험실에서의 진균 분포 및 관련인자)

  • Hwang, Sung-Ho;Jo, Hyun-Woo;Park, Dong-Uk;Yoon, Chung-Sik;Ryu, Kyong-Nam;Ha, Kwon-Chul
    • Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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    • v.20 no.1
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    • pp.41-46
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    • 2010
  • The purpose of this study is to assess the level of fungi concentration in the university laboratories in Seoul, Korea, and to investigate factors contributing to these concentrations. The samples were taken from three spots in each laboratory; the top of sink, the center of laboratory, and the front of ventilation system, i.e fume hood at the chemical laboratory and clean bench/biosafety cabinet at the microbial laboratory. Air samples were collected using the single-stage Anderson sampler (Quick Take 30) at a flow rate of 28.3 l/min for 5 min on nutrient media in Petri-dishes located on the impactor. Fifty-two air samples were collected from 19 different laboratories (13 microbiology laboratories, 6 chemistry laboratories) in the university, and concentrations of airborne fungi showed no significant difference (p>0.05) between microbiology and chemistry laboratory, and also no significant difference at three locations (sink, center, front of ventilation system) in microbiology and chemistry laboratories. Average concentrations of fungi in 19 laboratories ranged from 7 to 459 cfu/$m^3$, with an overall Geometric Mean of 52 cfu/$m^3$. Airborne fungi concentrations of 6 samples (12 %) exceeded 150 cfu/$m^3$, the guideline of WHO. The ratios of Indoor/Outdoor for airborne fungi ranged from 0.2 to 4.8 (mean = 1.6). Related factors were measured such as relative humidity, temperature, and laboratory area. Temperature and laboratory area showed no significant relations to concentrations of airborne fungi except for relative humidity in the laboratory Concentrations of fungi were significant different (p<0.01) between rainy or cloudy and sunny. However, there was no significant difference between general ventilation and nongeneral ventilation.

Visual Environmental Influence on an User's Psycho-physiological Health at Healthcare Facilities (시간적 환경이 의료시설 이용자의 건강에 미치는 정신생리학적 영향)

  • Kim Nam-Gil
    • Journal of the Korean housing association
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    • v.17 no.1
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    • pp.1-8
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    • 2006
  • The purpose of this study is to understand how visual factors of healthcare facilities would have an effect on psycho-physiological health of inpatients. First, visual factors of a ward, where inpatients mostly spend their time in a hospital, were extracted in order to find out how visual environment would affect inpatient's health. Then experimental samples were made and inpatients' reactions against them were analyzed. This study is composed of two approaches a questionnaire for psychological analysis and an electroencephalogram measurement for physiological analysis. The results of this experiment show that psycho-physiological health of subject's can be remarkably improved according to artificial arrangement of visual environment of a ward. Especially, they also show that insignificant changes of visual environment such as furnishing trees, flowerpots or framed pictures in a ward, where there is no view and completely closed, will be able to exert a range of positive effects on an subject's psycho-physiological health. In conclusion, further studies need to be delivered about indoor designs to positively bring in natural elements to a ward as well as visibility ratio of views and skylines from a ward.

A Study on the Evaluation of Thermal Environment according to the Location of Ceiling Type Unit in Classroom (교실 천장형 Unit의 위치에 따른 온열환경 평가 연구)

  • Cho, Sung-Woo;Choi, Jeong-Min;Son, Young-Hwan
    • Proceedings of the SAREK Conference
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    • 2005.11a
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    • pp.135-140
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    • 2005
  • Installation of ceiling type unit is achieved by one of efforts for agreeable classroom environment embodiment along with economic growth. But research about changing the position of ceiling type unit is lacking in present. Therefore, this thesis is to study the thermal environment of 5 different position cases of ceiling type, namely Case A, B, C, D, E. Here, Case C is the case that has the position of ceiling type center of the classroom and the other 4 alternatives are 0.7 m away from the Case C according to x and z axis. In this thesis temperature distributions, air current distribution, heat amenities such as PMV of occupants are analyzed as the environmental factors. Through these factors, Case C and Case D are the better position alternatives than the alternatives of Case A, Case B and Case E because the latter cases the air current reaches directly to indoor occupants so that occupants feel chilly. This thesis has a conclusion under the condition of only one inlet air temperature and seat arrangement. But afterwards more inlet air condition and seat arrangement must be considered.

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