• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.137-148
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• 2009

This study quantitatively investigated the emissions of indoor air pollutants associated with the utilization of air fresheners indoors, and evaluated individual exposure to five specified indoor air pollutants, which were chosen on the basis of selection criteria. An electrically-polished stainless steel chamber (50L) was employed to achieve this purpose. Test air fresheners were selected through three steps: first, on the basis of market sales; second, on the basis on a preliminary head-space study; and lastly, on the basis of emissions of toxic compounds (benzene, ethyl benzene, limonene, toluene, and xylene). The empirical mathematical model fitted well with the time-series concentrations in the environmental chamber (in most cases, determination coefficient, $R^2{\gtrsim}$0.9), thereby suggesting that the empirical model was suitable for testing emissions. The concentration equilibrium appeared 180 min after the introduction of sample air fresheners into the chamber. Both the chamber concentrations of emission rates or factors varied greatly according to air freshener type. It is noteworthy that although benzene, ethyl benzene, toluene, and xylene were emitted from all test air fresheners, their exposure levels were not significant enough to result in any significant health risk. However, certain type of air fresheners were observed to emit significant amount of limonene, which is potentially reactive with ozone to generate secondary pollutants with oxidants such as ozone, hydroxyl radicals, and nitrogen oxides. The exposure levels to limonene associated with the utilization of three air fresheners were estimated to be 13 to 175 times higher than that of other air fresheners. This information can help consumers to select low-pollutant-emitting air fresheners.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.453-459
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• 2007

This study is for investigation of indoor conditions with air contamination after occupation 120 households in brand-new apartments by measuring the concentration of VOCs and carbonyl compounds. It has been found that TVOC (total volatile organic compounds; TVOCs) were $688.61{\mu}g/m^3$ after moving in. And formaldehyde, toluene, m, p-xylene, acetone and ethylbenzene were $158.56{\mu}g/m^3$, $146.58{\mu}g/m^3$, $69.28{\mu}g/m^3$, $63.80{\mu}g/m^3$ and $29.65{\mu}g/m^3$, respectively. The mean concentrations of indoor air pollutants tend to decrease along an increase dwelling period. But, the mean concentration of d-limonene increased from 2 months to 10 months. Also, toluene, ethylbenzene, m, p, o-xylene amounted to 38.8 % among VOCs studied, this ratio tend to decrease along with and increased dwelling period.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Rural Architecture
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.23-30
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• 2022

In this study, in order to grasp the current situation of indoor environmental pollution and indoor ventilation in one-room around the university in the post-corona era, we analyzed the experimental data and conducted a questionnaire survey on university students. By analyzing the content, the effects of formaldehyde, dust and other pollution on the human body, which are usually not easily detectable, are digitized and more easily taken into account. Among the experimental results, the concentration of VOC and HCHO, gas pollutants among indoor pollutants, exceeded the recommended criteria of the Ministry of Environment in most studio apartments. Overall, the average CO₂ concentration was lower than the Ministry of Environment's maintenance standard (1000ppm), but it was relatively high in summer and winter, and it is believed to be caused by cooling and heating in an enclosed space. The levels of PM2.5 and PM10, particulate pollutants, increased in November and December, and it is believed that ventilation defects due to degradation in external temperature. There was no clear difference between the two types, and there was a very high correlation between PM2.5 and PM10, HCHO and VOC. It was found that temperature was closely correlated with all sources except CO₂, and humidity was closely correlated with all sources except PM2.5 and PM10. Health risk assessment was conducted for formaldehyde. The average ECR of studio R2 in May was 3.91E^-4, and the ECR figure in September was 3.65E^-4, which was very high compared to other residential spaces. The R2 level was calculated as 4 people per 10,000 people in the lifetime risk of cancer of residents, exceeding the allowable risk. R8 also showed higher ECR results than other spaces after R2, especially in October, 2.01E^-4, six times higher than R7 measured in October, and 1.87E^-4 in July, four times higher than R9.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.67-75
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• 1994

Formaldehyde has been in widespread industrial use since World War II . Numerous sources of formaldehyde are present in the indoor environment. Additionally, the current trend toward tighter, more energy efficient buildings with lower ventilation rates has led to increase concentrations of this and other pollutants generated indoors. In this paper, the field survey was carried out once a month from January to MarctL 1994 to measure indoor and outdoor formaldehyde concentration in several underground locations in Seoul. The results could be summarized as follows : 1. At Yang- jae underground shopping center, the mean formaldehyde concentration was 77.8ppb for indoor and 68.4ppb for outdoor. At Ban- po underground shopping center, it was 175.8ppb for indoor and 127.3ppb for outdoor. At Jam- shil underground shop ping center, it was 135.2ppd for indoor and 34.6ppb for outdoor. Indoor the No.2 sub way line, it was 105.6ppb. The formaldehyde concentration using Berge equation was as follows : At Yang- jae underground shopping center, the mean formaldehyde concentration was 85.99ppb for indoor and 72.75ppb for outdoor At Ban- po underground shopping center, it was 254. 17ppb for indoor and 138.14ppb for outdoor. At Jam- shil underground shopping center, it was 249.13ppb for indoor and 36.87ppb for outdoor. Indoor the No.2 subway line, it was 131.73ppb. 3, The result of correlation analysis indicated that the relationship between temperature and formaldehyde concentration is very high( $\gamma $= 0.831 ∼ 0.974). 4. Also, the relationship between humidity and formaldehyde concentration is variant ($\gamma $ = 0.246 ∼0.999). 5. The mean formaldehyde concentration indoor and outdoor Ban- po underground shop ping center and indoor Jam- shil underground shopping center and indoor the No.2 sub way line exceed the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, Air- conditioning Engineers( ASHRAE) stflndard of 100ppb(120 $\mu $g/m$^{3}$).

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.21-30
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• 2001

Vehicles, especially diesel-using, are a major source of airborne particulate matter(PM), nitrogen dioxide($NO_2$) and so on in metropolitan cities such as Seoul. Therefore workers, who are mainly merchants, near roadside may be highly exposed to air pollutants from exhausted emissions of vehicles. This means that occupational type and location can affect the workers＇health by exposure to outdoor pollutions of ambient as well as indoor pollutions of working condition, respectively. In this study, we simultaneously measured the PM3.5 and $NO_2$concentrations in indoor and outdoor of shoes repair shops in Seoul, which were generally located at roadside in Korea. Shoes repairmen were highly exposed to PM3.5 and $NO_2$ both indoor and outdoor of repair shops comparing with other sub-population groups. High exposure to air pollutants for shoes repairmen was considered to be outdoor source from exhausted emission of vehicles and indoor source from working condition. The $PM3.5/NO_2$ concentration ratio was $1.17{\pm}$0.59 in roadside, of which ratio was higher 7han ratios of other studies. This result suggested that major air pollutant in Seoul was fine particle. Also, this PM3.5 to $NO_2$ ratio will be used in environmental exposure and risk assessment by estimation of PM3.5 concentration as measuring the only $NO_2$ concentration with small and accurate $NO_2$ passive sampler.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Environmental Biology Conference
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• 2004.05a
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• pp.1-15
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• 2004

Higher plants can be valuable genetic assay systems for monitoring environmental pollutants and evaluating their biological toxicity. Two assays are considered ideal for in situ monitoring and testing of soil, airborne and aqueous mutagenic agents; the Tradescantia stamen hair assay for somatic cell mutations and the Tradescantia micronucleus assay for chromosome aberrations. Both assays can be used for in vivo and in vitro testing of mutagens. Since higher plant systems are now recognized as excellent indicators and have unique advantages over in situ monitoring and screening, higher plant systems could be accepted by regulatory authorities as an alternative first-tier assay system for the detection of possible genetic damages resulting from the pollutants or chemicals used and produced by industrial sectors. It has been concluded that potential mutagen and carcinogen such as the heavy metals among indoor air particulates, volatile compounds in the working places, soil, and water pollutants contribute to the overall health risk. This contribution can be considerable under certain circumstances. It is therefore important to identify the level of genotoxic activity in the environment and to relate it to the biomarkers of a health risk in humans. The results from the higher plant bioassays could make a significant contribution to assessing the risks of pollutants and protecting the public firom agents that can cause mutation anuor cancer. The plant bioassays, which are relatively inexpensive and easy to handle, are recommended for the scientists who are interested in monitoring pollutants and evaluating their environmental toxicity to living organisms.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.65-73
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• 1987

Indoor air pollution problems, in fact, have been neglected due to the unawareness of its seriousness and the lack of accumulated data. Recently, some movement of research and regulations, however, have been made for several indoor air pollutants. In this study, one of the carcinogenic polynuclear aromatic hyrocarbon, Benzo(a) pyrene in indoor airborne particulate, was measured and analyzed to estimate emission strength of BaP from an unvented kerosene heater and to know its level in indoor environment with use of a kerosene heater and a wood-burning fireplace. By the measurement of BaP level in a dark room with air exchange rate of app. 3.0, BaP emission strength of a kerosene heater (11,000Btu/hr) was estimated to be 326.6ng/hr (or 29.7 ng/$10^3$ Btu). With 4-hr operation a day of the kerosene heater in an apartment, the BaP level became 2.97ng/m$^3$ from 0.27ng/m$^3$ of background level. The operation of a wood-burning fireplace app. 2hr a day, on the other hand, increased the BaP level from 0.16ng/m$^3$ of background to 3.53ng/m$^3$. So proper ventilation must be considered seriously when unvented heating facilities are used in indoor environment.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.519-525
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• 2004

Air pollution from the Daegu industrial complex (Die) in Korea has been a common nuisance and cause of complaints for nearby residents. The current study measured the indoor and outdoor levels of six VOC (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and three isomeric xylenes) at two residential areas with a different proximity to the ODIC, plus the ambient levels at two industrial areas within the boundary of the DDIC. The QA/QC program included the range of correlation coefficient (0.94-0.99) for calibration curves, within the permissible range. Toluene was the most abundant VOC in the ambient air both in residential and industrial areas. Both indoor and outdoor air concentrations of all target VOC except benzene were higher in residential area near the DIC compared to that further away from the DIC. Moreover, the ambient air concentrations of all target VOC except benzene for two industrial sites (A and B) were significantly higher than the outdoor or indoor air concentrations in the two residential areas. The findings further suggested that VOC ambient levels measured in a residential area near the DIC be used as a potential indicator of odor-causing unidentified air pollutants transported from the DIC. Moreover, it was found that the elevated ambient toluene levels outweighed the indoor sources with respect to the environmental exposure of residents nearby the DIC. However, in the residential area further away from the DIC, the toluene indoor sources outweighed the outdoor sources.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.32 no.5 s.92
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• pp.398-403
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• 2006

Indoor air quality can be affected by indoor sources, ventilation, decay and outdoor levels. Understanding the effectiveness of indoor air quality control depends on knowledge of the characteristics of air pollutants in indoor air, especially their quantities and persistence, and the relevance of indoor sources to these factors. Toluene within new and established houses has been determined and factors significant to its presence have been identified. A total of 30 selected houses in Seoul, Asan and Daegu areas that were constructed within 4 years and over 4 years of construction were measured the concentration of toluene from July to September in 2004. Toluene emission decay of double-exponential model exhibited good fit of $Y=276.37e^{-1.21x}(R^{2}=0.34,\;P=0.06)$ for 2 years and then $Y=51.54e^{-0.11x}(R^{2}=0.40,\;P=0.0)$ from 23 years in new houses. In case of living in new houses, noncarcinogenic health effects of exposure to toluene was 1.38 of hazard quotient (HQ) comparing to toluene reference dose of 0.13 mg/kg-day.

• 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.