• Title/Summary/Keyword: Indoor pollution

Search Result 477, Processing Time 0.024 seconds

A Study on the Discharge of Volatile Organic Compounds in Indoor Air of Newly-constructed Apartment Houses

  • Ryu, Jung-Min;Jang, Seong-Ki;Yang, Won-Ho;Cho, Tae-Jin;Son, Bu-Soon
    • Journal of Environmental Science International
    • /
    • v.18 no.5
    • /
    • pp.479-487
    • /
    • 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.

The Study on the Estimation of Indoor Air Pollutants Emission from the Painting materials (실내 도료의 오염물질 배출평가에 관한 연구)

  • 손찬웅;김선태;박민수
    • Proceedings of the Korea Air Pollution Research Association Conference
    • /
    • 2003.05b
    • /
    • pp.73-74
    • /
    • 2003
  • 생활수준이 향상됨에 따라 환경질에 대한 일반인의 관심이 증가하게 되었으며, 이러한 관심의 영역은 공공재로서의 환경질로부터 점차 환경질과 건강상태와의 상관관계를 파악하고자 하는 보건학적 영역으로 확대되어 가고 있다. 특히, 직업의 특성상 외근을 주로 하게되는 일부를 제외하고는 대부분의 현대인이 하루 중 실내환경에서 보내는 시간이 80% 이상을 차지하게 되어 실내공기질(Indoor Air Quality)에 직ㆍ간접적으로 건강에 미치는 영향에 대한 관심이 매우 커지게 되었다. (중략)

  • PDF

Sick House/ Building Syndrome in Japan - Current Status and Practical Research on Indoor Air Quality -

  • Sekine, Yoshika
    • Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
    • /
    • 2005.06a
    • /
    • pp.143-167
    • /
    • 2005
  • Many Japanese today are suffering from health disorders related to their living environment, such as allergies and hypersensitivity to chemical substances. The Sick House/Building Syndrome has been a serious problem since 1996, due to low level exposure to hazardous chemicals such as formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted in airtight houses. This paper aims to show current status of the syndrome in Japan and practical researches to promote prevention of, and improvement to indoor air pollution due to chemicals.

  • PDF

EFFECT OF INTRENAL PARTITIONING ON INDOOR AIR QUALITY IN A ROOM

  • Lee, Heekwan;Hazim B. Awbi
    • Proceedings of the Korea Air Pollution Research Association Conference
    • /
    • 2000.04a
    • /
    • pp.155-157
    • /
    • 2000
  • In modem buildings, the concept of open-space plan gets more acceptance as it supports more flexibility for the internal space design. This open-space can be easily subdivided by internal partitioning to provide each individual working zone. Although the partitioning forms each physical working zone, its indoor environment could be different Iron what the occupants require. Especially the air movement and contaminant spread in each working zone could be blocked or distorted by the partitioning, which may produce unexpected change in ventilation performance designed. (omitted)

  • PDF

Predicted Optimum Efficiency due to Changes in the Design Parameters of the Small Electrostatic Precipitator (설계인자 변화에 따른 소형 전기집진장치의 최적효율 예측)

  • Suh, Jeong-Min;Yi, Pyong-In;Jung, Moon-Sub;Park, Jeong-Ho;Lim, Woo-Taik;Park, Chool-Jae;Choi, Kum-Chan
    • Journal of Environmental Science International
    • /
    • v.22 no.9
    • /
    • pp.1187-1197
    • /
    • 2013
  • The result of a small electrostatic precipitator which is in order to decrease indoor air pollution for optimal efficiency was shown as follows. Although the closer distance between the discharge electrode and dust collecting electrode shows the better throughput efficiency by forming strong electrostatic Field, it does not have profound impact in case of optimal dust collecting area. G.P(gas passage) which is the distance from dust collecting electrode to dust collecting electrode is a crucial factor to decide dust collecting efficiency. The narrower distance of G.P shows the better throughput efficiency whereas it decreases when the distance is too narrow since sparks ensue by increasing the capacity of electrostatic charging system 5 mm regards as optimal efficiency in this experiment. Although the higher voltage shows the higher dust collecting efficiency overall, the experiment was not able to keep performing since the sparks which decrease dust collecting efficiency ensue over 40 kV. The efficient and safe voltage state is considered 3.6 kV in this experiment. The most crucial factor for dust collecting efficiency of an electrostatic precipitator which is in order to decrease indoor air pollution is applied voltage. In addition, optimal raw gas flow rate(2.4 m/sec) is more important factor than the excessive increase of dust collecting area.

Indoor Environment Monitoring System Using Short-range Wireless Communication in Mobile Devices (휴대용 단말기의 근거리 무선통신을 이용한 실내 환경모니터링 시스템)

  • Ye, Seong-Hyeon;Han, Soonhee
    • Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
    • /
    • v.17 no.9
    • /
    • pp.2167-2173
    • /
    • 2013
  • Recently, people are paying huge attention to problems caused by indoor air pollution. Also, the need for the system that monitors environmental information for indoor and warns a danger is growing increasingly. In this regard, we designed and implemented environment monitoring system for indoor. In this paper, we describe the system with hardware elements and it's communication method. In order to transfer the data from environment sensors, we use short-range wireless communication in smart phone. The proposed system is possible to know the indoor environment information in installed sensor node. If the risk is found, For the proposed system, there is an advantage that may be appropriate evacuation.

Benzo(a) pyrene Level in Indoor Environment due to the Use of Unvented Heating Facilities (煖房器具를 사용하는 室內空氣중의 벤조(a) 피렌 成分濃度에 관한 硏究)

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

  • PDF

Purification Ability of Indoor Plants for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) (실내식물의 휘발성유기화합물질 정화에 관한 연구)

  • Park, Soyoung;Kim, Jeoung;Jang, Young-Kee;Sung, Kijune
    • Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
    • /
    • v.15 no.6
    • /
    • pp.417-423
    • /
    • 2006
  • The purification ability of indoor plants for volatile organic compounds was investigated. Philodendron selloum and Spathiphyllum sp. were tested for removal of toluene and trichloroethylene in the artificially contaminated reactor under laboratory conditions. Each plant was placed in right side of the reactor and the TCE and toluene concentration change with time were monitored. In the reactor with Philodendron, the TCE concentrations of left and right sides were compared to examine the removal effects by plant. In the reactor with Spathiphyllum, air was circulated before sampling, and thus average removal effects by plants on target VOC were observed. Both plants showed clear effects on removal of VOCs from contaminated indoor air. The removal efficiency of Philodendron and Spathiphyllum were similar and showed 30 - 46% and 31 - 47% of purification effects, respectively. The results of this study showed that air purification using plants is an effective means of reduction on indoor VOCs concentration level and reduce related health risk though, supplementary purifying aids or proper ventilation were also suggested.

Evaluation of Volatile Organic Compounds Levels in Industrial Complex and Nearby Residential Areas of Daegu (대구지역 공단과 인근 주거지역의 휘발성유기화합물질 오염도 평가)

  • Jo, Wan Geun;Lee, Jin U
    • Journal of Environmental Science International
    • /
    • v.13 no.6
    • /
    • pp.519-525
    • /
    • 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.