• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.27 no.5
• /
• pp.569-579
• /
• 2011

This study evaluated the indoor air quality of 26 government offices located in Seoul. The pollutant samples were taken from Jan. 13th to Jan. 29th and Feb. 20th to Feb. 23rd, 2010 in the offices. The target indoor pollutants for this study were $PM_{10}$, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, total bacteria counts, total volatile organic compounds, radon, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, and asbestos which were controlled by the indoor air quality law for the multiple-use facilities management. The results of this study showed that some pollutants of the 38.5% offices exceeded the standards of the air quality guideline. The correlation analysis of the same pollutants between indoor and outdoor represented that $NO_2$ (r=0.629, p<0.05) and $O_3$ (r=0.459, p<0.01) were significant, however, $PM_{10}$ and CO were not. The correlation analysis between different pollutants showed that CO and TVOC (total volatile organic compounds: r=0.724; p<0.01), CO and $NO_2$ (r=0.674; p<0.01), HCHO and humidity (r=0.605; p<0.01), $CO_2$ and TVOC (r=0.534; p<0.01), TBC (total bacteria counts) and Asbestos (r=0.520; p<0.01) were significant. The energy-saving system of government buildings in winter caused under-ventilated and poor air quality. This study suggests that the concentrations of radon and $CO_2$ should be used as an indicator for monitoring indoor air quality and maintaining effective ventilations.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.41 no.3
• /
• pp.216-221
• /
• 2015

Since Patient Zero of MERS was diagnosed in May 20, 2015, cases of MERS continued to grow. The current situation, which people have been confirmed to be infected, suggested that contaminated indoor air could be the potential cause of hospital-acquired infections. It is important to address the indoor air quality in hospitals because pathogens can spread through air. While the heating, ventilating and air conditioning(HVAC) system is useful managing indoor air quality in hospitals, it can transmit the pathogens if operated improperly. Therefore, it is necessary to remove contaminants in hospitals and operate the HVAC system according to the guidelines, in order to maintain clean indoor air.

• The Journal of the Korea institute of electronic communication sciences
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.183-190
• /
• 2021

This study is a study on the implementation and operation of smart air cleaning system to improve indoor air quality. Recently, the problem of indoor air quality is getting serious due to various environmental factors. In this study, to improve the problems of indoor air quality, we implement an air cleaning system using IoT sensor. In particular, we proposed a system that can measure air pollution in real time and change different air flow paths according to pollution level. Through this, we examined efficient air quality improvement, extension of filter life, and system energy reduction. In addition, the main functions of the indoor air quality improvement system were constructed and prototypes were manufactured to confirm the operability. Finally, the utility of fine dust resolution through the implementation of the indoor air quality improvement system was examined.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.43 no.4
• /
• pp.334-348
• /
• 2017

Objectives: We investigated the impacts of indoor plants on indoor air quality and occupational health, focusing on allergic rhinconjunctivitis and stress among employees in new office buildings. Methods: A total of 34 employees working at new public office buildings were enrolled as subjects (n=17, with indoor plants) and as a control (n=17) group. Before and after introducing indoor plants for three months, indoor air quality measurements including VOCs and aldehydes and questionnaires on sick building syndrome, AR symptoms (ARIA based), stress (DASS 42, KOSS, and SACL), and indoor characteristics were performed and statistically analysed. Results: Among the 34 enrolled subjects, 19 were included in the probable AR subject group (subjects with indoor plants, n=8, control n=11) and completed all questionnaires. Statistical analyses were done for total, AR subject groups, and controls. As a result, it was confirmed that major indoor air pollutants decreased after the introduction of indoor plants (p<0.5). Among major symptoms of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, watery rhinorrhea, nasal stuffiness, and nasal itching indexes decreased (p<0.5, respectively). A decrease was noted in some areas of work-related stress indexes (mainly KOSS) among the subject group (total and AR) and a decrease of indoor environmental attractiveness among the control group (total and AR) (p<0.5, for all). Conclusions: Indoor plants may help reduce indoor air pollutants and decrease AR symptoms and work-related stress of employees in newly built office buildings. Various further follow-up studies on the mechanism of environmental, physical, and emotional influences and utilization of indoor plants in association with allergic diseases will be needed.

• 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.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.43 no.1
• /
• pp.87-94
• /
• 2017

Objectives: This study was conducted to determine the impact of aquariums on indoor air quality for improving humidity and reducing indoor air pollutants. Methods: An air-conditioning chamber was used to determine humidity increase by aquarium volume at three different temperatures ($20^{\circ}C$, $25^{\circ}C$, $30^{\circ}C$). Humidity increase was measured for 21 hours ($20^{\circ}C$) and 12 hours ($25^{\circ}C$, $30^{\circ}C$) while placing five different volume of aquarium in the chamber. Concentrations of several volatile organic compounds and formaldehyde were measured after a known amount was injected into the chamber with and without an aquarium. Results: The humidity inside the chamber increased when the aquarium was inside the chamber. Humidity change was similar at $20^{\circ}C$, $25^{\circ}C$, and $30^{\circ}C$, but slightly higher at higher temperatures. The bigger the aquarium volume, the higher was the humidity increase that occurred. Humidity increase by the aquarium was sufficient to increase indoor humidity in winter and negligible in summer. Concentrations of some water-soluble indoor air pollutants and formaldehyde were decreased with the aquarium inside the chamber. Conclusions: An aquarium could increase indoor humidity in winter, while the humidity increase is negligible in summer. An aquarium could decrease some water-soluble indoor air pollutants, including formaldehyde. This result implies that an aquarium may have positive effects on indoor environmental quality.

• KIEAE Journal
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.5-12
• /
• 2015

Recently, natural disasters have unexpectedly occurred at various places in the world and the countermeasure of them become the social issues. Many of victims in disasters need temporary residential facilities above all things and many of researches have been conducted in order to develop simple, safe, and economic designs of them. Moreover, indoor thermal comfort and air quality must be considered in the facilities against a disaster, because clean and healthy space should be provided to the suffered victims. In this research, in order to estimate the indoor environment of the developed modular building for disaster preparation, CFD simulation was conducted in the various condition. In this paper, indoor air quality such as the age of air, the concentration of $CO_2$ was estimated by the case study

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.226-240
• /
• 1995

This research has a purpose to achieve experimental data used for design of ventilation systems necessary for indoor air quality control and their operation and management. For the study, spatial concentration distribution of indoor air quality according to pollutant site in a simplified model chamber. In low flow ventilation, flow pattern of indoor air was mainly influenced by diffusion and additionally, spatial distribution was formed by convection. Distribution of ventilation efficiency according to each pattern of model chamber was evaluated. It was confirmed that diffusion patterns of a pollutant among sites were formed, centering around main stream areas of supply and exhaust outlets.

• KIEAE Journal
• /
• v.10 no.4
• /
• pp.81-86
• /
• 2010

The main sources of the new house syndrome(sometimes it called sick building syndrome) are a concentration of formaldehyde (HCHO) and a concentration of total volatile organic compounds(TVOC). I had field measurements of indoor air quality in the apartment unit at medium-size cities(Y city, C city). I measured indoor air temperature, HCHO concentration in 16 units, TVOC concentration in 6 units and air tightness in 7 units. And I measured outdoor air quality, HCHO concentration and TVOC concentration. Mean concentration of HCHO was $357{\mu}g/m^3$(2006 standard=$120{\mu}g/m^3$), mean concentration of TVOC was $3,092{\mu}g/m^3$ and mean effective air leakage area was 193 cm2. There was a close relation between the indoor air temperature and HCHO concentration, between the indoor air temperature and TVOC concentration. Air tightness also had relation.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.217-223
• /
• 2001

There exist a number of approaches which can evaluate ventilation and indoor air quality. The measurement and analysis of indoor carbon dioxide concentrations can be useful for evaluating indoor air quality and ventilation. This paper describes a numerical analysis of carbon dioxide concentrations for evaluating indoor air quality and ventilation and the factors the need to be considered in their use. The conditions of this numerical analysis are tow types of positions and inlet velocities of ventilation system in a two-dimensional model of an apartment house. The simulation results could be used as a base data for further analysis for ventilation design of other industrial processes producing a proper ventilation system for a healthier and more comfortable environment in a building.