• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.20 no.4 s.58
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• pp.69-75
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• 2005

Professional taxi driver exposure to indoor air pollutants has been a subject of concern in recent years because of higher levels of air pollutants, comparing to the surrounding atmosphere. This study evaluated the potential exposure to respirable suspended particulate (RSP), nitrogen dioxide $(NO_2)$ and volatile organic compounds (VOCs; benzene and toluene) for professional taxi drivers inside each of 10 vehicles in Pusan, comparing weekday (Monday and Thursday) and weekend (Saturday). Indoor mean concentrations of RSP inside vehicle were $53.88\;ug/m^3\;and\;75.52\;ug/m^3$ on weekday and weekend, respectively. Measured indoor $NO_2$ concentrations were 28.32ppb and 40.69 ppb, respectively. Benzene and toluene mean concentrations inside vehicle were 5.41 ppb and 11.36 ppb, respectively. Considering no smoking of taxi drivers inside vehicle, closed window in winter, and increased usage of taxi on weekend, source of indoor air pollutants inside taxi might be mainly suggested from the number of passenger's carried, faulty exhaust systems, and engine and carburetor evaporative emissions.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.513-517
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• 1999

Problems of secondary pollution and hazardous pollutants have rapidly come to the front in our society during the past few years. More attention should be paid to monitoring and assessment in order to identify the nature of complicated problems, but our air-quality policy is hurriedly seeking for management strategies. A typical example is air quality management in the industrial estates such as those located in Yochon and Ulsan. Yochon Industrial Estate was designated as a special air-quality management area of volatile organic compounds(VOCs) in 1996. And VOCs in the air of Ulsan Industrial Estate has been specially controlled since 1997. In this paper, however, it is suggested that hazardous air pollutants(HAPs) rather than VOCs should have been managed in the industrial estates. History of studies on organic compounds in the air of the industrial estates is reviewed. A stepwise approach for air quality management in the industrial estates is recommended.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.113-119
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• 2015

This study examined remediation of soil contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and other persistent organic pollutants by using subcritical water. Our results showed that removal efficiency of PCBs from soil and treatment temperature were linearly proportional under subcritical conditions. The removal efficiency as increased as reacting period increased. PCBs contaminating fine particles in soil were less effectively removed than those in entire contaminated soil. Reaction of the zero-valent iron and PCBs under subcritical condition produced dechlorinated product, where most of the PCBs were oxidised while little remained as dechlorinated. Other organic pollutants, such as TPH, BTEX, TCE/PCE, and chlorpyrifos, were removed by more than 90% at $300^{\circ}C$. Considering removal efficiency and identification of by-products, we suggest that subcritical water treatment may be effectively applied to soils contaminated with various persistent organic pollutants.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.59-64
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• 2001

The effect of major operating parameters in spray drying sorber(=SDS) for automatic control for the simultaneous removal of acidic and organic gaseous pollutants from solid waste incinerator was performed. The field experiment was carried out in pilot scale test for the quantification of major operating parameters of hydrophilic and the hydrophobic pollutants. The removal efficiencies of $SO_2$and HCI in the 5wt% slurry condition were being increased with the increase of the stoichiometric ration which is the molecular ratio of lime to the pollutant concentration, and with the decrease of inflow flue gas temperature in the pilot SDS reactor. The removal efficiency along the height of spray drying sorber was closely related to the temperature profile, and more than 90% of total removal efficiency was achieved in an absorption region. For the removal of acidic gas the optimum operating condition considering the economics and a stable operation is the 5wt% of slurry concentration, 1.2 of stoichiometric ratio and 25$0^{\circ}C$ of inflow flue gas temperature. For the organic gases of benzene and toluene the removal efficiencies were 20-60% which is much lower than that of acidic gas. The best removal efficiency was obtained at 1.5 of stoichiometric ratio and 25$0^{\circ}C$ of inflow flue gas temperature. The organic\`s removal efficiency along the height of spray drying sorber was quite different from that of acidic gas, that is, more than 60% of the total removal efficiency for benzene and 90% of the total removal for toluene were achieved in the dried adsorption region, which was formed at the lower or exit part of the reactor.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.569-579
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• 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 the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.35-42
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• 2023

This paper described the strength variation characteristics to evaluate the applicability of a reactive material that can absorb organic pollutants as an underground barrier. The Strength was evaluated by unconfined compression test. The test results showed that the strength of the reactive material according to the absorption of each pollutant was in the order of water > TCE > TPH. However, the strength of the reactive material absorbing TPH was greater than that of the case absorbing TCE, when the composition ratio of polynorbornene was 12% or less. The strength of the reaction material in contact with water continued to decrease as the polynorbornene composition ratio decreased. The strength of the reaction material in contact with TCE and TPH increased as the polynorbornene composition ratio decreased from 30% to 21%, and then decreased. In other words, the optimal composition ratio of the reactive material should be applied considering the strength due to contact with pollutants according to the stress conditions occurring in the ground.

• Land and Housing Review
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.103-110
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• 2023

People who spend most of their day indoors are continuously exposed to internally and externally generated indoor pollutants. According to a 2022 report from the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution is the cause of more than 7 million deaths annually worldwide, emphasizing the seriousness of indoor air pollutants. Air pollutants include nitrogen oxides (NOx), formaldehyde (HCHO), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which have serious effects on the human body. Photocatalyst is a material that can remove these indoor air pollutants. Photocatalysts not only have the ability to remove dust precursors, but also have antibacterial, sterilizing, and deodorizing functions, making them effective in improving indoor air quality. This study suggests areas and methods in which photocatalysts can be applied to buildings. Fields of application include interior and exterior construction materials such as concrete, as well as organic paints and ventilation devices. If appropriate utilization plans are developed, it may be possible to improve the built environment through reduced indoor and outdoor pollutant levels.

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
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• 2005.06a
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• pp.213-218
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• 2005

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.536-544
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• 2013

Even a small amount of hazardous air pollutants could have a harmful influence upon human beings, animals and plants. Hazardous air pollutants have the properties of toxicity, canceration and organism accumulation. They include heavy metals, volatile organic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, dioxin, etc. The Clean Air Conservation Act has defined specific hazardous air pollutants and designated 35 pollutants, distinguishing them from common air pollutants for special control. This study investigates the history of the controls of specific hazardous air pollutants with reference to some relevant laws and regulations in Korea. It investigates the regulations at the permission stage, such as the restrictions on installation of emission facilities, the permission and reporting of installation of emission facilities, and the regulations at the operation stage, such as maintaining permissible emission levels, installation of measuring devices, dues for emission, self-measurement and securing environmental engineers. The current regulatory management is not so satisfactory in regards to the serious effects of specific hazardous air pollutants upon the human body. An advanced new concept, like the maximum available control technology in US, the facilities management standards, which will soon take effect, will be able to lessen the emissions of fugitive hazardous air pollutants. In addition, this study discusses some possible stricter controls on the emission facilities of specific hazardous air pollutants and proposes some measures to maintain and supplement the current systems.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.22 no.10
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• pp.1263-1271
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• 2013

Graphene oxide (GO)-titania composites have emerged as an attractive heterogeneous photocatalyst that can enhance the photocatalytic activity of $TiO_2$ nanoparticles owing to their potential interaction of electronic and adsorption natures. Accordingly, $TiO_2$-GO mixtures were synthesized in this study using a simple chemical mixing process, and their heterogeneous photocatalytic activities were investigated to determine the degradation of airborne organic pollutants (benzene, ethyl benzene, and o-xylene (BEX)) under different operational conditions. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy results demonstrated the presence of GO for the $TiO_2$-GO composites. The average efficiencies of the $TiO_2$-GO mixtures for the decomposition of each component of BEX determined during the 3-h photocatalytic processes were 26%, 92%, and 96%, respectively, whereas the average efficiencies of the unmodified $TiO_2$ powder were 3%, 8%, and 10%, respectively. Furthermore, the degradation efficiency of the unmodified $TiO_2$ powder for all target compounds decreased during the 3-h photocatalytic processes, suggesting a potential deactivation even during such a short time period. Two operational conditions (air flow entering into the air-cleaning devices and the indoor pollution levels) were found to be important factors for the photocatalytic decomposition of BEX molecules. Taken together, these results show that a $TiO_2$-GO mixture can be applied effectively for the purification of airborne organic pollutants when the operating conditions are optimized.