• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.359-364
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• 2007

The aim of this study were to assess the personal exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and to estimate the personal exposure using time-weighted average model. Three target VOCs (benzene, toluene, xylene) were analyzed in personal exposure samples and residential indoor, residential outdoor and workplace indoor microenvironments samples in the iron mill 30 workers during working 5 days. Personal exposure to VOCs significantly correlated with workplace concentration p<0.05), suggesting workplace had strong source and major contribution to personal exposure. Personal exposure could be estimated with time activity pattern and time weighted average (TWA) model of residential indoor and workplace concentrations measured. Time weighted mean microenvironments concentrations were close approximately of personal exposure concentrations. Total exposure for participants can be estimated by TWA with microenvironments measurements and time activity pattern.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.195-200
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• 2001

The personal exposures of nitrogen dioxide(NO$_2$), microenvironmental levels and daily time activity patterns on Seoul subway station workers were measured from February 10 to March 12, 1999. Personal NO$_2$exposure for 24 hours were 29.40$\pm$9.75 ppb. NO$_2$level of occupational environment were 27.87$\pm$7.15 ppb in office, 33.60$\pm$8.64 ppb in platform and 50.13$\pm$13.04 ppb in outdoor. Personal exposure time of subway station workers was constituted as survey results with $7.94\pm$3.00 hours in office, $2.82\pm$1.63 hours in platform and 1 hours in outdoor. With above results, personal $NO_2$exposure distributions on subway station workers in Seoul were estimated with Monte Carlo simulation which uses statistical probabilistic theory on various exposure scenario testing. Some of distributions which did not have any formal patterns were assumed as custom distribution type. Estimated personal occupational $NO_2$exposure using time weighted average (TWA) model was 31.$29\pm$5.57 ppb, which were under Annual Ambient Standard (50ppb) of Korea. Though arithmetic means of measured personal $NO_2$exposure was lower than that of occupational $NO_2$exposure estimated by TWA model, considering probability distribution type simulated, probability distribution of measured personal $NO_2$exposures for 24 hours was over ambient standard with 3.23%, which was higher than those of occupational exposure(0.02%). Further research is needed for reducing these 24 hour $NO_2$personal excess exposures besides occupational exposure on subway station workers in Seoul.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.58-64
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• 2000

Indoor air quality tends to be the dominant contributor to personal exposure, because most people spend over 80% of their time indoors. In this study, indoor and outdoor NO$_2$ concentrations were measured and compared with simultaneously personal exposures of 21 university students in weekday and weekend. House characteristics and activity pattern were used to determine the impacts of these factors on personal exposure. Since university students spent most of their times in indoor, their NO$_2$ exposure was associated with indoor NO$_2$ level rather than outdoor NO$_2$ level both weekday and weekend in spite of different time activity. Using time-weighted average model, NO$_2$ exposures of university students were estimated by NO$_2$ measurements in indoor home, indoor school, and outdoor home levels. Estimated NO$_2$ personal exposures were significantly correlated with measured NO$_2$ personal exposures($r^2$=0.87). However, estimated personal NO$_2$ exposures by time-weighted average model were underestimated, comparing with the measured personal NO$_2$ exposure. Using multiple regression analysis, effect of personal NO$_2$ exposure for transportation was confirmed.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.157-166
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• 2017

Objectives: Exposure to hazardous air pollutants could be affected by sociodemographic factors such as age, gender and more. Information on time spent in microenvironments has a critical role in exposure assessment. The purpose of this study was to analyze the exposure pathways which influence personal exposure through time-activity patterns and sociodemographic factors. Methods: A total of 379 subjects were collected from the second term of the Korean National Environmental Health Survey. A questionnaire survey in relation to sociodemographic factors and a time-activity diary were carried out for personal exposure to toluene. Focusing on personal exposure to toluene, factors affecting personal exposure were analyzed using multiple regression analysis. Results: Participants spent their time in an indoor house for $16.8{\pm}4.0hr$, workplace or school $2.3{\pm}3.5hr$, and other indoor $2.1{\pm}2.2hr$. Sociodemographic factors were significantly different among each personal exposure and microenvironment. Time of staying at an office turned out to be a main factor from point of exposure in exposure pathway using multiple regression analysis. As a result, this means that exposure may be different according to the time of staying in each microenvironment. Conclusions: Personal exposure to air pollutants might be decided by time-activity pattern indicating when, where, and which activities people pursue, as well as individual sociodemographic factors.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.251-258
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• 2001

Indoor and outdoor nitrogen dioxide(NO$_2$) concentrations of 122 houses were measured and compared with measurements of personal NO$_2$ exposure simultaneously . Time activity patterns were used to determine the impacts on NO$_2$ exposure assessment and time weighed average model to estimate the personal NO$_2$ exposure. Most people spent their times more than 80% of indoor and more than 50% in home, respectively. Personal NO$_2$ esposure was found to be significantly associated with both indoor NO$_2$ concentration(r=0.70) and outdoor NO$_2$ concentration (r=0.68). Using time weighted average model, personal NO$_2$ exposure was estimated with NO$_2$ measurements in indoor home, indoor workplace and outdoor home. The estimated NO$_2$ measurements were significantly correlated with measured personal exposures(r=0.69, N=122). For the difference between measured and estimated NO$_2$ exposures by multiple regression analysis showed that NO$_2$ concentrations in near workplace and other outdoors of no NO$_2$ measurements affected the personal NO$_2$ exposures(p=0.023).

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2016

Objectives: Personal exposure to air pollution is affected by contact over time and by location. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between personal exposure to $PM_{2.5}$ and the time-activity patterns of the elderly in urban and rural areas. Methods: A total of 44 elderly participants were recruited for a 24-hour $PM_{2.5}$ personal exposure measurement. Twenty-four were from Seoul (urban area) and 20 were from Asan (rural area). Energy expenditure and spatiotemporal positioning were monitored through $PM_{2.5}$ measurement. Spearman correlation analysis was conducted to determine the relationship between $PM_{2.5}$ and time-activity pattern. Results: Daily average $PM_{2.5}$ personal exposures were $19.1{\pm}9.7{\mu}g/m^3$ in Seoul and $29.1{\pm}16.9{\mu}g/m^3$ in Asan. Although outdoor exposure was higher in Seoul than in Asan, residential indoor exposure was higher in Asan than in Seoul. Higher $PM_{2.5}$ personal exposure in Asan could be explained by longer time in residential indoor environments and higher indoor $PM_{2.5}$ concentrations. Seoul elderly had higher energy expenditure, which may be due to the use of mass transportation. Conclusion: Personal exposure to $PM_{2.5}$ was higher among Asan elderly than Seoul elderly because of high residential indoor concentrations and longer residential time. Lack of energy spent and higher personal exposure to $PM_{2.5}$ might have led to higher risk among the Asan elderly.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.47-52
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• 1996

Personal exposure levels of $NO_{2}$ for office workers and housewives Living in A-San and neighboring prefectures were measured in two seasons with $NO_{2}$ filter badge. $NO_{2}$ concentrations in indoor and outdoor air in their offices and houses were also measured in the same periods. Personal exposure levels in winter ranged from 13 to 132 ppb and its distribution pattern was remarkably different from the other seasons (15.2-17.9 ppb). This fact suggests that use of heating apparatus affects largely $NO_{2}$ indoor air pollution in winter seasons. Actually, $NO_{2}$ exposure levels of subjects used Kerosene heater (43.6ppb) and gas heater (33.4ppb) were higher than those of subjects unused heating apparatus (18.0ppb). Personal exposure levels of $NO_{2}$ for man and woman Living in the same houses were correlated well each other. The time spent indoors for office workers and housewives were both longer than 22 hour a day. Home staying time was about 60% of total indoor staying time for office workers and 90% or more for housewives. Personal exposure levels were significantly related to indoor exposure levels at home all seasons. Furthermore, personal exposure levels could be estimated from $NO_{2}$ concentrations and staying times in various Living environment.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.625-631
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• 2000

Practical devices for measuring personal exposure to nitrogen dioxide(NO$_2$) have been made for epidemiological studies of the health effects of air pollution Standard methods for NO$_2$ measurement such as the chemiluminescent method and Saltzman method are not suitable for personal exposure because they are heavy, large and complicated to operate. In this study, a passive monitor was tested for the measurements of indoor and outdoor NO$_2$ level. Through a comparative analysis of data sets obtained by on-site chemiluminescence system, we assessed the accuracy and precision of NO$_2$ passive monitors. We also examined the possibility of passive monitor in the study of indoor, outdoor and personal NO$_2$ exposure. The accuracy and precision of NO$_2$ passive monitor were analyzed assuming measurements of on-site chemiluminescence system is reference value and using duplicated measure- ments, respectively. From these analysis the NO$_2$ passive monitor was useful for measuring indoor, outdoor and personal exposure. And NO$_2$ level from on-site chemiluminescence systems could not properly represent the personal NO$_2$ exposure as well as indoor and outdoor level of ones house. Personal exposures were correlated more strongly with indoor NO$_2$ concentrations than with outdoor NO$_2$ concentrations. Since activity pattern of each person is different, it was considered that personal daily behavior and life-style might prevent the air pollutant exposure.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.57-64
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• 2013

Objectives: Skin exposure to diisocyanates may be an important risk factor for respiratory sensitization to leading asthma. However little is known about the extent of worker's diisocyanates skin exposure and the effectiveness of personal protective equipments in polyurethane foam manufacturing companies. This study provides data on diisocyanates skin exposure, surface diisiocyantes contamination of foams and the effectiveness of personal protective gloves in five polyurethane foam manufacturing companies. Materials and methods Colorimetric SWYPE pads are used for the determination of diisocyanates on surfaces of workers skin and polyurethanes foams. Results: The forearms, necks and faces of workers in polyurethane foam manufacturing companies were found to be contaminated with diisocyanates. Heavy contamination with uncured diisocyanates at large block foams surfaces were found. Personal gloves of workers for skin protection showed significant penetrations by diisocyanates. Conclusions: We found that all workers in polyurethane foam manufacturing companies could be exposed to diisocyanates by skin exposure. Also further researches which would better quantify skin exposure are needed.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.18-30
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• 2012

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to estimate the exposure level to extremely low frequency-magnetic fields (ELF-MF) among a selected Korean population using 24-hour personal exposure measurement. Methods: Participants were randomly selected for the measurement of MF exposure under the assumption that the subjects are representative of the overall Korean population. Levels of personal exposure to MF were measured according to the subject's daily activities. Results: The 24-hour time-weighted average (TWA) of 250 participants was $1.56{\pm}4.56$ mG (GM, GSD: 0.79, 2.46 mG). Personal exposure levels for females were higher than for males. The highest personal exposure level was shown in the age group between 20-60 years old. Personal exposure levels according to job category were higher for the non-occupational group than for the occupational group. Conclusions: Our results showed MF exposure exceeding 2 mG per day among 11.3% of the Korean population, indicating a somewhat higher percentage compared to the EMF RAPID Program's results for the U.S population.