• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
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• 2005.06a
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• pp.341-344
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• 2005

The expression of the glutathione S-transferase (GST), whose induction accounts for antioxidant defense system, is regulated by activation of CCAAT/enhancer binding protein ${\beta}$ ($C/EBP{\beta}$), Sick house syndrome (SHS) presents healthy damage owing to the indoor environment of a building. Toluene has been implicated in one of the important causes of SHS. The present study investigated the effects of toluene treatment on the induction of GSTA2 gene and its mechanism. H411E cells treated with toluene, and GSTA2 expression was determined by immunoblot analysis. The translocation of $C/EBP{\beta}$ was assessed by immunocytochemical assays. $C/EBP{\beta}$ DNA binding activity was determined by electrophoretic mobility shift assays. The role of the C/EBP binding site in the induction of the GSTA2 gene was assessed by luciferase reporter-gene activity. Toluene induced GSTA2 protein expression. In toluene-treated cells, $C/EBP{\beta}$ translocated to the nucleus and bound to the consensus sequence of C/EBP (TTGCGCAA). Toluene treatment increased luciferase reporter-gene activity in cells transfected with the C/EBP-containing regulatory region of the GSTA2 gene. Oxidative stress is believed to play an important role in the induction of GSTA2 gene by toluene This study shows that toluene-induced GSTA2 gene expression is dependent upon nuclear translocation and binding of $C/EBP{\beta}$ to the C/EBP response element in the GSTA2 gene promoter.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.67-74
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• 2002

Nowadays, a new word called SBS(sick building syndrome) has been come into existence. Since most people spend a large majority of their time indoors, indoor air may affect human health more than outdoor air. This outline survey was carried out to investigate the extent of indoor air pollution in singing room and PC room. The concentrations of major indoor air pollutants(carbon dioxide, total suspended particulate, airborne microbes) and Thermocircumstance(temperature, relative humidity, intensity of illumination) were observed from October 1 to 31, 2001. As results of the survey, the mom values of thermocircumstance in singing room and PC room were $22.1^{\circ}C$ of temperature, 37.1% of humidity, 75 Lux of intensity of illumination and $22.0^{\circ}C$ of temperature, 52.6% of humidity, 135 Lux of intensity of illumination, respectively. The mean concentrations of carbon dioxide were 1589 ppm in singing room and 615 ppm in PC room, respectively The concentrations of carbon dioxide in singing room were higher than the indoor environmental standard of the first clause of Article 45 of public utilization service which is showed at public hygiene of the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs. The mean concentrations of total suspended particulate were $0.33{\;}mg/\textrm{m}^3$ in singing room and $0.57{\;}mg/\textrm{m}^3$ in PC room respectively. The mean concentrations of airborne microbe were $16{\;}CFU/\textrm{m}^3$ in singing room and $12{\;}CFU/\textrm{m}^3$ in PC room, respectively.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.243-252
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• 2005

Purpose: Indoor air quality (IAQ) in the radiation treatment center which is generally located underground is important to the health of hospital workers and patients treated over a long period of time. this study was conducted to measure and analyze the factors related to IAQ and subjective symptoms of sick building syndrome, and to establish the causes influencing IAQ and find a solution to the problems. Methods and Materials : Self administrated questionnaire was conducted to check the workers' symptoms and understanding of the work environment. Based on a preliminary investigation, the factors related to IAQ such as temperature, humidity, fine particulate. carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, total volatile organic compounds (TVOC), and radon gas were selected and measured for a certain period of time in specific sites where hospital workers stay long in a day. And we also evaluated the surrounding environment and the efficiency of the ventilating system simultaneously, and measured the same factors at the first floor (outdoor) to compare with outdoor all quality, All collected data were assessed by the recommended standard for IAQ of the domestic and international environmental organizations. Results: Hospital workers were discontented with foul odors, humidity and particulate. They complained symptoms related to musculo-skeletal system, neurologic system, and mucosal-irritatation. Most of the factors were not greater than the recommended standard, but the level of TVOC was third or fourth times as much as the measuring level of some offices in the United States. The frequency and the amount of the ventilating system were adequate, however, the problem arising in the position of outdoor-air inlets and indoor-air outlets involved a risk of the indraft of contaminated air. A careful attention was a requirement in handling and keeping chemical substances including a developing solution which has a risk of TVOC emissions, and repositioning the ventilating system was needed to solve the contaminated-air circulation immediately Conclusion We verified that some IAQ-related factors and inadequate ventilating system could cause subjective symptoms in hospital workers. The evaluation of IAQ was surely needed to improve the underground working environments for hospital workers and patients. On the basis of these data, from now on, we should actively engage in designs of the department of radiation oncology or improvement in environments of the existing facilities.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.100-107
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• 2007

People have spent lots of time inside building about 90% of these day. Industry has been developed rapidly after I960. Construction materials had changed from natural materials to chemical materials and confidentiality of building has been more higher than before by policy of saving energy. These have caused sick-building syndrome (SBS) for us. So people want environmental construction materials for their house. We designed a environmental loess (yellow soil) finishing material which was composed of loess, water, water-soluble resin, hardener and filler. The purposes of this study were that making an environmental loess finishing material with optimum ratio, evaluating the usability of loess finishing material for wall. Furthermore it was suitable for wall to evaluate mechanical properties that are impact test, cracking test, abrasion test and de-bonding test, environmental properties that were emission of VOCs, formaldehyde and far infrared radiation.

• Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.63-73
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• 2017

In contemporary society, it is increasingly common to spend more time indoors. As such, there is a continually growing desire to build comfortable and safe indoor environments. Along with this trend, however, there are some serious indoor-environment challenges, such as the quality of indoor air and Sick House Syndrome. To address these concerns the government implements various systems to supervise and manage indoor environments. For example, green building certification is now compulsory for public buildings. There are three categories of green building certification related to indoor air in Korea: Health-Friendly Housing Construction Standards, Green Standard for Energy & Environmental Design(G-SEED), and Indoor Air Certification. The first two types of certification, Health-Friendly Housing Construction Standards and G-SEED, evaluate data in a drawing plan. In comparison, the Indoor Air Certification evaluates measured data. The certification using data from a drawing requires a considerable amount of time compared to other work. A 2D tool needs to be employed to measure the area manually. Thus, this study proposes an automatic assessment process using a Building Information Modeling(BIM) model based on 3D data. This process, using open source Industry Foundation Classes(IFC), exports data for the certification system, and extracts the data to create an Excel sheet for the certification. This is expected to improve the work process and reduce the workload associated with evaluating indoor air conditions.

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

• The Journal of Sustainable Design and Educational Environment Research
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.69-76
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• 2017

Indoor Air Quality(IAQ) affects physical and mental state of person who is residing indoor. Also, it manages daily life condition of Indoor Air in the building. According to the study, office workers spend 23 hours and 12 minutes, about 97% of his/her day indoor. Therefore, Indoor air quality affects not only the health of the person whose staying inside for a long hours but also the productivity and efficiency of work. This study conduct investigations on employees' awareness of indoor air quality of office in university. By doing so, we are able to determine current situation and provide basic data of improvement for derived problems. As a result, most of the respondents were not satisfied with ventilation and moisture which are elements of Indoor Air Quality. These led people to struggle with symptoms of health. Therefore, to improve the indoor air quality of a university office, it is necessary to exchange the air six times an hour according to recommendation of Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)in the United States. Also, plan for Ventilation system that consider temperature, humidity and air flow indoor shall be provided for high quality conformability. furthermore, It is necessary to consider the multilateral in factors of generation of revenue through health care savings of workers and improvement of productivity.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.457-467
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• 2012

Purpose: This study was performed to investigate the relationship between ocular and allergy symptoms in children by environmental pollutants emitted from new constructed building. Methods: Two different types of survey (6-Item Dry Eye Questionnaire and Ocular Surface Disease Index) were used to study dry eye syndromes and ocular subjective symptoms for a six-grade of elementary school students (54 males and 61 females) in newly built buildings in the past three month, located near capital city, Seoul. Atopy and medical history of allergic rhinitis were investigated with using questionnaire for allergy, and also nose itchiness and ocular symptoms were checked as visual analog scale(10-score) with using questionnaire of allergy rhinitis and conjunctivitis under the guideline of ARIA(Allergic Rhinitis Impacts on Asthma). Results: Fifty seven students (50%) from DEQ and 19 students (16.52%) from OSDI were diagnosed as dry eye, and 18 students (15.79%) were diagnosed as dry eye from both questionnaires. It was surveyed that 45 students (39.5%) and 29 students (25.4%) had atopy and allergy rhinitis, respectively. Among 45 students having atopy, 30 students and 8 students were diagnosed as dry eye with using DEQ and OSDI, respectively. And also, 22 students were diagnosed as dry eye by DEQ and 5 students were diagnosed as dry eye by OSDI from 29 students having allergy rhinitis. Among 29 students having both medical history atopy and allergy rhinitis, 15 students detected observable ocular symptom. The complicating allergy symptoms with ocular syndrome were arranged with sneeze, nose itchiness, nose stuffiness, and runny nose in order of frequency. As students recognized eye symptoms, the number of allergy found and student's number were increased proportionally. Conclusions: It was found that children's subjective ocular symptoms were confirmed in the environment as newly built building. The number of student for dry eye was proportionally increased to students having atopy and allergy symptoms.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.389-396
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• 2014

Purpose: The study examined dry eye symptoms of occupants in a newly constructed building and its effects on their work productivity and general activity. Methods: The study subjects were 33 office workers who spent more than eight hours per day on average in a new building constructed in the past three months. The indoor air quality of the new building was evaluated by measuring aldehydes, temperature and humidity. The level of dry eye symptoms was classified into normal, mild, moderate and severe by using the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI). The experience of LASIK surgery, use of eye makeup, daily use time of a computer and smart-phone, and average daily working hours were also examined. The Work Limitation Productivity Questionnaire was used as the questionnaire about work productivity and general activity to measure the impairment level on a ten-point scale. Results: The concentration variation of formaldehyde in the office was $42.42{\pm}6.30{\mu}g/m^3$. The temperature and humidity were $26.2{\pm}0.70^{\circ}C$ and $40{\pm}1%$, respectively. The respondents with normal, mild, moderate and severe dry eye symptoms were 15.2%, 18.2%, 18.2% and 48.5%, respectively. The severity of dry eye symptoms and impairment of work productivity and general activity demonstrated high correlations of 0.599 and 0.655, respectively (p<0.001). Compared to the normal case, severe dry eye symptoms demonstrated significantly high impairment of work productivity and interruption of general activity (p<0.001). The case of serious dry symptoms showed the possibilities of having impairment level of work productivity and interruption of general activity above three points 3.26 times (p=0.032) and 2.25 times (p=0.045), respectively, higher than that of the normal case. Conclusions: It was confirmed that dry eye symptoms among office workers in a newly constructed building affects work productivity and general activity.