• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.193-200
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• 2011

Objective: The purpose of this study is to compare and analyze the level of exposure to volatile organic compounds for different kinds of households in apartments or houses and analyze the relation between atopy-related symptoms and concentration of volatile organic compounds in order to improve indoor air quality and start to build a process to prevent environmental diseases. Method: From July 2010 to November 2010, TVOC concentration levels were measured and analyzed in 402 general households and 236 weak households, totalling 638 households. Residents were asked to fill out a survey on environmental disease. All resources were analyzed using SPSS 12.0 program. Result: In comparing the differences in concentration levels of volatile organic compounds for different types of households, including existing apartments and houses, the type of housing did not affect the concentration level of volatile organic compounds, but the relevance with skin trouble, diagnosed atopy, and atopy systems all had statistical similarities. Moreover, above-limit volatile organic compounds showed statistical relevance with amount of ventilation, time of construction, skin trouble, diagnosed atopy and atopy symptoms. Conclusion: The study concludes that as the time of construction recedes further into the past and as the amount of ventilation is higher, the exposure level to volatile organic compounds was lower and the group that were suffering from atopy symptoms had higher exposure to volatile organic compounds.

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

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.489-495
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• 2004

In this article, various aspects of errors involved in the measurement of TVOC were examined as part of study to develop the indoor pollution indices. For this purpose, TVOC term was computed by two different calibration approaches, i.e., by assuming all VOC are detected in the same manner as toluene and by summing up as many individual VOC as possible. The results of our study indicate that the common, toluene-based method suffers from errors inherent in the development of such theory. Consequently, it is concluded that more research efforts have to be directed to the improvement of such concept as TVOC.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.487-495
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• 2005

Recently, due to the airtightness of buildings or the misuse of building materials, we have been witness SHS (Sick House Syndrome) which can have bad influences on the resident in an existing apartment house as well as newly constructed apartment house start to attract public attention. As a result of this situation, we went to restrict the TVOC (Total Volatile Organic Compound) and formaldehyde. But these guidelines concentrated on only TVOC although TVOC are consist of many individual VOC. Therefore, in this study, we will look about concentration change of VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) by using Mock-up test. As result of test, the concentration of four individual VOC (Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, Styrene) showed quitely low level after 7 days. On the other hand the concentration of Xylene and formaldehyde showed low level after 14 days.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.262-269
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• 2006

Formaldehyde and total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) from building materials have been known as main causes of IAQ problem in Newly-Constructed Multi-Family Houses. Because Multi-Family Houses are built in large quantities in a similar manner, inappropriate selection of building materials and method will detrimental affect IAQ. This research aims to identify major causes of Indoor Air Pollutants in Multi-Family Houses, by constructing Mock-Up & One-Room House. As a result, self leveling concrete, door, and furniture construction is a major cause of indoor formaldehyde increase, and tile bond is TVOC, and urethane water proof is Etylbenzene, and Xylene.

• Journal of the Korean housing association
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.59-67
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• 2007

The purposes of this study were to make clear the present condition of the TVOC and HCHO concentration after renovation in apartment houses. The field measurements of TVOC and HCHO concentration according to the Korea Test Method Standard for Indoor Air Quality were carried out in 4 subject apartment houses. The results are as follows; the TVOC concentration after renovation in apartment houses ranged from mean 0.35ppm to mean 5.08ppm and increased of $0.35{\sim}5.08ppm$. The TVOC concentration of 3 subjects exceeded the Indoor Air Quality Management standard for the newly-built apartment houses (0.58ppm). The HCHO concentration after renovation ranged from mean 0.13ppm to mean 0.43ppm and increased of $0.06{\sim}0.26ppm$. The HCHO concentration of 2 subjects exceeded the Standard (0.17ppm). As results of analysis on the relation of concentrated ascension and renovation elements, the amount and the types of finishing materials and adhesives affected concentrated ascension. Also, production method for installed or purchased furniture had certain effect on the TVOC and HCHO concentration ascension.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.83-90
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• 2007

This study aimed at examining the effect of rooms decorated by eco-friendly finishing materials in a newly built wooden house on the emission of indoor air pollutions. According to the results of examination, the levels of benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene and styrene in all the rooms were below criteria of indoor air quality of newly-constructed houses. The levels of natural volatile organic compounds (NVOC), anthropogenic volatile organic compounds (AVOC) and total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) in room R1-1 which had Hwangto wall covering on it, were relatively higher than in room phytoncide wallpaper covered R2-1. The room R2-2 where bamboo charcoal panel used for wall covering showed higher level of AVOC compared to the room R1-2. Living room R1-3 was found to contain less TVOC, compared to the other four rooms. In addition, the ratio of NVOC to TVOC in the living room was higher than in the other rooms. This seemed to be attributed to Cryptomeria Japonica the living room finished material.

• Proceeding of Spring/Autumn Annual Conference of KHA
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• 2006.11a
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• pp.287-290
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• 2006

The purposes of this study were to make clear the present condition of the TVOC and HCHO concentration after remodeling in apartment houses and to analyze the relation of concentrated ascension and remodeling elements. The field measurements of TVOC and HCHO concentration were carried out in 4 subject apartment houses according to the Korea Test Method Standard for Indoor Air Quality. The results are as follows; the TVOC concentration after remodeling ranged from mean 0.35ppm to mean 5.08ppm and increased of 0.35$^{\sim}$5.08ppm. The concentration of 3 subjects exceeded the Indoor Air Quality Management standard for the newly-built apartment houses (0.7ppm). The HCHO concentration after remodeling ranged from mean 0.13ppm to mean 0.43ppm and increased of 0.06$^{\sim}$0.26ppm. The concentration of 2 subjects exceeded the Standard (0.16ppm). As results of analysis on the relation of concentrated ascension and remodeling elements, the amount and the types of finishing materials and adhesives affected concentrated ascension. Also, production method for installed or purchased furniture had certain effect on the TVOC and HCHO concentration ascension.

• Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal
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• v.15 no.4 s.57
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• pp.129-137
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to identify the influence of living factors on TVOC(Total Volatile Organic Compounds) concentrations and personal factors to reduce the Sick House Syndrome for newly-built apartments. The field measurements of TVOC concentrations were made totally 30 times(5 times per one subject house) in six apartment units in which residents recently moved. Those apartments authorized its business approval before May 2004, the Act of Indoor Air Quality Management for multi-use facilities. The Questionnaire surveys of residents' subjective responses on the Sick House Syndrome were carried out in 2nd measurement of each house. Respondents consisted of 20 residents living in the measured houses. The findings were as follows: The TVOC concentrations of the measured subject apartments ranged from about 1/10 of the recommended standard for multi-use facilities($400{\mu}g/m^3$) to up to 90 times as high as the standard. Since then, the Recommended Standard of Indoor Air Quality Management for newly-built apartment house was announced in December 2005. In accordance with this standard($2390{\mu}g/m^3$) it ranged from about 1/100 to up to 15 times as high as the standard. The subject house whose TVOC concentrations reduced below the recommendation standard in the shortest period had the largest amount of ventilation (all the windows were open for ventilation in the past three months) among all measured houses. The reason of another house whose TVOC concentrations were much higher than the rest was fronted with new furniture in the room. There turned out to be no apparent relations between the TVOC concentrations and the residents' individual responses of Sick House Syndrome. The responses were serious in those who stayed in their new houses for a long period or had disease like allergy. It's recommended that they should open all the windows for at least three months for ventilation in newly-built houses, and it would be better to avoid remodeling than needs be.

• Proceedings of the Korea Air Pollution Research Association Conference
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• 2004.05a
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• pp.203-204
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• 2004