• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.26
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• pp.7.1-7.9
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• 2011

Objectives: This study was conducted to examine the relationship between crude oil exposure and physical symptoms among residents participating in clean-up work associated with the Hebei Spirit oil spill, 2007 in Korea. Methods: A total of 288 residents responded to a questionnaire regarding subjective physical symptoms, sociodemographic characteristics and clean-up activities that occurred between two and eight weeks after the accident. Additionally, the urine of 154 of the respondents was analyzed for metabolites of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals. To compare the urinary levels of exposure biomarkers, the urine of 39 inland residents who were not directly exposed to the oil spill were analyzed. Results: Residents exposed to oil remnants through clean-up work showed associations between physical symptoms and the exposure levels defined in various ways, including days of work, degree of skin contamination, and levels of some urinary exposure biomarkers of VOCs, metabolites and metals, although no major abnormalities in urinary exposure biomarkers were observed. Conclusions: This study provides evidence of a relationship between crude oil exposure and acute human health effects and suggests the need for follow-up to evaluate the exposure status and long-term health effects of clean-up participants.

• Journal of Climate Change Research
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.41-47
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• 2015

This study was carried out simulating domestic utilization conditions of a wood pellet stove and a wood pellet boiler in order to determine emission factors (EFs) of macro-pollutants, i.e., carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, ammonia, particulate matters (total suspended particulate, $PM_{10}$, $PM_{2.5}$, black carbon) and trace pollutants (i.e., ten different volatile organic compounds). The composite pollutants EFs for the pellet stove were: for TSP 4.58 g/kg, for $PM_{10}$ 3.35 g/kg, for $PM_{2.5}$ 2.48 g/kg, CO 119.23 g/kg, NO 14.40 g/kg, $SO_2$ 0.17 g/kg, TVOC 37.73 g/kg, $NH_3$ 0.02 g/kg and emissions were similar to the pellet boiler appliance: for TSP 4.73 g/kg, for $PM_{10}$ 3.41 g/kg, for $PM_{2.5}$ 2.63 g/kg, CO 161.51 g/kg, NO 13.67 g/kg, $SO_2$ 0.19 g/kg, TVOC 45.22 g/kg, $NH_3$ 0.02 g/kg.

• Journal of Climate Change Research
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.49-54
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• 2015

Manually fed firewood burning appliances, i.e., stove and boiler, were tested in order to determine emission factors (EFs) of macro-pollutants, i.e., carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, ammonia, particulate matters (total suspended particulate, $PM_{10}$, $PM_{2.5}$, black carbon) and trace pollutants (i.e., ten different volatile organic compounds). The composite pollutants EFs for the wood stove were: for TSP 15.45 g/kg, for $PM_{10}$ 6.53 g/kg, $PM_{2.5}$ 4.16 g/kg, CO 175.49 g/kg, NO 1.58 g/kg, $SO_2$ 0.15 g/kg, TVOC 48.02 g/kg, $NH_3$ 0.02 g/kg and emissions were similar to the wood boiler appliance: for TSP 12.23 g/kg, for $PM_{10}$ 5.84 g/kg, $PM_{2.5}$ 3.66 g/kg, CO 146.74 g/kg, NO 1.42 g/kg, $SO_2$ 0.15 g/kg, TVOC 47.78 g/kg, $NH_3$ 0.01 g/kg.

• Journal of the Institute of Convergence Signal Processing
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.167-173
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• 2018

We propose an air purification system that utilizes aerial plant parts and root zone of indoor plants where light is insufficient and air circulation is bad. In order to maximize the air purification effect of the plant, the aerial plant parts illuminates mixed light combining blue and green LED and CRI(Color Rendering Index) LEDs close to natural light, respectively. And the root zone was forcibly circulated by the fan to use the soil as a filter. The indoor air purification system combined with the light source and the fan removed most polluted air in the shortest. In the case of mixed light and CRI LEDs of indoor air purification system, fine dust decreased by 14%, 14.2%, and TVOC(Total volatile organic compounds) decreased by 7.5% and 9.4%, respectively. In the experiment in which the fan was operated for 15 minutes, the TVOC decreased to 97.8%. The photosynthesis of the plant and the use of soil as a filter were able to purify polluted air in a short time. And the fan's temporary operation gave the similar effect of continuous operation.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.227-234
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• 2022

Background and Purpose: In 2021, lung cancer in school food workers was first recognized as an occupational cancer. The classification of the carcinogenicity of cooking fumes by International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) was based on Chinese epidemiological data. This study aimed to determine the hazard levels of school cooking fumes in Korea. Materials and Methods: Based on public school cafeterias in one area, 25 locations were selected for the survey according to the number per school type, ventilation states, and environmental pre-assessments of cafeterias. Two inside cooking areas using a heat source and one outside cooking area were selected as control measurement points. Measurements of CO, CO₂, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs), including benzene, formaldehyde, and particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5, PM1, respectively), were taken. The concentrations and patterns of each substance in the kitchens were compared with the outdoor air quality. Result: Known carcinogens, such as the concentrations of PAHs, formaldehyde, TVOC (benzene), and particulate matter in school cooking fumes, were all detected at similar or slightly higher levels than those found outside. Additionally, substances were detected at relatively low concentrations compared to the Chinese cooking fumes reported in the literature. However, the short-term exposure to high concentrations of CO (or composite exposure with CO₂) and PM2.5 in this study were shown. Conclusion: The school cooking fumes in South Korea was a relatively less harmful than Chinese cooking fumes, however short-term, high exposure of toxic substances can cause a critical health effect.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.425-434
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• 2022

Objectives: This study analyzes TVOC concentrations in root industry workplaces in order to prevent probable occupational disease among workers. Root industry includes all the infrastructure of manufacturing, such as casting and molding. Methods: Real-time TVOC sensors were deployed in three root industry workplaces. We measured TVOC concentrations with these sensors and analyzed the results using a data-analysis tool developed with Python 3.9. Results: During the study period, the mean of the TVOC concentrations remained in an acceptable range, 0.30, 2.15, and 1.63 ppm across three workplaces. However, TVOC concentrations increased significantly at specific times, with respective maximum values of 4.98, 28.35, and 26.65 ppm for the three workplaces. Moreover, the analysis of hourly TVOC concentrations showed that during working hours or night shifts TVOC concentrations increased significantly to higher than twice the daily mean values. These results were scrutinized through classical decomposition results and autocorrelation indices, where seasonal graphs of the corresponding classical decomposition results showed that TVOC concentrations increased at a specific time. Trend graphs showed that TVOC concentrations vary by day. Conclusions: Deploying a real-time TVOC sensor should be considered to reflect irregularly high TVOC concentrations in workplaces in the root industry. It is expected that the real-time TVOC sensor with the presented data analysis methodology can eradicate probable occupational diseases caused by detrimental gases.

• Clean Technology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.33-38
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• 2010

The characteristics of desorption reaction and the heating values of used activated carbons collected from the companies of Shiwha/Banwal industrial complex were investigated. The desorption characteristics of used activated carbons were analyzed based on the data obtained from a thermogravimetric analyzer. The activation energies and reaction orders for desorption reaction of used activated carbons were calculated by employing Freeman-Carroll method. Heating values of volatile organic compounds(VOC) desorbed from used activated carbons were estimated based on the data obtained from a total hydrocarbon analyzer. It was found that the reaction orders of desorption of used activated carbons were 0.1~0.8, their desorption activation energies, 6.9~26.4 kJ/mol, and VOC heating values, 0.4~10.7 kcal/kg.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.29 no.7
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• pp.149-158
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• 2024

This study aims to design and develop AirDeep-Room, a multi-sensor system for monitoring air quality in various indoor environments. The system measures CO2, TVOC, particulate matter, temperature, and humidity in real-time. By integrating multiple sensors, AirDeep-Room allows convenient correlation analysis using low data format in real-time. The sensor system was installed in a server room and a classroom. Data analysis showed a negative correlation of -0.24 between temperature and humidity in the server room, and a positive correlation of 0.43 in the classroom, indicating different interactions. A high correlation (r=0.69) between the number of students and concentrations of CO2 and TVOC demonstrated the significant impact of occupancy on air quality. AirDeep-Room effectively manages air quality across various environments and provides essential data for improving air quality in densely populated areas.

• Journal of the Health Care and Life Science
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.231-235
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• 2021

This study collects and provides environmental data related to weather by measuring the concentration levels of fine dust at different altitudes, with the aim of forecasting fine dust concentration changes, particularly in the areas where the vulnerable reside. Institutions in the healthcare-related fields can use the real-time data on the changing fine dust concentration, which is collected through different combinations of various measuring devices and drone technologies, which have recently developed at a rapid pace. The study first collects data on the following: PM1 (fine dust particles <1 ㎛ in size), PM2.5 (fine dust particles <2.5 ㎛ in size), and PM10 (fine dust particles <10 ㎛ in size) and predicts respective changes and suggests data on various high levels. The device that was used in the study measured fine dust concentration, humidity, temperature, atmospheric pressure, carbon dioxide, total volatile organic compounds (TVoc), and formaldehyde.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.1035-1045
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• 2022

The purpose of this study is to provide information on a forest healing environment using the analysis of nature volatile organic compounds (NVOCs) and thermal comfort in Chungnam National University Experimental Forest, with the aim of using the Experimental Forest as a healing environment for health promotion. We analyzed NVOCs and thermal comfort of Chungnam National University Experimental Forest measured on September 12^th, 2021. As a result of the NVOC analysis, a total of seven substances were detected, mainly including alpha pinene and beta pinene. The detection amount for each time period was highest at the time of sunset. The thermal comfort was analyzed by time-dependent changes and changes according to clothing and exercise amount. The results showed that the predicted mean vote of the experimental forest is within the range of 'slightly cool' and 'slightly warm' sensation, and thus a comfortable thermal environment could be controlled by the amount of clothing and activity. Based on the analysis, this study provides information on the healing environment of the experimental forest at Chungnam National University. It also indicates that the forest can be used as a health promotion and healing environment with thermal comfort by composing a physical activity program of appropriate intensity for each time period.