• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.63-71
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• 2016

Background: Construction painters have not been studied well in terms of their hazards exposure. The objective of this study was to evaluate the exposure levels of total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) for painters in the construction industry. Methods: Activity-specific personal air samplings were carried out in three waterproofing activities [polyurethane (PU), asphalt, and cement mortar] and three painting activities (epoxy, oil based, and water based) by using organic-vapor-monitor passive-sampling devices. Gas chromatograph with flame ionization detector could be used for identifying and quantifying individual organic chemicals. The levels of TVOCs, by summing up 15 targeted substances, were expressed in exposure-index (EI) values. Results: As arithmetic means in the order of concentration levels, the EIs of TVOCs in waterproofing works were 10.77, 2.42, 1.78, 1.68, 0.47, 0.07, and none detected (ND) for indoor PU-primer task, outdoor PU-primer task, outdoor PU-resin task, indoor PU-resin task, asphalt-primer task, asphalt-adhesive task, and cement-mortar task, respectively. The highest EI for painting works was 5.61 for indoor epoxyprimer task, followed by indoor epoxy-resin task (2.03), outdoor oil-based-spray-paint task (1.65), outdoor water-based-paint task (0.66), and indoor oil-based-paint task (0.15). Assuming that the operations were carried out continuously for 8 hours without breaks and by using the arithmetic means of EIs for each of the 12 tasks in this study, 58.3% (7 out of 12) exceeded the exposure limit of 100% (EI > 1.0), while 8.3% (1 out of 12) was in 50e100% of exposure limit (0.5 > EI > 1.0), and 4 tasks out of 12 were located in less than 50% of the limit range (EI < 0.5). Conclusion: From this study, we recognized that construction painters are exposed to various solvents, including carcinogens and reproductive toxins, and the levels of TVOC concentration in many of the painting tasks exceeded the exposure limits. Construction workers need to be protected from chemical agents during their painting works by using personal protective devices and/or work practice measures. Additional studies should focus on the exposure assessment of other hazards for construction workers, in order to identify high-risk tasks and to improve hazardous work environments.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.293-300
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• 1999

Garlic from 4 main growing area was analyzed for the composition related to garlic flavor. Twenty-eight volatile compounds in garlic were separated by GC and twenty five were identified by GC/MS. Total peak area was high in garlic from $S\u{o}san$, and low from $Hampy\u{o}ng$. However, no significant difference was found in total peak area of sulfur compounds for garlic from Namhae, $S\u{o}san$, and $Uis\u{o}ng$. The results of free sugars analysis showed that relatively large amount of 1-kestose, 1-nystose, and 1-F-fructosyl nystose known as fructooligosaccharide were found in garlic in addition to glucose, fructose, and sucrose. Garlic from $S\u{o}san$ contained high amount of 1-nystose and 1-F- fructosyl nystose. Total free amino acid content in garlic was in a range of $2036.1{\sim}2704.0mg%$, and it was higher in garlic from $S\u{o}san$ and $Uis\u{o}ng$. Lactic acid, pyruvic acid, oxalic acid, malonic acid, fumaric acid, levunic acid, succinic acid, malic acid, citric acid and pyroglutamic acid were found in garlic. Total organic acid content in garlic was $1905.7{\sim}2359.2mg$, and garlic from $Hampy\u{o}ng$ had relatively low organic acid contents.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.211-222
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• 2014

Pork belly meat is one of the most preferred food items for many Korean people. The odorants released from cooking of pork belly meat were measured by three kinds of cooking methods (Charcoal-grill (C), Electric Pan (E), and Gas burner-pan (G)). A total of 16 target compounds including carbonyl compounds, volatile organic compounds, and poly aromatic hydrocarbon were selected and analyzed for comparative purposes. Their emission concentrations were quantified using HPLC-UV, GC-MS, GC-TOF-MS, etc. The gas samples collected by Charcoal-grill cooking showed generally enhanced concentrations of most target compounds among all three kinds of cooking methods. In Charcoal-grill, concentration of benzene, formaldehyde and pyrene went up to 543, 516, and 402 ppb, respectively. It the results are compared in terms of the sum of odor intensity, the highest value (4.25) was also seen from Charcoal-grill. The results of this study confirm that the significantly reduced emission of harmful pollutants can be attained, it pork belly meat is cooked by the Gas or electric pan instead of Charcoal-grill.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.256-266
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• 2020

Objectives: The concentrations and distribution characteristics of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in an industrial complex and surrouding affected residential areas were investigated in an effort to support the efficient management of VOCs. Methods: The atmospheric concentrations of VOCs were analyzed at sites around the Sihwa-Banwol complex located in the cities of Siheung and Ansan and in the surrounding affected residential areas. The appearance of VOCs and the characteristics of their temporal and spatial distribution were evaluated. Results: The total VOC concentrations in the industrial complex were detected at 1.9-2.3 times higher than in the affected areas, but the daily VOCs distributions showed similar patterns in both sites. In particular, it was confirmed that the composition ratio of the VOCs and concentration fluctuations over time in the affected areas are similar to those in the adjacent industrial complex. VOC levels in the affected areas were higher than in residential areas in cities without an industrial complex. Conclusions: VOCs in residential areas near an industrial complex were highly distributed due to the influence of continuous pollutant emissions from the industrial complex. Therefore, the management of VOCs in the atmosphere of the affected area is important for identifying and managing the sources of VOCs detected in high concentrations in the industrial complex.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.305-319
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• 2016

This study was carried out to evaluate the performance of two sampling methods, i.e., adsorbent tubes and canisters, for the measurement of ambient volatile organic compounds (VOCs). A total of 24 target VOCs were selected from a list of 48 priority hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) in Korea. The two sampling methods were investigated with a wide range of performance criteria such as repeatability, linearity, and lower detection limits. In addition, mean relative errors (MRE) and mean duplicate precisions (MDP) were estimated by inter-lab comparison studies for duplicate field samples. Precisions for the two methods appeared to be well comparable with the performance criteria recommended by USEPA TO-15 and TO-17 for canister and adsorbent methods, respectively. Correlations and variations between the VOCs concentrations determined by the two methods were generally good in most cases. However, MREs and MDPs for individual VOCs appeared to be widely ranged, depending on each VOC. This implies that the two methods have its own advantages and disadvantages in determining a variety of VOCs in ambient air, and neither of which has absolute superiority. Finally, 9 of 24 VOCs were found to be difficult to determine by either methods due to their unstability in a canister, and lack of appropriate standard materials. Thus, it is suggested that development of measurement methods for such unstable VOCs is an urgent task from a viewpoint of HAPs management.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.183-191
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• 2008

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are common constituents of cleaning and degreasing agents, paints, pesticides, personal care products, gasoline and solvents. And VOCs are evaporated at room temperature and most of them exhibit acute and chronic toxicity to human. Benzene is the most widely used prototypical VOC and the toxic mechanisms of them are still unclear. The multi-step process of toxic mechanism can be more fully understood by characterizing gene expression changes induced in cells by toxicants. In this study, DNA microarray was used to monitor the expression levels of genes in HepG2 cells and HL-60 cells exposed to the benzene on IC20 and IC50 dose respectively. In the clustering analysis of gene expression profiles, although clusters of HepG2 and HL-60 cells by benzene were divided differently, expression pattern of many genes observed similarly. We identified 916 up-regulated genes and 1,144 down-regulated genes in HepG2 cells and also 1,002 up-regulated genes and 919 down-regulated genes in HL-60 cells. The gene ontology analysis on genes expressed by benzene in HepG2 and HL-60 cells, respectively, was performed. Thus, we found some principal pathways, such as, focal adhesion, gap junction and signaling pathway in HepG2 cells and toll-like receptor signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, p53 signaling pathway and neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction in HL-60 cells. And we also found 16 up-regulated and 14 down-regulated commonly expressed total 30 genes that belong in the same biological process like inflammatory response, cell cycle arrest, cell migration, transmission of nerve impulse and cell motility in two cell lines. In conclusion, we suggest that this study is meaningful because these genes regarded as strong potential biomarkers of benzene independent of cell type.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.91-98
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• 2013

In order to study the seasonal patterns and possible origins of air concentrations of volatile organic compounds(VOC), measurements were taken with GC-MS at 3 sampling sites in Jinju for 12 months from Mar. 2010 to Feb. 2011. Atmospheric VOC are sampled on tubes containing solid adsorbents(Tenax TA) with a time resolution of 2hrs. Composition and concentration of VOC are analysed with a GC system equipped with thermal desorption apparatus(ATD). The most abundant compound appeared to be Toluene, Ethylbenzene and m,p-Xylene. The mean concentrations of Benzene were 0.20 ppb at GN site, 0.18 ppb at DA site, and 0.25 ppb at SP site, respectively. VOC concentration showed a strong seasonal variation, with higher concentrations during the spring and lower concentrations during the summer. The results showed that monthly fluctuations in measured VOC concentrations depended on variations in the strength of sources, as well as on photochemical activity and meteorological conditions. In Jinju, the total VOC emissions for 2009 were estimated to be 4,407 ton/year by Clean Air Policy Support System(CAPSS). It is shown that solvent use 57.5%(2,534 ton/yr), waste treatment and disposal 23.3%(1,025 ton/yr), and mobil source-road traffic 12.2%(537 ton/yr) are the most significant anthropogenic source.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.767-774
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• 2008

This study was carried out to evaluate the characteristics of atmospheric concentrations of volatile organic compounds(VOCs) and aldehydes for near a large shipyard. Most of the painting work in marine coating is performed indoor and outdoor. Most of the VOCs are emitted to the atmosphere as the paint is applied and cures. The massive scale of a ship makes it difficult to capture the emissions from outdoor painting. The VOCs are an important health and contributors to photochemical smog. The VOCs and aldehydes samples were collected using adsorbent tube and 2,4-DNPH cartridge, and were determined by an automatic thermal desorption coupled with GC/MS and HPLC-UV analysis, respectively. A total of 16 aromatic VOCs and 12 aldehydes of environmental concern were determined. At indoor coating facilities, the most abundant compound among 16 target VOCs appeared to be m,p-xylene, being followed by o-xylene. But most of the aldehydes were extremely lower concentrations. The atmospheric concentration of VOCs, m,p-xylene concentrations were the highest and the mean value were outdoor workshop 11.323 ppb, residental area 5.134 ppb, and green area 2.137 ppb, respectively. However, the most aldehydes were extremely lower concentrations such as formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and non-detection such as iso-valeraldehyde, n-valeraldehyde and o-tolualdehyde.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.54-67
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• 2006

This study was performed to deduct the extension possibility of the standards establishment for $NO_2$, $O_3$, Asbestos, Radon, total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) excluded in the indoor air part of Industrial Safety Acts in Korea. The air pollutants were sampled for 30 office buildings from August to September, 2005 in the metropolitan area. The airborne concentrations of $NO_2$, $O_3$, Radon and TVOC were 0.0092 ppm, 0.0035 ppm, 0.57 pCi/L and $423{\mu}g/m^3$, respectively. The management plan and reduction methods is required in the aspect of indoor air quality(IAQ) because the emission sources of those also exist in indoor as well as outdoor even though those were not exceeded the standards of the Ministry of Environment in Korea. The standard for TVOC in the new and remodeling office has to be established based on the risk assessment when hazard index exceeded "1" in the worst case scenario. In the state of art, the management of each volatile organic compounds has a difficulty due to not enough data for toxicological reference. Therefore, it is suggested that first of all, the standard for TVOC be established and then expanded to each materials for decision-making of improvement of IAQ in office.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.477-491
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• 2014

This study was carried out to evaluate the concentration variations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the office environments located in a large urban area with respect to seasonality, smoking status, types of ventilation and heating. Indoor air sampling was undertaken in 37 and 30 offices in Daegu city during summer and winter, respectively. The VOC samples were collected using adsorbent tubes, and were determined by thermal desorption coupled with GC/MS analysis. The analytical method was validated for repeatability, method detection limits (MDL), and duplication precision. A total of 34 VOCs of environmental concern were determined, including 15 aromatics and 19 halogenated hydrocarbons. Average concentrations of BTEX appeared to 1.91 ppb, 22.98 ppb, 3.44 ppb, and 3.70 ppb, respectively. These values were relatively higher levels than those measured at homes and outdoor roadsides reported by other researches. In general, the concentrations of VOCs were higher in winter than summer, in smoking offices than non-smoking offices, in forced ventilation type than natural ventilation type, and in combustion heating than non-combustion heating offices. However, such differences were not always significant at a level of 0.05 by statistical tests (t-test and/or Mann-Whitney test) with some exceptions for BTEX and styrene. This study demonstrated that smoking status, ventilation type and presence of combustion sources indoors could be important factors on the elevated concentrations of some VOCs in the office environment.