• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.221-229
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• 1997

Wax is a protectant for floors that is used widely in Korea and is considered an emission source of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the indoor environment. This study examined the concentration change of indoor VOCs due to waxing and also due to wiping the floor with an oiled dustcloth. VOCs were identified using a cryogenic concentration/thermal desorption system with capillary GC that utilized a liquid nitrogen cryostat and induction heating. The major components emitted from the waxing were nonane, decane, undecane, $C_2$-benzene, and $C_3$-benzene. The concentrations of nonane were 1,276 $\mu\textrm{g}$/㎥ an hour after wax applications, 832 $\mu\textrm{g}$/㎥ after 3 days, and less than 10$\mu\textrm{g}$/㎥) after 15 days. Another emission source of VOCs in indoor was the oiled dustcloth used for cleaning the floor. The oiled dustcloth gave VOCs concentrations three times higher than the normal undusted floor.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.178-191
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• 2018

The concentrations and chemical compositions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including volatile fatty acids, phenols, indoles, aldehydes, and ketones, which are the main organic compounds generated by swine, were investigated in July and October 2016 and January 2017. In addition, the emission rates and annual emissions of these components from the swine shed were estimated. The concentrations of VOCs in the swine shed averaged $511.3{\mu}g\;m^{-3}$ in summer, $315.5{\mu}g\;m^{-3}$ in fall and $218.6{\mu}g\;m^{-3}$ in winter. Acetone, acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid were the predominant components of the VOCs, accounting for 80-88% of the total VOCs. The hourly variations of VOC concentrations in the swine shed in fall and winter suggest that the VOC concentrations were related to the ventilation rate of the swine shed, the activity of the swine, and the temperature in the swine shed. Accordingly, the emission rates of VOCs from the swine shed were $1-2{\times}10^3{\mu}g(h\;kg-swine)^{-1}$.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.369-381
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• 2009

The objective of this study was to simulate surface air pollutants and to examine reliability of mobile emission for CMAQ system using an observation-based approach in the Seoul Metropolitan Area. Accurate assessment of emissions from mobile source is one of the most debatable parts in the entire emissions inventory process. For this study, we evaluated the official emission inventories of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides ($NO_x$) using an observation-based approach. In this paper, we achieved VOCs/CO and $NO_x$/CO ratios derived from ambient measurements taken from June to August of 2005 in early morning (07:00~08:00). And we compared them with those derived from the emission inventory. Based on these ratios and on the assumption that official inventory of CO emissions is reasonably accurate, mobile emissions of $NO_x$ seem to be slightly overestimated and VOCs emissions significantly underestimated. The results of simulations using modified emission of mobile source were in closer agreement with the observation results except NO. Predicted NO values based on revised $NO_x$ emissions were considerably lower than the observed values. Using modified emission inventories brings the modeled values into closer agreement with observed ozone levels in Seoul. Especially in case of CO, $NO_x$ and VOCs emission, the modified values were suitable for simulating ozone levels in Seoul and Gyeonggi. However, ozone values predicted using the modified emissions were higher than the observed and predicted values based on original emissions. According to the 95 percentile ozone concentrations, emission revised by CO, $NO_x$ and VOCs from mobile source was the best for predicting high concentration.

• Proceedings of the Korea Air Pollution Research Association Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.499-500
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• 2004

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.11-21
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• 2012

This study investigated the characteristics of selected volatile organic compounds(VOCs) in newly-finished residential buildings, before the occupants moved in. This investigation was carried out by measuring the indoor and outdoor concentrations of selected VOCs before the occupants moved in and by utilizing an indoor mass balance model. Among 25 target VOCs, five aromatics(benzene, ethyl benzene, toluene, m,p-xylene, and o-xylene) were detected in all samples of both indoor and outdoor air. Toluene was most abundant VOC in the indoor air of new apartments, with a median value of 168 mg $m^{-3}$. Unlike other VOCs, halogenated compounds would not be significantly emitted from building materials. The indoor air concentrations of all selected VOCs, except for 1,3,5-trimethyl benzene, exhibited significant correlations each other, while for outdoor air concentrations, five aromatics only were significantly correlated between them. The emission rate of toluene was higher for the current study(median value, 76.8 mg $m^{-2}\;h^{-1}$) than for a previous study, while the emission rates of limonene, a-pinene and b-pinene(geometric means of 2.4, 13.8 and 9.6 mg $m^{-2}\;h^{-1}$, respectively) were lower and the emission rates of m,p-xylene and 2-butanone(geometric means of 10.9 and 21.3 mg $m^{-2}\;h^{-1}$, respectively) were similar. Although there were a few exceptions, the emission strengths are likely proportional to indoor temperature, and appear to reversely proportional to air exchange rate.

• Journal of Wellbeing Management and Applied Psychology
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.17-22
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• 2023

Purpose: VOCs (volatile organic compounds) are all the organic compounds that react with solar rays and increase the concentration of ozone in the troposphere and are partially also known as carcinogens. The adsorption using activated carbon is usually applied to remove VOCs. Research design, data and methodology: The 20 places of surface coating facilities were selected to evaluate the emission amount of VOCs in Seoul. In addition, the removal efficiency of VOCs in 25 places of automobile coating facilities was evaluated. Results: The average emission amount of VOCs was 10.903 kg/hr from automobile coating facilities, while 3.520 kg/hr from other surface coating facilities. The removal efficiency in adsorption with the combustion catalytic process has the mean value of 87.9% and the regeneration efficiency of activated carbon has the mean value of 95.0%. Conclusions: The removal efficiency in adsorption with the biofiltration process has the mean value of 89.8% and the regeneration efficiency of activated carbon has the mean value of 94.8%. The removal efficiency in the plasma catalyst process has the mean value of 79.3%.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.139-148
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• 2009

In Seoul, the largest emission source for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) based on the emission inventory is solvent usage followed by vehicular exhaust. However, according to a CMB modeling result by Na and Kim (2007), vehicular exhaust was the largest emission source followed by solvent usage. Detailed analyses on the validity of the CMB model result were carried out and it was suggested that the existing emission inventory for VOCs might be underestimating vehicular emission. Scientific considerations that should be considered for the effective control strategy against VOCs are discussed.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.30 no.5 s.81
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• pp.487-492
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• 2004

Building materials are composed of very complex chemical compounds, and these indoor building materials discharge very much Volatile Organic Compounds(VOCs). We performed the environmental chamber test to investigate the Total VOCs(TVOCs) emission characteristics and emission factors about chemical and natural coating materials. As the result, we concluded that TVOCs emission are high at initial time and decreased in course of time. Natural paint was low emission level for TVOCs than chemical paint by small chamber test. The TVOCs emission factor-time profile showed a good fit with the results from the measured and predicted value.

• Architectural research
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.19-26
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• 2005

Unlike other countries, Korea uses various kinds of wall-paper as finishing material. Conventional wall-paper consists of paper and vinyl, and petrochemical ink is used for the decoration of the surface. Adhesive is used to paste the wall with the wall-paper, which emit substantial amounts of VOCs and formaldehyde. In this study, VOCs characteristics emitted from specimens made of concrete, mortar, gypsum board and wall-paper were investigated using small chamber method. Moreover, concentration and emission factor of BTEX(Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, m,p,o-Xylene) and TVOC were investigated, and concentration and emission factor decay were estimated. As a result of the prediction, both time-dependent concentration decay and cumulative concentration can be converted into the logarithmic scale. Furthermore, prediction equations were developed from the experimental results under accurately controlled experimental conditions. Therefore, there may be difference if the estimated equations are directly applied to real buildings. Further research should be done on the generalization of the developed prediction equations.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.191-204
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• 2005

Building and furnishing materials and consumer product are important sources of volatile organic compounds(VOCs) and other aldehydes in the indoor environment. Some available evidence indicates that VOCs can cause adverse health effects to the building occupants and contribute to some of the symptoms of what we call, 'Sick House Syndrome' in Korea. The aims of this study were to evaluate the efficiency of emission system and to investigate comparison of the emission characteristics of different building materials such as wall-papers, paints, and adhesives. The emission of VOCs from building materials were determined in the small chambers defining the temperature, relative humidity, and ventilation rate in this study. VOCs were sampled for 20 minutes using Tenax-TA tubes and analysed by GC-MS with thermal desorption. The stability of conditions for temperature and relative humidity in this small chamber system showed that the fluctuation of temperature was between 25.4$\pm$0.3$^{\circ}C$ and that of relative humidity was 50.2$\pm$0.6$\%$ under the airflow rate of 167 mL/min. The emission tests from building materials resulted in TVOC emission rates of 0.011 $\~$ 3.108 mg/m$^{2}$h after 7 days. The general wall-papers emitted toluene abundantly and the natural wall-papers mainly emitted n-butanol and a minor amount of alkanes compound such as n -tetradecane. The remainder consisted of toluene, m,p -xylene, and styrene. The paints mainly emitted toluene and the adhesives mainly emitted chloroform as well as toluene. As a result, this study is expected to suggest meaningful data for future studies in exposure control through selecting healthy building materials and for the establishment of guidelines for various building materials in Korea.