• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.510-519
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• 2021

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in sediments, which can cause human health problems, have been monitored in Korea since 2014. Measured VOC concentrations can be affected by matrix type and the volatility of target substances. In this study, (1) VOCs volatility and the influence of matrix interference were confirmed, and (2) internal standards (IS) method was applied to improve analytical method. For these purposes, method detection limit (MDL), calibration linearity, precision and accuracy of VOCs were compared in various matrices using the IS. Some of VOCs in sediments showed different peak areas and reduced rates compared to water matrix. It was suggested that adsorption properties of sediments hindered the migration to vapor during heat pretreatment in headspace method. A calibration curve was created in clean sand. Recovery rates for the calibration curve method and IS applying method were 64.1~83.1% and 99.1~119.3%, respectively. Relative standard deviations ranged from 11.1% to 21.6% for the calibration curve method and those for IS ranged 4.7% to 13.7%. In case of real sediment, calibration curve and 1,2-Dichlorobenzene-d4 (ODCB) among IS were not suitable. The average recovery rate of Fluorobenzene (FBZ) increased by 56.4% and Relative Standard Deviation (RSD) by 4.7%. However, the recovery rate was increased in the samples with large values of igniting intensity. This study confirmed that influence of the matrix of VOCs in sediment, and addition of IS materials improved precision and accuracy. Although IS corrects volatilization and adsorption, it is recommended that more than two types of IS should be added rather than single.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.45-56
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• 2008

This study was to assess the lifetime cancer and non-cancer risk of exposure of worker and user at public facilities in Korea to volatile organic compounds (VOCs). We measured the concentrations of two aldehydes and five VOCs in indoor air at 424 public buildings that 8 kinds of public facilities (70 movie theaters, 86 offices, 86 restaurants, 70 academies, 22 auditoriums, 30 PC-rooms, 30 singing-rooms and 30 bars) all over the country. There were estimated the human exposure dose and risks with averages of the using-time and frequency for facility users and office workers, respectively. Carcinogens (formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and benzene) were estimated the lifetime excess cancer risks (ECRs). non-carcinogens (toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, and styrene) were estimated the hazard quotients (HQs). The average ECRs of formaldehyde and benzene for facility worker and user were $1{\times}10^{-3}{\sim}1{\times}10^{-4}\;and\;1{\times}10^{-4}{\sim}1{\times}10^{-5}$ level, respectively, in all facilities. HQs of four non-carcinogens did not exceed 1.0 for all subjects in all facilities. The estimated ECRs for restaurant and auditorium were the highest, and the PC-room and bar were the next higher facilities. Furthermore, people in a smoking facility had the highest cancer risk. Higher ECRs of formaldehyde and benzene were observed in indoor smoking facilities such as restaurant and auditorium. Higher HQs of toluene and xylene were observed at the restaurant and office building.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.479-487
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• 2009

Because of the building is made airtight, Indoor Air Quality(IAQ) is go from bad to worse. There are many source of indoor pollution in any home. These include irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, headaches, dizziness, and fatigue. Such immediate effects are usually short-term and treatable. In this study was measured and analyzed VOCs exposure levels and characteristic of Indoor air pollutant from new apartments in Korea. VOCs were measured indoor pre-residential and residential in new apartment and analyzed GC/MS. The concentration levels of indoor respirable TVOC were found to be higher than those of outdoor TVOC for new apartments. Before occupation, the average indoor and outdoor concentrations were 1498.61 $ug/m^3$ and 468.38 $ug/m^3$, respectively. After being occupied, the average indoor and outdoor concentration were 847.04 $ug/m^3$ and 102.84, respectively. The concentrations of TVOC in new apartments before occupation were shown in the order of Toluene(328.12 $ug/m^3$) > m,p-Xylene(163.67 $ug/m^3$) > Ethy1benzene(80.70 $ug/m^3$>o-XYlene (67.04$ug/m^3$). In addition, the TVOCs concentrations after occupation were also found in the order of Toluene (272.28 $ug/m^3$) > m.p-Xylene(121.79 $ug/m^3$) > Ethylbenzene(53.92 $ug/m^3$)>O-Xylene(24.94 $ug/m^3$). As a result, the concentrations of VOCs in new apartment houses were shown to be affected by indoor environment according activity patterns. So new apartments need to be controled in indoor air quality so that the residents can have more comfortable and healthier living environment.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.673-682
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• 2016

In this study, we investigated influent and effluent water pollutants in 53 Public Sewage Treatment Works (PSTWs) where industrial wastewater or landfill leachate is combined four times for two years from 2014 to 2015. Also, we analyzed the characteristics of heavy metals and volatile organic carbons at influent and effluent of these PSTWs caused by sewage treatment combined with industrial wastewater or landfill leachate. As a result, six heavy metals such as barium, copper, iron, manganese, nickel and zinc, and four volatile organic carbons (VOCs) including phenols, di(2-)ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), formaldehyde and toluene were observed above detection limits in most of PSTWs. Also, it was revealed that six heavy metals such as hexavalent chromium, mercury, cadmium, chromium, nickel and selenium, and four VOCs including 1,1-dichloroethylene, vinyl chloride, naphthalene, and epichlorohydrin were observed more frequently according to precipitation. As a result of reviewing the monitoring data on "Water Quality Monitoring Networks" in lower watersheds of PSTWs, both heavy metals and VOCs were below detection limits, indicating that the effluent water had little influence on the watershed. Nevertheless for the better management of influent and effluent pollutants in PSTWs, it is necessary to establish the advanced management plans for water pollutants in PSTWs, which include a list of priority substances management, monitoring plans, and guidelines for industrial wastewater and landfill leachate combined in PSTWs.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.523-538
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• 2009

Recently, there has been a keen demand for real-time automatic monitoring of VOCs not only in Korea but other developed countries. We carried out this study to evaluate and to optimize the performance of a continuous automatic monitoring system for hazardous VOCs (HVOCs) in the ambient atmosphere, using an on-line GC system. The online system normally consisted of a Nafion dryer prior to a cold trap of an automatic thermal desorption apparatus and a GC system equipped with two detectors, i.e. PID and ECD. Preliminary tests conducted to check out any contamination of the system revealed an evidence of significant artifact formation of benzene, and it was found that the Nafion dryer (even brand new one) is the source of the benzene artifact. Thus, all the subsequent experiments in this study was carried out inevitably by removing the Nafion dryer. The on-line GC method was investigated with a variety of QC/QA performance criteria such as repeatability, linearity, lower detection limits, and accuracy. In order to find out the best operating condition for the on-line GC system, three different types (in terms of adsorption strength) of cold trap combinations were tested, i.e. (i) Tenax-TA and Carbopack-B combination (weak and hydrophobic); (ii) Tenax-TA, Carbopack-X and Carboxen-1000 combination (strong and hydrophilic); and (iii) Tenax-TA and Carbopack-X combination (medium and hydrophobic/hydrophilic). The USEPA TO-17 manual method was selected as a reference method to evaluate the performance of the on-line method. A series of experiments revealed that the system performance was superior to others when a cold trap packed with hydrophilic adsorbents (Tenax-TA/Carbopack-X/Carboxen-1000 combination) was used and operated at $25^{\circ}C$. However, the system with a cold trap packed with a combination of Tenax-TA and Carbopack-X is more recommended for field applications since the carboxen-1000 adsorbent is too sensitive to water vapor, and hence the performance of the system might be very unstable to humid samples or during rainy days. Furthermore, the precision and accuracy criteria of the Tenax-TA/ Carbopack-X combination were generally compatible with the triple adsorbents cold trap. The continuous automatic monitoring method is, thus, considered very useful to real-time monitoring to understand the variations of VOCs concentrations in ambient air, as it adopts much simpler procedures in sampling, analysis, and data integration steps than manual monitoring methods. However, it should be noted that there is a high possibility of benzene artifacts formation through the Nafion dryer, which is often installed to remove water vapor in air samples before being adsorbed onto the cold trap. Therefore, if a Nafion dryer is used in any studies of monitoring VOCs, the benzene contamination should be carefully examined before carrying out obtaining the data.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.407-417
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• 2003

In this study, we measured the concentration of VOCs in ambient air and landfill gas (LFG) in a midsize municipal landfill site. The LFG flux values of VOCs were computed using a total of fifteen VOCs determined by GC-PID system. To understand relative contribution of these 15 VOCs to the total carbon budget, their concentration and flux estimates were compared to those of non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHC) measured concurrently. It was also found that there were systematic differences in absolute VOC concentration levels between LFG and air samples above landfill surface. The VOC concentrations in LFG samples were high enough to reach above a few tens of ppm that are 10 to 100 times higher than those in air above landfill surface. If the LFG flux values were computed using the LFG concentration data of 15 VOCs and NMHC with exit ventilation speed, the magnitude of emissions in the study area is estimated to be 8.6 and 103 ton C/yr, respectively. In the meantime, large fraction of those speciated VOC emissions is accounted for by BTEX.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.468-475
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• 2005

Biofilters packed with various materials have emerged as a sustainable technology for the treatment of volatile organic compounds (VOCs); however, problems including low performance and clogging are commonly encountered. Recently, a bioactive foam reactor (BFR) using surfactants has been suggested to ensure efficient and stable VOCs removal performance. This study was mainly conducted to investigate the feasibility of BFRs using toluene as a model compound. Prior to bioreactor studies, a series of bottle tests were used to select a suitable surfactant for the BFR application. Experimental results of the batch bottle tests indicated that TritonX-100 was the most appropriate one among the surfactants tested, since it showed a minimal effect on the toluene biodegradation rate while the other surfactants lowered the toluene biodegradation rate significantly. Using the selected surfactant, the BFR performance was determined by changing operating parameters including gas residence time and toluene loading. As the gas residence time increased from 0.5 minutes to 2 minutes, the toluene removal efficiency increased from approximately 50% to 80%. In addition, an increase of the toluene loading from $38\;g/m^3/hr$ to $454\;g/m^3/hr$ resulted in a decrease of toluene removal efficiency from approximately 70% to 20%. The BFR had a maximum elimination capacity of $108\;g/m^3/hr$ for toluene, which was much higher than those generally reported in the literature. The high toluene-elimination performance indicates that the BFR be a potential alternative to the conventional, packed-type biofilters. However, the limitation of toluene solubilization and foam stability at either high or low gas flow rate are still problems to be challenged.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.77-84
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• 2010

The diffusion and partition coefficients of polyurethane foam (PUF) are estimated using a microbalance experiment and small chamber test. The microbalance is used to measure sorption/desorption kinetics and equilibrium data. When the diffusion condition is controlled in the chamber of the sample, interactions between volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and PUF can lead to the estimation of a relatively homogenous rate of mass transfer in the interiors and surfaces of PUF. The estimates of the material/air partition coefficient (K) and the material-phase diffusion coefficient (D) are shown to be independent of the concentrations of VOCs. This approach, if applied to a diffusion-controlled or physically-based model, can facilitate more precise prediction of their source/sink behavior. Although further research and more rigorous validation is needed, an emission model applied with the diffusion and partition coefficients from this research holds promise for the improvement of reliability in predicting the behavior of VOCs emitted from porous building materials by D and K.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.191-196
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• 2007

Indoor air differs from outdoor atmosphere since it contains chemical and physical contaminants from building materials. This study deals with the biological effects of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released from synthetic fiber carpet materials. One group of Tradescantia inflorescence was exposed to VOCs from the carpet sample in the environmental test chamber, while the other inflorescence group was exposed to a TO-14 standard gas mixture (1 ppm) for comparison. After the exposure, VOCs from the carpet were analysed by the desorber/GC/MS method, and micronuclei in the pollen mother cells of Tradescantia were scored under a microscope $({\times}400)$ to evaluate the genotocixicity induced by the exposure to VOCs. The chemical analysis confirmed that a total of 12 VOCs were released from the carpet materials, among which stylene $(71.9{\mu}g\;m^{-3})$ and toluene $(49.6{\mu}g\;m^{-3})$ were in the highest concentration. Twenty four hours of exposure to VOCs from the carpet in the environmental test chamber resulted in a micronucleus frequency as high as $7.73{\pm}0.75MCN$ per 100 tetrads, which was similar to that induced after exposure to the TO-14 standard gas mixture (1 ppm) for 4 hours. Meanwhile, two hours of exposure to the standard gas mixture did not cause a significant increase in the genotoxicity compared to the spontaneous micronucleus frequency. This result indicates that exposure for a long time to the air contaminated with VOCs from the carpet materials causes a genotoxic effect. The biological-chemical combination analyses in the study proved to be an effective tool for monitoring the indoor air contaminants.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.142-153
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• 2019

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine environmental chemical exposure related to residential and personal lifestyle characteristics in the adult Korean population. The observations of this study can provide information useful for developing reduction approaches for exposure to chemicals among the general adult population. Methods: The second stage of the Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNHES) was conducted from 2012 to 2014, with 6,478 persons participating. Using the results of the survey, the relationship between exposure levels of heavy metals and organic chemicals and exposure factors, e.g. residential and personal lifestyle characteristics, were analyzed. Results: The exposure levels of VOCs and PAHs were significantly lower in participants living at a distance of more than 100 m from roads versus living closer to roads. Home ventilation lowered VOC and PAH exposure but did not lower chemical exposure from household products. Use of public transportation showed lower exposure to heavy metals, VOCs, and PAHs. Current smoker was significantly higher for levels of heavy metals, VOCs, and PAHs, and the exposure trend was similar for current drinkers. Physical activity was related with higher exposure to phthalates and environmental phenols. Conclusion: Our observations based on a nationally representative population for Korea show that exposure to chemicals varies by residential and personal lifestyle, and this should be considered for developing appropriate mitigation measures and policies. Given the health concerns surrounding environmental chemicals, it is necessary to develop comprehensive measures to reduce chemical exposure.