• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.32 no.4 s.91
• /
• pp.292-303
• /
• 2006

The Volatile Organic Compounds(VOCs) are emitted from various sources and have lots of different form. Recently human are spending the many times at indoor area and indoor air pollution is issued the important social problem. The emission sources of indoor air pollutants are very various, also indoor building materials are composed of very complex chemical compounds, these indoor building materials discharge very much VOCs and other hazardous compounds. In this study, we performed the small chamber test to investigate the VOCs emission concentration and characteristics involving five kinds of the indoor building materials(furniture material, wooden floor, wall paper, paint and tile) under different conditions of four temperature and relative humidity as account of the air flow rate(AFR), air exchange rate(AER), loading factor and air velocity respectively. As the result, It was showed that building materials are emitted the highest VOCs concentration at the beginning of experiment and furniture material is emitted the highest VOCs concentration. Most of the materials were affected by temperature, but paint and tile material were affected by humidity.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
• /
• v.19 no.4 s.54
• /
• pp.19-24
• /
• 2004

The objective of this study was to develop a mechanistically based mathematical model that would consider the interdependence of VOCs transport, microbial activity, and sorptive interactions in a moist, unsaturated soil. Because the focus of the model was on description of natural attenuation, the advective VOCs transport that is induced in engineered remediation processes such as vapor extraction was not considered. The utility of the model was assessed through its ability to describe experimental observations from diffusion experiments using toluene as a representative VOCs in well-defined soil columns that contained a toluene degrading bacterium, Pseudomonas putida G7 md Fl, as the sole active microbial species. The gas-liquid mass-transfer was found to be a key parameter controlling the ability of bacteria to degrade VOCs. This finding indicates that soil size and geometry are likely to be important parameters in assessing the possible success of natural attenuation of VOCs in contaminated unsaturated soils. Therefore we found that Pseudomonas putida G7 and Fl were very effective to remove of refractory pollutants such as toluene in soil by Bio-filter

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.47 no.2
• /
• pp.131-143
• /
• 2021

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the atmospheric concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and the urinary concentration of biomarkers in residents near the Shinpyeong·Jangrim Industrial Complex to compare them with those of residents in a control area. Methods: Hazardous air pollutants (PAHs and VOCs) were measured in an exposure area (two sites) and a control area (one site). Urine samples were collected from residents near the industrial complex (184 persons) and residents in the control area (181 persons). Multiple linear regression analysis was used to identify which factors affected the concentration of PAHs and VOCs metabolites. Results: The average atmospheric concentration of PAHs in Shinpyeong-dong and Jangrim-dong was 0.45 and 0.59 ppb for pyrene, 0.15 and 0.16 ppb for benzo[a]pyrene, and 0.29 and 0.35 ppb for dibenz[a,h]anthracene. The average atmospheric concentration of VOCs was 1.10 and 0.99 ppb for benzene, 8.22 and 11.30 ppb for toluene, and 1.91 and 3.05 ppb for ethylbenzene, respectively. The concentrations of PAHs and VOCs in residents near the Shinpyeong·Jangrim Industrial Complex were higher than those of residents in the control area. Geometric means of urinary 2-hydroxyfluorene, 1-hydroxypyrene, methylhippuric acid, and mandelic acid concentrations were 0.45, 0.22, 391.51, and 201.36 ㎍/g creatinine, respectively. Those levels were all significantly higher than those in the control area (p<0.05). In addition, as a result of multiple regression analysis, even after adjusting for potential confounding factors such as gender and smoking, the concentration of metabolites in urine was high in residents near the Shinpyeong·Jangrim Industrial Complex. Conclusion: The results of this study show the possibility of human exposure to VOCs in residents near the Shinpyeong·Jangrim Industrial Complex. Therefore, continuous monitoring of the local community is required for the management of environmental pollutant emissions.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.209-222
• /
• 2006

Odor problems brought about by deteriorating air quality occur in areas surrounding landfills because VOCs emissions from landfills are exhausted through surface soil and gas vents. Due to these factors, monitoring of VOCs emissions from landfills are essential. However, only a few studies have been carried out to assess VOCs emissions from landfills. A comprehensive approach to this problem is definitely warranted. In this study, we estimated BTEX emissions from 7 landfill sites in Korea using field experiments and LandGEM(Landfill Gas Emission Model), which is the USA EPA(Environmental Protection Agency)-recommended model for landfill gas emission estimation. For this purpose, we suitably modified the model's major input parameters $L_0$ and k according to 3 classes based on landfill scale after considering the characteristics of field experiments and LandGEM data. Consequently, we estimated VOCs emissions from landfills for cities, provinces and all of Korea alter modifying $L_0$ & k using LandGEM. Through the results of this study, we obtained essential basic data with respect to present conditions which will help us understand VOCs emissions from landfills in Korea.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.227-235
• /
• 2005

Source contribution for VOCs collected in Seoul metropolitan area was conducted using PAMs (Photochemical assessment monitoring system) data and CMB(Chemical Mass Balance) model8.0, in order to estimate spatial and temporal variations of VOCs source contribution in that area, and also to compare with corresponding emission inventory. VOCs data used in model calculation were collected at 6 different sites of PAMs(Seokmori, Guwoldong, Simgokdong, Bulgwangdong, Jeongdong and Yangpyeong) and 22 out of 56 VOCs species were analyzed from June 2002 to march 2003 and used for CMB model estimation. The result showed that vehicle exhaust, coating and energy combustion were important sources of VOCs in Seoul metropolitan area, averaging 32.6%, 25.5% and 25.1%, respectively. In this study as well as other references, it was revealed that vehicle exhaust is the main contributor of urban area VOCs, but there is remarkable contrast between emission inventory and model estimation. Vehicle exhaust portion is seriously underestimated while coating is usually overestimated in emission estimates, compared to CMB results. Therefore, it is considered to assert and confirm the uncertainty of emission estimates and clarify the distinction between two other source apportionment methods.

• Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.1-9
• /
• 2011

During automotive painting, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) associated with the paint solvents are emitted to the atmosphere. Most VOC emissions come from spraying operations via the use of solvent-based paints, as the spraybooth air picks up gaseous solvent compounds and overspray paint materials. The VOCs consist of aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons, ketones, esters, alcohols, and glycolethers. Most VOCs (some hydrophilic VOCs are captured and retained in the water.) are captured by an adsorption system and thermally oxidized. In this paper, the processes involved in automotive painting and in VOC control are reviewed. The topics include: painting operations (briefly), the nature of VOCs, VOC-control processes (adsorption, absorption, biological removal, and thermal oxidation) and energy recovery from VOCs using a fuel reformer and a fuel cell, and the beneficial use of paint sludge.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.52-56
• /
• 2002

The study was carried out to evaluate the characteristics of biodegradation by Pseudomonas putida G7 in soil column. The reactor system was used to investigate mass transfer of VOCs as Toluene in a column of unsaturated soil. Determination of the fate of VOCs in unsaturated soil is necessary to evaluate the feasibility of natural attenuation as a VOCs remediation strategy. The objective of this study was to develop a mechanistically based mathematical model that would consider the interdependence of VOC transport, microbial activity, and sorptive interactions in a moist, unsaturated soil. Because the focus of the model was on description of natural attenuation, the advective VOCs transport that is induced in engineered remediation processes such as vapor extraction was not considered. It can be concluded that the coefficient for gas liquid mass-transfer was found to be a key parameter controlling the ability of bacteria to VOCs. Finally, it appeared that bioremediation technology of VOCs which are difficult to be decomposed by chemical methods.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.40 no.3
• /
• pp.178-186
• /
• 2014

Background: This study was conducted to assess health risks in regard to exposure by children to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in children's products. Methods: Ten VOCs were measured by head-space gas chromatography in children's products, including toys, oil pastels, sign pens, furniture, ball pools, and playmats. We estimated the average daily dose (ADD) via inhalation during the use of these children's products and calculated hazard quotient (HQ) by dividing ADD by reference dose of VOCs. Results: Among the measured VOCs, five compounds were identified in children's products: benzene, ethylbenzene, styrene, toluene, and xylene. The detection rates of VOCs in toys, ball pools, furniture, playmats, sign pens, and oil pastels were 85%, 100%, 100%, 30%, 100%, and 60%, respectively. The maximum levels of VOCs were 0.18 mg benzene/kg in toys, 5.92 mg toluene/kg in playmats, 10.37 mg ethylbenzene/kg in ball pools, 24.85 mg xylene/kg in toys, and 118.29 mg styrene/kg in ball pools. From exposure levels of VOCs in the children's products HQs were calculated within a range of $5.71{\times}10^{-10}$ to $4.77{\times}10^{-4}$. The HQ of xylene was the highest for children aged 0-6 playing on the playmats. However, the HQ via inhalation exposure to VOCs in individual products did not exceed 1.00. Conclusion: Based on the results, it was concluded that the use of these children's products do not pose health risks to children.

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
• /
• 2004.06a
• /
• pp.223-226
• /
• 2004

Building materials emit high concentration volatile organic compounds(VOCs), formaldehyde(HCHO) and other hazardous air pollutants(HAPs) to indoor environment. Average value of VOCs and HCHO emission concentration were $3,770\;{\mu}g/m^3$, $430\;{\mu}g/m^3$ in newly buildings, respectively. VOCs and HCHO emission characteristic are high emission level at initial time and decreased in course of time.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.117-126
• /
• 2005

This study was executed to know the best matrix of photochemical ozone reduction in the metropolitan area. For this object, we used the OZIPR(Ozone Isopleth Plotting Package for Research) model for comparing the effectiveness of VOCs and NOx amount variation about the ozone creation. Among the various ozone reduction scenarios, 50% reduction of VOCs from organic solvent and road traffic respectively was the best matrix for ozone reduction. Although it needs more accurate assessment and confirmation of VOCs and NOx emission amount data, according to existing data, the control of VOCs is the best way for photochemical ozone reduction in Seoul.