• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.283-291
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• 2018

Objectives: To monitor the radon concentration level in plants that handle phosphorus rock and produce gypsum board and cement, and evaluate the effective dose considering the effect of radon exposure on the human body. Methods: Airborne radon concentrations were measured using alpha-track radon detectors (${\alpha}$-track, Rn-tech Co., Korea) and continuous monitors (Radon Sentinel 1030, Sun Nuclear Co., USA). Radon concentrations in the air were converted to radon doses using the following equation to evaluate the human effects due to radon. H (mSv/yr) = Radon gas concentration x Equilibrium factor x Occupancy factor x Dose conversion factor. The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) used $8nSv/(Bq{\cdot}hr/m^3)$ as the dose conversion factor in 2010, but raised it by a factor of four to $33nSv/(Bq{\cdot}hr/m^3)$ in 2017. Results: Radon concentrations and effective doses in fertilizer manufacturing process averaged $14.3(2.7)Bq/m^3$ ($2.0-551.3Bq/m^3$), 0.11-0.54 m㏜/yr depending on the advisory authority and recommendation year, respectively. Radon concentrations in the gypsum-board manufacturing process averaged $14.9Bq/m^3$ at material storage, $11.4Bq/m^3$ at burnability, $8.1Bq/m^3$ at mixing, $10.0Bq/m^3$ at forming, $8.9Bq/m^3$ at drying, $14.7Bq/m^3$ at cutting, and $10.5Bq/m^3$ at shipment. It was low because it did not use phosphate gypsum. Radon concentrations and effective doses in the cement manufacturing process were $23.2Bq/m^3$ in the stowage area, $20.2Bq/m^3$ in the hopper, $16.8Bq/m^3$ in the feeder and $11.9Bq/m^3$ in the cement mill, marking 0.12-0.63 m㏜/yr, respectively. Conclusions: Workers handling phosphorous gypsum directly or indirectly can be assessed as exposed to an annual average radon dose of 0.16 to 2.04 mSv or 0.010 to 0.102 WLM (Working Level Month).

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.615-623
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• 2014

Increases of public attention on healthy environment lead to the regulation of indoor air quality such as Clean Healthy House Construction Standard. This standard covers emission of total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) (e.g., formaldehyde, benzene, and toluene), ventilation, and use of environmentally-friendly products or functional products. Moisture absorption and desorption abilities are a recommended functionality for improving indoor air quality. In this study, moisture absorption and desorption capacities of carbonized board from wood-based panels and other materials were determined by using UNT-HEAT-01 according to ISO 24358:2008. Pine had higher moisture absorption and desorption capacities ($49.0g/m^2$ and $35.3g/m^2$, respectively) than hinoki cypress, cement board, gypsum board, oriented strand board, and medium density fiberboard (MDF). The moisture absorption and desorption capacities differed considerably according to the wood species. After carbonization process at $400^{\circ}C$, the absorption and desorption ability of MDF increased to 38% and 60%, respectively. However, moisture absorption and desorption capacities decreased with increasing carbonization temperature, but they were still higher than original MDF. Therefore, it is suggested that carbonization below $600^{\circ}C$ can improve moisture absorption/desorption capacities.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2009.05a
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• pp.471-472
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• 2009

Recently, UH-PH SC (Ultra High PH Strength Concrete) used in High rise building is the material increases in tendency. Thus, the results indicate that it is possible to fireproof panels, fire protection of materials.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.17 no.2 s.119
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• pp.149-154
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• 2007

Recently, the method of the apartment building design is changing from wall type to moment structure. Dry walls are used plentifully. Until now, the gypsum board is used mainly but it has many problems. For improving the problems, the light weight concrete panel using cement board is used recently. The purpose of this study is to obtain basic data for the light weight concrete panel using bottom ash. As a result, some structures satisfies domestic standard concerned with sound insulation between households at the laboratory and field test.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.163-171
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• 2014

Environmental issues about indoor air quality have been increased and focused on volatile organic compounds (VOCs) caused cancer, asthma, and skin disease. Reducing VOCs has been attempted in many different methods such as using environmentally friendly materials and air cleaner or purifier. Charcoal is well known material for absorbing VOCs. Therefore, carbonized board from medium density fiberboard has been developed. We assumed that the source of carbonized boards can be any type of wood-based panels. In this study, carbonized boards were manufactured from oriented strand board (OSB) at 400, 600, 800, and $1000^{\circ}C$. Each carbonized OSB (c-OSB) was evaluated and determined physiomechanical characteristics such as exterior defects, dimensional shrinkage, modulus of elasticity, and bending strength. No external defects were observed on c-OSBs at all carbonizing conditions. As carbonizing temperature increased, less porosity between carbonized wood fibers was observed by SEM analysis. The higher rate of dimensional shrinkage was observed on c-OSB at $1000^{\circ}C$ (66%) than c-OSB at 400, 600, and $800^{\circ}C$ (47%, 58%, and 63%, respectively). The densities of c-OSBs were lower than original OSB, but there was no significant different among the c-OSBs. The bending strength of c-OSB increased 1.58 MPa (c-OSB at $400^{\circ}C$) to 8.03 MPa (c-OSB at $1000^{\circ}C$) as carbonization temperature increased. Carbonization temperature above $800^{\circ}C$ yielded higher bonding strength than that of gypsum board (4.6 MPa). In conclusion, c-OSB may be used in sealing and wall for decorating purpose without additional artwork compare to c-MDF which has smooth surface.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2018.05a
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• pp.232-233
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• 2018

Among the recent environmental pollution, indoor air pollution has an adverse effect on the health of indoor residents. Radon, one of the causes of indoor air pollution, is released from concrete, gypsum board and asbestos slate among building materials. Radon is a primary carcinogen and is a colorless, tasteless, odorless inert gas that adheres to airborne dust and enters the body through breathing. At this time, there is a risk of developing cancer if the alpha rays from the lononggas entering the human body destroys the lung tissue and is continuously exposed to a high concentration of lonon gas. The World Health Organization (WHO) has emphasized the reduction of radon and its exposure to radon by classifying it as a first-level carcinogen, but many people have not recognized it yet, and the research is underdeveloped. Therefore, this study was carried out to investigate the properties of adsorbed coconut radon to prevent the inflow of radon gas, which is an air pollution source of indoor air, and to prevent inflow into the human body.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.183-187
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• 2014

Sick-building syndrome occurs when indoor air is polluted with harmful volatile organic compounds such as formaldehyde which are contained in furniture or new building materials. In this study, formaldehyde-shielding chitosangel sheet was developed and its performance was evaluated. Chitosan and agar were dissolved in acetic acid solution. The optimal concentrations of chitosan, acetic acid and agar were 3, 3, and 2.5 %(w/w). Formaldehyde was spreaded on gypsum board and then wall paper was attached on it by using glue. When chitosan-gel sheet was attached on this control board, the amount of formaldehyde released from the board was decreased by 63% than in control board. On the other hand, decrease in formaldehyde releasing was only 32% when liquid solution of chitosan was spreaded on the control board. This result clearly indicates that chitosan-gel sheet removes formaldehyde more effectively than liqud solution of chitosan. Furthermore, this type of sheet is more applicable to new building than spraying type.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.38-45
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• 2017

Objectives: Radon may be second only to smoking as a cause of lung cancer. Radon is a colorless, tasteless radioactive gas that is formed via the radioactive decay of radium. Therefore, radon levels can build up based on the amount of radium contained in construction materials such as phospho-gypsum board or when ventilation rates are low. This study provides our findings from evaluation of radon gas at facilities and offices in an industrial complex. Methods: We evaluated the office rooms and processes of 12 manufacturing factories from May 14, 2014 to September 23, 2014. Short-term data were measured by using real-time monitoring detectors(Model 1030, Sun Nuclear Co., USA) indoors in the office buildings. The radon measurements were recorded at 30-minute intervals over approximately 48 hours. The limit of detection of this instrument is $3.7Bq/m^3$. Also, long-term data were measured by using ${\alpha}-track$ radon detectors(${\alpha}-track$, Rn-tech Co., Korea) in the office and factory buildings. Our detectors were exposed for over 90 days, resulting in a minimum detectable concentration of $7.4Bq/m^3$. Detectors were placed 150-220 cm above the floor. Results: Radon concentrations averaged $20.6{\pm}17.0Bq/m^3$($3.7-115.8Bq/m^3$) in the overall area. The monthly mean concentration of radon by building materials were in the order of gypsum>concrete>cement. Radon concentrations were measured using ${\alpha}-track$ in parallel with direct-reading radon detectors and the two metric methods for radon monitoring were compared. A t-test for the two sampling methods showed that there is no difference between the average radon concentrations(p<0.05). Most of the office buildings did not have central air-conditioning, but several rooms had window- or ceiling-mounted units. Employees could also open windows. The first, second and third floors were used mainly for office work. Conclusions: Radon levels measured during this assessment in the office rooms of buildings and processes in factories were well below the ICRP reference level of $1,000Bq/m^3$ for workplaces and also below the lower USEPA residential guideline of $148Bq/m^3$. The range of indoor annual effective dose due to radon exposure for workers working in the office and factory buildings was 0.01 to 1.45 mSv/yr. Construction materials such as phospho-gypsum board, concrete and cement were the main emission sources for workers' exposure.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 2018

Radon gas, which is present on the earth, is a primary carcinogen released from rocks, soil, building materials, etc., and exists as a unique gas phase. In order to solve the risk of radon gas, we evaluated the basic performance which can be used as indoor finishing materials in addition to the radon gas reduction properties of the matrix using anthracite. An anthracite used as a conventional filter material was used to produce a matrix, and a test was conducted to replace the gypsum board, which is one of the building materials used in the existing room. As the anthracite replacement ratio increases, flexural failure load strength increases and thermal conductivity tends to decrease. Depending on the thickness of the board, the reduction performance of radon gas shows a slight difference.

• Journal of the Korea Furniture Society
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.13-17
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• 2011

Recently, interest in indoor air quality is increasing. Especially, radon radioactivity among the indoor air is a well-known risk factor for lung cancer because of ionizing radiation in the form of ${\alpha}$-particles. This study was carried out to investigate effect of black charcoal and activated carbon for reduction of radon radiation that emitted from building materials. Black charcoal and activated carbon were used as a barrier which was against the infiltration of radon. The source of radon was gypsum board. Two types of charcoal barrier were powder- and board-type with 5 mm, 10 mm thickness respectively. The method for this determination is evaluated radon concentration in chamber. The measurements were performed with radon detector, SARAD3120. Results of this study are as following: Black charcoal and activated carbon confirmed the highly efficient barrier. Radon concentration was reduced from 72% to 85% as compared the control chamber. Radon reduction capability, however, was no difference as barrier's types. Results obtained in ventilation condition, radon concentration shows 5.93 pCi/L on average in the closed condition and shows 2.69 pCi/L in the opened condition.