• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.204-214
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• 2018

Indoor air quality was investigated in homes and daycares located in areas with heavy traffic in Seoul, South Korea from November 2013 to January 2014. Indoor and outdoor air quality measurements were collected for 48 hours in four children's homes and daycare centers. The I/O ratio (Indoor to outdoor ratio) for each major air pollutant ($NO_2$, black carbon, $PM_{10}$, and $PM_{2.5}$) was calculated, and $NO_2$ and $PM_{10}$ concentration profiles were analyzed based on indoor activity diaries recorded during the 48 hours. Most I/O ratios for $NO_2$, black carbon, $PM_{10}$, and $PM_{2.5}$ at daycare centers were less than one. At homes, I/O ratios for black carbon, $PM_{10}$, and $PM_{2.5}$ were less than one; however, most I/O ratios for $NO_2$ were greater than one due to the usage of gas stoves. The children's exposure to indoor air pollutants was calculated using a time-weighted average exposure method, and the daily intake level for each pollutant was determined.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.32 no.2 s.89
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• pp.140-148
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• 2006

Recently, indoor air quality (IAQ) in workplace, residential environments and schools has been concerned of people, scientists and related the public, and has recognized the health effects related to indoor air pollution. Therefore, this study was performed to investigate the characteristics of IAQ in 55 kindergartens, elementary school, middle schools, and high schools from June, 2004 to May, 2005 in Korea. We measured indoor air pollutants($PM_{10},\;CO_2$, HCHO, total bacteria colony(TBC), CO, radon, TVOCs, asbestos, and $O_3$), and physical factors(noise, temperature, relative humidity, and illumination) with necessary of management for IAQ in school. We classified into 5 kinds of the school by period since building completion, <1 year, 1-3 years, 3-5 years, and 5-10 years. The concentration of pollutants and the level of physical factors compared with standards and guidelines of IAQ on the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development. The major results obtained from this study were as follows. Temperature, relative humidity and illumination among the physical factors did not exceed the standards, but noise exceeded it. Asbestos and $O_3$ did not detect in surveyed classrooms. CO, TBC, TVOCs, and HCHO in kindergartens, TBC in elementary schools, TBC, TVOCs dnd HCHO in middle schools, and HCHO in high schools detected the standards. This study is conducted as a part of efforts to provide a foundational data for further relative researches on management of IAQ of school. Therefore, we suggest that country plan for management of IAQ in school should be established through long-term and continuous investigation for assessment on IAQ in school and health risk assessment for students.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.137-148
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• 2009

This study quantitatively investigated the emissions of indoor air pollutants associated with the utilization of air fresheners indoors, and evaluated individual exposure to five specified indoor air pollutants, which were chosen on the basis of selection criteria. An electrically-polished stainless steel chamber (50L) was employed to achieve this purpose. Test air fresheners were selected through three steps: first, on the basis of market sales; second, on the basis on a preliminary head-space study; and lastly, on the basis of emissions of toxic compounds (benzene, ethyl benzene, limonene, toluene, and xylene). The empirical mathematical model fitted well with the time-series concentrations in the environmental chamber (in most cases, determination coefficient, $R^2{\gtrsim}$0.9), thereby suggesting that the empirical model was suitable for testing emissions. The concentration equilibrium appeared 180 min after the introduction of sample air fresheners into the chamber. Both the chamber concentrations of emission rates or factors varied greatly according to air freshener type. It is noteworthy that although benzene, ethyl benzene, toluene, and xylene were emitted from all test air fresheners, their exposure levels were not significant enough to result in any significant health risk. However, certain type of air fresheners were observed to emit significant amount of limonene, which is potentially reactive with ozone to generate secondary pollutants with oxidants such as ozone, hydroxyl radicals, and nitrogen oxides. The exposure levels to limonene associated with the utilization of three air fresheners were estimated to be 13 to 175 times higher than that of other air fresheners. This information can help consumers to select low-pollutant-emitting air fresheners.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.64-69
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• 2003

Recently, Indoor air quality(IAQ) in workplace, residential environments and office has been concern of people, scientists and related the public. The oxygen in air was very important and essential element in every aspect of life. This study was performed on a questionnaire survey of 400 people about their awareness of indoor air quality, oxygen generators and measured of oxygen concentration in indoor environment. The results obtained were as follows; As respondents are having their 90% of daytime indoors a day, and 80% of them can feel indoor air pollutions degrees directly by particle matters. The control of most important problems of IAQ was the poor ventilation. We know that 22% of the respondents was recognized the oxgen generator. And for the installation of indoor pollution control equipment, 20% of all respondents installed oxygen generators because almost respondents was not satified the trust of ability purified indoor air pollutants. In the experimental results, it was found that the oxygen concentration of sampling sites were in the range of 20~23.5%. Therefore, it was recommended that the government related IAQ was suggested the guideline and control of oxygen generators. Finally, it appeared that the oxygen generators using indoor environment can be applied to new technology for cleaning of indoor air.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.19-27
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• 1994

This paper reports an investigation of concentrations major carcinogenic indoor air pollutants for radon, formaldehyde, and asbestos in the 83 subway stations in the Seoul metropolitan area during November 1991~September 1992. Mean concentrations of indoor pollutants in Seoul subway stations surveyed were 0.23 ppb for formaldehyde, 1.12 pCi/l for radon, and 0.008 fiber/cc for asbestos. Mean formaldehyde concentrations in 83 subway stations were below the U.S. EPA formaldehyde standard (100 ppb), whereas mean concentrations of radon and asbestos in 2% and 22% of total sampled subway stations exceeded the U.S. radon (4 pCi/l) and asbestos (0.01 fiber/cc) standand, respectively. It is likely that possible sources for radon and asbestos are radon intrusion from the leaking underground water and construction materials, respectively.

• Journal of the Architectural Institute of Korea Structure & Construction
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.187-194
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• 2020

This study presents the energy-saving sequential control algorithm to handle indoor CO₂ and PM2.5 for the improvement of the air quality of school classrooms. To solve indoor air quality (IAQ) problems, air cleaning and ventilation systems are mainly used for school classrooms. Although air cleaning is able to collect PM2.5, it is difficult to remove harmful gas substances. The ventilation system is suitable to tackle CO and CO₂, the volume ventilation, however, is relatively small. In this paper, to remove CO₂ and PM2.5, the pollutant balance equation for improving indoor air quality is reviewed. The sequential control algorithm of the ventilation and air cleaning system with four levels of criteria is introduced for the effective removal of pollutants. The proposed sequential control algorithm confirms that indoor CO₂ and PM2.5 can be properly controlled below the standard value. In addition, the sequential operation of air cleaning and ventilation systems has shown significant improvement in IAQ compared to the independent ventilation system operation. Particularly, such systems are efficient when outdoor PM2.5 is high.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.15 no.10
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• pp.929-933
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• 2006

Indoor air quality is the dominant contributor to total personal exposure because most people spend a majority of their time Indoors. Especially when indoor environments have sources of contaminants, exposure to in-door air can potentially pose a greater threat than exposure to ambient air. In this study, estimations of volatile organic compounds and formaldehyde omission rate in indoor environments of new apartments were carried out using mass balance model in indoor environment, because indoor air quality can be affected by source generation, outdoor air level, ventilation, decay by reaction, temperature, humidity, mixing condition and so on. Considering the estimated emission rate of volatile organic compounds and formaldehyde, it Is suggested that new apartment should be designed and constructed in the aspect of using construction materials to emit low hazardous air pollutants.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2020.06a
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• pp.189-190
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• 2020

The importance of indoor air quality management has recently been highlighted due to environmental problems such as indoor air pollution. Among indoor air pollutants, carbon dioxide occurs in cooking, heating, burning, and causes forgetfulness, dementia and amnesia. Radon, which occurs in building materials, soil and ground, is a type 1 carcinogen that causes lung cancer in the body through breathing. These substances can be released from the room through ventilation, but there is a limit to reducing the amount of indoor activity due to reduced ventilation conditions due to increased indoor activity time. However, these substances can be removed from the gas by adsorption. The purpose of this study was to identify the properties of granular active and powdered active white soil and mix them to make cement-based active white soil adsorbent matrix for carbon dioxide, fine dust and radon gas adsorption, and to evaluate indoor air improvements according to the mixing scale. The results of the experiment showed that active carbon dioxide adsorption performance increased for carbon dioxide and radon as the exchange rate increased through physical adsorption. In particular, the higher the replacement rate of the granular active bag, the better adsorption performance was shown.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2006.11a
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• pp.143-146
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• 2006

There has been growing concern regarding IAQ(Indoor Air Quality) recently, and IAQ problems from the air-tightness and use of chemical materials addition to the building materials have become increasingly important factors in the built environment. Ventilation is supposed as the solution of healthy indoor quality, and Korea government requests that all new apartment buildings must have a ventilation system as a matter of duty since January, 2006. The purpose of this study is to investigate the indoor concentration change of VOCs include the Formaldehyde according to many different ventilation supply types. Results showed that the reduction effect of target pollutants by the ventilation system was very slight. The cause of these results was attribute to increase the emission rate of building materials by increasing the ventilation rate.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.334-348
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• 2017

Objectives: We investigated the impacts of indoor plants on indoor air quality and occupational health, focusing on allergic rhinconjunctivitis and stress among employees in new office buildings. Methods: A total of 34 employees working at new public office buildings were enrolled as subjects (n=17, with indoor plants) and as a control (n=17) group. Before and after introducing indoor plants for three months, indoor air quality measurements including VOCs and aldehydes and questionnaires on sick building syndrome, AR symptoms (ARIA based), stress (DASS 42, KOSS, and SACL), and indoor characteristics were performed and statistically analysed. Results: Among the 34 enrolled subjects, 19 were included in the probable AR subject group (subjects with indoor plants, n=8, control n=11) and completed all questionnaires. Statistical analyses were done for total, AR subject groups, and controls. As a result, it was confirmed that major indoor air pollutants decreased after the introduction of indoor plants (p<0.5). Among major symptoms of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, watery rhinorrhea, nasal stuffiness, and nasal itching indexes decreased (p<0.5, respectively). A decrease was noted in some areas of work-related stress indexes (mainly KOSS) among the subject group (total and AR) and a decrease of indoor environmental attractiveness among the control group (total and AR) (p<0.5, for all). Conclusions: Indoor plants may help reduce indoor air pollutants and decrease AR symptoms and work-related stress of employees in newly built office buildings. Various further follow-up studies on the mechanism of environmental, physical, and emotional influences and utilization of indoor plants in association with allergic diseases will be needed.