• KIEAE Journal
• /
• v.12 no.4
• /
• pp.77-82
• /
• 2012

This study conducted the experiment of reduction of Volatile Organic Compounds(VOCs) and Formaldehyde concentration by Native plants, Fatsia japonica and Ardisia pusilla. The two plants are advantageous in that they are highly available as they grow wild, and being easy to get. Fatsia japonica is a plant of its wide and large leaf diverged 7 or 8 parts, which is thought to have a high effect of air purification. Ardisia pusilla has a smaller leaf than Fatsia japonica, which is characterized by more leaves and beautiful. Field measurements were performed using Fatsia japonica and Ardisia pusilla which were verified as air-purifying plants in Korea. The effect of reducing the concentration of VOCs and Formaldehyde by plant studied in a full scale mock-up model. The dimensions of the two models were equal. The concentration of Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, Xylene, Stylene, Formaldehyde were monitored, since they were known as most toxic materials. The concentration of VOCs was monitored three hours after the plants were placed and three days after the plants were placed. Field measurements were performed in models where the plants were placed and were not. As a result, they had all an effect of reducing pollution. In all cases of experiment of planting and growing volume, the more planting volume, the more excellent the effect. Toluene was more effective in Fatsia japonica and Ardisia pusilla planted, Formaldehyde was more effective in Fatsia japonica planted respectively. In planting and growing and placing experiment, the placement at sunny spot was more effective than that at scattered growing. When Fatsia japonica was placed at sunny spot, the reduction effect of Formaldehyde was the most excellent, and when Ardisia pusilla was placed at sunny spot, the reduction effect of Toluene was the most effective.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.27 no.6
• /
• pp.606-613
• /
• 2005

The badge-type diffusive sampler for the measurement of formaldehyde in indoor air using three types of colorimetric methods such as chromotrophic acid(CTA), 3-methyl-2-benzothiazolinone hydrazone(MBTH), and 4-amino-3-hydrazino-5-mercapto-1,2,4-triazole(AHMT) method. The washing of the collection filter with several cleaning solution was effected with satisfactory results, regardless of the types of cleaning solutions. The concentrations of absorbance solution in each colorimetric method were experimentally determined by considering the sampling rates. The variation blank values in each colorimetric method was below 15%. As compared with CTA and AHMT methods, the reproducibility of MBTH method was excellent and was below 10% relative standard deviation. The collected formaldehyde mass and time-weighted concentration had a good correlation (correlation coefficient > 0.93). The limit of detection and limit of quantitation, and minimum sampling time were closely correlated to the sampling rates for the measurement of formaldehyde in each method.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.37 no.5
• /
• pp.369-375
• /
• 2011

Objectives: Exposure to hazardous chemicals during pregnancy may result incritical reproductive health outcomes. Indoor residential levels are significant component of personal exposure. The collection of residential exposure data has been hampered by the cost and participant burden of health studies of indoor air pollution. This study utilized a participant-based approach to collect volatile organic compounds concentration from homes. Methods: Four hundred thirteen women were recruited from three major hospitals in Seoul and Gyeongi Provence and 411 agreed to participate. A passive sampler (OVM 3500, 3M, USA) with instructions were given to the participants, as well as a questionnaire. They were asked to deploy the sampler in their homes for three to five days and return them viapre-stamped envelope. Results: Three hundred forty six participants returned the sampler. Among the returned samplers, three hundred samplers satisfied our monitoring quality criteria. The success rate of the monitoring method was 73%. The geometric mean of TVOC level was 429(2) ${\mu}g/m^3$. The TVOC guideline of 500 ${\mu}g/m^3$ was exceeded in 38% of the houses. The residential VOC levels were significantly associated with remodeling of the house. Conclusions: The results suggested that a participant-based sampling approach may be a feasible and costeffective alternative to exposure assessment involving home visits by a field technician.

• Journal of odor and indoor environment
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.277-286
• /
• 2017

The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of $PM_{10}$ and $O_3$ concentration on the symptoms of allergic diseases. The questionnaire was used to determine whether or not symptoms of allergic diseases were present from September to October 2012. The air pollution concentration data used was the corresponding point CEM (continuous emission monitoring) data. The average concentration of $PM_{10}$ was $56.09{\mu}g/m^3$ in the control area, and the concentration in the exposed area was $40.44{\mu}g/m^3$. In the two areas, concentration of $O_3$ was 28.73 ppb and 28.74 ppb, respectively. The total average concentrations of $PM_{10}$ and $O_3$ were $45.66{\mu}g/m^3$ and 28.73 ppb in the Gwangyang area. The rate of asthma diagnosis was higher in the control area (9.6%) than in the exposed area (4.1%), but the rate of allergy eye disease was higher in the exposed area (23.9%) than in the control area (16.5%). There was a significant difference in the symptoms of some allergic diseases when the relative concentration of $PM_{10}$ and $O_3$ were high and low.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.49 no.4
• /
• pp.218-227
• /
• 2023

Background: Since 2019, the Ministry of Environment has implemented a seasonal fine dust management system from December to March, targeting high PM_2.5 levels with the aim of reducing PM_2.5 concentrations and protecting public health. The focus of improving the seasonal management system lies in the atmospheric PM_2.5 levels. Considering the primary goal of protecting public health, it is necessary to analyze the policy effects from an exposure perspective rather than a concentration-based approach. Objectives: This study aims to quantitatively assess the improvement of indoor PM_2.5 levels and the health impacts of the seasonal management system by comparing the periods before and during its implementation in residential environments. Methods: PM_2.5 concentrations within residential environments in a metropolitan area were measured using an optical particle counter (IAQ-C7, K-weather, Ltd, Korea) at one-minute intervals during the pre-implementation period (November 21~25, 2022) and during the implementation period (December 19~23, 2022). Based on the measured PM_2.5 concentrations, a quantitative evaluation of cancer and mortality risks was conducted according to age and gender. Results: The results of comparing indoor and outdoor PM_2.5 concentrations before and during the implementation of the seasonal management system showed a decrease of approximately 56.6% and 47.9%, respectively. Health risk assessments revealed that both the safety-limit-based and safety-target-based Hazard Quotients (HQ) exceeded the threshold of 0.1 for children under 19 years of age, both before and after the implementation. The mortality risk decreased by approximately 47.9% after the implementation, with children aged 0-9 showing the highest mortality risk at 0.9%. Conclusions: The findings of this study confirmed the positive health impacts of the seasonal management system across all age groups, particularly children under 19 who are more vulnerable to fine dust exposure.

• Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.241-246
• /
• 2016

This paper discusses the influence of organic matter contained in aggregate on the emission characteristic of ammonia ($NH_3$) from cement mortar. $NH_3$ can be released to indoor-outdoor environment through diffusion in mortar (or concrete) and have resulted in the increasing air pollution, and especially well known as a harmful gas for the human body. The concentration of $NH_3$ released from cement concrete was then compared to the contents of organic matter contained in the aggregate. The result indicates that the contents of organic matter in the aggregate significantly differ with types of aggregate from different areas of production. The organic matter becomes organic nitrogen through the process of microbial breakdown for a certain period and pure ammonium ion ($NH_4{^+}$) is produced from the organic nitrogen. The $NH_4{^+}$ was reacted with alkaline elements in the cement and released as $NH_3$ from cement concrete through a volatile process. The released $NH_3$ was proportional to the contents of $NH_4{^+}$ adsorbed in the aggregate from different areas of production and the concentrations of $NH_3$ emission from cement mortar according to the aggregate differ by more than 4 times.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Environmental Biology Conference
• /
• 2004.05a
• /
• pp.1-15
• /
• 2004

Higher plants can be valuable genetic assay systems for monitoring environmental pollutants and evaluating their biological toxicity. Two assays are considered ideal for in situ monitoring and testing of soil, airborne and aqueous mutagenic agents; the Tradescantia stamen hair assay for somatic cell mutations and the Tradescantia micronucleus assay for chromosome aberrations. Both assays can be used for in vivo and in vitro testing of mutagens. Since higher plant systems are now recognized as excellent indicators and have unique advantages over in situ monitoring and screening, higher plant systems could be accepted by regulatory authorities as an alternative first-tier assay system for the detection of possible genetic damages resulting from the pollutants or chemicals used and produced by industrial sectors. It has been concluded that potential mutagen and carcinogen such as the heavy metals among indoor air particulates, volatile compounds in the working places, soil, and water pollutants contribute to the overall health risk. This contribution can be considerable under certain circumstances. It is therefore important to identify the level of genotoxic activity in the environment and to relate it to the biomarkers of a health risk in humans. The results from the higher plant bioassays could make a significant contribution to assessing the risks of pollutants and protecting the public firom agents that can cause mutation anuor cancer. The plant bioassays, which are relatively inexpensive and easy to handle, are recommended for the scientists who are interested in monitoring pollutants and evaluating their environmental toxicity to living organisms.

• Polymer(Korea)
• /
• v.30 no.5
• /
• pp.397-401
• /
• 2006

In this study, we coated the polypropylene filter with titania sol and investigated various characteristic such as its deodorization efficiency and sterilization effect of gram negative bacillus Escherichia coli(ATCC 25922) and gram positive bacillus Staphylococcus aureus(ATCC 6538). As the results, in case of titania sol coated polypropylene filter, the deodorization rate of ammonia, trimethylamin and acetic acid which cause indoor air pollution was 66%, 90% and 16% respectively. Also. the sterilization rate of gram negative bacillus Escherichia coli(ATCC 25922) and gram positive bacillus Staphylococcus aureus(ATCC 6538) was 99.9% after 24 hours.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
• /
• 2021.05a
• /
• pp.74-75
• /
• 2021

In the recent 2017 annual average fine dust concentration (PM2.5) statistics released by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Korea has a high concentration of 25.14㎍/m3, which is about twice the average of 12.5㎍/m3 in OECD countries. Fine dust (PM2.5) is the main source of secondary pollutant production by the reaction of primary pollutants emitted from automobiles and thermal power plants, mainly composed of sulfates, nitrates, and organic carbon. The permeable block is an eco-friendly product that prevents rainwater from collecting on the surface of the road because it does not penetrate the groundwater properly, and is widely constructed on sidewalks or parking lots to recharge groundwater in case of rain. In addition, the pavement of the permeable block is a fundamental solution to reduce pollution by preventing rainwater from flowing into the stream, and it also has the advantage of easy replacement as well as low replacement costs. Therefore, this study was a basic experiment to produce permeable blocks mixed with TiO2 and diatomite to improve indoor air quality, and intended to analyze the flexural strength and compressive strength of permeable blocks mixed with TiO2.

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
• /
• 2005.06a
• /
• pp.289-292
• /
• 2005

An imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants, in favor of oxidants leading to oxidative stress, is known to play an important role in the pathogenesis of various diseases. Isoprostanes are structurally stable isomers of the conventional enzymatically derived prostaglandins, which are produced in vivo primarily by a free radical catalyzed peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids. In asthmatics, disease severity can occur from environmental exposure to air pollution. Some surveys suggested that air pollutants, especially diesel-exhaust particulates, could trigger allergic sensitization and development of atopic diseases. Sick house syndrome (SHS) presents healthy damage owing to the indoor environment of a building. The aim of this study was to examine isoprostane as a parameter fur oxidative stress in environments related diseases such as sick house syndrome, atopy and asthma. We measured plasma and urinary levels of isoprostane from health volunteers, sick house syndrome, atopy and asthma patients. Plasma isoprostane concentrations in asthma and sick house syndrome group were significantly higher than in control. Urinary isoprostane levels were significantly higher in volunteers with sick house syndrome and asthma compared with health volunteers. These findings suggest that plasma and urinary isoprostane measurement may have useful clinical implications for investigating sick house syndrome and asthma. The interventions that decrease exposure to environmental reactive oxygen species might be beneficial in these diseases.