• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.163-176
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• 1998

In this study, airborne particle samples were obtained to determine the concentrations of particulate air pollutants in indoor and outdoor air of public facilities in Taegu area. Total of 12 public facilities, regulated by the Public Sanitary Law, were selected as sampling sites, which include three underground arcades, one railway and two bus terminals, three general hospitals, and three department stores. In each place, sampling was carried out seasonally during the period of October 1994 to July 1995, and four samples per each site per season were collected both indoors and outdoors simultaneously. After determination of suspended particulate matter (SPM) mass concentrations, the particle samples were divided into two parts for subsequent chemical analysis: one for the analysis of trace elements and the other for water soluble ions. Seasonal levels of SPM appeared to be the highest in spring and the lowest in summer both indoors and outdoors, while locational variations of highest in statioyterminals, and lowest in department stores . SPM concentrations indoors and outdoors did not show any significant differences each other in most places . However, there were significant correlations between indoor and outdoor levels of SPM and other chemical species . These results indicates that indoor SPM levels are likely to be significantly affected by outdoor sources in many places. The most significant source of SPM was estimated to be the resuspension of soil/road dust both indoors and outdoors . The concentrations of toxic heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu) in underground arcades appeared to be very much lower than the established air quality guidelines for underground environments. In addition, it is likely that micro-environmental parameters such as temperature, humidity, and air velocity, play a less significant role than outdoor air quality as a factor affecting the levels of particulate pollutants in indoor environments of public facilities in Taegu area.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.343-360
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• 1998

In this study, comprehensive air quality monitoring was undertaken with a variety of objectives to collect data on the levels of various indoor and ambient air quality parameters in the urban areas of Seoul and Taegu. The sampling sites were comprised of six offices, six residences and six restaurants in each city. The ambient air adjacent to the indoor sites was also simultaneously sampled for the same constituents. The sampling was conducted in two phases: summer of 1994 and winter of 1994/95. A range of air quality parameters were measured simultaneously, which include RSP, CO, COB, NOB, a range of VOC, airborne microbials, temperature, and relative humidity. The indoor and ambient levels of the pollutants measured in this study varied widely between the three types of environments studied. Comparison of median values for the three groups revealed that restaurants had higher indoor levels of most pollutants than homes or offices. There was also a clear pattern of the indoor levels of target pollutants being higher than those outdoors, particularly in restaurants. Concentrations of CO and most of the VOC were found to be significantly higher in the commercial districts, indicating the influence of vehicle exhaust emissions. A very wide range of VOC levels was documented in this study. Although median indoorloutdoor ratios indicated a generally increasing level of VOC indoors when compared to those outdoors, no statistically significant differences were found between indoor and outdoor VOC levels in homes and offices, implying the importance of ambient air quality in determining the quality of indoor air for homes and offices in urban areas. In addition, there was a general pattern of increasing concentrations from summer to winter, and similarly from outdoor to indoor air for nearly all target compounds. The seasonal differences in median levels were very clearly seen for fuel combustion related pollutants such as RSP, CO and VOC, this being attributed to the effects of increased fuel consumption during the cold season and to meteorological factors.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.36 no.6_3
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• pp.1721-1732
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• 2020

Elementary school students spend a lot of time in a school and are more exposed to indoor air pollution. Also the students are physically growing and have a relatively high respiratory rate per unit weight compared to adults, so it is known that there is a high sensitivity to indoor air pollution. Therefore, indoor air quality in a school is becoming an important factor for the student's health. In this study, a correlation analysis using levels of indoor and outdoor Particulate Matter (PM) measured from five elementary schools in Seoul was performed to evaluate the effect of outdoor PM on indoor PM. PM ratio and indoor/outdoor (I/O) ratio were also analyzed to investigate the actual condition of indoor air quality and effect of outdoor PM on indoor PM. As a result, the correlation between indoor and outdoor PM in elementary school was more significant in PM2.5 and PM1 than PM10. In the case of I/O ratio, the I/O ratio of PM10 was higher than that of 1 in four elementary schools except SD (BB:2.21, NS: 1.67, IS: 1.73, SI: 1.17). This indicates that the activity of students has a great effect on the concentration of indoor PM10.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.85-92
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• 1999

Indoor air quality tends to be the dominant contributor to personal exposure because most people spend over 90% of their time indoors. For some contaminants, exposure to indoor air poses a potentially greater health threat than outdoor air exposures. Indoor nitrogen dioxide ($NO_2$) levels are mainly affected gas range, flue gas spillage, kerosene heaters, wood-burning appliances and cigarette smoke. In addition, indoor $NO_2$ levels are influenced by such house characterization as surface reaction and air exchange rate. In this study, the measurements of indoor and outdoor $NO_2$ concentrations were taken using identical protocols, and information was collected on housing characteristics using identical questionnaires in 14 houses out of 15 houses for daily 30 daily 30 days in Brisbane, Australia.The usage of gas range was the most contributing factor in indoor $NO_2$ concentration in relation to house characteristics. Average indoor and outdoor ratios of NO2 concentration in electronic and gas cooking houses were $0.6{\pm}0.1$ and $0.9{\pm}0.2$, respectively. The frequency distributions of $NO_2$ concentration in each house were approximately log-normal Geometric mean of indoor $NO_2$ concentrations of electronic and gas cooking houses for daily 30 days ranged from 2.5 ppm to 11.5 ppm with a mean 6.8 and from 4.7 ppm to 28.6 ppm with a mean 15.6 ppm, respectively. The $NO_2$ concentrations between electronic and gas cooking houses were significantly different (p<0.05). Since each house has different life-style and house characteristics, sampling interval to measure the $NO_2$ levels was recommended above 7 days.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.99-103
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• 2013

Objectives: This paper was prepared in memory of Jerry Sherwood, who provided a significant contribution to the Korean environmental and occupational health fields. Methods: Rare air quality data in Seoul were gathered by Jerry Sherwood when he visited Korea in the early 1980s. $SO_2$ and TPM concentrations were measured. These air quality measurements were based on ambient stationary monitoring and indoor air quality monitoring in various locations. Measurement during transportation was also applied. Results: Ambient $SO_2$ and TPM concentrations in Seoul were very high in the early 1980s. Ambient $SO_2$ concentrations were higher at nighttime. While ambient $SO_2$ concentrations varied by location, the Guro industrial area showed high levels. When indoor sources were presented, indoor $SO_2$ concentration was higher than outdoor level. Coal briquettes were closely associated with high indoor $SO_2$ concentration. Conclusion: This paper provided valuable historical information of air quality in Seoul.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.11 no.8
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• pp.801-810
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• 2002

The current paper describes the indoor/outdoor air quality in school environments through analyses of the heavy metal concentrations using Inductive Coupled Plasma(ICP). School environments in a heavy traffic area, two industrial areas, quasi-industrial area, and residential area were evaluated. The results were as follows: (1) The locations with the highest indoor and outdoor concentrations of heavy metals were the industrial areas followed by the heavy traffic area, residential area, and quasi-industrial area in a descending order of magnitude. Plus, the indoor heavy metal concentrations were higher then the outdoor ones. (2) The main heavy metal components were Zn, Al and Ca. Higher concentration levels were found indoors than outdoors. The heavy metal concentrations were also higher in the classrooms than in the corridor or outdoors. (3) The total heavy metal concentrations in the studied areas were highly dependent on the weather elements. including the relative humidity, mixing ratio, and wet-bulb depression. Accordingly, special ventilation systems are recommended to reduce air pollution in school environments.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.14 no.10
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• pp.979-983
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• 2005

Indoor air quality has been addressed as an important atmospheric environmental issue and has caught attention of the public in recent years in Korea. Good indoor air quality in classrooms favour student's learning ability, teacher and staff's productivity according to other studies. In this study, each classroom at four different schools was chosen for comparison of indoor and outdoor air quality by means of source generation types such as new constructed classroom, using of cleaning agents and purchased furniture. Temperature, relative humidity (RH), carbon dioxide $(CO_2)$, formaldehyde (HCHO), total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) and particulate matter with diameter less than $10{\mu}m\;(PM_{10})$ were monitored at indoor and outdoor locations during lesson. HCHO was found to be the worst among parameters measured in new constructed classroom, HCHO and TVOCs was worst in classroom with new purchased furniture, and TVOCs was worst in classroom cleaned by cleaning agents, Indoor $(CO_2)$ concentrations often exceeded 1500 ppm indicating importance of ventilation. Active activity of students during break time made the $PM_{10}$ concentration higher than a lesson, Improvements and further researches should be carried out considering indoor air quality at schools is of special concern since children and students are susceptible to poor air quality.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.291-297
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• 2022

Background: PM_2.5 and black carbon (BC) can be generated from cooking and from vehicle operation. Street vendors may be exposed to PM_2.5 and BC due to their proximity both to roads and to cooking activities. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to evaluate the PM_2.5 and BC concentrations in cooking stalls and to determine the effects of cooking activity and of types of cooking. Methods: Indoor and outdoor PM_2.5 and BC concentrations, temperature, and relative humidity were measured in 32 stalls in April and May 2022. Behavioral factors such as the presence of cooking activity and types of cooking were observed. Student's T-test was performed using the difference of indoor and outdoor PM_2.5 and BC concentrations to compare the effects of cooking activity and to compare types of cooking. Results: One-hour averages of the difference in indoor and outdoor PM_2.5 concentrations for cooking stalls and non-cooking stalls were 9.7±15.7 ㎍/m³ (n=22) and -0.5±0.4 ㎍/m³ (n=10), respectively. The difference in indoor and outdoor PM_2.5 concentrations in cooking stalls was significantly higher than in non-cooking stalls (p<0.05). The indoor PM_2.5 concentration for stalls for Chinese pancakes and teokbokki exceeded the standards for indoor air quality in South Korea (50 ㎍/m³ ). The indoor PM_2.5 concentration for Korean pancake stalls exceeded the standards for outdoor air quality in South Korea (35 ㎍/m³ for 24 hours). Conclusions: The PM_2.5 concentrations in stalls with cooking activity was significantly higher than those in stalls without cooking activity. Some stalls with certain types of foods exceeded standards for indoor and outdoor air quality in South Korea. Better management of indoor air quality in stalls with cooking activities is necessary.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.87-108
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• 2018

Schools are one of the critical social infrastructures in a society, the first place for social activity and the most important indoor environment for children besides the home. Poor IAQ in classrooms can increase the chance of long-term and short-term health problems for students and staffs; affects productivity of teachers; and degrade the student learning environment and comfort levels. The primary objective of this paper is to review and summarize available scientific evidence on indoor air quality of schools and related health effects in children. It was found that the indoor air pollutant levels in school buildings varied over a wide range in different parts of the world depending on site characteristics, climatic conditions, outdoor pollution levels, occupant activities, ventilation type and building practices. Among the indoor air pollutants, particulate matter concentrations were found to be very high in many schools. Outdoor pollutant sources also play a major role in affecting the IAQ of the school building. Hence, scientific knowledge on sources of indoor pollutants, quantification of emissions, temporal and spatial dispersion of pollutants, toxicological properties, chemical and morphological characteristics of the pollutants and associated health risk among children in the school buildings are essential to evaluate the adequacy and cost effectiveness of control strategies for mitigating the IAQ issues.