• 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.

• 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 Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.371-383
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• 1999

This paper discusses the importance of indoor air quality based on literaure review of domestic and foreign studies. A number of international efforts to propose standards and guidelines for indoor environmental quality are also reviewed. The pattern of major studies on indoor air quality focussed on characterizaton of gaseous pollutants, particulates, and other specific pollutants during the past decades, whereas VOCs, specific carcinogen, and microbiological agents might be good target pollutants to investigate the effects of human health in recent years. Management of indoor air quality requires a different approach than that adopted for outdoor air. Adequate ventilation of the indoor environment is essential, and a balance between energy conservation and the need for good air quality is required. The ways for managing indoor air quality that will be of great importance are discussed a role of control policy for guidance on how to achieve good indoor air quality.

• International Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.101-107
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• 2007

Indoor air quality becomes of a concern recently in view of human health. This study investigates the air diffusion performance and the air change efficiency of a classroom, when outdoor air is introduced in two different ways in addition to the heating/cooling operation of a ceiling-mounted heat pump. A CFD analysis has been performed to investigate the effect of the discharge angle of the air jets from the heat pump for both parallel and series types of outdoor air system. It is observed that the series type creates more uniform indoor environment compared to the parallel type in general. It can be concluded the discharge angle should not be larger than 40o for the parallel type, in order not to generate thermal stratification in the room.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.217-225
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• 2016

The purpose of the study was to initially investigate the concentration patterns of $PM_1$, $PM_{2.5}$ and $PM_{10}$ in the Seoul subway lines, and then to figure out the PM behaviors of internal and external sources inside subway tunnels. The PMs were monitored by a light scattering real-time monitor during winter (Jan. 8-26 in 2015) and summer (July 2-Aug. 7 in 2015) in tunnel air, in passenger cabin air, and in the ambient air. The daily average $PM_{10}$, $PM_{2.5}$, and $PM_1$ concentrations on these object lines were $101.3{\pm}38.4$, $81.5{\pm}30.2$, and $59.7{\pm}19.9{\mu}g/m^3$, respectively. On an average, the PM concentration was about 1.2 times higher in winter than in summer and about 1.5 times higher in underground tunnel sections than in ground sections. In this study, we also calculated extensively the average PM mass ratios for $PM_{2.5}/PM_{10}$, $PM_1/PM_{10}$, and $PM_1/PM_{2.5}$; for example, the range of $PM_{2.5}/PM_{10}$ ratio in tunnel air was 0.82-0.86 in underground tunnel air, while that was 0.48-0.68 in outdoor ground air. The ratio was much higher in tunnel air than in outdoor air and was always higher in summer than in winter in case of outdoor air. It seemed from the results that the in/out air quality as well as a proper amount of subway ventilation must be significant influence factors in terms of fine PM management and control for the tunnel air quality improvement.

• 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.

• KIEAE Journal
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.195-202
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• 2004

This study focuses on the impacts of apartment building arrangements on the outdoor and indoor air quality - the efficiency of natural ventilation in the outside/inside area of an apartment with consideration to the characteristics of an air flow in outside area depending on the types of the arrangements, the main direction of the wind, and the outside wind pressure on the building facade. As indices to evaluate the efficiency of natural ventilation, the concepts of "Age of Air" and "Purging Flow Rate(PFR)" were used in this study. As indices to classify the efficiency of indoor natural ventilation, the mean values of the wind pressure differences between the front and the back elevations of an apartment building were used. The research showed that the PFR of each apartment building arrangement ranges from 0.867 to 3.253. The "minus-shaped" arrangement showed the highest PFR, 2.306; the "zigzag-shaped" arrangement measured 1.889; the "angle-shaped" arrangement measured 1.465, and the "square-shaped" arrangement measured 1.241. Depending on the direction of the wind, the pressure differences range extremely, with variations from 170% to 2300%. Thus, the indoor natural ventilation efficiency can be changed by the pressure differences of the wind, which are sensitive to the main direction of the wind even though the structure and planning of the apartment complexes are the same. Despite the same direction of the wind, even the efficiency can be diverse. This study showed how to predict the most beneficial apartment building arrangement for the profitable natural ventilation efficiency in each direction of the wind.

• 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 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.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.