• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.207-214
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• 2005

Many Japanese today are suffering from health disorders related to their living environment, such as allergies and hypersensitivity to chemical substances. The Sick House/Building Syndrome has been a serious problem since 1996, due to low level exposure to hazardous chemicals such as formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted in airtight houses. This paper aims to show current status of the syndrome in Japan and practical researches to promote prevention of, and improvement to indoor air pollution due to chemicals.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.161-167
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• 2004

The sick house syndrome is occurred from the harmful elements that the building interior materials are given off after building construction or renovation. The appropriate methods, which is to prevent sick house syndrome from spreading have to be selected before building construction or renovation. Thus, this study is to measure the density of formaldehyde, one of the volatile organic compounds after sprinkling air-assisted-catalyst on the building interior space. As a result, the emit value of formaldehyde is measured 0.07ppm that is lower than the standard of Environmental Protection Agency and World Health Organization, 0.1ppm, and the standard of Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare of Japan, 0.08ppm.

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
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• 2005.06a
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• pp.143-167
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• 2005

Many Japanese today are suffering from health disorders related to their living environment, such as allergies and hypersensitivity to chemical substances. The Sick House/Building Syndrome has been a serious problem since 1996, due to low level exposure to hazardous chemicals such as formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted in airtight houses. This paper aims to show current status of the syndrome in Japan and practical researches to promote prevention of, and improvement to indoor air pollution due to chemicals.

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

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.93-99
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• 2008

The environment draws attention in the global community and a growing number of Koreans have interest in improving the quality of life, the importance of house environment has attracted the attention of the public. Against this backdrop, constructors have unveiled environmentally -friendly projects. However, they failed to establish people-oriented environment by being occupied with maximizing profitability through the improvement of brand image and caused sick house syndrome that has recently made controversy. In this regard, the study analyzed the mechanism of discharge of TVOC, one of the sick house syndrome-causing materials, that affects IAQ and its characteristics and examined the effect that granodiorite has on reduction of the discharge of TVOC in order to minimize damage. Experimental sample consisted of interior finishing materials frequently used in ceiling, wall and floor and adhesives used at a time of construction, and the TVOC of building materials was measured through the use of septum bottle unlike In the existing chamber method. Measures to counter the sick house syndrome were suggested by reducing the possible damage from the stage of selection of building material and by figuring out the effect that the granodiorite has on reduction of the discharge of TVOC.

• Proceeding of Spring/Autumn Annual Conference of KHA
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.99-104
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• 2004

Nowadays the number of people suffering from Sick House Syndrome have been increasing, especially after they move into a new apartment. The symptom varies with people and it develops gradually. It is known that the symptom is caused by chemicals. In spite of many unknown factors related to the symptom, lifestyle and behavioral factors of occupants were possibly. The purpose of this study was to find out the residents' self-reported symptoms of Sick Building Syndrome in new apartment houses. The response could be self-consciousness symptom, health damage and the improvement plan.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Interior Design Conference
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• 2005.05a
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• pp.207-211
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• 2005

This research is aimed to study the finishing material applied in interior space for improving residential environment. First of all, it finds out what is 'Sick Building Syndrome' and 'Sick House Syndrome', how harmful to human body about indoor air pollution substance (such as volatility organic compound, formaldehyde) and investigate the effect when the environment-friendly finishing material is used. Secondly, classify and examine all kind of finishing material applied in interior space. Finally, after emphasize the importance of environment-friendly finishing material from domestic or overseas, this research suggest the basic information of environment-friendly finishing material in order to use in the future buildings.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.58-62
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• 2004

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.20 no.12
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• pp.814-819
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was developing the building materials for creation the comfortable IAQ. By reducing formaldehyde(HCHO) known as the main factors of Sick House Syndrome. This material must be revealed the physical and eco-friendly performance, so this study set up the basic standards for building materials. The source of physical performance evaluation is Korea Industrial Standards and the base of environmental ability is the Eco Label considering certificated system related to an apartment house. Because the developed material was satisfied with the established standards, it was tested in mock-up room for obtaining the real date from indoor air. The mock-up test was conducted according environmental standard method for indoor air Quality of the ministry of environment. The result of this study were as follows; the functional building materials had a effect to reduce the formaldehyde concentration for a initial period without wall paper, so additional development is needed for application with the wall paper and the available period.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.688-693
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• 2005

Nowaday the natural ventilation rate decreases because the apartment housing is being air-tight. Therefore, Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) and indoor environment grow worse. Especially, Formaldehyde (HCHO), Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) which is emitted from the building materials and coating material etc. occur Sick House Syndrome that cause negative impact on resident's respiratory system and body. Therefore in construction field, it will be a important issues that development of a ventilation system with high effectiveness which can exhaust the contaminant out of the building quickly. In this research we evaluated 'wall attachable duct-less Heat Recovery Ventilation (HRV) system with air cleaning function'. We executed a synthetic evaluation about indoor air environment under various operating condition installing the system in real scale apartment house that is built in Anyang city. HRV system with air cleaning function showed good performance by removing HCHO, VOCs with less ventilation energy.