• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.42-53
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• 2001

This study were conducted to estimate property of nitrogen dioxide concentration at industrial areas in Korea. The nitrogen dioxide concentrations were measured for 50 dwellings at Ulsan and Yeochon, respectively using the nitrogen dioxide filter badge forming the passive sampler from summer time 1998 to winter time 1999. The major results obtained from this study were as follows: 1. The mean indoor, outdoor, and personal concentrations of nitrogen dioxide during summer time 1998 in Ulsan were 28.9 ppb, 24.8 ppb, 24.8 pub, respectively. 2. The mean indoor, outdoor, and personal concentrations of nitrogen dioxide during winter time 1999 in Yeochon were 11.4 ppb, 12.5 ppb, 15.5 ppb, respectively. 3. The mean concentration of nitrogen dioxide during winter time 1998 were higher than the corresponding levels during summer time 1997 in Ulsan. 4. The mean concentration of nitrogen dioxide in Ulsan were in general higher than the corresponding levels in Yeochon. 5. This results in slightly positive correlation among indoor, outdoor, and personal nitrogen dioxide concentrations for summer time in Ulsan, then it statistical significance is showed(p <.05). These results suggest that nitrogen dioxide concentrations in industrial areas seem to be affected by traffic density and conditions of industrialization.

• 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.10 no.4
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• pp.81-86
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• 2010

The main sources of the new house syndrome(sometimes it called sick building syndrome) are a concentration of formaldehyde (HCHO) and a concentration of total volatile organic compounds(TVOC). I had field measurements of indoor air quality in the apartment unit at medium-size cities(Y city, C city). I measured indoor air temperature, HCHO concentration in 16 units, TVOC concentration in 6 units and air tightness in 7 units. And I measured outdoor air quality, HCHO concentration and TVOC concentration. Mean concentration of HCHO was $357{\mu}g/m^3$(2006 standard=$120{\mu}g/m^3$), mean concentration of TVOC was $3,092{\mu}g/m^3$ and mean effective air leakage area was 193 cm2. There was a close relation between the indoor air temperature and HCHO concentration, between the indoor air temperature and TVOC concentration. Air tightness also had relation.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.21-30
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• 2001

Vehicles, especially diesel-using, are a major source of airborne particulate matter(PM), nitrogen dioxide($NO_2$) and so on in metropolitan cities such as Seoul. Therefore workers, who are mainly merchants, near roadside may be highly exposed to air pollutants from exhausted emissions of vehicles. This means that occupational type and location can affect the workers＇health by exposure to outdoor pollutions of ambient as well as indoor pollutions of working condition, respectively. In this study, we simultaneously measured the PM3.5 and $NO_2$concentrations in indoor and outdoor of shoes repair shops in Seoul, which were generally located at roadside in Korea. Shoes repairmen were highly exposed to PM3.5 and $NO_2$ both indoor and outdoor of repair shops comparing with other sub-population groups. High exposure to air pollutants for shoes repairmen was considered to be outdoor source from exhausted emission of vehicles and indoor source from working condition. The $PM3.5/NO_2$ concentration ratio was $1.17{\pm}$0.59 in roadside, of which ratio was higher 7han ratios of other studies. This result suggested that major air pollutant in Seoul was fine particle. Also, this PM3.5 to $NO_2$ ratio will be used in environmental exposure and risk assessment by estimation of PM3.5 concentration as measuring the only $NO_2$ concentration with small and accurate $NO_2$ passive sampler.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.101-106
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• 2006

The work of hairdressers includes washing, coloring, bleaching, permanent waving, conditioning, and cutting hair. Hairdressers are subjected to a number of physical and toxicological hazards. The toxicological hazards are those resulting from exposure to a wide range of chemicals that are usually classified active processes. In this study, twenty beauty shops were selected to assess the exposure to indoor air pollutants such as VOCs and particulate matter $(PM_{10})$ during one month from September 1 to September 30, 2003. Indoor air quality of beauty shops might be worse by vehicle emissions because the beauty shops were generally located near roadways. Personal exposures to VOCs and $PM_{10}$ were related to indoor concentrations of beauty shops. According to the questionnaire, hairdressers complained of sore throat, eye irritation, and nervousness as physical symptoms. The measured mean concentrations of respiratory particulates were $30.5ng/m^3$ in indoor, $30.5ng/m^3$ in outdoor and $44.0ng/m^3$ on personal levels. The personal concentration was found higher than indoor and outdoor concentrations. The heavy metals mean concentrations were shown as indoor (Na>Zn>Cr), outdoor (Cr>Zn>Pb), and personal (Na>Cr>Zn) levels. Conclusively, customers as well as workers in the beauty shops might be highly exposed to air pollutants from indoor and outdoor sources. Therefore, proper management should be taken to improve the indoor air quality in beauty shops.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.310-319
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• 1993

A pilot study was conducted in order to investigate the concentrations of indoor and outdoor VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) at ten homes and four building offices in Seoul during March-April, 1993. The five components of VOCs(Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, o-Xylene, m/p-Xylene) were collected using charcoal tube and were analysed using Gas Chromatography(GC) with a Flame Ionization Detector(FID). The mean concentations of indoor VOCs were shown as Benzene of 38.9 .mu.g/m$^{3}$. Toluene of 165.0 .mu.g/m$^{3}$, Ethylbenzene of 21.7 .mu.g/m$^{3}$, o-Xylene of 11.6 .mu.g/m$^{3}$ and m/p-Xylene of 29.3 .mu.g/m$^{3}$, but those corresponding that indoor levels of VOCs were higher than corresponding outdoor levels. The ratio of indoor and outdoor VOCs were higher than corresponding outdoor levels. The ratio of indoor and outdoor VOCs concentrations was 0.99 for Benzene, 1.23 for Toluene, 5.86 for Ethylbenzene, 5.23 for o-Xylene, 2.41 for m/p-Xylene in homes, while 2.02 for Benzene, 1.15 for Toulene, 0.96 for Ethylbenzene, 1.41 for o-Xylene, 1.38 for m/p-Xylene in offices, respectively. The mean concentrations of VOCs in homes were higher than those levels in offices, while the mean concentration of VOCs during active hour of occupants in a day were higher 1-3 times than the levels during non-active hour. Comparing VOCs levels by building's age, the mean concentrations of Benzene, o-Xylene and m/p-Xylene were higher in new building than old building, but the mean concentrations of Toluene and Etylbenzene in new building were lower than old building. The mean concentrations in all components of VOCs in smoking area were higher than non-smoking area. These results suggested that the VOC levels were affected by various indoor characteristics and behavioral activity of occupants.

• 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 the Korean housing association
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.55-62
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• 2015

The international concern on the inhalable fine dust is continuing to increase. In addition to the toxic properties of the fine dust itself, it can be more dangerous than other environmental factors since the dust pollution is hard to be detected by human sense. Although the information on outdoor air condition can be acquired easily, the indoor dust concentration is another problem because the indoor air condition is influenced by the architectural environment and human activity. It means occupants may be exposed to indoor dust pollution over a long period without being aware. Therefore the indoor dust concentration should be measured separately and visualized as an intuitive information. By visualizing, the indoor dust concentration in each space can be recognized practically in compare with the degree of pollution in adjacent spaces. Besides the visualization outcome can be used as base data for related research such as an analysis of the relation between indoor dust concentration and architectural environment. Meanwhile, with the development of network and micro sensing devices, it became possible to collect wide range of indoor environment data. In this regards, this paper suggests a system for visualization of indoor dust concentration and demonstrates it on an actual space.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.73-84
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• 1990

The study was carried out to investigate the extent of indoor air pollution in living rooms of apartment houses(residential area) and offices(traffic area A : no smoking space, B : smoking space) in Seoul and to determine the health significance of indoor air pollution. Indoor and outdoor concentrations of major air pollutants were observed simultaneously from February 13 to 17, and July 24 to 28, 1988. The concentrations of carbon monoxide(CO), nitrogen oxides(NOx), sulfur dioxide($SO_2$), carbon dioxide($CO_2$) and total suspended particulate(TSP) in living room and offices were measured and the results were summarized as follows: 1. Both in summer and in winter, the indoor concentrations of CO, $CO_2$, and TSP in offices were higher than the outdoor concentrations, on the other hand, $SO_2$ was higher in the outdoors and NOx was lower than the outdoor concentration only in office A where smoking is not permitted. 2. The indoor and outdoor pollution of offices in winter was significantly higher than that in summer, and the concentrations of CO, NOx and $SO_2$ in indoor and outdoor air in living room in winter were also higher than those in summer. These results suggest that indoor levels of air pollutants are affected by smoking and winter heating systems.

• 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.