• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.274-281
• /
• 2010

The objectives of this study are (a) to investigate the distribution patterns and exposure concentrations of biological agents in sawmill industries and (b) to compare sampling methods of biological agents. The representative processes of 5 sawmills were selected to measure total airborne bacteria, fungi, endotoxin as well as dust. Airborne bacteria and fungi were measured with one stage impactor, six stage impactor and gelatin filteration methods. Endotoxin was collected with polycarbonate filters and analysed by kinetic chromogenic Limulus Amebocyte Lysate method. Geometric mean levels of airborne bacteria, fungi, endotoxin and dust were 1,864 CFU/$m^3$, 2,252 CFU/$m^3$, 31.5 EU/$m^3$ and 2.4 mg/$m^3$. The ratios of indoor/outdoor concentrations were 3.7 for bacteria, 4.1 for fungi, 3.3 for endotoxin and 9.7 for dust. The respiratory fractions of bacteria were 68.0, 50.9, 49.2 and 45.1% in band-saw, table-saw, rip-saw process and outdoor air. The respiratory fractions of fungi were 78.7, 90.8, 87.5 and 84.8% in band-saw, table-saw, rip-saw process and outdoor air, respectively. There was no significant differences in bacterial concentrations among single stage, six stage impaction and filteration methods. But, fungal concentrations measured with filtration methods were significantly higher than those with impaction methods. Geometric mean levels of airborne bacteria and fungi were higher than the OSHA guideline values of 1,000 CFU/$m^3$. The respiratory fractions of fungi were above 75%. The concentrations of biological agents were significantly different among culture-based sampling methods. In the exposure assessments of biological agents, further studies are needed for the comparisons of diverse sampling methods and the investigations of environmental factors.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.324-332
• /
• 2017

Objectives: Much scientific evidence indicate a positive association between moldy environments and respiratory illnesses and/or symptoms. However, few comprehensive assessments of mold have been performed for such settings. Spore counts or microscopic enumeration only may not be sufficient for evaluating fungal exposure. Recently, Mold Specific QPCR technology developed by the US EPA (Environmental Relative Moldiness Index, ERMI) has been widely used worldwide and great performance for assessing fungal exposure has been shown. Methods: We aimed to develop a Korean version of ERMI suitable for the distribution of fungal flora in Korea. Thirty dwellings in the Seoul and Incheon area were selected for sampling, and each was classified as 'Flooded, 'Water-damaged' or 'Non-water-damaged'. Results: Dust on the floor and airborne sampling were collected using an MAS100 and a 'Dustream' collector. Samples were analyzed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction(QPCR) for the 36 molds belonging to ERMI. Student t-test and ANOVA tests were carried out using SAS software. The median ERMI values of flooded, water damaged, and non-water damaged dwellings were 8.24(range: -5.6 to 27.9), 5.47(-25. 4 to 32.7), and -15.30(-24.6 to 14.8), respectively. Significant differences were observed between flooded and non-water damaged dwellings (P=0.001) and between water-damaged and non-water damaged dwellings (P=0.032). Conclusion: Our findings indicate that ERMI values attributed to dust samples in Korea could be applicable for the identification of flooded or water damaged buildings. However, much data is needed for continuously developing the Korean version of ERMI values.

• Journal of Internet Computing and Services
• /
• v.20 no.6
• /
• pp.95-103
• /
• 2019

The number of one person households has grown steadily over the recent past and the population of lonely and unnoticed death are also observed. The phenomenon of one person households has been occurred. In the dark side of society, the remarkable number of lonely and unnoticed death are reported among different age-groups. We propose an unusual event detection method which may give a remarkable solution to reduce the number of the death rete for people dying alone and remaining undiscovered for a long period of time. The unusual event detection method we suggested to identify abnormal user behavior in their lives using vision pattern, audio pattern, and dust pattern algorithms. Individually proposed pattern algorithms have disadvantages of not being able to detect when they leave the coverage area. We utilized a fusion method to improve the accuracy performance of each pattern algorithm and evaluated the technique with multiple user behavior patterns in indoor areas.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
• /
• v.50 no.4
• /
• pp.635-658
• /
• 2019

In this study, the harmful factors measured in S university's central library were divided into ① air harmful substance ② biological harmful factors ③ carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide concentration, measured and analyzed compared to the relevant criteria. The analysis showed that the harmful substances in the air - fine dust, asbestos, volatile organic compounds and formaldehyde - were all lower than the relevant standards, and that biological harmful factors such as fungi in the air, gramophageal bacteria, and endotoxin were also found to have no particular problems. The concentration of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide in the air was also maintained without any unusual factors compared to the concentration in the ordinary atmosphere. However, the library is a multi-use facility that needs regular cleaning and ventilation to manage the environment.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
• /
• v.35 no.3
• /
• pp.193-204
• /
• 1997

The purpose of this study is to measure some physical environmental factors and to doucument students' perceptions of them. 11 middle schools in Cheju City were divided into four areas according to their locations and two schools were selected for the study. 144 thirteen-year-old students in two middle school in a overcrowded area in Cheju City-one middle school building is insulated and the other is not insulated-were taken for the questionnaire survey. The finding of the study are as follows: 1) The classrooms were not equipped with any heating equipment. The buildings are not insulated well. As a result, the room temperature was much lower(12.9-16.2℃) than comfortable indoor temperature in winter(21.5-24.5℃). The classroom were found to be colder(12.9-16.2℃) than usual pleasant indoor temperature(21.5-24.5℃) in winter. 2) The classroom were so far from the street(20m) that there was little noise from traffic. Nevertheless, the noise level was higher(62.5-66.2 dB(A), when the windows were open; 51.7-62.8dB(A), when closed than the noise tolerance level specified in the Environment Protection Laws(50.0dB(A)). 3) As for the visual environment, the location of classroom, the adequate sun exposure, and the total states of windows in classrooms influenced on the illuminance. While standard indoor illuminance is 300 Lux, the classrooms facing south had illuminance of 231 Lux, from day light: and the ones facing west, 380 Lux. 4) Students generally found other aspects of the physical environment of their classrooms unsatisfactory. Chalk dust was generated to a serious extent near the main chalkboard(0.25mg/㎥) of classrooms.

• The Journal of the Korea institute of electronic communication sciences
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.551-558
• /
• 2021

In this paper, we made the integrated intelligent air ventilation of the actuator module that can be remotely controlled based on IoT and sensors. we implemented a ventilation window system by configuring an algorithm design and a driving circuit to control the operation of the actuator to open and close the ventilation port based on a predetermined number of data that detects indoor gas/CO2/humidity temperature and outdoor fine dust related indoor/outdoor environment. It is difficult to store, manage, and analyze data due to the large number of sensors and conditions for the transmission data of indoor air circulation module. The remote monitoring and remote wireless control screens were constructed to automate the separation and operation conditions by extracting and managing the state. We apply MQTT to enhance big data transmission and construct the system using Rocket MQ to ensure safe transmission of operational big data against system errors.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
• /
• v.48 no.5
• /
• pp.80-88
• /
• 2020

With the issuance of one-week fine dust emergency reduction measures in March 2019, the public's anxiety about fine dust is increasingly growing. In order to assess the application of air purifying plant-based bio-filters to public facilities, this study presented a method for measuring pollutant reduction effects by creating an indoor environment for continuous discharge of particle pollutants and conducted basic studies to verify whether indoor air quality has improved through the system. In this study conducted in a lecture room in spring, the background concentration was created by using mosquito repellent incense as a pollutant one hour before monitoring. Then, according to the schedule, the fine dust reduction capacity was monitored by irrigating for two hours and venting air for one hour. PM₁₀, PM_2.5, and temperature & humidity sensors were installed two meters front of the bio-filters, and velocity probes were installed at the center of the three air vents to conduct time-series monitoring. The average face velocity of three air vents set up in the bio-filter was 0.38±0.16 m/s. Total air-conditioning air volume was calculated at 776.89±320.16㎥/h by applying an air vent area of 0.29m×0.65m after deducing damper area. With the system in operation, average temperature and average relative humidity were maintained at 21.5-22.3℃, and 63.79-73.6%, respectively, which indicates that it satisfies temperature and humidity range of various conditions of preceding studies. When the effects of raising relatively humidity rapidly by operating system's air-conditioning function are used efficiently, it would be possible to reduce indoor fine dust and maintain appropriate relative humidity seasonally. Concentration of fine dust increased the same in all cycles before operating the bio-filter system. After operating the system, in cycle 1 blast section (C-1, β=-3.83, β=-2.45), particulate matters (PM₁₀) were lowered by up to 28.8% or 560.3㎍/㎥ and fine particulate matters (PM_2.5) were reduced by up to 28.0% or 350.0㎍/㎥. Then, the concentration of find dust (PM₁₀, PM_2.5) was reduced by up to 32.6% or 647.0㎍/㎥ and 32.4% or 401.3㎍/㎥ respectively through reduction in cycle 2 blast section (C-2, β=-5.50, β=-3.30) and up to 30.8% or 732.7㎍/㎥ and 31.0% or 459.3㎍/㎥ respectively through reduction in cycle 3 blast section (C-3, β=5.48, β=-3.51). By referring to standards and regulations related to the installation of vegetation bio-filters in public facilities, this study provided plans on how to set up objective performance evaluation environment. By doing so, it was possible to create monitoring infrastructure more objective than a regular lecture room environment and secure relatively reliable data.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.38 no.2
• /
• pp.217-226
• /
• 2024

This study aimed to investigate the influence of anions in the air on the purification of fine dust (PM10 and PM2.5) and to evaluate the effects of plants on the generation of anions in the air and the purification of fine dust. Subsequently, the fine dust reduction models were compared according to each factor and plant volume. The characteristics of anion generation by each factor were observed to be in the order of Type N.I (negative ion generator; 204,133.33 ea/cm³) > Type P₃₀ (plant vol. 30%; 362.55 ea/cm³) > Type C (control; 46.22 ea/cm³), indicating that the amount of anion generation in the anion generator treatment group and the plant arrangement group were approximately 4,417 times and 7 times higher, respectively, than that in the untreated group. Consequently, the fine dust reduction characteristics by anion generation source showed that for PM10, Type NI had a purification efficiency 2.52 times higher than Type C, and Type P₃₀ was 1.46 times higher, while for PM2.5, Type NI had a purification efficiency 2.26 times higher than Type C, and Type P₃₀ was 1.31 times higher. The efficiency of fine dust purification by plant volume was in the order of Type P₂₀ (84.60 minutes) > Type P₃₀ (106.50 minutes) = Type P₂₅ (115.50 minutes) = Type P₁₅ (117.60 minutes) > Type P₅ (125.25 minutes) = Type P₁₀ (129.75 minutes), and for ultrafine dust, Type P₂₀ (104.00 minutes) > Type P₃₀ (133.20 minutes) = Type P₂₅ (144.00 minutes) = Type P₁₅ (147.60 minutes) > Type P₅ (161.25 minutes) = Type P₁₀ (168.00 minutes). Thus, a quantitative analysis of the anions and plants for purifying fine dust and suggested matters to be considered for future green space planning and plant planting considering fine dust purification.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Rural Architecture
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.23-30
• /
• 2022

In this study, in order to grasp the current situation of indoor environmental pollution and indoor ventilation in one-room around the university in the post-corona era, we analyzed the experimental data and conducted a questionnaire survey on university students. By analyzing the content, the effects of formaldehyde, dust and other pollution on the human body, which are usually not easily detectable, are digitized and more easily taken into account. Among the experimental results, the concentration of VOC and HCHO, gas pollutants among indoor pollutants, exceeded the recommended criteria of the Ministry of Environment in most studio apartments. Overall, the average CO₂ concentration was lower than the Ministry of Environment's maintenance standard (1000ppm), but it was relatively high in summer and winter, and it is believed to be caused by cooling and heating in an enclosed space. The levels of PM2.5 and PM10, particulate pollutants, increased in November and December, and it is believed that ventilation defects due to degradation in external temperature. There was no clear difference between the two types, and there was a very high correlation between PM2.5 and PM10, HCHO and VOC. It was found that temperature was closely correlated with all sources except CO₂, and humidity was closely correlated with all sources except PM2.5 and PM10. Health risk assessment was conducted for formaldehyde. The average ECR of studio R2 in May was 3.91E^-4, and the ECR figure in September was 3.65E^-4, which was very high compared to other residential spaces. The R2 level was calculated as 4 people per 10,000 people in the lifetime risk of cancer of residents, exceeding the allowable risk. R8 also showed higher ECR results than other spaces after R2, especially in October, 2.01E^-4, six times higher than R7 measured in October, and 1.87E^-4 in July, four times higher than R9.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.117-123
• /
• 2022

Recently, due to COV ID-19, many people are spending most of their time indoors. So, there is a rising interest on the indoor air quality in the field of building construction. The main sources for the indoor air pollution are human indoors activity, building materials, living supplies and the polluted air from outdoor. The Korean government has designated 17 indoor air pollutants including fine dust, total airborne bacteria, fungi and carbon dioxide, etc.. Most people are always exposed to assorted bacteria and molds in our daily life, because indoor environment for human, moderate temperature are humidity, it is favourable to the growth of most of bacteria and fungi. Pine needles have an antibacterial effect against bacteria and fungi. In this study, the antibacterial activity against bacteria and fungi was tested by cement matrix using pine needle extract. As a result, the cement matrix using pine needle extract showed antibacterial activities against bacteria, but in the case of fungi, it did not show antifungal activity.