• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.445-460
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• 2018

Exposure to indoor air pollution is an emerging world-wide problem, with growing evidence that it is a major cause of morbidity worldwide. Whilst most indoor air pollutants are of outdoor origin, these combine with a range of indoor sourced pollutants that may lead to high pollutant levels indoors. The pollutants of greatest concern are volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and particulate matter (PM), both of which are associated with a range of serious health problems. Whilst current buildings usually use ventilation with outdoor air to remove these pollutants, botanical systems are gaining recognition as an effective alternative. Whilst many years research has shown that traditional potted plants and their substrates are capable of removing VOCs effectively, they are inefficient at removing PM, and are limited in their pollutant removal rates by the need for pollutants to diffuse to the active pollutant removal components of these systems. Active botanical biofiltration, using green wall systems combined with mechanical fans to increase pollutant exposure to the plants and substrate, show greatly increased rates of pollutant removal for both VOCs, PM and also carbon dioxide ($CO_2$). A developing body of research indicates that these systems can outperform existing technologies for indoor air pollutant removal, although further research is required before their use will become widespread. Whilst it is known that plant species selection and substrate characteristics can affect the performance of active botanical systems, optimal characteristics are yet to be identified. Once this research has been completed, it is proposed that active botanical biofiltration will provide a cheap and low energy use alternative to mechanical ventilations systems for the maintenance of indoor environmental quality.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.79 no.1
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• pp.31-36
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• 2016

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the risk factors for mechanical ventilation in the patients with scrub typhus admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) at a university hospital. Methods: We retrospectively selected and analyzed clinical data from the medical records of 70 patients (32 men, 38 women) admitted to the ICU with scrub typhus between 2004 and 2014. The patients had a mean${\pm}$standard deviation age of $71.2{\pm}11.1years$ and were evaluated in two groups: those who had been treated with mechanical ventilation (the MV group, n=19) and those who had not (the non-MV group, n=51). Mean ages of the MV group and the non-MV group were $71.2{\pm}8.3years$ and $71.2{\pm}11.1years$, respectively. Results: Significant differences between the two groups were observed with respect to acute respiratory failure (p=0.008), Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score (p=0.015), Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score (p=0.013), death (p=0.014), and ICU duration (p<0.01). Multivariate analysis indicated that the following factors were significantly associated with mechanical ventilation: acute respiratory failure (p=0.011), SOFA score (p=0.005), APACHE II score (p=0.011), platelet count (p=0.009), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (p=0.011). Conclusion: Thus, five factors-acute respiratory failure, SOFA score, APACHE II score, platelet count, and LDH-can be the meaningful indicators for mechanical ventilation for the patients with scrub typhus admitted to ICU.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.538-545
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• 2020

The outdoor coal storage sheds of thermal power plants are being converted to indoor coal storage sheds worldwide because of the environmental pollution problems in the surrounding areas. On the other hand, indoor coal storage sheds are causing problems, such as indoor coal scattering and harmful gas generation. In this study, the ventilation method of indoor coal storage sheds was analyzed in terms of the internal flow characteristics and ventilation according to the outside wind velocity and direction. CFD analysis was performed based on the actual flow measurement information inside the indoor coal storage sheds. A comparison of the wind speed of 6 m/s and 2 m/s when the outside wind direction was easterly showed that the stream velocity to the monitor louver was faster and the recirculation area was clearer at 6 m/s than at 2 m/s. In addition, the trend of a westerly wind was similar to that of the easterly wind. The ventilation rate according to the wind speed was 13.1 times and 4.4 times for a wind speed of 6 m/s and 2 m/s, respectively. If the wind speed is 2 m/s, the situation does not meet the required number of ventilations per hour in a general plant, and needs to be improved.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.4047-4051
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• 2014

Modern apartment houses are constructed to be relatively airtight with a high heat insulation system to increase the energy efficiency. Such a system has a range of deleterious effects due to the insufficient ventilation. In this study, the ondol system, which is used as a heat source typical of winter in Korea, was set as the default system to evaluate the indoor heat environment according to the ventilation method, the factors of energy reduction by the ventilation system was analyzed. The experimental apparatus was used to simulate the ambient conditions for a certain constant temperature and humidity chamber. The experimental results showed that the supply water temperature higher air volume decreases with increasing supply air temperature in the following order: floor supply/exhaust > total heat exchange supply/exhaust > forced supply/exhaust. Through this study, the applicability of various ventilations could be examined.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.561-571
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• 2014

The standards of ventilation system for bi-directional tunnel have not been established now. For this reason, with regard to the bi-directional tunnel below 1km, some problems have been appeared in ventilation capacity designing and in determining whether the mechanical ventilation system is needed or not for each case. In this study, we examine the characteristics of natural ventilations, analyze ongoing ventilation design cases for bi-directional tunnels and classify those cases into two groups. This study is carried out about the capability of using natural ventilating system by calculation of reasonable ventilation capacity in bi-directional tunnel and review of relationship between natural wind speed ($Vr^*$) and required speed(Vreq). This paper aims at providing a basis data for bi-directional tunnel ventilation design standards.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.7-13
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• 2014

Phosphate rock, phosphogypsum, and products in phosphate processing facility contain naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM). Therefore, they may give rise to enhanced radiation dose to workers due to inhalation of airborne particulates. Internal dose due to particle inhalation varies depending on particle properties. The objective of the present study was to characterize particle properties at the largest phosphate processing facility in Korea. A cascade impactor was employed to sample airborne particulates at various processing areas in the plant. The collected samples were used for characterization of particle size distribution, particle concentration in the air, and shape analysis. Aerodynamic diameters of airborne particulates ranged 0.03-100 ${\mu}m$ with the highest concentration at the particle size range of 4.7-5.8 ${\mu}m$ (geometric mean = 5.22 ${\mu}m$) or 5.8-9.0 ${\mu}m$ (geometric mean = 7.22 ${\mu}m$). Particle concentrations in the air varied widely by sampling area up to more than two orders of magnitude. The large variation resulted from the variability of mechanical operations and building ventilations. The airborne particulates appeared as spheroids or rough spherical fragments across all sampling areas and sampled size intervals. Average mass densities of phosphate rocks, phosphogypsums, and fertilizers were 3.1-3.4, 2.1-2.6, and 1.7 $gcm^{-3}$, respectively. Radioactivity concentration of uranium series in phosphate rocks varied with country of origin, ranging 94-866 $Bqkg^{-1}$. Among the uranium series, uranium was mostly concentrated on products, including phosphoric acid or fertilizers whereas radium was concentrated on byproducts or phosphogypsum. No significant radioactivity of $^{226}Ra$ and $^{228}Ra$ were found in fertilizer. However, $^{40}K$ concentration in fertilizer was up to 5,000 Bq $g^{-1}$. The database established in this study can be used for the accurate risk assessment of workers due to inhalation of airborne particles containing NORM. In addition, the findings can be used as a basic data for development of safety standard and guide and for practical radiation safety management at the facility.