• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.261-268
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• 2022

In this study, Long-term test specimens were tested in the outdoor exposure environment and the carbonation properies of concrete were analyzed. The test specimens were manufactured in 40 %, 50 % and 60 % according to the w/c ratio. Carbonation was measured at 3 years and 15 years of age. Based on the results, long-term carbonation prediction models(KICT model) were derived. As a result, carbonation increased according to the w/c. Based on the w/c 40 %, w/c 50 % increased about 1.8 times and w/c 60 % increased about 3.7 times. Comparison of carbonation according to age was that the carbonation at 15^th year was about 3 times higher that of 3^rd year. As results of comparing the KICT models and other carbonation prediction models, the carbonation prediction showed different values.

• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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• v.35
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• pp.51.1-51.15
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• 2023

Background: Recently, there has been increasing worldwide concern about outdoor air pollution, especially particulate matter (PM), which has been extensively researched for its harmful effects on the respiratory system. However, sufficient research on its effects on cardiovascular diseases, such as hypertension, remains lacking. In this study, we examine the associations between PM levels and hypertension and hypothesize that higher PM concentrations are associated with elevated blood pressure. Methods: A total of 133,935 adults aged ≥ 40 years who participated in the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study were analyzed. Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to investigate the short- (1-14 days), medium- (1 and 3 months), and long-term (1 and 2 years) impacts of PM on blood pressure. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to evaluate the medium- and long-term effects of PM on blood pressure elevation after adjusting for sex, age, body mass index, health-related lifestyle behaviors, and geographic areas. Results: Using multiple linear regression analyses, both crude and adjusted models generated positive estimates, indicating an association with increased blood pressure, with all results being statistically significant, with the exception of PM levels over the long-term period (1 and 2 years) in non-hypertensive participants. In the logistic regression analyses on non-hypertensive participants, moderate PM₁₀ (particulate matter with diameters < 10 ㎛) and PM_2.5 (particulate matter with diameters < 2.5 ㎛) levels over the long-term period and all high PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 levels were statistically significant after adjusting for various covariates. Notably, high PM_2.5 levels of the 1 year exhibited the highest odds ratio of 1.23 (95% confidence interval: 1.19-1.28) after adjustment. Conclusions: These findings suggest that both short- and long-term exposure to PM is associated with blood pressure elevation.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.115-124
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• 2024

Objectives: The aim of this study is to assess indoor air quality within and around buildings and evaluate the health risks associated with exposure to indoor air pollution. The study compares IAQ standards established by the World Health Organization with those set by South Korea's Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Education. Methods: The study utilized an Anderson Sampler and DustTrak^TM II to collect samples of total airborne bacteria and PM in indoor and outdoor environments. Collected samples were analyzed using biological and biochemical methods. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS to examine the correlation between airborne bacteria and PM. Results: The study revealed that the concentration of total airborne bacteria in indoor air generally remained below the Ministry of Environment's standard of 800 CFU/m³, although it surpassed this threshold in certain instances. PM concentrations did not exceed the standards. Indoor fine dust concentration was higher when there were people (P<0.05). There was no difference in total floating bacterial concentrations between indoor and outdoor environments (P=0.184). Finally, there was a correlation between fine dust and airborne bacteria concentrations. Conclusion: The study evaluated the concentrations of total airborne bacteria and PM in indoor air, emphasizing the importance of managing IAQ. Further research in various environments is essential to ensure a healthy indoor environment. The findings underscore the need for ongoing research and management to enhance IAQ and create safer and healthier living environments.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.267-274
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• 2018

Objectives: This study examined the impact of a smoke-free policy on indoor air quality at indoor recreation facilities by assessing $PM_{2.5}$ concentrations before and after the implementation of the new policy. Methods: Using real-time monitors, $PM_{2.5}$ concentrations were measured in 50 billiard rooms and 50 golf simulator rooms in Seoul, Korea. The characteristics of the indoor recreation facilities, smoking status, and atmospheric conditions were recorded at the same time.After the enforcement of a smoke-free policy, $PM_{2.5}$ concentrations, installation of smoking room, and smoking status were examined when the facilities were revisited. Results: Almost a half of the billiard rooms and over 80% of golf simulator rooms were located underground. Seventy percent of the billiard rooms and one hundred percent of the golf simulator rooms were equipped with a local exhaust ventilation system. After the implementation of the smoke-free policy, 46% of the billiard rooms and 20% of the golf simulator rooms newly installed a smoking room. In the billiard rooms with a newly-installed smoking room, the $PM_{2.5}$ concentrations decreased from 97.9 to $45.6{\mu}g/m^3$ after the implementation of the smoke-free policy. The same change of 29.0 to $ 26.3{\mu}g/m^3$ was not statistically significant in golf simulator rooms. Indoor $PM_{2.5}$ concentrations were correlated with outdoor $PM_{2.5}$ concentrations, number of smokers, and number of people in the room. Conclusions: The smoke-free policy for indoor recreation facilities was not effective at making the indoor spaces free from second hand smoke. Although a few billiard rooms installed a smoking room, indoor $PM_{2.5}$ concentrations were still higher than those of outdoor $PM_{2.5}$ or atmospheric $PM_{2.5}$. Stricter enforcement of the smoke-free policy should be achieved to prevent secondhand smoke exposure.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.17 no.9
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• pp.1005-1013
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• 2008

In this study, in order to analyze the air quality of the indoor environments of schools, we measured the indoor, outdoor and personal exposure concentration level of $PM_{10}$ for 40 classrooms(20 old, 20 new) in chungnam area from June 22 to July 19 and from November 21 to December 30, 2003. 1. Old classrooms contained more dust than new classrooms; the average of respirable dust is $43.27\;{\mu}g/m^3$ for new classrooms while $53.38\;{\mu}g/m^3$ for old one. The exposure concentration level of respirable dust in new classrooms were in summer higher outdoors than indoors. The values were indoors $46.71\;{\mu}g/m^3$, outdoors $50.46\;{\mu}g/m^3$, and personal $41.62\;{\mu}g/m^3$. Meanwhile in winter indoors had a higher concentration level than outdoors, the values being indoors $39.11\;{\mu}g/m^3$, outdoors $34.86\;{\mu}g/m^3$, and personal $49.01\;{\mu}g/m^3$. 2. Cr concentration level within dust was slightly higher in summer indoors ($101.50{\pm}32.10\;ng/m^3$) and outdoors ($100.89{\pm}35.18\;ng/m^3$) than winter indoors ($85.80{\pm}48.95\;ng/m^3$) and outdoors ($74.43{\pm}38.93\;ng/m^3$), but in personal concentration level, winter was higher. The results of this research show insufficient understanding of health risks from indoor air pollution, and shows possible health problems to students from school indoor air pollution. As such, a logical and systematic education program for students about the importance of indoor air quality should be carried out. Also the results of $PM_{10}$ concentration level measurements emphasize the need for regular measurements of indoor / outdoor and personal concentration level. New classrooms in particular needs to be used after measuring pollutants and safety, and requires installation of a ventilation device in all classrooms to improve air quality.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.491-500
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• 2016

Fog is atmospheric in which tiny drops of water vapor are suspended in the air near the ground. Its form, occurrence, etc., change according to the temperature, relative humidity, wind and geographical features of the space around it. In particular, fog tends to occur near a source of water because of temperature and relative humidity difference. These days, climate change is increasingly affecting the occurrence of fog. Therefore the purpose of this study was to investigate how fog affects materials that are part of our cultural properties through outdoor exposure tests and artificial degradation. The degradation evaluation of materials as a function of fog occurrence frequency, showed that the color of metals changed noticeably, whereas dyed silk and Dancheong showed degradation on the surface and color differences but no particular tendencies. Therefore, damage prediction by color differences as a function of fog occurrence frequency was based on metal samples, which showed constant color differences. Through a comparison of the predictive value and color difference by outdoor exposure, the accuracy and applicability of the damage prediction formula was confirmed. If a more complex damage prediction formula is created, it is expected that prediction of the degree of material damage in the field would be possible.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.171-187
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• 2023

Objectives: Aircraft cabin cleaning work is characterized by being performed within a limited time in a narrow and enclosed space. The objective of this study was to evaluate the exposure levels to dust, ultra fine dust(PM2.5) and black carbon(BC) among aircraft cabin cleaners. Methods: Active personal air sampling for respirable dust(n=73) and BC(n=47) was conducted during quick transit cleaning(cabin general and vacuum-specific) and seat cover replacement and total dust and PM2.5 were area-air-sampled as well. Also, size distribution of particle was identified with the cleaning workers targeted. Dusts were collected with PVC filters using gravimetric analysis. The concentration of PM2.5 and the particle size distribution were measured with real-time direct reading portable equipment using light scattering analysis. The concentration of BC was measured by aethalometer(filter-based real-time light absorption analysis instrument). Results: The geometric mean of respirable dust was the highest at vacuum cleaning as 74.4 ㎍/m³, following by replacing seat covers as 49.3 ㎍/m³ and cabin general cleaning as 47.8 ㎍/m³ . The arithmetic mean of PM2.5 was 4.83 ~ 9.89 ㎍/m³ inside the cabin, and 28.5~44.5 ㎍/m³ outside the cabin(from bus and outdoor waiting space). From size distribution, PM_2.5/PM₁₀ ratio was 0.54 at quick transit cleaning and 0.41 at replacing seat covers. The average concentration of BC was 2~7 ㎍/m³, showing a high correlation with the PM2.5 concentration. Conclusions: The hazards concentration levels of aircraft cabin cleaners were very similar to those of roadside outdoor workers. As the main source of pollution is estimated to be diesel vehicles operating at airports, and it is necessary to replace older vehicles, strengthen pollutant emission control regulations, and introduce electric vehicles. In addition, it is necessary to provide as part of airport-inftastructure a stable standby waiting space for aircraft cabin cleaners and introduce a systematic safety and health management system for all workers in the aviation industry.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.16 no.4 s.82
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• pp.477-484
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• 2004

As a part of durability improvement of concrete-structure, penetrating water repellency of liquid type is applied to concrete surface. Besides, a related standard is made recently, but the standard has been prescribe for initial settlement state of penetrating water repellency of liquid type, to the exclusion of performance variation depending time and outdoor environment factor. For measurement of performance variation, we measured the weight of outdoor exposure specimen every regular intervals and check a measured value against a measured value of different condition specimen. Moreover, after the application of penetrating water repellent, measured a adhesive strength in tension between cement-polymer modified waterproof coatings and surface of specimen. The applied penetrating water repellent is a emulsified silicon type with a deep penetration depth. In view of the results so far achieved, the more a Quantity of application and active solid content does get, the deeper penetrating water repellency of emulsion type Penetrate get longer and supplied moisture increase in quantity, a penetrating water repellency of liquid type penetrates more deep, but a quantity of water absorption increase gradually. Perhaps this result is caused by a reduction of active solid content on concrete surface, because active ingredient is moved into the concrete by dissolution.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.42-47
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• 2017

Background: One of the most urgent issues following the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant (FDNPP) was the remediation of the land, in particular, for residential area contaminated by the radioactive materials discharged. In this study, the effect of decontamination on reduction of ambient dose equivalent outdoors and indoors was evaluated. The latter is essential for residents as most individuals spend a large portion of their time indoors. Materials and Methods: From December 2012 to November 2014, thirty-seven Japanese single-family detached wooden houses were investigated before and after decontamination in evacuation zones. Outdoor and indoor dose measurements (n = 84 and 114, respectively) were collected based on in situ measurements using the NaI (Tl) scintillation surveymeter. Results and Discussion: The outdoor ambient dose equivalents [$H^*(10)_{out}$] ranged from 0.61 to $3.71{\mu}Sv\;h^{-1}$ and from 0.23 to $1.32{\mu}Sv\;h^{-1}$ before and after decontamination, respectively. The indoor ambient dose equivalents [$H^*(10)_{in}$] ranged from 0.29 to $2.53{\mu}Sv\;h^{-1}$ and from 0.16 to $1.22{\mu}Sv\;h^{-1}$ before and after decontamination, respectively. The values of reduction efficiency (RE), defined as the ratio by which the radiation dose has been reduced via decontamination, were evaluated as $0.47{\pm}0.13$, $0.51{\pm}0.13$, and $0.58{\pm}0.08$ ($average{\pm}{\sigma}$) when $H^*(10)_{out}$ < $1.0{\mu}Sv\;h^{-1}$, $1.0{\mu}Sv\;h^{-1}$ < $H^*(10)_{out}$ < $2.0{\mu}Sv\;h^{-1}$, and $2.0{\mu}Sv\;h^{-1}$ < $H^*(10)_{out}$, respectively, indicating the values of RE increased as $H^*(10)_{out}$ increased. It was found that the values of RE were $0.53{\pm}0.12$ outdoors and $0.41{\pm}0.09$ indoors, respectively, indicating RE was larger outdoors than indoors. Conclusion: Indoor dose is essential as most individuals spend a large portion of their time indoors. The difference between outdoors and indoors should be considered carefully in order to estimate residents' exposure dose before their returning home.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to estimate the ventilation rate of residential homes in Korea through tracer gas methods using indoor and outdoor concentrations of carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) and $CO_2$ generation rates from breathing. Methods: In this study, we calculated the number of occupants in a home by time through data on the average number of people per household from the Korean National Statistical Office and also measured the amount of $CO_2$ generation by breathing to estimate the indoor $CO_2$ generation rate. To estimate the ventilation rate, several factors such as the $CO_2$ generation rate and average volume of residential house provided by the Korean National Statistical Office, indoor $CO_2$ concentrations measured by sensors, and outdoor $CO_2$ concentrations provided by the Korea Meteorological Administration, were applied to a mass balance model for residential indoor environments. Results: The average number of people were 2.53 per household and Koreans spend 61.0% of their day at home. The $CO_2$ generation rate from breathing was $13.9{\pm}5.3L/h$ during sleep and $15.1{\pm}5.7L/h$ in a sedentary state. Indoor and outdoor $CO_2$ concentrations were 849 ppm and 407 ppm, respectively. The ventilation rate in Korean residential houses calculated by the mass balance model were $42.1m^3/h$ and 0.71 air change per hour. Conclusions: The estimated ventilation rate tended to increase with an increase in the number of occupants. Since sensor devices were used to collect data, sustainable data could be collected to estimate the ventilation rate of Korean residential homes, which enables further studies such as on changes in the ventilation rate by season resulting from the activities of occupants. The results of this study could be used as a basis for exposure and risk assessment modeling.