• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.1-9
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• 1989

A pilot study was conducted in order to measure indoor and outdoor formaldehyde levels during August 3 - 22, 1988 in several underground spaces in Seoul. Formaldehyde concentrations were monitored during 1 week in selected sampling areas (subway station, underground shopping center, underpass, tunnel, underground parking lot) using passive formaldehyde monitors. In order to investigate a relationship between respiratory prevalence and levels of formaldehyde, each subject was asked to answer respiratory questions. The mean formaldehyde concentrations were 60.1 ppb in subway station, 122.2 ppb in underground shopping stores, 72.1 ppb in underpasses, 39.7 ppb in tunnel, and 75.9 ppb in underground parking lots, respectively. The mean indoor formaldehyde concentrations in underground environments varied from 28.6 ppb to 118.7 ppb. Generally, the mean formaldehyde concentrations in ticketing office in subway stations appeared higher than those level measured in platform. The mean formaldehyde concentrations of underground shopping center in Gangnam Terminal were higher than any other areas and it exceeded 100 ppb of the American Ambient Air Quality Standards of formaldehyde. Prevalence rates of respiratory symptoms of dwellers seemed to be related to higher indoor formaldehyde levels.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• 제15권3호
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• pp.81-91
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• 2000

Residents who live near petrochemical industrial areas are exposed to a variety of petrochemicals, including benzene or benzene-containing liquids. It is a serious concern because some VOCs are carcinogens naturally present in petroleum and gasoline. The aim of this study was to assess the exposure to VOCs, measured by personal/indoor/outdoor air sampling, and to estimate the relationship between the air samples and biological monitoring data. Through biological monitoring, we investigated VOCs in blood and s-phenylmercapturic acid (s-PMA) , minor urinary metabolites of benzene. The external benzene exposure of subjects was measured using passive dosimeters and urinary s-PMA and blood-benzene were determined by GC/MS. More than 80% of subjects were detected for m-xylene, ethylbenzene, and toluene in blood samples and not detected at all for chloroform, 1 , 1 , 1 -trichloroethylene, and tetrachloroethylene. The mean concentration of benzene in the breathing zone of residents was 6.3 $\mu\textrm{g}$/m$^3$, personal, indoor and outdoor concentrations were strongly correlated to each other. s-PMA detected in all subject samples was affected by personal exposure (p< 0.05) and the level was different by age (p< 0.01). Blood benzene was not affected by external benzene during these periods .

• 대한환경공학회지
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• 제27권6호
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• pp.606-613
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• 2005

본 연구에서는 실내공기 중 포름알데히드를 측정하기 위해 세 가지 다른 반응의 흡광광도법(비색분석)을 응용한 뱃지형 확산측정기를 평가하였다. 흡수여지의 세척방법을 비교한 결과 사용된 세척용액의 종류에 관계없이 세척하지 않은 경우 보다 양호한 세척효과가 나타났다. 각 측정방법에서 사용될 흡수액의 농도는 시료채취율을 기준으로 정하였다. 평가된 공시험 값은 측정방법별로 15% 이내의 편차를 가진 것으로 나타나 대체적으로 안정적인 것으로 나타났다. 확산측정기의 재현성은 MBTH법이 상대표준편차 10% 이내로 가장 양호하며, 채취된 포름알데히드 양과 시간가중평균농도와의 상관관계는 세 가지 측정방법 모두 양호한 것으로 나타났다. 검출한계 및 정량한계는 시료채취율이 가장 좋은 MBTH법이 다른 측정방법과 비교하여 가장 낮게 나타나 시료채취율이 가장 크고 정량한계가 낮은 측정방법일수록 포름알데히드 측정에 요구되는 측정시간이 감소되는 것으로 나타났다.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제15권3호
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• pp.261-269
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• 2005

To investigate the field applicability of a diffusive sampler (3M OVM #3500, passive sampling method) authors conducted a simultaneous measurement of personal organic solvents exposure in the air of the workplaces by charcoal tube with low volume sampler (active sampling method) and diffusive sampler. Samples were collected and analyzed by NIOSH method ($NMAM^{(R)}$) from thirty-eight workers in 12 factories who work in 6 different processes. Geometric mean (GM) and geometric standard deviation (GSD) were used to describe the result. To compare the results of the two methods, paired t-test was used. According to the manual of the exposure assessment of the mixed organic solvents (Ministry of Labor, Korea), Em was calculated. Simple linear regression was used to evaluate the relationship between the two methods. Results were as follows; 1. Eight different solvents (ethyl acetate, n-hexane, toluene, xylene, acetone, isopropyl alcohol, methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), and methyl isobutyl ketone) were detected simultaneously in the two methods and the concentrations of the personal exposure were lower than 0.5 TLV level. The concentration of the charcoal tube method was higher than that of a diffusive sampler in n-hexane and MEK (p<0.05). 2. Em of the charcoal tube method was higher than that of diffusive sampler method but not significantly different and was lower than the OEL (Occupational Exposure Limit) in all 6 processes. 3. There was a significant correlation between the two methods in low concentrations of the 8 organic solvents (p<0.05). In conclusion, there was no difference in charcoal tube method and diffusive sampler method in low concentrations of some organic solvents, diffusive sampler can be applied to assess the personal monitoring in low level exposure.

• 한국대기환경학회지
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• 제34권2호
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• pp.223-232
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• 2018

As the Seoul metropolitan city has the largest numbers of population and vehicles, the citizens can be exposed to hazardous air pollutants(HAPs) mainly from the vehicular exhaust and human activities. In this study, we proposed a systematic method for the selection of priority monitoring areas for HAPs using Geographic Information System (GIS). First, emission parameters(emission data, vehicle registration, monitoring data, and so on) and population parameters (population and population density) were plotted using the inverse distance weighted (IDW) interpolation. Then, the interpolation data for individual parameters, which were normalized between 1 and 5 points, were compiled for 270 grids with a resolution of $2km{\times}2km$. The total score of each grid was calculated using weights(1~5) for the individual parameters. The final ranking of each grid was assigned by four scenarios with varying fractions of the emission and population parameters from 50 : 50 to 80 : 20. Consequently, nine grids were suggested as priority monitoring areas, and all of them are located in the southwestern part of Seoul.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제37권5호
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• pp.369-375
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• 2011

Objectives: Exposure to hazardous chemicals during pregnancy may result incritical reproductive health outcomes. Indoor residential levels are significant component of personal exposure. The collection of residential exposure data has been hampered by the cost and participant burden of health studies of indoor air pollution. This study utilized a participant-based approach to collect volatile organic compounds concentration from homes. Methods: Four hundred thirteen women were recruited from three major hospitals in Seoul and Gyeongi Provence and 411 agreed to participate. A passive sampler (OVM 3500, 3M, USA) with instructions were given to the participants, as well as a questionnaire. They were asked to deploy the sampler in their homes for three to five days and return them viapre-stamped envelope. Results: Three hundred forty six participants returned the sampler. Among the returned samplers, three hundred samplers satisfied our monitoring quality criteria. The success rate of the monitoring method was 73%. The geometric mean of TVOC level was 429(2) ${\mu}g/m^3$. The TVOC guideline of 500 ${\mu}g/m^3$ was exceeded in 38% of the houses. The residential VOC levels were significantly associated with remodeling of the house. Conclusions: The results suggested that a participant-based sampling approach may be a feasible and costeffective alternative to exposure assessment involving home visits by a field technician.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제40권3호
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• pp.215-224
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• 2014

Objective: This study was carried out in order to determine the depositional characteristics of pine needles, pine bark, and soil used as a passive air sampler (PAS) for atmospheric polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Methods: All three media were sampled from the same site. The PBDE concentrations were analyzed by HRGC/HRMS, and the lipid contents were measured using the gravimetric method by n-hexane extraction. Results: The total PBDE concentration was the highest in soil (22,274.57 pg/g dry), followed by pine bark (20,266.39 pg/g dry), and then pine needles (7,380.22 pg/g dry). Pine needles contained the highest lipid contents (21.31 mg/g dry), whereas soil (10.01 mg/g dry), and pine bark (4.85 mg/g dry) contained less. There were poor correlations between lipid content and total PBDE concentrations in the media ($R^2$=0.8216, p=0.2814). Congeners BDE 47, 99, 183, 196, 197, 206, 207 and 209 showed peak concentrations. Among these, BDE 206, 207, and 209 are highly brominated PBDEs that exist as particulates in ambient air. They accounted for 81.2% [69.2 (pine needles) - 89.0% (tree bark)] of the concentration and therefore are noted as the main congener of the total PBDEs. Conclusions: It can therefore be concluded that for reducing error by improper sampling, the same species of media should be recommended for use as a PAS for atmospheric PBDEs due to the differences in depositional characteristics.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• 제12권4호
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• pp.176-193
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• 2007

The ability to measure groundwater contaminant flux is increasingly being recognized as crucial in order to prioritize contaminated site cleanups, estimate the efficiency of remediation technologies, measure rates of natural attenuation, and apply proper source terms to model groundwater contaminant transport. Recently, a number of methods have been developed and subsequently applied to measure contaminant mass flux in groundwater in the field. Flux measurement methods can be categorized as either point methods or integral methods. As the name suggests, point methods measure flux at a specific point or points in the subsurface. To increase confidence in the accuracy of the measurement, it is necessary to increase the number of points (and therefore, the cost) of the sampling network. Integral methods avoid this disadvantage by using pumping wells to interrogate large volumes of the subsurface. Unfortunately, integral methods are expensive because they require that large volumes of contaminated water be extracted and managed. Recent work has investigated the development of an integral method that does not require extraction of contaminated water from the subsurface. We begin with a review of the significance and importance of measuring groundwater contaminant mass flux. We then review groundwater contaminant flux measurement methods that are either currently in use or under development. Finally, we conclude with a qualitative comparison of the various flux measurement methods.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제7권1호
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• pp.63-71
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• 2016

Background: Construction painters have not been studied well in terms of their hazards exposure. The objective of this study was to evaluate the exposure levels of total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) for painters in the construction industry. Methods: Activity-specific personal air samplings were carried out in three waterproofing activities [polyurethane (PU), asphalt, and cement mortar] and three painting activities (epoxy, oil based, and water based) by using organic-vapor-monitor passive-sampling devices. Gas chromatograph with flame ionization detector could be used for identifying and quantifying individual organic chemicals. The levels of TVOCs, by summing up 15 targeted substances, were expressed in exposure-index (EI) values. Results: As arithmetic means in the order of concentration levels, the EIs of TVOCs in waterproofing works were 10.77, 2.42, 1.78, 1.68, 0.47, 0.07, and none detected (ND) for indoor PU-primer task, outdoor PU-primer task, outdoor PU-resin task, indoor PU-resin task, asphalt-primer task, asphalt-adhesive task, and cement-mortar task, respectively. The highest EI for painting works was 5.61 for indoor epoxyprimer task, followed by indoor epoxy-resin task (2.03), outdoor oil-based-spray-paint task (1.65), outdoor water-based-paint task (0.66), and indoor oil-based-paint task (0.15). Assuming that the operations were carried out continuously for 8 hours without breaks and by using the arithmetic means of EIs for each of the 12 tasks in this study, 58.3% (7 out of 12) exceeded the exposure limit of 100% (EI > 1.0), while 8.3% (1 out of 12) was in 50e100% of exposure limit (0.5 > EI > 1.0), and 4 tasks out of 12 were located in less than 50% of the limit range (EI < 0.5). Conclusion: From this study, we recognized that construction painters are exposed to various solvents, including carcinogens and reproductive toxins, and the levels of TVOC concentration in many of the painting tasks exceeded the exposure limits. Construction workers need to be protected from chemical agents during their painting works by using personal protective devices and/or work practice measures. Additional studies should focus on the exposure assessment of other hazards for construction workers, in order to identify high-risk tasks and to improve hazardous work environments.