• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.268-276
• /
• 2018

BACKGROUND: In the month of January 2018, fine dust alerts and warnings were issued 36 times for $PM_{10}$ and 81 times for PM2.5. Air quality is becoming a serious issue nation-wide. Although interest in air-purifying plants is growing due to the controversy over the risk of chemical substances of regular air-purifying solutions, industrial spread of the plants has been limited due to their efficiency in air-conditioning perspective. METHODS AND RESULTS: This study aims to propose a vegetation-based bio-filter system that can assure total indoor air volume for the efficient application of air-purifying plants. In order to evaluate the quantitative performance of the system, time-series analysis was conducted on air-conditioning performance, indoor air quality, and comfort index improvement effects in a lecture room-style laboratory with 16 persons present in the room. The system provided 4.24 ACH ventilation rate and reduced indoor temperature by $1.6^{\circ}C$ and black bulb temperature by $1.0^{\circ}C$. Relative humidity increased by 24.4% and deteriorated comfort index. However, this seemed to be offset by turbulent flow created from the operation of air blowers. While $PM_{10}$ was reduced by 39.5% to $22.11{\mu}g/m^3$, $CO_2$ increased up to 1,329ppm. It is interpreted that released $CO_2$ could not be processed because light compensation point was not reached. As for the indoor comfort index, PMV was reduced by 83.6 % and PPD was reduced by 47.0% on average, indicating that indoor space in a comfort range could be created by operating vegetation-based bio-filters. CONCLUSION: The study confirmed that the vegetation-based bio-filter system is effective in lowering indoor temperature and $PM_{10}$ and has positive effects on creating comfortable indoor space in terms of PMV and PPD.

• Journal of the Architectural Institute of Korea Structure & Construction
• /
• v.33 no.12
• /
• pp.81-90
• /
• 2017

This study was conducted to investigate the thermal environment status of nursery rooms in workplace daycare centers in Jeju and propose measures to improve their indoor physical thermal environment. For this purpose, measurements were performed in the winter indoor physical environment of 51 nursery rooms in 11 workplace daycare centers and a psychological evaluation survey on the thermal environment of nursery rooms was conducted for 70 nursery teachers. The investigation was carried out over 11 days in January 2017. The results are as follow. The average indoor temperature of the nursery rooms was $21.3^{\circ}C$($18.7-23.8^{\circ}C$) and the indoor temperatures of 47 nursery rooms (92.9%) were higher than the environmental hygiene management standard for domestic school facilities ($18-20^{\circ}C$). The average relative humidity was 33.9% (16.4-56.0%), and 37 nursery rooms (86.3%) showed a lower average relative humidity than the standard (40-70%). The average absolute humidity was $9.1g/m^3$ ($4.7-13.6g/m^3$), which was lower than the standard for preventing influenza ($10g/m^3$). When the indoor temperature and humidity of the nursery rooms were compared with international standards, it was found that 85% or more of the 51 nursery rooms maintained appropriate indoor temperatures, but 40-50% of the nursery rooms maintained a low humidity condition. Therefore, they need to pay attention to maintaining the appropriate humidity of the nursery room to keep the children healthy. The average indoor temperature of the nursery rooms showed a weak negative correlation with the average relative humidity. The indoor temperature had a significant effect on the relative humidity: a higher indoor temperature resulted in lower relative humidity. Regarding the fluctuations in the average indoor temperature of the nursery rooms during the day, in daycare centers that used floor heating, the indoor temperature gradually increased form the morning to the afternoon and tended to decrease during lunch time and the morning and afternoon snack times, due to ventilation. The daycare centers that used both floor heating and ceiling-type air conditioners showed a higher indoor temperature and greater fluctuations in temperature compared to the daycare centers that used floor heating only. In the survey results, the average value of the whole body thermal sensation was 3.0 (neutral): 32 respondents (62.7%) answered, "Neutral", Which was the largest number, followed by 21 respondents (30%) who answered, "Slightly hot" and 17 respondents (24.2%) who answered, "Slightly cold." Twenty-nine respondents answered, "Slightly dry," which was the largest number, followed by 28 respondents (54.9%) who answered, "Neutral" and 10 respondents (19.6%) who answered, "Dry." The total number of respondents who answered, "Slightly dry" or "Dry" was large at 39 (56.4%), which suggests the need for indoor environment management to prevent a low-humidity environment. To summarize the above results about the thermal environment of nursery rooms, as the indoor temperature increased, the relative humidity decreased. This suggests the effect of room temperature on the indoor relative humidity; however, frequent ventilations also greatly decrease the relative humidity. Therefore, the ventilation method and the usage of air conditioning systems need to be re-examined.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.117-124
• /
• 2020

In this paper, we proposed a plan to maintain comfortable indoor air quality in nursing homes by suggesting ways to reduce items temporarily exceeding the reference values through real-time concentration variation analysis of indoor air quality. Five items including PM10, CO₂, CO, VOC, and Radon are measured at nursing homes in spring (April) and autumn (September) was carried out and all of the measured items were analyzed to satisfy the criteria set by the Indoor Air Quality Control Act. As a result of the analysis of the real-time concentration change, the concentration of CO₂ was close to the reference value based on the number of occupants in the sick room. Due to the disinfectant (alcohol) used to disinfect and the auxiliary tools (adhesive) used in the operation of the program such as making and coloring, it was analyzed to temporarily exceed the standard value in the hall. In conclusion, it is possible to provide pleasant indoor air quality and contribute to securing the nursing home's competitiveness if periodic ventilation, natural disinfectant and eco-friendly product are used in consideration of the thermal environment.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.301-311
• /
• 2015

Objectives: Operators of overhead traveling crane in a ship assembly factory perform work to transmit large vessel blocks to an appropriate working process. Hazardous matters such as metal dusts, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, ozone, loud noise and fine particles are generated by variable working activities in the factory. The operators could be exposed to the hazardous matters during the work. In particular, welding fumes comprised of ultra fine particles and heavy metals is extremely hazardous for humans when exposing a pulmonary through respiratory pathway. Occupational lung diseases related to welding fumes are increasingly on an upward tendency. Therefore, the objective of this study is to assess properly unknown occupational exposure to the welding fumes among the operators. Methods: This study intended to clearly determine an equivalence check whether or not chemical constituents and composition of the dusts, which existed in the driver's cab, matched up with generally known welding fumes. Furthermore, computational fluid dynamics program(CFD) was used to identify a ventilation assessment in respect of a contamination distribution of welding fumes in the air. The operators were investigated to assess personal exposure levels of welding fumes and respirable particulate. Results: The dust in an operation room were the same constituents and composition as welding fumes. Welding fumes, which caused by the welding in a floor of the factory, arose with an ascending air current up to a roof and then stayed for a long time. They were considered to be exposed to the welding fumes in the operation room. The personal exposure levels of welding fumes and respirable particulate were 0.159(n=8, range=0.073-0.410) $mg/m^3$ and 0.138(n=8, range=0.087-0.178) $mg/m^3$, respectively. They were lower than a threshold limit value level($5mg/m^3$) of welding fumes. Conclusions: These findings indicate that an occupational exposure to welding fumes can exist among the operators. Consequently, we need to be keeping the operators under a constant assessment in the operator process of overhead traveling crane.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.30 no.3 s.58
• /
• pp.609-622
• /
• 1997

Nitrogen dioxide $(NO_2)$ has been regarded as one of the main elements among air pollutants, and we measured $NO_2$ levels of near gas range, kitchen, living room and outdoor on 489 apartments in Pusan area. $NO_2$ were sampled by using Palmes tubes (diffusion tube sampler) during August 16-25, 1995 (summer) and January 15-29, 1996 (winter), respectively. Authors wanted to know comparison of $NO_2$ levels in summer and winter, $NO_2$ levels categorized by variables, and variables affected to $NO_2$ levels. According to this study, we conducted to establish the degree of indoor-outdoor air pollution of urban apartments in Korea and methods to reduce indoor air pollution. The results of this study were summarized as follows: 1) Mean $NO_2$ levels of near gas range, kitchen, living room, and outdoor were $25.9{\pm}10.0ppb,\;23.3{\pm}8.0ppb,\;19.9{\pm}6.1ppb,\;and\;19.0{\pm}6.0ppb$ in summer, and $34.5{\pm}16.8ppb,\;28.2{\pm}13.4ppb,\;25.3{\pm}12.5ppb,\;21.8{\pm}9.8ppb$ in winter, respectively. 2) Mean $NO_2$ levels according to the floor levels were not significantly different in summer, and in winter, $NO_2$ levels were decreased as the floor levels were increasing, but those were increased above 16th floor. 3) Variables showing significant correlation(p<0.05) with $NO_2$ levels were as follows; Summer: floor level, family size, number of family during a meal, number using gas range during rice cooking per day, and natural ventilation. Winter: floor level, family size, number of person who have been respiratory disease in a house, number of family during a meal, total number of meals, and number using gas range during rice or side-dish cooking per day. 4) We suggest that the methods of reducing indoor $NO_2$ levels are ventilation during cooking, complete combustion, decreasing number and time of cooking, and substitution of fuels.

• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
• /
• 2011.05a
• /
• pp.1701-1708
• /
• 2011

A typical day in the subway transportation is used by hundreds of thousands are also concerned about the safety of the various workrooms with high underground fire or other less than in the subway users could be damaging even to be raised and there. In 2010, in fact, room air through vents in the fire because smoke and toxic gas accident victims, and train service suspended until such cases are often reported. In response to these incidents in subway stations, even if the latest IT technology, wireless sensor network technology and intelligent video surveillance technology by integrating fire and structural integrity, such as a comprehensive integrated surveillance system to monitor the development of intelligent urban transit system and are under study. In this study, prior to the application of the monitoring system into the field stations, authors carried out the ZigBee-based wireless sensor networks performance analyzation in the Chungmuro station. The test results at a communications room and ventilation room of the station are summarized and analyzed.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.19 no.1 s.19
• /
• pp.31-44
• /
• 1986

For many years, $NO_2$ has been regarded as one of the elements among indoor air pollutants of urban homes, leading to increased public concerns on this gas. For the purpose of preparing the fundamental data for the evaluation and control of health effect relevant to $NO_2$ levels, authors measured the indoor (kitchen, living room, bed room) and outdoor $NO_2$ levels categorized by the type of house(apartment, detached dwelling) and cooking fuel(L.P.G., briquette) in the winter and summer, and surveyed the variables(kitchen ventilation, family size, parental smoking) may effect the indoor $NO_2$ levels. The level of $NO_2$ was measured by Palmes tube, and this survey was carried out at 110 homes in the Pusan area from October 1984 to September 1985. The obtained results were as follows: 1) The mean indoor and outdoor $NO_2$ level in winter and summer, respectively, was $0.029{\pm}0.012$ ppm and $0.022{\pm}0.012$ ppm in the kitchen, $0.022{\pm}0.009$ ppm and $0.018{\pm}0.010$ ppm in the living room, $0.017{\pm}0.008$ ppm and $0.016{\pm}0.010$ ppm in the bed room, and $0.021{\pm}0.007$ ppm and $0.016{\pm}0.007$ ppm outdoors. 2) In the category of the type of house and cooking fuel, the highest mean indoor and outdoor $NO_2$ level in the winter was in apartments using briquettes, and in the summer. the highest level was in apartments using L.P.G. 3) In the category of the type of house, the mean indoor and outdoor $NO_2$ level in the winter and summer was higher in the apartment group compared to detached dwelling. 4) In the category of the type of cooking fuel, the mean indoor and outdoor $NO_2$ level in the winter was higher in the briquette group, and in the summer, the L.P.G. group was higher. 5) In the category of the kitchen ventilation, family size, parental smoking and asthma attack history of children, there was an insignificant difference in the indoor $NO_2$ levels.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.16-29
• /
• 2008

Nitrous acid (HONO) can be produced by heterogenous reactions of nitrogen dioxide on surface materials and direct emission from combustion sources. However, a little is known of indoor HONO levels or the relationship between residential HONO, NO, and $NO_2$ concentrations in occupied houses. Therefore, we measured simultaneously NO, $NO_2$, and HONO concentrations in living room of an apartment using continuous analyzers to study the production of HONO (June $22{\sim}30$, 2006). The 4-min average concentrations of indoor NO, $NO_2$, and HONO were 4.3 (range: $0.4{\sim}214.3$), 10.3 ($2.0{\sim}87.3$), and 1.8 ppb ($0.3{\sim}7.7$), respectively. Peak levels of HONO up to 7.7 ppb and 24-hr averages as high as 1.7 ppb were measured. In agreement with previous studies, indoor HONO concentrations increased during operation of an unvented gas range. Examination of the observed kinetics suggests that the secondary production of indoor HONO, possibly as a result of heterogeneous reactions involving $NO_2$ and $H_2O$ is associated with $[NO_2]^2[H_2O]\;(r^2=0.88)$ rather than with $[NO][NO_2][H_2O]\;(r^2=0.75)$. Three combustion experiments at nighttime were also carried out to investigate the effects of vented combustion on the HONO, NO, and $NO_2$ concentrations. It was found to release HONO for $10{\sim}15$ minutes after NO and $NO_2$ source was turned off, and peak values were finally attained. Compared to unvented combustion, peak $NO_2$ and HONO concentrations were 3.2 and 2.0 times lower at weak vented combustion (air flow: $340\;m^3/hr$) and 4.9 and 2.4 times lower at strong vented combustion (air flow: $540\;m^3/hr$), respectively, emphasizing importance of operating ventilation hood fan during combustion to improve indoor air quality.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.171-179
• /
• 2008

This study focuses on 130 estheticians currently working in and around Daegu and Gyeongbuk region, in order to find out the current state of affairs and side effects related to aromatherapy. This paper is based on a survey. SPSS win 11.0 program was used for the analysis of descriptive statistics and independent t-test. According to the result of analysis, about 33% of the estheticians have had allergy experience. And in terms of installation of an air ventilation fan, which is the most important facility in an treatment room, more than half (50.8%) replied they did not have one. There was a statistically significant difference between those estheticians suffering from allergy and those who did not, in symptoms of stuffy nose/rhinitis (P<0.01) and dry skin/itchiness (P<0.5). (Allergy symptoms from the 33% of estheticians were limited to those which occurred after he or she began career) On work related symptoms, those who had work history at hospitals/clinics or apothecaries were compared. A statistically relevant difference was confirmed between those estheticians with therapy experience and those who had none, in all symptoms except headaches and drowsiness/weariness. In other words, there was difference in symptoms such as dryness of skin/itchiness (P<0.01), stuffy nose/rhinitis, dry throat, tension/nervousness, dizziness, tired eyes(P<0.5), nausea, having trouble with focusing, and fatigue(P<0.1). Those estheticians who had a history of treatment especially suffered most from dryness of skin and itchiness. The rate of regular check-ups and the use of masks, employed for self protection, was lower than average (amounting to 5 points), with the use of masks especially having the lowest average (1.7) points.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.50 no.6
• /
• pp.740-746
• /
• 2001

Background : A 35-year-old woman was admitted to the emergency room with sudden dyspnea that developed one day prior. The initial Chest X-ray showed multiple bullous changes at the right middle and lower lung field and long standing fibrotic tuberculous changes at the right upper lung field. The left lung field was totally collapsed by an fibrotic old tuberculous lesion. In spite of supportive medical care with oxygen therapy after admission, the radiographic lesions were no significant change but the respiratory distress had worsened. The patient suffered respiratory failure and received mechanical ventilatory support. The HRCT showed a localized tension pneumothorax mimicking multiple giant bullae at the right lower lung field. Immediately after a closed thoracostomy with a 32 French chest tube and air drainage, her vital signs and dyspnea were gradually improved. The patient was successfully weaned from mechanical ventilation after 5 days of mechanical ventilatory support. The patient had received talc pleurodesis through a chest tube to prevent the recurrence of the life-threatening localized pneumothorax. The patient was discharged without recurrence of the pneumothorax.