• Biomedical Science Letters
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• 제16권3호
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• pp.179-185
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• 2010

Benzene is known as a ubiquitous air pollutant and has a carcinogenic influence on the human body. Benzene is also metabolized to other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the body such as phenol and hydroquinone (HQ). The metabolites are accumulated and further oxidized by myeloperoxidase in bone marrow. They act as toxic agents and cause a variety of diseases, including cancer, atopic dermatitis and asthma. In this study, we examined the effects of benzene and its metabolites on proliferation, differentiation and chemotaxis of EoL-1 cells, the human eosinophilic leukemia cell line. These chemicals had no effect on the proliferation of EoL-1 cells. Benzene decreased the differentiation of EoL-1 cells induced by butyric acid. HQ was induced the cell death during butyric acid-induced EoL-1 cell differentiation. In a chemotaxis experiment, benzene, phenol and HQ enhanced the cell migration induced by Lkn-1 but not by MCP-1, eotaxin, MIP-$1{\alpha}$ and RANTES. These findings provide the effect of VOCs on the regulation of eosinophil-involved immune response.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• 제30권5호
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• pp.481-486
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• 2004

Vehicle occupant exposure to air pollutants has been a subject of concern in recent years because of higher levels of air pollutants inside gasoline or diesel-using vehicle, comparing to the surrounding atmosphere. Contrary to previous studies, fuel of vehicles operated in this study was liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). This study examined the potential exposure and removal efficiency of selected volatile organic compounds (VOCs), nitrogen dioxide ($NO_2$) and respirable suspended particle (RSP) by commercial air cleaning device inside vehicle under different ventilation conditions. Vehicle concentrations inside of benzene, toluene, m,p-xylene, $NO_2$ and RSP were lower under the low ventilation condition. This was indicated that outdoor air pollutants could affect the vehicle air quality inside in case metropolitan cities such as Daegu. The urban vehicle concentrations inside of benzene, toluene, m,p-xylene, $NO_2$ and RSP with air cleaning device were higher than those without air cleaning device. This means that the use of air cleaning device equipped with activated carbon filter, which was used in this study, in the interior of vehicles could be expected to reduce the vehicle occupants exposure to air pollutants effectively. In batch type reactor of laboratory scale, removal efficiencies of air cleaning device used were $97.0\%,\;95.7\%,\;94.6\%\;and\;85.5\%$ respectively in benzene, toluene, m,p-xylene and $NO_2$.

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
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• 한국환경보건학회 2005년도 국제학술대회
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• pp.293-298
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• 2005

Indoor air quality can be affected by indoor sources, ventilation, decay and outdoor levels. Although technologies exist to measure these factors, direct measurements are often difficult. The purpose of this study was to develop an alternative method to characterize indoor environmental factors by multiple indoor and outdoor measurements. Indoor and outdoor NO$_2$ and VOCs(benzene, toluene, xylene) concentrations were measured every 3 days for 60 consecutive days in 30 houses in Seoul, Asan and Daegu, Korea. Using a mass balance model and regression analysis, penetration factor (ventilation rate divided by the sum of ventilation rate and deposition constant) and source strength factor (source strength divided by the sum of ventilation rate and deposition constant) were calculated using multiple indoor and outdoor measurements. Subsequently, NO$_2$ and VOCs source strengths (ppb/hr) and deposition constant (K, hr$^{-1}$) were estimated. Deposition constants of NO$_2$, toluene and xylene were 0.98 ${\pm}$ 0.28, 0.71 ${\pm}$ 0.24 and 0.74 ${\pm}$ 0.53 hr$^{-1}$, respectively. Source strengths of NO$_2$, toluene and xylene were 16.28 ${\pm}$ 7.47,31.25 ${\pm}$ 38.45 and 23.45 ${\pm}$ 19.67 ppb/hr, respectively In conclusion, indoor environmental factors were effectively characterized by this method using multiple indoor and outdoor measurements.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• 제4권3호
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• pp.157-165
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to investigate allergic diseases related to allergy caused by the exposure to indoor and outdoor sources of air pollution in primary schools. The symptoms questionnaire of allergic diseases based on the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) was completed by the participants. The past and present status of asthma, allergic rhinitis, eczema, and allergic conjunctivitis were investigated by providing a questionnaire to all the participating children. Questionnaires were sent to a total of 61,350 children from 438 primary schools. A total of 40,522 children responded to the questionnaire, which represents a 66.1% return rate. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), $\underline{A}$ldehydes, and Particulate Matter ($PM_{10}$) were measured and analyzed from October to December of 2006, in 82 primary schools. The final study population comprised 35,168 children with complete data which excluded incomplete questionnaire responded by 5,354 children. Based on the survey, the level of indoor air contamination did not appear to be high, but 27.2% of the schools evaluated had exceeded the $PM_{10}$ level specified by the school health guidelines ($100\;{\mu}g/m^3$). The overall mean concentration of formaldehyde was $22.07\;{\mu}g/m^3$ and 1.0% of schools (1 school) exceeded the $100\;{\mu}g/m^3$. Statistically significant relationships have been observed between indoor air quality and prevalence rate of allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis of primary schools in Korea.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.57-68
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• 2010

This study assessed the lifetime cancer and non-cancer risk of aldehydes and volatile organic compounds exposure of young children at child-care facilities and indoor playgrounds in Korea. The samples were collected at various children's facilities (40 day-care houses, 42 child-care centers, 44 kindergartens, and 42 indoor playgrounds) in summer (Jul~Sep, 2007), winter (Jan~Feb, 2008) and Spring (Mar~Apr, 2008) periods, and analyzed by GC-MS. We estimated the lifetime excess cancer risks (ECRs) of formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, benzene, chloroform, CCI4 and tetrachloroethylene, and the hazard quotients (HQs) of Non-carcinogens (toluene, xylene, benzaldehyde and formaldehyde). Formaldehyde evaluated both cancer and non-cancer risk. The average ECRs of formaldehyde for young children were $1\times10^{-4}{\sim}1\times10^{-5}$ level in all facilities. HQs of four non-carcinogens did not exceed 1.0 for all subjects in all facilities.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• 제17권7호
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• pp.65-76
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• 2019

Purpose - The purpose of this study is to investigate economical ventilation effectiveness to reduce hazardous materials exposure and damage of workers by analyzing exposure amount of noxious substances under various ventilation conditions of nail salon for indoor environments. Research design, data, and methodology - This study was carried out with cooperation of Nail shop located in SeongNam city to involve an analysis of the environmental impact indoor air quality, pollutant exposure and economical cost-effectiveness in the nail workplace. The hazardous substances were PM-10(Particulate Matter-10㎛), VOCs(Volatile Organic Compounds) and Formaldehyde, which are the major materials of nail workplace. Results - PM-10 is reduced by about 60% with air cleaner, forced artificial ventilation by 32%, and natural ventilation by about 12%. TVOCs and Formaldehyde showed similar efficiency (80~100%) after natural ventilation and ventilation after 60 minutes. The removal efficiencies of VOCs and formaldehyde were similar to those of natural ventilation and mechanical ventilation system. However, in case of dust, natural ventilation was reduced by artificial ventilation system due to inflow of external dust during natural ventilation. Conclusions - If the pollution degree of outdoor air is not high, air volume is high, and natural ventilation is performed when the air conditioning and heating system is not operated. Even at the end of the work, it keeps operating for 60 minutes to remove the pollutants generated. Results of this analysis demonstrated that the worker environment can be improved by adopting institutional legislation and guidelines for ventilation.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.38-45
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• 2009

Since the seventies and the oil crisis, energy-saving measures have led to a reduction in the ventilation of room. The use of synthetic materials which emit various chemical substances had led to an increase in the concentration of indoor pollutants. "Sick building syndrome (SBS)" and "Sick house syndrome (SHS)" are worldwide problems. Also, the number of complaints about indoor air pollution caused by VOCs (Volatile organic compound) and HCHO (Formaldehyde) has increased. It is important that evaluating and understanding emission of indoor air pollutant from building materials. The object of this study was to evaluate emission test method for flooring such as wood based flooring, carpet tile, rubber tile, PVC sheet and tile, and to determine emission of TVOC and form-aldehyde. The quantity of TVOC and carbonyl compounds emission were sampled and measured by Tenax TA and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MSD), 2,4-DNPH cartrige with ozone scrubber and high performance liquid from flooring. The TVOC concentration emitted from carpet tile was ($7.419\;mg/m^2 h$) the highest among 5 groups of test materials. In wood based flooring and PVC tile, the emitted concentration of toluene was high. And the dodecane emission was highest in carpet. The concentration of TVOC decreased by an increase in emission test period. After 7 days, the concentration of TVOC from floorings were about 50% below of the concentration at the first day. TVOC emission from wood based flooring, carpet tile, rubber tile, PVC sheet and tile were decreased in 28 days and remained steady after about 15 days. The concentration of formaldehyde emission from floorings showed extremely low.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• 제21권9호
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• pp.1097-1113
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• 2012

Ozone is the secondary photochemical pollutant formed from ozone precursor such as nitrogen dioxide and non-methane volatile organic compounds(VOCs). The ambient concentration of ozone depends on several factors: sunshine intensity, atmospheric convection, the height of the thermal inversion layer, concentrations of nitrogen oxides and VOCs. Busan is located in the southeast coastal area of Korea so the ozone concentration of Busan is mainly affected from the meteorological variables related to the sea such as sea breeze. In this study the ozone concentrations of Busan in 2008~2010 were used to analyse the cause of the regional ozone difference in eastern area of Busan. The average ozone concentration of Youngsuri was highest in Busan however the average ozone concentration of Gijang was equal to the average ozone concentration of Busan in 2008~2010. The two sites are located in eastern area of Busan but the distance of two sites is only 9km. To find the reason for the difference of ozone concentration between Youngsuri and Gijang, the meteorological variables in two sites were analyzed. For the analysis of meteorological variables the atmospheric numerical model WRF(Weather Research and Forecasting) was used at the day of the maximum and minimum difference in the ozone concentration at the two sites. As a result of analysis, when the boundary layer height was lower and the sea breeze was weaker in Youngsuri, the ozone concentration of Youngsuri was high. Furthermore when the sea breeze blew from the south in the eastern area of Busan, the sea breeze at Youngsuri turned into the southeast and the intensity of sea breeze was weaker because of the mountain in the southern region of Youngsuri. In that case, the difference of ozone concentration between Youngsuri and Gijang was considerable.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.109-115
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• 2009

The purposes of this study are to treat sewage sludge that has increasingly become an issue and to recycle it as the adsorbent. The adsorbent was produced by carbonization and simultaneous steam activation, and its characteristics were studied. Parametric screening studies were carried out for the preparation of good adsorbent. Optimum operating conditions were confirmed as input carbonization-activated temperature of $840^{\circ}C$, feed steam flow rate of 70 g/min, carbonization-activated time of 30 min and feed dried sludge of 10.8 kg/day, respectively. At this time, the iodine adsorptivity was maximized as 328.1 mg/g. Pore development, structure, element compound and content were confirmed by using nanoPOROSITY, SEM (Scanning electron microscope), and EDS (Energy dispersive spectroscopy). Through this result, it was known that the adsorbent derived from sewage sludge could be used for the treatment of leachate in a landfill, VOCs (Volatile organic compounds), and so on.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• 제12권5호
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• pp.9-18
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• 2007

Soil vapor extraction (SVE) is an effective and cost efficient method of removing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and petroleum hydrocarbons from unsaturated soils. However, soil vapor extraction becomes ineffective in soils with low gas permeability, for example soils with air permeabilities less than 1 Darcy. Incorporating PVDs in an SVE system can extend the effectiveness of SVE to lower permeability soils by shortening the air flow-paths and ultimately expediting contaminant removal. The objective of the research described herein was to effectively incorporate PVDs into a SVE remediation system. The test results show that the gas permeability was evaluated for four different equivalent diameters, increasing the equivalent diameter results in a decrease in the calculated gas permeability. It was found that the porosity for the dry condition was greater than that of the wet condition and will allow flow rate for the same vacuum flow, offering a low resistance to the air flow.