• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.759-771
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• 2004

This study analyzed concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced from incineration of plastic wastes at $600^{\circ}C$. The plastic wastes used in this study included polyethyleneterephthlate (PETE), high density polyethylene (HOPE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), low density polyethylene (LOPE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS) and other. Plastic wastes were heated from room temperature upto $600^{\circ}C$ providing the compressed air inside of a small-scale electric furnace for 90 minutes and then they were oxidized (incinerated) for 60 minutes at $600^{\circ}C$ maintaining the same air supply. VOCs emitted from the incineration process were sampled using an air sampling pump and Tedlar air bags for 150 minutes and then the components and concentrations of the VOCs were analyzed by a GC-MS. The most prominent chemical structure of the VOCs obtained from the incineration process of the HOPE, LOPE and PP, which include ethylene groups in their main chains, was identified as aliphatic hydrocarbons such as 1-hexene. However, aromatics such as benzene were major chemical structure from the incineration of PETE, PVC and PS which include benzene rings in their main chains. This study estimated the total VOC production from the incineration of the plastic wastes based on the real plastic waste production and the emission factors. 64% and 27% of the total VOC emissions consisted of aliphatic hydrocarbons and aromatics, respectively, which have double bonds within their molecular structure and thus a high ground level ozone formation potential.

• Journal of Environmental Analysis, Health and Toxicology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.264-280
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• 2018

In this study, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were measured using a proton transfer reaction-time of flight-mass spectrometer (PTR-ToF-MS) at the Seoul Metropolitan Area Intensive Monitoring Station (SIMS) in Korea during the summer season of 2018. The results revealed that oxygenated VOCs (OVOCs) contributed a large fraction (83.6%) of the total VOCs, with methanol being the most abundant constituent (38.6%). The VOCs measured at SIMS were strongly influenced by local conditions. Non-volatile organic compounds (NVOCs), such as pinene, increased due to northeasterly wind direction in the morning, and OVOCs and anthropogenic VOCS (AVOCs) increased with northwesterly wind direction during the daytime. This was the result of the eastward location of Bukhansan National Park and the westward location of urban area from the SIMS location. The VOCs included abundant oxidized forms of VOCs, which can affect the generation of fine dust through various response pathways in the atmosphere. The real-time measurement technique using PTR-ToF-MS suggested in this study is expected to contribute to an improved scientific understanding of high-concentration fine dust events because the high temporal resolution makes it possible to analyze the variations of VOCs reflected in dynamic events.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.4 no.5
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• pp.61-61
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• 1995

Volatile organic compounds(VOCs) are of concern for their potential chronic toxicity, their suspected role in the formation of smog, and their suspected role in destruction of stratospheric ozone. Present study evaluated the exposures to selected VOCs in three microenvironments: 2 chlorinated and 5 aromatic VOCs in the indoor and outdoor air, and 5 aromatic VOCs in the breathing zone air of gas-service station attendants. With permissible Quality Assurance and Quality Control performances VOC concentrations were measured 1) to be higher in indoor air than in outdoor air, 2) to be higher in two Taegu residential areas than in a residential area of Hayang, and 3) to be higher in the nighttime than in the daytime. Among five aromatics, Benzene and Toluene were two most highly measured VOCs in breathing zone air of service station attendants. Based on the sum of VOC concentrations, the VOC exposure during refueling was estimated to be about 10% of indoor and outdoor exposures. For Benzene only, the exposure during refueling was estimated to cause about 52% of indoor and outdoor exposure. The time used to calculate the exposures was 2 minutes for refueling and 24 hours for indoor and outdoor exposures.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.4 no.5
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• pp.447-459
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• 1995

Volatile organic compounds(VOCs) are of concern for their potential chronic toxicity, their suspected role in the formation of smog, and their suspected role in destruction of stratospheric ozone. Present study evaluated the exposures to selected VOCs in three microenvironments: 2 chlorinated and 5 aromatic VOCs in the indoor and outdoor air, and 5 aromatic VOCs in the breathing zone air of gas-service station attendants. With permissible Quality Assurance and Quality Control performances VOC concentrations were measured 1) to be higher in indoor air than in outdoor air, 2) to be higher in two Taegu residential areas than in a residential area of Hayang, and 3) to be higher in the nighttime than in the daytime. Among five aromatics, Benzene and Toluene were two most highly measured VOCs in breathing zone air of service station attendants. Based on the sum of VOC concentrations, the VOC exposure during refueling was estimated to be about 10% of indoor and outdoor exposures. For Benzene only, the exposure during refueling was estimated to cause about 52% of indoor and outdoor exposure. The time used to calculate the exposures was 2 minutes for refueling and 24 hours for indoor and outdoor exposures.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.137-143
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• 2006

This study has been conducted to quantify the emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in a conference room. The carpet has emitted a variety of VOCs, but in this study, 2 VOCs compounds have been considered: Ethylbenzene and 1, 2, 3-Trimethylbenzene. In this study, a three dimensional numerical analysis has been carried out to investigate the emission and behavior characteristics of Ethylbenzene and 1, 2, 3-Trimethylbenzene emitted from the carpet in the conference room. The mass diffusion coefficient and the initial concentrations of VOCs in the carpet have been obtained from experimental data with non-linear regression. It has been found that the concentrations and emission factors of VOCs have exponentially decayed with time and that the concentration gradients and emission factors of VOCs are different from each other for various components. This study may supply fundamental understandings for the emission and behavior characteristics of VOCs.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.78-88
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• 2023

Background: Exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can have acute and chronic health effects on human beings in general and in working environments. In particular, VOCs are often emitted in large quantities in industrial settings. In such circumstances, there is a need to improve the indoor air quality at workplaces. Objectives: The purposes of this study were to verify the effectiveness of air cleaning devices in workplaces and provide alternative solutions for improving working environments. Methods: Personal exposure and area level of VOCs for workers were evaluated in a car-part adhesive process before and after installing an air cleaning device with a TiO₂-coated filter. Passive samplers and direct reading instruments were used to collect and analyze the VOCs, and the removal efficiency and improvement of air quality were evaluated. We also calculated the exposure index (EI) to assess the risk level in the workplace. Results: The removal efficiency for VOCs through the installation of the air cleaning device was approximately 26.9~69.0% as determined by the concentration levels before and after installation. The measured substances did not exceed the exposure limits for the work environment and the EI was less than 1. However, carcinogenic substances such as benzene, formaldehyde, carbon tetrachloride, and trichloroethylene were detected. Conclusions: The application of an air cleaning device can be a solution for controlling the indoor air quality in a workplace, particularly in cases where ventilation systems cannot be installed due to process limitations.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.227-235
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• 2005

Source contribution for VOCs collected in Seoul metropolitan area was conducted using PAMs (Photochemical assessment monitoring system) data and CMB(Chemical Mass Balance) model8.0, in order to estimate spatial and temporal variations of VOCs source contribution in that area, and also to compare with corresponding emission inventory. VOCs data used in model calculation were collected at 6 different sites of PAMs(Seokmori, Guwoldong, Simgokdong, Bulgwangdong, Jeongdong and Yangpyeong) and 22 out of 56 VOCs species were analyzed from June 2002 to march 2003 and used for CMB model estimation. The result showed that vehicle exhaust, coating and energy combustion were important sources of VOCs in Seoul metropolitan area, averaging 32.6%, 25.5% and 25.1%, respectively. In this study as well as other references, it was revealed that vehicle exhaust is the main contributor of urban area VOCs, but there is remarkable contrast between emission inventory and model estimation. Vehicle exhaust portion is seriously underestimated while coating is usually overestimated in emission estimates, compared to CMB results. Therefore, it is considered to assert and confirm the uncertainty of emission estimates and clarify the distinction between two other source apportionment methods.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.397-412
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• 1996

This study aims to present the fundamental strategies to improve the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) in apartment buildings. To investigate the concentration of indoor air pollutants such as radon, formaldehyde, and VOCs, both the document survey and the field measurement were conducted. In addition, to identify the source of the air pollutants, the laboratory experiment was carried out for various building materials. Finally, the minimum period to be reserved befor3e building occupation to ensure healthy IAQ, which largely depends on the ventilation rates, was simulated using a simple compuer program. The results of this study can be summarized as follows: 1. In case of newly-constructed apartment houses, concentrations of formaldehyde, VOCs and radon were found to exceed the standard. Meanwhile, at existing apartment houses, concentrations of VOCs, particularly toluene and xylene, highly exceeded the standasrd level. Concentrations of formaldehyde and radon, however, had been lowered according to the duration of occupation. 2. The laboratory experiment of concentration of pollutants per square meter of building material surface area showed that radon gas was much emitted from the gypsumboard; formaldehyde from flooring and wallpaper; and VOCs from paints and kitchen furnishings. The emission rates of formaldehyde and VOCs were proportional to air temperature. 3. According to the simulation of the minimum period to be reserved before occupation, newly-constructed airtight houses required about 190-200 days, and naturally ventialted houses with fully-open-windows required about 20-45days, in order to keep the level of radon gas lower than standard. Therefore, with the current practice, the date of occupation should be delayed for about 15 days.

• Proceedings of the SAREK Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.9-14
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• 2005

The purpose of this study is to predict VOCs emission rates from multi-layers materials, which are composed of single-layer materials having various VOCs emission rates, by using effective diffusion coefficients of the single-layer materials. The study was consisted of two parts; the one is the prediction of VOCs emission rates from multi-layer materials through numerical methods. The other is the measurement of VOCs emissions rates of wall composite and floor composite in Mock-up rooms for comparing the prediction and the experiments' values. The results of the study show that the short-term VOCs emission rates of multi-layers materials can be predicted from the effective diffusion coefficients of single materials in odor accuracy.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.221-224
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• 2013

In this study, VOC analysis method of vehicle interior materials and parts treated to visible-light responsive photocatalyst was tested by sample bag filled with air instead of nitrogen. As a result, when analyzed VOC of vehicle interior materials and parts, sample bag filled with the nitrogen was not confirmed of effect reducing VOCs and formaldehyde. However, VOCs and formaldehyde of sample bag that was filled with air instead of nitrogen, decreased significantly. Reaction effect for visible light-responsive photocatalyst was confirmed that sample bag of vehicle interior materials and parts should be filled with air instead of nitrogen.