• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2024

Children are vulnerable to bad indoor air quality, and many researches on indoor air quality have been done with various methodologies. Herein, we used the genetic algorithm, one of the optimization methods, for the analysis based on better estimation values that are not easy to measure. A children playroom and a Taekwondo gym were chosen for the different degree of physical activity. After estimation of the number of occupants, the generation degree of CO2 and PM2.5 were determined from the data of the indoor air quality monitors. Relative errors were below 1% for all cases. Due to many air-treating electronics, the PM2.5 in the children playroom was well-managed compared to that in the Taekwondo gym. The PM2.5-generating activities were calculated and that of the Taekwondo gym was higher than that of the children playroom. The PM2.5 generating values were on the positive relationship with CO2 generating values. This means that we can obtain meaningful information from limited measurement data. For the numerous children facilities, indoor air quality can be easily analyzed and this might contribute to enhancing the children health.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.21 no.1 s.52
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• pp.57-69
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• 2006

Lately human exposure to fine particles smaller than $2.5{\mu}m$ in aerodynamic diameter ($PM_{2.5}$) has become a great concern in Korea due to their possible cause of elevated mortality, lung function decrements, and more frequent hospital admissions for asthma. This study was conducted to investigate seasonal variations of human exposure to residential $PM_{2.5}$ and particle-associated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Ten homes in Chuncheon, Korea were visited for continuous 72 hour sampling of $PM_{2.5}$ in the living rooms using a MiniVol Portable Sampler from December 22, 2002 to November 3, 2003. During the same period, outdoor $PM_{2.5}$ samples were collected on the top of the Natural Sciences Building of Kangwon National University which is located in the middle of the ten households. Samples were analyzed for $PM_{2.5}$ mass concentrations and six selected PAHs. In two smoking homes, the highest $PM_{2.5}$ concentrations were measured ranging from 51.1 to 69.7 {\mu}g/m^3$ on average in all seasons, indicating smoking is a very important contributor to the elevation of indoor particle concentrations. Seasonal comparison showed that indoor particle concentrations were higher than outdoor ones except winter. Total PAH concentrations in smoking homes were highest in winter among the seasons primarily due to low ventilation rate, followed by the outdoor site and nonsmoking homes. BaP toxic equivalents (TEQs) were calculated for five PAHs. The TEQ for smoking homes in winter was highest followed by the outdoor site in winter. It is concluded that smoking and ventilation rate are two important contributors to the elevation of indoor $PM_{2.5}$ and PAH concentrations.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.21-30
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• 2001

Vehicles, especially diesel-using, are a major source of airborne particulate matter(PM), nitrogen dioxide($NO_2$) and so on in metropolitan cities such as Seoul. Therefore workers, who are mainly merchants, near roadside may be highly exposed to air pollutants from exhausted emissions of vehicles. This means that occupational type and location can affect the workers＇health by exposure to outdoor pollutions of ambient as well as indoor pollutions of working condition, respectively. In this study, we simultaneously measured the PM3.5 and $NO_2$concentrations in indoor and outdoor of shoes repair shops in Seoul, which were generally located at roadside in Korea. Shoes repairmen were highly exposed to PM3.5 and $NO_2$ both indoor and outdoor of repair shops comparing with other sub-population groups. High exposure to air pollutants for shoes repairmen was considered to be outdoor source from exhausted emission of vehicles and indoor source from working condition. The $PM3.5/NO_2$ concentration ratio was $1.17{\pm}$0.59 in roadside, of which ratio was higher 7han ratios of other studies. This result suggested that major air pollutant in Seoul was fine particle. Also, this PM3.5 to $NO_2$ ratio will be used in environmental exposure and risk assessment by estimation of PM3.5 concentration as measuring the only $NO_2$ concentration with small and accurate $NO_2$ passive sampler.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.646-657
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• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to suggest methods to investigate continuous monitoring of concentration levels and assess the exposure of individuals considering the actual time activity of residents for formaldehyde and particulate matter (PM₁₀, PM_2.5) in the indoor and outdoor air of a house, assess the health risks of children and adults based on the results of the exposure assessment, and provide basic data on studies for assessing exposure and health risks in Korea in the future. Methods: The concentration levels of formaldehyde and particulate matter were measured in a family home in Gyeonggi-do Province from April 25 to July 31, 2019, using electrochemical sensors (formaldehyde) and light scattering sensors (PM₁₀, PM_2.5). Risk assessment by the duration of exposure by time activity was performed by dividing between weekdays and weekends, and indoors and outdoors. Results: The greatest level of carcinogenic risk from inhaling formaldehyde was indoors during the weekdays for both children and adults. For children, the risk was at 7.5 per approximately 10,000 people, and for adults, the risk was at 4.1 per approximately 10,000 people. PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 also showed the greatest values indoors during the weekdays, with children at 1.7 people and 1.4 per approximately 100 people, respectively, and adults at 8.2 per approximately 1,000 and 1.8 per approximately 100 people, respectively. Conclusions: The risks of formaldehyde, PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 were shown to be high indoors. Therefore, consideration of exposure assesment for each indoor pollutant and management of indoor air quality is necessary.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.204-214
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• 2018

Indoor air quality was investigated in homes and daycares located in areas with heavy traffic in Seoul, South Korea from November 2013 to January 2014. Indoor and outdoor air quality measurements were collected for 48 hours in four children's homes and daycare centers. The I/O ratio (Indoor to outdoor ratio) for each major air pollutant ($NO_2$, black carbon, $PM_{10}$, and $PM_{2.5}$) was calculated, and $NO_2$ and $PM_{10}$ concentration profiles were analyzed based on indoor activity diaries recorded during the 48 hours. Most I/O ratios for $NO_2$, black carbon, $PM_{10}$, and $PM_{2.5}$ at daycare centers were less than one. At homes, I/O ratios for black carbon, $PM_{10}$, and $PM_{2.5}$ were less than one; however, most I/O ratios for $NO_2$ were greater than one due to the usage of gas stoves. The children's exposure to indoor air pollutants was calculated using a time-weighted average exposure method, and the daily intake level for each pollutant was determined.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.25-33
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• 2018

In this study, the concentration of fine indoor dust and the size distribution of fine indoor dust were analyzed by measuring the dust generated during the cleaning process of an indoor office. We measured $PM_{10}$, $PM_{2.5}$, and $PM_{1.0}$ and analyzed the size distributions of dust larger than $0.3{\mu}m$ in diameter during cleaning. The results showed that the concentration of $PM_{10}$ increased rapidly during cleaning, however $PM_{1.0}$ did not increase. Before cleaning with a broom, the fine dust concentration was about $50{\mu}g/m^3$, but increased to about $400{\mu}g/m^3$ as cleaning progressed. In the case of indoor cleaning with a vacuum cleaner, the concentration of $PM_{10}$ increased during the cleaning process and the increase of $PM_{2.5}$ was relatively small. $PM_{1.0}$ did not increase as in the case of cleaning the broom.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.28-38
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• 1994

The objective of this study were to measure concentrations of indoor pollutants in public transportation systems to provide importance of indoor air quality in transportation systems to policy makers. Indoor air quality of the pollutants (CO, CO$_2$, PM-10) and environmental sources (temperature, humidity) were measured at subway, seat-type bus, and city-type bus in the Seoul area from April to September 1992. The same pollutants and environmental sources were also measured at selected bus stops and subway stations during October 1991-September 1992. The mean concentrations of indoor pollutants in the public transportation systems were showed 115.5 $\mu$g/m$^3$ in PM-10, 6.8 ppm in CO, and 2167.9 ppm in CO$_2$, respectively. The mean values of PM-10 and CO showed below the U.S. 24 hour standard value of PM-10 and the Korea ambient CO standard, while the mean concentrations of CO$_2$ exceeded the Korea CO$_2$ standard. The highest levels of indoor concentration at public transportation systems were PM-10 of 134.6 $\mu$g/m$^3$ in the subway, CO of 8.9 ppm in the city-type bus, CO$_2$ of 2,511.1ppm in seat-type bus, respectively. The results showed that indoor air quality in bus and subway seemed likely to be affected by number of passengers and outdoor air infiltrated from exhausted gases of automobiles.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.37-44
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• 2019

It is recommended for the public to stay at home and to close the doors and windows when a high-particulate-matter environment such as a yellow sand event occurs outside. However, there are lack of empirical studies describing how much outdoor PM infiltrates into a closed house and how much indoor PM an inhabitant is exposed to during the period. In this study, the $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ were measured at the kitchen in an apartment house by an optical particle counter for 3 days including a yellow sand event. The outdoor PMs and the outdoor wind speeds were referred from surrounding weather stations. We analyzed the penetration of $PM_{10-2.5}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ at the test house against the outdoor wind speed supposed corresponding to the change of air exchange rate. In addition, the effect of an indoor activity on change in the indoor PM was investigated. In result, the indoor $PM_{10-2.5}$ was very low even a yellow sand event occurred outside; rather, a contribution of indoor activities to increase in $PM_{10-2.5}$ was higher. In contrast, the indoor $PM_{2.5}$ fluctuated following the outdoor $PM_{2.5}$ trend at high wind speeds or remained almost constant at low wind speed.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.19 no.4 s.54
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• pp.61-68
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• 2004

Hair driers and chemicals used in beauty shops generate a number of heavy metals and $PM_{10}$. Also many $PM_{10}$ are produced during hair cut. The pollutions raised health problems and uncomfortableness to hair dressers and customers in beauty shops. This study investigated to assess indoor, outdoor and personal particulate pollutants ($PM_{10}$ and Heavy metals) mean concentrations and the source of the pollutants in beauty shops. The results are summarized as follows: 1. The measured mean concentrations of respiratory particulates were $30.5ng/m^2$ in indoor, $30.5ng/m^2$ in outdoor and$44.0ng/m^2$ on personal levels. The personal concentration was found higher than indoor and outdoor concentrations. 2. The heavy metals mean concentrations were showed as indoor (Na>Zn>Cr), outdoor (Cr>Zn>Pb), and personal (Na>Cr>Zn) levels. 3. Chemicals and hair driers were regarded as the major sources of the pollutions. 4. Na was correlated with Mg, Zn and Cd, while Mg was correlated with Ni. Mn was correlated with Cu, Zn and AS, where as Cu was correlated with Zn, As and Cd. Zn and As, and Asand Cd were correlated each other. Na was inversely correlated with Cr.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.509-515
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• 2017

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the indoor levels of $PM_{10}$, VOCs and aldehydes in nail shop and hair salon. Methods: The field survey was conducted for 52 hair salons 52 nail shops, and 26 shop-in-shops in Seoul and Daegu city. The field technicians investigated characteristics of each shop including operating time, indoor volume, ventilation and so on. Indoor concentrations of $PM_{10}$, VOCs and aldehydes, indoor temperature and humidity were measured in 12 hair salons, 12 nail shops and 6 shop-in shops. MP Surveryor II (Graywolf, USA) was used to measure $CO_2$ concentration, temperature and humidity for 8 hours. $PM_{10}$ concentrations were measured by minivolume air sampler with Teflon quartz filter ($0.2{\mu}m$ pore size, ${\varphi}$ 47 mm, Graseby-Anderson TEF-DISKTM) for 6 hours. VOCs passive sampler (OVM 3500) was used to collect VOCs for 8 hours and analyzed by GC/MSD. Results: The $CO_2$ concentrations were $759.4{\pm}58.2$ ppm in nail shops, $731.0{\pm}72.5$ ppm in hair salons, and $656.4{\pm}31.2$ ppm in shop-in-shops. The $PM_{10}$ concentrations were $27.5{\pm}14.2{\mu}g/m^3$ in nail shops, $33.1{\pm}6.3{\mu}g/m^3$ in hair salons, and $39.0{\pm}26.9{\mu}g/m^3$ in shop-in-shops. TVOCs concentrations were $3085.4{\pm}1667.8{\mu}g/m^3$ in nail shops, $2131.1{\pm}617.3{\mu}g/m^3$ in hair salons, and $1550.3{\pm}529.0{\mu}g/m^3$ in shop-in-shops. TVOCs concentrations in nail shops were significantly higher than those in hair salons and shop-in-shops (p=0.002). Formaldehyde concentrations were $60.8{\pm}36.6{\mu}g/m^3$ in nail shops, $89.1{\pm}55.4{\mu}g/m^3$ in hair salons, and $45.1{\pm}22.5{\mu}g/m^3$ in shop-in-shops. Conclusion: TVOCs concentrations in nail shop were the highest among others. TVOC concentrations in all stores exceeded indoor air quality stand of indoor air quality control in public-use facilities, etc act.