• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2017.11a
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• pp.111-112
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• 2017

Radon has been considered the greatest source of exposure within the total radiation exposure of the human body. xposure from radon, which exists in indoor air quality, lacks public perception, Radon, which exists anywhere on earth, is not regarded as a state of attention even if it is above the average level. Indoor radon exposure situations are not intentionally introduced, and essentially the attention and responsibilities of radon exposures are assumed to be in indoor occupants. So, these are caused by common uranium and thorium scattering on Earth, and are brought into the building by fine cracks or exposed indicators of the buildings. Therefore, this study aims to reduce the risk of radon rays and reduce radon, which induces diseases caused by breathing in the body of indoor air pollutants and emitting diseases by emitting alpha rays from the radon gas.

• Proceedings of the SAREK Conference
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.143-148
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• 2007

Recently indoor air pollution caused by exposing hazardous chemicals (VOCs, formaldehyde) due to undiscriminated use of new construction materials and air-tightness to save energy is becoming a big issue. We have developed technologies to estimate the amounts of contaminants from constructions materials and method. We have further developed construction technologies to reduce and characterize these contaminants. The developed technologies were then refined to eliminate defects through considering field applicability.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.545-552
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• 2000

Eight aromatic hydrocarbons were quantified in a newly constructed building before occupancy during the period of November 1997 to January 1998. Air samples were collected in 6 L stainless steel canisters for 8 hours based on working hour. It was found that the measured total concentration of aromatic hydrocarbons decreases rapidly with time up to a steady-state value. However, the fractions for each aromatic hydrocarbon were greatly changed with time. The concentration ratios of indoor to outdoor for aromatic hydrocarbons are greater than 1 during early period of the measurement, and the ratios decrease with time. The concentrations of toluene, m+p-xylene, ethylbenzene, and o-xylene are much higher than those of styrene, 1, 2, 4-trimethylbenzene, and 1, 3, 5-f trimethylbenzene in indoor air. The concentration fractions of m+p-xylene, ethylbenzed, and o-xylene in indoor air are about twice as hight as those in outdoor air measured during the similar period. It was concluded that the aromatic hydrocarbons were emitted from building materials, paints, and adhesives in an-built building.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2019.11a
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• pp.56-57
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• 2019

Recently, the risk of fine dust is emerging in Korea. According to the OECD report, the incidence of hospitalization and mortality from lung disease is increased, and the incidence of lung cancer and mortality from ischemic heart disease with prolonged exposure are increased. In addition, indoor air quality has become an important factor affecting the human body as indoor life has increased due to the Industrial Revolution. Air pollutants that cause indoor air deterioration typically include particulate dusts as described above, formaldehyde and VOCs released in gaseous form from adhesive wood products used in building materials and furniture. May cause breathing problems. In this study, we analyzed the properties of adsorption matrix for improving indoor air quality using cork.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2023.11a
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• pp.71-72
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• 2023

As industrialization and urbanization accelerate, environmental issues have moved from local concerns to global issues. Among them, air pollution is the most important issue. Modern people spend more than 88% of their day indoors, but the concentration of fine dust and pollutants flowing indoors is increasing. The indoor environment has its own complexity, and various substances used indoors, such as building materials, furniture, electronics, and cleaning agents, emit chemical substances and cause various diseases. Therefore, when selecting building materials and interior finishing materials, the pollutant emission and adsorption capacity must be greatly considered. These considerations will ensure the construction of a sustainable future environment and a healthy life within that environment. Therefore, in order to reduce the generation of indoor air pollutants, this study aims to examine the fine dust adsorption properties of cement hardening materials using sepiolite, which has a porous structure and high absorption power among clay minerals. As a result of the experiment, it was found that the concentration of fine dust decreased as the addition rate of sepiolite increased. It is believed that the fine dust concentration was reduced due to the high porosity due to the microfibrous structure and large specific surface area of sepiolite, which has a porous structure among clay minerals. It is believed that these experimental results can be used as basic research for future use of sepiolite as a construction material.

• KIEAE Journal
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.13-20
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• 2003

It is highly recognized that there is need for protection against indoor air pollution, as we realize environmental pollution is growing, For example, in an indoor environment, a person spends more than 80 percent of their time inside the building. Thus, concern about indoor decoration materials is growing, since they cause pollution in the rooms of an apartment, as well as in offices. As the indoor decoration materials become more diverse and lusurious, so the effect of VOCs(Volatile Organic Compounds) and HCHO(Formaldehy) is growing. The indoor decoration materials cause the Sick Building Syndrome, such as headaches, dizziness, or lack of concentraion, and they in turn cause serious deterioration in people's health. In this study, I probed the status of the indoor air pollution and carried on an investigation and analysis about the prevention technique. In doing so, I performed experimental tests and an assessment of the indoor decoration materials of an apartment. I also examined elements of the emitted and the emission. Finally, I examined the character of emissions, by changing environmental conditions, such as the temperature, humidity, and ventilation. With respect to VOCs tests, I applied the method of solid state adsorption using the adsorptive tube, based on the measurement of the American EPA TO-17, ASTM 5116-97, and the measurement of the Japanese Wall Decoration Industrial Association. The tested sample was analyzed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography, after going through the process of dissolvent extraction. As subjects of the test, Paint were selected. The process of this test is as follows; first, I figured out the character of the emission, by measuring the emitted concentration of VOCs and HOHC from the indoor decoration materials of an apartment. Second, I made a small-scale chamber and the test was processed in the chamber in order to suggest an environment-friendly prediction modlel development.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.122-133
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• 2021

The radon gas from nature mainly considers a cause of radon problems, and it is closely affect human life cycle. Korean yellow residual soil, Hwangtoh, widely used as a building material, is considered to be one of major sources of indoor radon. However, there have, as yet, been no studies about radon from Hwangtoh in mass market brands. Here, we investigated the indoor radon concentrations and exhalation rates in four Hwangtohs from different brand names and regional features. The Closed Chamber Method (CCM) conducted by a Continuous Radon Monitor (CRM) has been used for the rates of radon exhalation. Based on equations of previous references, the indoor radon concentrations were deducted. As a result, the radon surface exhalation rates resulted in the 1.4208 to 3.0293 Bq·㎡·h-1 range. Significant differences were found among Hwangtohs according to production regions. Materials with higher radon concentration required a longer time to reach a quasi-steady state in a given environment, in other words, the number of half-life cycles increased from a set starting point. The experimentally identified Hwangtohs demonstrated its safety for construction purposes. There exists, so far, a possibility to exert influence radon emanation due to unidentified factors. Therefore, it is necessary to corroborate with more research by increasing the number of Hwangtohs, considering the other references reported high radon exhalation rates. In addition, it is highly recommended that the radon exhalation rates should be measured for all building materials for preventing human health before the material usage.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.325-336
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• 2019

The activity concentrations of $^{226}Ra$, $^{232}Th$, and $^{40}K$ from 102 building materials samples were determined using a high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector. The activity concentrations were evaluated for possible radiological hazards to the human health. The excess lifetime cancer risks (ELCR) were also estimated, and the average values were recorded as $0.42{\pm}0.24{\times}10^{-3}$, $3.22{\pm}1.83{\times}10^{-3}$, and $3.65{\pm}1.85{\times}10^{-3}$ for outdoor, indoor, and total ELCR respectively. The activity concentrations were further subjected to RESRAD-BUILD computer code to evaluate the long-term radiation exposure to a dweller. The indoor doses were assessed from zero up to 70 years. The simulation results were $92{\pm}59$, $689{\pm}566$, and $782{\pm}569{\mu}Sv\;y^{-1}$ for indoor external, internal, and total effective dose equivalent (TEDE) respectively. The results reported were all below the recommended maximum values. Therefore, the radiological hazards attributed to building materials under study are negligible.

• KIEAE Journal
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.53-58
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• 2009

There are increasing developments and uses of functional building materials are recently developed and introduced to the test method for the materials. Especially, moisture problem has a major role are also being established in indoor air quality problems. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the water vapour adsorption/desorption property of a ceiling material. The variation of the temperature and moisture were measured with the application materials by mock up test based on JIS 1470-1. The result shows that water vapour adsorption/desorption property of ceiling material is appeared in changes of moisture adsorption and desorption in comparison with that of a general ceiling material. Therefore, in case of decreasing and increasing in humidity, these materials can be used as an finishing material to sustain comfort condition.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.262-269
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• 2006

Formaldehyde and total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) from building materials have been known as main causes of IAQ problem in Newly-Constructed Multi-Family Houses. Because Multi-Family Houses are built in large quantities in a similar manner, inappropriate selection of building materials and method will detrimental affect IAQ. This research aims to identify major causes of Indoor Air Pollutants in Multi-Family Houses, by constructing Mock-Up & One-Room House. As a result, self leveling concrete, door, and furniture construction is a major cause of indoor formaldehyde increase, and tile bond is TVOC, and urethane water proof is Etylbenzene, and Xylene.