• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제34권2호
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• pp.115-124
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• 2024

Objectives: The aim of this study is to assess indoor air quality within and around buildings and evaluate the health risks associated with exposure to indoor air pollution. The study compares IAQ standards established by the World Health Organization with those set by South Korea's Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Education. Methods: The study utilized an Anderson Sampler and DustTrak^TM II to collect samples of total airborne bacteria and PM in indoor and outdoor environments. Collected samples were analyzed using biological and biochemical methods. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS to examine the correlation between airborne bacteria and PM. Results: The study revealed that the concentration of total airborne bacteria in indoor air generally remained below the Ministry of Environment's standard of 800 CFU/m³, although it surpassed this threshold in certain instances. PM concentrations did not exceed the standards. Indoor fine dust concentration was higher when there were people (P<0.05). There was no difference in total floating bacterial concentrations between indoor and outdoor environments (P=0.184). Finally, there was a correlation between fine dust and airborne bacteria concentrations. Conclusion: The study evaluated the concentrations of total airborne bacteria and PM in indoor air, emphasizing the importance of managing IAQ. Further research in various environments is essential to ensure a healthy indoor environment. The findings underscore the need for ongoing research and management to enhance IAQ and create safer and healthier living environments.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제38권2호
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• pp.151-158
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• 2012

Objectives: Bioaerosols released by treating organic-waste resources cause a variety of environmental and hygiene problems. The objective of this study was to investigate the distribution characteristics of the airborne bacteria emitted from a pig manure composting plant, a principal site for organic-waste resource facilities. Methods: Three types of pig manure composting plant were selected based on fermentation mode: screw type, rotary type and natural-dry type. Each site was visited and investigated on a monthly basis between September 2009 and August 2010. A total of 36 air samplings were obtained from the pig manure composting plants. The air sampling equipment was a six-stage cascade impactor. Quantification and qualification of airborne bacteria in the air samples was performed by agar culture method and identification technique, respectively. Results: The mean concentrations of airborne bacteria in pig manure composting plant were 7,032 (${\pm}1,496$) CFU $m^{-3}$ for screw type, 3,309 (${\pm}1,320$) CFU $m^{-3}$ for rotary type, and 5,580 (${\pm}1,106$) CFU $m^{-3}$ for natural dry type. The screw type pig manure composting plant showed the highest concentration of airborne bacteria, followed by the natural dry type and the rotary type. The ratio of respirable to total airborne bacteria was approximately 40-60%. The predominant genera of airborne bacteria identified were Micrococcus spp., Staphylococcus spp. and Escherichia spp. Conclusion: Monthly levels of airborne bacteria were highest in August and lowest in November regardless of fermentation mode. There was no significant correlation relationship between airborne bacteria and environmental factors such as temperature, relative humidity and particulate matters in pig manure composting plants.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.194-201
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• 2015

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to assess the exposure level to dust and airborne microorganisms among employed workers in a clothing shopping center. Materials and Methods: On-site investigation of a clothing shopping center was performed between October and November 2012. The hazardous substances measured in this study are particulate matter(Total dust, respirable dust) and airborne microorganisms (Total airborne bacteria, total airborne fungi). Results: The highest geometric mean levels of particulate matter(total dust, respirable dust) for personal sampling were $1.735(SD:0.883)mg/m^3$ for total dust and $0.0711(SD:0.008)mg/m^3$ for respirable dust, respectively. Those for area sampling were $0.625(SD:0.091)mg/m^3$ for total dust and $0.0718(SD:0.012)mg/m^3$ for respirable dust, respectively. The highest geometric averaged concentrations of airborne microorganisms(Total airborne bacteria, total airborne fungi) were detected at $1,181(SD:105)cfu/m^3$ for total airborne bacteria and $683(SD:114)cfu/m^3$ for total airborne fungi, respectively. Concentrations of particulate matters and airborne microorganism in clothes shopping center did not correlate significantly with environmental factors such as temperature or relative humidity. Conclusions: Exposure levelshave not been established for service workers. Thus, health risk assessment for this group is very difficult. Health guidelines for service workers should be established as soon as possible.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제16권1호
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• pp.1-10
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• 2006

Concentration and identification of airborne bacteria in the regulated public facilities were examined with the six-stage cascade impactor. Geometric mean total and respirable concentrations of airborne bacteria were $404cfu/m^3$ and $194cfu/m^3$ in hospital, $931cfu/m^3$ and $358cfu/m^3$ in kindergarten, $294cfu/m^3$ and $134cfu/m^3$ in day-care center, and $586cfu/m^3$ and $254cfu/m^3$ in postpartum nurse center, respectively. As a result, culturable total and respirable concentrations of airborne bacteria were significantly highest in kindergarten and lowest in day-care center (p<0.05). The ratio of respirable to total concentration of airborne bacteria in the investigated public facilities was ranged from 30% to 40% but there was no significant difference among them (p>0.05). The mean I/O ratio of culturable total and respirable concentrations were 0.58 and 0.66 in hospital, 0.71 and 0.83 in kindergarten, 0.28 and 0.41 in day-care center, and 0.63 and 0.78 in postpartum nurse center, respectively. Day-care center showed the lowest I/O ratio of culturable total and respirable concentration of airborne bacteria (p<0.05) but a significant difference was not found among other facilities. Indoor concentration of airborne bacteria did not correlated significantly with indoor temperature and relative humidity (p>0.05) but had a significant positive correlation with $CO_2$ and surrounding condition (p<0.05). Staphylococcus spp., Micrococcus spp., Corynebacterium spp., and Bacillus spp. were dominant genera and amounted to over 95% of total airborne bacteria identified in the investigated public facilities. Size distributions of four dominant genera did not observed inconsistently regardless of type of public facility.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제32권5호
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• pp.742-747
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• 2019

Objective: A concentration of airborne bacteria generated from swine houses is recognized to be relatively higher than other work places and it is essential to optimally manage it to prevent farmers' respiratory diseases. This study was conducted to assess the distribution characteristics of airborne bacteria in swine houses located at South Korea. Methods: A total 27 pig buildings of the enclosed type operated with mechanical ventilation system by a side wall fan and deep-pit manure system with slats were surveyed. Air samples were collected at 1.0 m above the middle floor in pig housing room. A six-stage viable particulate cascade impactor was used to identify the distribution of the sizes of particles in diameter. Results: Seasonal mean levels of airborne bacteria in the housing rooms of gestation/farrowing pigs, nursery pigs and growing/fattening pigs were 3,428(${\pm}1,244$) colony forming unit $(cfu)/m^3$, $8,325({\pm}3,209)cfu/m$, and $13,254({\pm}6,108)cfu/m^3$ for spring; $9,824({\pm}2,157)cfu/m^3$, $18,254({\pm}5,166)cfu/m^3$, and $24,088({\pm}9,274)cfu/m^3$ for summer; $1,707({\pm}957)cfu/m^3$, $4,258({\pm}1,438)cfu/m^3$, and $8,254({\pm}2,416)cfu/m^3$ for autumn; and $2,322({\pm}1,352)cfu/m^3$, $6,124({\pm}1,527)cfu/m^3$ and $12,470({\pm}4,869)cfu/m^3$ for winter, respectively. Conclusion: Concentrations of airborne bacteria according to pig housing type were highest in growing/fattening housing room followed by nursery housing room and gestation/farrowing housing room. In terms of seasonal aspect, the pig building showed the highest levels of airborne bacteria in summer followed by spring, winter and autumn. The respirable airborne bacteria which are ranged between 0.6 and $4.7{\mu}m$ accounted for approximately 60% compared to total airborne bacteria regardless of pig housing type.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제18권4호
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• pp.574-579
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• 2005

Optimal management of indoor air quality in a confined pig house, especially in winter, is indispensable for preventing infectious respiratory disease to workers and animals. This study was performed to elucidate the correlation of aerial contaminants and climate factors in a confinement. It was observed that indoor air contaminants ion in the confinement was the highest at 2:00-5:00 pm in a day, followed by 8:00-11:00 pm and 8:00-11:00 am. This was attributed to the increase of pig activities in the afternoon. The concentration of total dust and total airborne bacteria was found to have a significant correlation with temperature and relative humidity (p<0.05). Correlation of total dust and total airborne bacteria, total dust and ammonia, and total dust and odor were shown statistically significant at 95% confidence level. In conclusion, temperature and total dust concentration correlated significantly with all the parameters except for hydrogen sulfide ($H_2S$). This could be explained by the fact the dryness of pig feces by increase of interior temperature and resuspension of feed deposited on the floor by the pig activity, resulted in high generation of dust which adsorbed and carried the airborne bacteria and odor compounds in a confined pig house. It was proved that the adsorptive capacity of dust with ammonia ($NH_3$) was higher than that with hydrogen sulfide ($H_2S$).

• 한국건축시공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국건축시공학회 2021년도 봄 학술논문 발표대회
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• pp.313-314
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• 2021

An old building over 30 years old continue to increase. Therefore, there will be more dismantling of old buildings in the future. Safety management of dismantling works is being strengthened. However, no consideration has been given to the effects of dismantling workers and their residents due to environmental hazards arising from the demolition process. Only spray and dust prevention measures are subject to inspection to minimize dust generation considering civil complaints around the site of dismantling work. In this paper, residential buildings, which account for the largest proportion of old buildings, were collected and identify total airborne bacteria and floating fungi among environmental hazards caused by non-structural dismantling work. Measurement results showed that workers during dismantling work are working in places with 4.8 times more total airborne bacteria than indoor air quality maintenance standards. Related research is needed for the health of dismantling workers.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제18권1호
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• pp.11-19
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• 2008

Mean levels of airborne bacteria, airborne fungi, temperature, relative humidity and carbon dioxide in total 69 general offices were $426({\pm}83)\;cfu/m^3$, $234({\pm}125)\;cfu/m^3$, $25.9({\pm}1.3)\;^{\circ}C$, $57.7({\pm}8.6)\;%$, $422({\pm}38)\;ppm$, respectively. The I/O ratio of airborne bacteria and fungi was over 1 and there was no significant difference among temperature, relative humidity and carbon dioxide in total 69 general offices. In construction period, a concentration of airborne bacteria and fungi was significantly highest in general offices constructed under one year and over three years since construction, respectively (p<0.05). The concentration of airborne fungi in general offices located at basement was significantly higher than those located at ground (p<0.05). No significant difference of airborne bacteria and fungi in general offices was found regardless of installation of HVAC system (p>0.05). The dominant bacterial genera identified in general offices was Staphylococcus, followed by Micrococcus, Bacillus, and Corynebacterium while usarium, Penicillium, Aspergillus, Alternaria, Rhizopus and Mucor were identified as dominant fungal genera in general offices.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• 제5권3호
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• pp.152-156
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• 2011

Viable bacteria on water-insoluble airborne particles were detected in the urban atmosphere of Kumamoto ($134^{\circ}45'E$, $32^{\circ}28'N$), Japan, in autumn 2008. Airborne particles were collected onto film-covered Cu meshes under clear weather conditions. The samples were stained by fluorescent stains, and then viewed and photographed with an epifluorescent microscope. Non-biological and bacterial parts in particles larger than 0.8 ${\mu}m$ were distinguished by their morphologies, fluorescent colors and fluorescent intensities. Bacterial viable statuses were discriminated according to cell membrane damage. In total, 2681 particles were investigated and it was found that 78 airborne particles were associated with bacteria. Viable bacteria were identified on 48 particles. A few particles carried multiple viable bacteria. These results provide the evidence that airborne particles act as carriers of viable bacteria in the atmosphere.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.101-109
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• 2006

The objective of this study is to provide fundamental data for pertinent management of indoor air quality through investigating the size-based characteristics of bioaerosol distributed in the general hospital. Measurement sites are main lobby, ICU, ward and laboratory and total five times were sampled with six-stage cascade impactor. Based on the result of this study, concentrations of airborne bacteria and fungi were the highest in main lobby as followed by an order of ward, ICU and laboratory. Concentrations of airborne bacteria was generally higher than those of airborne fungi and the ratio of indoor and outdoor concentration of both exceeded 1.0 in all the measurement sites of the general hospital. The predominant genera of airborne bacteria identified in the general hospital were Staphylococcus spp.(50%), Micrococcus spp.(15-20%), Corynebacterium spp.(5-20%), and Bacillus spp.(5-15%). On the other hand, the predominant genera of airborne fungi identified in the general hospital were Cladosporium spp.(30%), Penicillium spp.(20-25%), Aspergillus spp.(15-20%), and Alternaria spp.(10-20%). In regard to size distribution of bioaerosol, the detection rate was generally highest on 5 stage($1.1-2.1{\mu}m$) for airborne bacteria and on 1 stage(>$7.0{\mu}m$) for airborne fungi. Cleanliness of facilities in the general hospital and condition of HVAC system should be monitored regularly to prevent indoor air contamination by airborne microorganisms.