• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.32 no.4 s.91
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• pp.275-281
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• 2006

Indoor air quality is the dominant contributor to total personal exposure because most people spend a majority of their time indoors. Especially exposure to indoor air can potentially pose a greater threat than exposure to ambient air when indoor environments have sources of contaminants. In this study, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and formaldehyde (HCHO) within newly constructed apartment have been determined in 27 houses of apartment in Seoul from December 2004 to March 2005. The measured indoor air pollutants were HCHO, volatile organic compounds including benzene, toluene, styrene, xylene, ethylbenzene and sampled on the standard method of Ministry of Environment in Korea. The indoor levels for benzene, xylene, toluene, ethylbenzene, styrene, and HCHO have significant increase trend after 5 hours closing of windows and doors. Levels of measured air pollutants concentrations between living rooms and bedrooms have not shown significant difference. Spearman correlation coefficient among the measured air pollutants ranged from 0.303 to 0.946, indicating similar source in building materials.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.15 no.10
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• pp.929-933
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• 2006

Indoor air quality is the dominant contributor to total personal exposure because most people spend a majority of their time Indoors. Especially when indoor environments have sources of contaminants, exposure to in-door air can potentially pose a greater threat than exposure to ambient air. In this study, estimations of volatile organic compounds and formaldehyde omission rate in indoor environments of new apartments were carried out using mass balance model in indoor environment, because indoor air quality can be affected by source generation, outdoor air level, ventilation, decay by reaction, temperature, humidity, mixing condition and so on. Considering the estimated emission rate of volatile organic compounds and formaldehyde, it Is suggested that new apartment should be designed and constructed in the aspect of using construction materials to emit low hazardous air pollutants.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Industrial Safety Conference
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• 1999.06a
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• pp.271-276
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• 1999

미국을 비롯한 선진국들은 이미 휘발성 유기화합물(volatile organic compounds) 과 독성 중금속(toxic metals)을 비롯한 유해 대기오염물(hazardous air pollutants)에 대해 ATEOS (Airborne Toxic Element and Organic Species), TEAM(Total Exposure Assessment Measurement) 연구등의 대규모 연구를 통하여 인체에 미치는 영향이 가장 큰 물질군이 휘발성 유기화합물임을 밝혀낸 바 있다. (중략)

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
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• 2005.06a
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• pp.319-322
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• 2005

Porous building materials are not only sources of indoor air pollutants such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) but they are also strong sinks of these pollutants. Volatile organic compounds have been implicated in impaired spermatogenesis, increase in the incidence of malformed sperm and decrease in the percentage of moving sperm. The aim of this study was to determine and compare the direct effects of various volatile organic compounds (phenol, formaldehyde; HCHO, ethanol, toluene, styrene) on motility and survival rate of human sperm in vitro. Semen samples from 3 health subjects were prepared using swim-up method and 1-10mM volatile organic compounds were added to the test medium. HCHO and phenol produced significant decreases in the motility and survival rate with a different potency. The most potent inhibition of motility and survival rate was observed after exposure to HCHO. Less than 1mM HCHO significantly inhibited sperm motility. When ethanol is added directly to sperm, at concentrations equivalent to that in serum after heavy drinking, these damaging effects were lowest compared with other volatile organic compounds. Present study shows that each compound has differential toxic potency to human sperm and we need special caution for the use of HCHO and phenol.

• Proceedings of the Korea Air Pollution Research Association Conference
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• 2000.04a
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• pp.317-318
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• 2000

오늘날 우리는 문명이 발달하고 고도로 산업화된 사회의 구성원으로써 살아나가고 있다. 그러나 우리의 삶을 영위하는 과정에서 생긴 각종 환경오염에 노출되고 있어서 이로 인하여 우리의 삶의 질이 저하되기도 한다. 여러 가지 오염물질이 대기중에 가득한 가운데서 순간순간 숨을 쉬며 살아가는 우리 인간은 호흡기나 피부를 통하여 각종 대기오염물질에 직·간접적으로 노출되고 있는 실정이다. 이중 특히, 벤젠이나 톨루엔과 같은 휘발성유기화합물(Volatile Organic Compounds : VOCs)은 실내 생활이나 작업, 야외활동, 또 여러 삶의 과정에서도 노출되고 있는 듯 하다. (중략)

• Proceedings of the Korea Air Pollution Research Association Conference
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• 2000.11a
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• pp.283-284
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• 2000

석유화학, 비철금속공단, 조선 및 기계공단 등과 같은 대형 산업단지를 가진 울산지역의 대기오염은 타 지역에 비하여 꽤 높은 것으로 보고되고 있다. 또한 울산지역은 인구가 백만이 넘는 대형도시이고, 사람과 각종 공단 생산제품을 수송하기 위한 교통밀도도 꽤 높으므로 많은 양의 휘발성 유기화합물(Volatile Organic Compounds : VOCs)이 배출되고 있다. 흔히 VOC는 대류권 오존 농도의 전구체로서 역할을 하여 대류권 오존농도 감소를 위한 연구가 활발히 진행되고 있다. (중략)

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2007.05a
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• pp.909-910
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• 2007

The volatile organic compounds exposure is governed by the source distance and dispersion of the pollutant into air and groundwater. The purpose of this study was to validate suggested models for the prediction of concentration distributions. The study design was organized into different methods to simulate industry site. The distribution models generally showed a fair agreement with measured data. For graphical representation of concentration of volatile hydrocarbon, it has to obtain a continuous representation of the contamination of the site. Therefore, the used interpolative methods examined for this project are the IDW(inverse Distance Weighting) and kriging method. In the results, in summary, all two different methods can be used to quantify exposures at a particular source area, and thus provide, a solid foundation for making risk-based decisions. All the calculations can be performed using Excel's built-in functions, and the capabilities of geospatial analysis allow the results to be displayed visually. However, anyone who uses these methods should understand all of the assumptions and limitation.

• Journal of the Korean housing association
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.71-76
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• 2002

Recently, much attention has been paid to the problem such as sick building syndrome, which caused by the air pollutant indoor. In addition, Volatile Organic Compounds(VOCs) has been paid attention to as one of the main reason that causes air pollutant indoor, and the exposure of VOCs indoor is recognizes as an important factor which have an effect on the health of resident. In this study, measuring of VOCs in newly houses, and the results are as follows; 1)TVOC(Total Volatile Organic Compounds) indoor is detected high concentration(11314$\mu\textrm{g}$/㎤). 2)There are detected acetaldehyde, methylenechloride, benzene, trichloroethylene and styrene that have to take precaution against human carcinogenicity

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.210-217
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• 2011

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to measure the concentration of volatile organic compound (VOC)s originated from the chemicals used and/or derived from the original parental chemicals in the photolithography processes of semiconductor manufacturing factories. Methods: A total of four photolithography processes in 4 Fabs at three different semiconductor manufacturing factories in Korea were selected for this study. This study investigated the types of chemicals used and generated during the photolithography process of each Fab, and the concentration levels of VOCs for each Fab. Results: A variety of organic compounds such as ketone, alcohol, and acetate compounds as well as aromatic compounds were used as solvents and developing agents in the processes. Also, the generation of by-products, such as toluene and phenol, was identified through a thermal decomposition experiment performed on a photoresist. The VOC concentration levels in the processes were lower than 5% of the threshold limit value (TLV)s. However, the air contaminated with chemical substances generated during the processes was re-circulated through the ventilation system, thereby affecting the airborne VOC concentrations in the photolithography processes. Conclusion: Tens of organic compounds were being used in the photolithography processes, though the types of chemical used varied with the factory. Also, by-products, such as aromatic compounds, could be generated during photoresist patterning by exposure to light. Although the airborne VOC concentrations resulting from the processes were lower than 5% of the TLVs, employees still could be exposed directly or indirectly to various types of VOCs.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.178-186
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• 2014

Background: This study was conducted to assess health risks in regard to exposure by children to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in children's products. Methods: Ten VOCs were measured by head-space gas chromatography in children's products, including toys, oil pastels, sign pens, furniture, ball pools, and playmats. We estimated the average daily dose (ADD) via inhalation during the use of these children's products and calculated hazard quotient (HQ) by dividing ADD by reference dose of VOCs. Results: Among the measured VOCs, five compounds were identified in children's products: benzene, ethylbenzene, styrene, toluene, and xylene. The detection rates of VOCs in toys, ball pools, furniture, playmats, sign pens, and oil pastels were 85%, 100%, 100%, 30%, 100%, and 60%, respectively. The maximum levels of VOCs were 0.18 mg benzene/kg in toys, 5.92 mg toluene/kg in playmats, 10.37 mg ethylbenzene/kg in ball pools, 24.85 mg xylene/kg in toys, and 118.29 mg styrene/kg in ball pools. From exposure levels of VOCs in the children's products HQs were calculated within a range of $5.71{\times}10^{-10}$ to $4.77{\times}10^{-4}$. The HQ of xylene was the highest for children aged 0-6 playing on the playmats. However, the HQ via inhalation exposure to VOCs in individual products did not exceed 1.00. Conclusion: Based on the results, it was concluded that the use of these children's products do not pose health risks to children.