This study was undertaken to investigate the concentration of VOCs from newly built apartments in three cities (Suncheon, Yeosu, and Gwangyang) of Honam province in Korea. VOCs were sampled using canister and analyzed by GC/MSD. The result of the canister blank test showed that, most VOCs were not detected when 5 ppb was cleaned once and 10 ppb was cleaned with two times. In case of the replicate alalysis to check for the precision of GC/MSD, RSD values were found to be excellent at 6%. The upper floor of C apartment (25 pyong) showed the highest concentration of TVOCs at 3,235 ㎍/㎥. The average concentration of TVOCs was the highest in C apartment (25 pyong) as 1,833±1,217 ㎍/㎥. The average concentration of TVOCs in K (52 pyong) and S apartment (16 pyong) were 1,820±1,035 ㎍/㎥ and 498±71 ㎍/㎥, respectively. The I/O ratio of TVOCs were 8.99∼35.90 (mean : 25.99), 11.51∼35.43 (mean : 20.07) and 6.03∼7.90 (mean : 6.92) in K, C and S apartment, respectively. From these results, it is believed that the concentration of TVOCs was comparatively high in new apartment. Therefore, it is important to use low VOC emission materials to reduce the emission concentration of VOCs from in new apartment. It is hence necessary that a scientific study is performed to secure clean indoor air quality.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the concentration of aldehydes from new apartments in three cities(Suncheon, Yeosu, and Gwangyang) of Chonnam region. The target apartments were within 3 months after the completion of construction. Aldehydes were sampled using 2,4-DNPH cartridge and analyzed by HPLC. Temperature and relative humidity were monitored continuously every one minute by digital temperature and hygrometer. As the concentration ratio of formaldehyde between back-up and front cartridge was 3.94 6.97%, the 2,4-DNPH cartridge method satisfied a breakthrough problem for the sample collection. The repeatability of retention time and peak area for HPLC were excellent as 0.5 and 1.5%, respectively. The upper floor of S apartment (16 pyong) showed the highest concentration of formaldehyde as 1,093㎍/㎥. The average concentration of formaldehyde was the highest in K apartment(52 pyong) as 1,045㎍/㎥. The average concentration of formaldehyde in S apartment(16 pyong) and C apartment(25 pyong) were 872.6㎍/㎥ and 737.5㎍/㎥, respectively. The I/O ratios of formaldehyde were 56.9 60.0(mean : 59.1), 37.9 43.3(mean : 39.8) and 18.3 29.3(mean : 23.3) in K, C and S apartment, respectively. Therefore, it is believed that the indoor concentration of formaldehyde was very serious in new apartment. From these results, it is important that building material which emit low indoor pollutant should be selected for new apartments. In addition, management program for indoor air, such as using an adequate amount of adhesives, should be considered and indoor optimum condition should be maintained in new apartments.

This study, conducted from April to May 2004 in the metropolitan and surrounding areas of Seoul, Korea, was performed to show the relationship between indoor and outdoor levels of PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations in 14 residential houses. In addition, indoor/outdoor ratios of PM10, PM2.5 concentrations were calculated. The relationship between the PM10, PM2.5 concentrations and respiratory symptoms by self recording questionnaire of 14 houses was investigated. In conclusion, although the results of this study failed to establish the relationship between PM10, PM2.5 concentrations and respiratory symptoms among residents, the levels of indoor PM2.5 were significantly higher than those of outdoor levels. The indoor PM10, PM2.5 concentrations were increased by the amount of time spent of residents. Further research should be directed to establish the relationship between PM10, PM2.5 concentration and respiratory symptoms.