Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are present in essentially all natural and synthetic materials from petrol to flowers. In this study, indoor and outdoor VOCs concentrations of houses, offices and internet-cafes were measured and compared simultaneously with personal exposures of each 50 participants in Asan and Seoul, respectively. Also, factors that influence personal VOCs exposure were statistically analyzed using questionnaires in relation to house characteristics, time activities, and health effects. All VOCs concentrations were measured by OVM passive samplers (3M) and analyzed with GC/MS. Target pollutants among VOCs were Toluene, o-Xylene, m/p-Xylene, Ethylbenzene, MIBK, n-Octane, Styrene, Trichloroethylene, and 1,2-Dichlorobenzene. Indoor and outdoor VOCs concentrations measured in Seoul were significantly higher than those in Asan except Ethylbenzene. Residential indoor/outdoor (I/O) ratios for all target compounds ranged from 0.94 to 1.51 and I/O ratios of Asan were a little higher than those of Seoul. Relationship between personal VOCs exposure, and indoor and outdoor VOCs concentrations suggested that time-activity pattern could affect the high exposure to air pollutant. Factors that influence indoor VOCs level and personal exposure with regard to house characteristics in houses were building age, inside smoking and house type. In addition insecticide and cosmetics interestingly affected the VOCs personal exposure. Higher exposure to VOCs might be caused to be exciting increase and memory reduction, considering the relationship between measured VOCs concentrations and questionnaire (p<0.05).

The emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) generated from painting and coating processes is a worldwide problem as contributing factors to the development of photochemical smog and other environmental problems. Common methods of reducing VOC emissions are adsorption on activated carbon, membrane separation, absorption, incineration, or catalytic oxidation. In this article, the environmental issues caused by VOC emissions and the trend of legislation against such emissions will be surveyed first. Several conventional control technologies will then be summarized and the characteristics of each process will be introduced. Lastly, some examples will be described to show the hybrid processes which have been industrially applied for the recovery of VOC.

The purpose of this study was to develop the preliminary source fingerprints of volatile organic compounds (VOC). The source categories studied were vehicles, gasoline vapor, gasoline storage tank, coating, dry cleaning and road covering. The source samples were collected using 6L electro-polished stainless steel canisters for about 20 seconds. From this study, the main component emitted from VOC sources in Korea was toluene. The toluene proportion for road covering, vehicles, coating and gasoline vapor were 35, 18, 16 and 5%, respectively. The C2-C5 alkane and alkene compounds were mainly emitted from vehicles, gasoline vapor and gasoline storage tank. The main compounds of coating were m/p-xylene(34%), toluene(16%), 1,2,4-TMB(10%) and o-xylene(9%), which are aromatic hydrocarbons. In the case of dry cleaning, nonane(41%), 1,2,4-TMB (22%) and 1,3,5-TMB(13%) were mainly emitted.

A numerical model is investigated to predict a behavior of the gaseous volatile organic compounds and a subsurface contamination caused by them in the unsaturated zone. Two dimensional advective-dispersion equation caused by a density difference and two dimensional diffusion equation are computed by a finite difference method in the numerical model. A laboratory experiment is also carried out to compare the results of the numerical model. The dimensions of the experimental plume are 1.2m in length, 0.5m in height, and 0.05m in thickness. In comparing the result of 2 methods used in the numerical model with the one of the experiment respectively, the one of the advective-dispersion equation shows better than the one the diffusion equation.

This study analyzed concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced from incineration of papers at 600 ℃. The papers used in this study included A4 papers (new, printed with ink-jet, printed with carbon), newspapers (printed with bean oil, printed with a general newspaper ink), packaging box, document envelope, single-use paper cup, and cosmetic tissue. Papers were heated from room temperature upto 600℃ providing air inside of the electric furnace and then they were oxidized for 80 minutes at 600℃ maintaining the same air supply. VOCs emitted from the incineration process were sampled using an air sampling pump and bags for 160 minutes and then the components and concentrations of the VOCs were analyzed by a GC-MS. The most prominent chemical structure of the Vous identified from incineration of the papers was furans and then furans were followed by aromatics and aliphatic alkenes. About 40 % of the identified VOCs contained double bonds, which have relatively a high ozone (ground level) formation potential, within their molecular structure. Also, some cancer suspecting compounds like benzene, dichloromethane and chloroform were identified.

The volatile organic compounds(VOCs) emitted from raw garlic and Kimchee were analyzed with thermal desorption or purge & trap/gas chromatography/mass selective detection method. Very offensive compounds such as methyl allyl sulfide, dimethyl sulfide, dimethyl disulfide, diallyl sulfide, methyl allyl disulfide, diallyl disulfide and dimethyl trisulfide were detected, and among them, dimethyl disulfide and dimethyl trisulfide were confirmed to be generated during the precocity of Kimchee or emitted from the stuff of Kimchee other than the garlic. Malodorous compounds emitted from the garlic or Kimchee were detected in the breath of a Korean and the refregirator keeping Kimchee. It was confirmed that the disufides emitted from the garlic or Kimchee were major components of offensive odor in the alveolar air and the refregirator. It was clarified that heat process is very effective to reduce odorous VOCs in garlic or Kimchee.

Volatile organic compounds(VOCs) are of concern for their potential chronic toxicity, their suspected role in the formation of smog, and their suspected role in destruction of stratospheric ozone. Present study evaluated the exposures to selected VOCs in three microenvironments: 2 chlorinated and 5 aromatic VOCs in the indoor and outdoor air, and 5 aromatic VOCs in the breathing zone air of gas-service station attendants. With permissible Quality Assurance and Quality Control performances VOC concentrations were measured 1) to be higher in indoor air than in outdoor air, 2) to be higher in two Taegu residential areas than in a residential area of Hayang, and 3) to be higher in the nighttime than in the daytime. Among five aromatics, Benzene and Toluene were two most highly measured VOCs in breathing zone air of service station attendants. Based on the sum of VOC concentrations, the VOC exposure during refueling was estimated to be about 10% of indoor and outdoor exposures. For Benzene only, the exposure during refueling was estimated to cause about 52% of indoor and outdoor exposure. The time used to calculate the exposures was 2 minutes for refueling and 24 hours for indoor and outdoor exposures.

To perform a long-term ambient sampling study at a residential site, an air sampler was constructed to collect 24-hour integrated air samples suitable for the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) analysis. It includes an esthetically acceptance due to proximity to homes, as well as providing the required sampling specifications. The VOCs sampler accomodates four 5/8 stainless steel(SS) traps packed with adsorbent(Tenax) and is capable of four flow rates in the range of 5 to 50 cc/min. Sintered metal filters(10 micrometer) were directly connected to the inlet of the trap adapters. Additional specifications include: 1) constructed of organically inert materials. 2) weatherproof, 3) battery operated, 4) collecting of VOCs at a breathing zone level, , and 5) quiet operation with micro diaphragm pumps wrapped by the sponge. The pump/battery system was separated from the sampling shelter. Sound levels measured for this system were below permissible sound levels (NJDEP) at a residential site. The sampler has been successfully operated at both ground level in a residential area and on the roof of a one story elementary school.