The work of hairdressers includes washing, coloring, bleaching, permanent waving, conditioning, and cutting scalp hair. Hairdressers are subjected to a number of physical and toxicological hazards. The toxicological hazards are those resulting from exposure to a wide range of chemicals and from chemicals are usually classified active processes. In this study, twenty beauty shops were selected to assess the exposure to indoor air pollutants such as VOCs and particulate matter (PM10) during one month from September 1 to September 30, 2003. Indoor air quality of beauty shops might be worse by vehicle emissions because the beauty shops were generally located near roadway. Personal exposures to VOCs and PM10 were related to indoor concentrations of beauty shops, respectively. According to questionnaire, hairdressers responded sore throat, eye irritation, and nervousness as health effect symptoms. Conclusively, users as well as workers in beauty shop might be highly exposed to air pollutants from indoor sources and outdoor sources. Therefore, proper methods should be prepared to improve the indoor air quality in beauty shop.

This study was performed to investigate the characteristics of indoor air quality (IAQ) in 30 public facilities from February to April, 2004 in Seoul. The collected samples are PM10, formaldehyde, and total suspended bacteria in indoor air and measured by the IAQ standard method of Ministry of Environment in Korea(M.E.K). As the results of the survey, the mean concentration of PM10 was 55.19 ㎍/m3 in indoor air and 51.15 ㎍/m3 in outdoor air. The mean concentration of PM10 in the Kindergarten was higher than the IAQ standards by established by M.E.K. The mean concentration of formaldehyde was 43.08 ㎍/m3 in indoor air and 5.05 ㎍/m3 in outdoor air, respectively. All of them were less than IAQ standards of Korea. The concentration of total suspended bacteria in the streamer room was higher than IAQ standards. The concentration of formaldehyde was different according to the year of construction of building. Total suspended bacteria in streamer room was necessary for control. Moreover, this study was for investigation a part of indoor air pollution condition in public facilities. It means that this study can't represent for all of public facilities. Therefore, we suggest that long and middle term country plan for management of IAQ should be established through long-term and continuous investigation of IAQ condition.

140 buildings of Korean major cities were investigated for the presence of asbestos and man made mineral fibers (MMMF) in their construction materials. 73 (52%) and 84 (60%) buildings contained asbestos and MMMF in their construction materials, respectively, and 17 (12%) buildings contained both asbestos and MMMF. 75% of the asbestos containing buildings were mostly constructed during 1970's. 100% of underground shopping arcades, 90% of manufacturing workplaces, 84% of train and bus terminals had the asbestos containing construction materials. The manufacturing workplaces of Daejeon (89%) and Daegu (89%), which mostly had been built in the past, used asbestos containing building materials, while the building in Seoul, Busan and Jinju, which were constructed recently, used relatively lower asbestos containing building materials with 46%, 28%, and 33%, respectively. 9 building materials that have been widely used in Korea were analyzed using a transmission electron microscope equipped with energy dispersive X-ray analyzer (TEM-EDX) for their mineral contents. All asbestos fibers showed typical characteristics of chrysotile fibers with hollow tube structure. The average diameter ranged from 0.03㎛ to 0.05㎛, and the average length were ranged from 7.5㎛ to 12.0㎛. Atomic percentages of asbestos fibers were 51.9∼55.9% of Mg, 41.3∼44.3% for Si, and 2.7∼4.8% for Fe.

Twenty three samples of man-made mineral fibers (MMMF) were collected and analyzed for their mineral contents using a transmission electron microscope equipped with energy dispersive X-ray analyzer (TEM-EDX). Five glass fibers showed a straight fiber type without branches with average diameter ranged from 2.6㎛ to 5.6㎛ and average length 12.2∼29.6㎛. The major atomic compositions of the glass fibers were Na, Mg, Si, Ca, and Fe with a little variance among them and contained trace amounts of Al and Si. Eleven rock wool fibers also showed a straight fiber type without branches. The rock wool fibers used in 3 insulation panel and 1 insulation tube had average diameter 13.6∼26.4㎛ and average length 13.6∼26.4㎛. The major atomic compositions of the rock wool fibers were Na, Mg, Al, Si, S, Ca, Fe, and Cu with a little variance among them. Two of rock wool sealant fibers and one of coating material fibers had average 0.8∼ 2.2㎛ diameter and 9.9∼16.2㎛ average length. The major atomic compositions of the fibers were Mg, Al, Si, Ca, and Fe with a little variance among them and contained trace amount of S. The fibers in the rock wool coating materials contaminated partially with another type of fibers. Four of rock wool ceiling board showed 0.9∼2.04㎛ average diameter and 4.3∼15.2㎛ average length. The major atomic compositions of the fibers were Mg, Al, Si, S, Ca, and Fe with a little variance among them and contained trace amounts of Na, K, and Ti. Three of long glass fibers showed a mass appearance with finely splitted fibers, and the major atomic compositions of the fibers were Na, Mg, Al, Si, S, Ca, and Fe with no variance among them. One type of ceramic fiber showed 2.9±1.59㎛ average diameter and 20.3±9.38㎛ average length. The major compositions of the fibers were Al, Si, and S. A gypsum board and a perlite and a calcium silicate insulation material all showed aspect ratio less than 3:1, indicating non-fibrous materials. The major compositions of the gypsum board particles were Al, Si, S, K, Ca, and Fe, The perlite particles were consisted of Na, Al, Si, S, K, Ca, and Fe, and the calcium silicate insulation materials were mainly consisted of Al, Si, Ca, and Fe.

This study was performed to investigate the health status of 600 owner-driver of taxi in Seoul City during from August 1, 2003 to February 28, 2004. The prevalence of subjective symptoms were surveyed by a general health questionnaires such as Todai Health Index (THI) and the Cornell Medical Index (CMI). In the THI health check table, prevalence of the complaints of mental subjective symptom by age was high in the items of fabrication (L), digestion (C), and aggressiveness (F) from 31 to 40 years old drivers and mental subjective symptom by age was high in all items except for tiredness (I), melancholia (N), and hypersensitivity (P) for the 60 years old drivers and showed in the items of melancholia (N) and hypersensitivity (P) for the 40 years old. From the complaints of mental and physical subjective symptoms about work satisfaction in the THI health check table, the strong dissatisfaction showed in the all items except for eye and skin trouble (B). All items except hypersensitivity (P) showed dissatisfaction in prevalence of complains of mental and physical subjective symptoms about work satisfaction in the CMI health check table. From the complains of mental and physical subjective symptoms on salary satisfaction in the THI health check table, the taxi driver who earn the salary of 1 million won showed statistically significant symptom of eye and skin trouble (B) and showed high tendency in all items except for respiratory (A) and digestion (C) systems. It is suggested that the appropriate health control for owner-driver of taxi should be applied to reduce the prevalence of complaints that showed mainly in the irregular working time and sleeping disorders.

We gathered exposure data on indoor air pollution, and investigated the dose-response slope factor for indoor air pollutants, such as volatile organic compounds, aldehydes and radon. Population cancer risks (that is the theoretical cancer deaths) were estimated from exposure to the pollutants. In addition, the damage costs, due to their risks, were estimated using WTP (willingness to pay) and VSL (value of a statistical life), which were investigated by a dichotomous contingent valuation method (DCVM). As a priority for human health risks and damage costs, management strategies are required for both radon and formaldehyde as indoor air pollutants. When the numeric results of human risks and damage costs are applied for other purposes, some assumptions and uncertainties have to be considered to use the results as useful screening tools for the administration of practical risk-based priorities.

Abstract Dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) in air, which has been established for the production of large quantities of ozone, is more recently being applied to a wider range of aftertreatment processes for HAPs (hazardous air pollutants). Although DBD has high electron density and energy, its potential use as precharging nano and submicron sized particles, is not known. In this work, we measured V‐I (voltage‐current) characteristics of DBD and estimated the collection efficiency of particles with bimodal distribution by DBD type 2‐stage ESP (electrostatic precipitator). To examine the particle collection with various applied voltage waveforms of DBD, nano size particles of NaCl (20∼100 nm) and DOS (50∼800 nm) were generated by an electrical tube furnace and an atomizer, respectively. Particle collection efficiencies of all the cases increased with increase of DBD electric power that the results corresponded to product of V by I whose magnitudes were the largest in triangular voltage waveform.

This paper describes to evaluate the performance of ventilation as a change of CO2 concentration with ventilation rate under 35 occupants in a school classroom. Variations of the CO2 concentration as a function of time are measured at center point of classroom with air ventilation rates by the CO2 gas monitor. For 800 m3/h of ventilation rate in the classroom, the average CO2 concentration is 913 ppm. The ventilation rate is sufficient to meet acceptable indoor air quality (≤ 1,000 ppm of CO2, KS school standard) in the classroom of 35 students.

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.