In this study, VOCs originating from vehicles were measured at 8 underground parking lots(two apartments, four department stores, and two large-scale marts) in Daejeon. The indoor air quality at underground parking lots of the department stores and marts was affected by the availability of the ventilation facility and their operation frequency. At the underground parking lots with a ventilation facility, the maximum VOCs concentration was 727㎍/㎥, and the minimum was 73.5㎍/㎥. The average concentration ratio of BTEX to TVOCs at the underground parking lots was almost constant, which was approximately 44.8%. TVOCs and BTEX were strongly correlated with a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.88. The relative ratio of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene was 1 : 9.51 : 0.71 : 2.53, directly reflecting the influence of vehicles sources.

This study was carried out to assess the improvement of treatment by the house-plant. For the purpose of this study, 17 asthma-patients residing in Seoul were selected as participants during January to March 2007. We measured VOCs and conducted clinical survey during April to September 2007. In this study, 6 species of houseplants known to be eco-friendly were investigated for the health effect along with 12 other plants. The research focused on peak expiratory flow rate(PEFR) and disease specific quality of life. When the results were compared to the non-intervention households, the intervention households had reduced levels of acetaldehyde, benzene, ethylbenzene, xylene and styrene. The reduction rate estimated from this comparative study was statistically significant(p<0.05). There was however no association between the intervention and the estimated PEFR between morning and evening data in asthma-patients.

Recently Korean government introduced and strengthened the environmental polices to manage and enhance indoor air quality as a major assignment. As a result,“Indoor Air Quality Management Act”has been activated since May 2004. However, among many multi-usage facilities, the school environment has been excluded from such regulations. Thus, the purpose of this study is to survey indoor aerosol and CO2 concentrations in a university library which is one of major school facilities. Concentrations of PM10, PM2.5, and PM1 were intensively measured every 5 minute interval by means of a dust monitor with light-scattering principle. The mini-volume air samplers were used further to analyze inorganic elemental compositions of PM10 and to inter-compare with the dust monitor. Carbon dioxide was simultaneously monitored by a multi-gas monitor equipped with a non-dispersive infrared system. PM10 concentrations did not exceed the indoor air quality standard(150㎍/㎥) for all the sampling places. However, quick and steep increases of aerosol concentration were observed during the Asian Dust storm period. In addition, the concentration of PM10(74.1㎍/㎥) in the main university office was the highest among the entire sampling places. Although there was no specific pollution source in the library, the levels of aerosol and CO2 increased quickly due to various outdoor sources and human activities. The average CO2 concentration measured in three reading rooms, where ventilation was not fully operated, exceeded the indoor air quality standard of 1,000 ppm. Based on these case studies, effective management and reduction plans for indoor aerosol and CO2 were suggested for the large scale public buildings including university libraries.

This study was performed to investigate airborne volatile organic compounds(VOCs), formaldehyde, respiratory particulate for concentration in primary schools. The concentrations of major indoor air pollutants(VOCs , benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, styrene, formaldehyde, PM-10) were observed from November to December 2006. Sampling was undertaken at 81 primary schools. The sampling sites of air pollutants are classroom and hallway. VOCs with distribution of most of general environmental contamination material will be able to confirm that it shows the log-normal distribution which is similar exposure distribution. The exposure quality of VOCs and the place pollution level was indoor> hallway>outdoor, which whole is located in the metropolis and the industrial areas is higher than farm village area. It tried to observe the I/O ratio, it appeared highly from the interior of the material of most. The mean concentrations of formaldehyde, respiratory particulate were 22.07㎍/㎥, 88.06㎍/㎥ respectively. Indoor and outdoor ratios(I/O) of formaldehyde and respiratory particulate were 3.6 and 1.4, respectively. The concentration of respiratory particulate is 27.2% higher than guideline for school hygiene(100㎍/㎥). From the comparison in the construction year, the highest concentration of formaldehyde is showed under one year. However, as time passed by the concentrations of formaldehyde become lower.

Indoor air quality can be affected by indoor sources, ventilation, outdoor levels, and removal. Various indoor and outdoor combustion sources make nitrogen dioxide(NO2), which is a by-product of high temperature fossil fuel combustion. Especially, the presence of gas ranges and smoking have been identified as two of the major factors contributing to indoor NO2 exposures. In this study, the relative efficiencies for NO2 removal by a large number of materials are presented. This work has demonstrated that reactions with indoor surfaces represents a significant sink for NO2, and that these reactions currently are effecting a considerable degree of control over indoor NO2 levels. It seems that this control could be enhanced by judicious selection of furnishings and construction materials. Improved understanding of that rates and mechanisms of the removal process will permit optimization of the process for indoor air quality improvement.

This study was followed up asthma incidence rate in primary schools indoor air quality. To investigate the history and prevalence rate of allergic diseases(asthma, atopy dermatitis, allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis), the standardized and generally used International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood(ISAAC) questionnaire was used to conduct the symptom survey for all participating subjects. The concentrations of major indoor air pollutants(dust mite allergen, aldehydes , VOCs, TBC, phthalate) were observed from April to May 2007. Sampling was undertaken at 19 primary schools. The sampling sites of air pollutants are classroom’s indoor and hallway. Dust mite allergen part it was detected from the case classroom and infirmary. The exposure quality of aldehyde and the place pollution level was indoor>outdoor>hallway, which whole is disease incidence rate high group appears more highly the low group than. The partially result of formaldehy and VOCs, the concentration of high environmental disease incidence rate showed also high. However, house dust allergen, TBC and phthalate measurement school was not the effect where the comparison of difference.

House dust mite of the indoor environment is one of the most important causes of allergic asthma and rhinitis. It has been known that more than 70% of Korean children and about 50% of adult with the respiratory allergy are sensitive to house dust mite. The purpose of our study is to find out the relationship between the concentration of formaldehyde (HCHO)/PM10 and the number of house dust mite in the indoor environment. In this study, sampling sites were education, social and dwelling facilities. We inquire the questionnaire of the resident on the indoor air quality in all sampling sites. At the same time, we measured the concentration of formaldeh yde(HCHO)/PM10 as well as house dust mites. it was complained by 20% respondents that the indoor air quality was bad and by 10% that the atopy symptom was evident. When a certain amount of house dust mites were detected, the contents of PM10 were observed high and that of HCHO low. However when the house dust mites were not detected, the concentration of PM10 was low and that of HCHO high. From our results, it is concluded that the indoor air quality (i.e. conc. of PM10/HCHO) is quite related to the contents of house dust mites supporting the fact that the symptom of atopy and asthma is due to these small organisms.