In this study, the QA/QC test for the combined application of DNPH cartridge – HPLC/UV method was investigated in the collection and analysis of formaldehyde in air using three types of DNPH cartridge samplers made by three independent manufacturers. For these experiments, gaseous standards of formaldehyde (FA) were prepared at 7 concentration levels that fell in the range of 44.1~3400 nmol/mol. According to our analysis, the levels of cartridge blank (0.13 ~ 0.26 ng) are found to be fairly high to require routine check up for each experiment. The recovery patterns of FA were highly comparable between different cartridge products, when standard gases are supplied in the concentration range up to 177 nmol/mol. All 3 types of DNPH cartridge exhibited highly similar recovery rates at concentrations below 1.7 ㎛ol/mol, while the maximum recovery was attained from the product B. The overall results of our study suggest that one should calibrate the samples in the optimal range of recovery with routine check up of blank values.

Mold infestation problems in building are a complex phenomenon due to various causes such as environmental conditions including temperature and relative humidity, substrates (building materials), exposure time, and so on. Earlier studies showed the interrelationship among humidity, temperature conditions and mold growth. However, surface structure also can be a key factor to mold germination. This study conducted experiments on the mold germination and growth on wallpapers with different surface structures. Four wallpapers and two fungal species (Aspergillus versicolor, Penicillium chrysogenum) were selected for experiment and observed fungal germination and growth on the different surface structures of wallpapers using scanning electron microscope. The resulfts showed that the shape of the micro structure of wallpaper surface affected to the growth of fungi.

The aim of this study is to estimate and compare indoor air quality(IAQ) at stock rooms in general library and in National Archives and to provide fundamental data in order to enact the law on management of IAQ at stock rooms in general library. The survey of IAQ in stock rooms was performed in Seoul National Archives in August 2009, and the basic data on level of indoor air pollutants in stock rooms at general library was collected from domestic journal. The concentration of NO₂ was 114.1 ppb at audiovisual documentary stock rooms in National Archives. That value exceeded 50 ppb guideline that was legislated by the Korean Ministry of Public Administration and Security. The concentration of PM₁₀ and VOCs were 59±9㎍/m³ and 367±83㎍/m³, respectively at stock rooms in general library. These values were exceeded from the guideline of Korean Ministry of Public Administration and Security that is 50㎍/m³ for PM₁₀ and 400㎍/m³ for VOCs. Also, the exceeded probability from the guideline was 83.7% in PM₁₀ and 35.6% in VOCs. Therefore, we suggest that a national plan for the management of IAQ at stock rooms in general library should be established.

This study has attempted to investigate current asbestos laws in the amended Occupational Safety and Health Act on the removal and disposal of asbestos. Among 800 registered asbestos removal and disposal companies, 499 firms were investigated from August 7 to December 10, 2009. The qualified inspectors (those with Industrial Hygiene Engineer’s License or higher-level technical license) are educated for more than three hours before starting the inspection. In terms of regional distribution, Gyeonggi / Incheon was the highest with 105 companies(21%), followed by Daegu / Gyeongbuk(100, 20%), Chungbuk(97, 19.4%), Jeonbuk(37, 7.4%), Gwangju / Jeonnam (35, 7.0%) and Seoul(33, 6.6%). In terms of the number of education and technical assistances(1,348 in total) among 499 asbestos removal and disposal companies ,‘personal protective equipment and putting it on(287, 21.3%)’ was the highest, followed by ‘safety & health actions by asbestos removal and disposal work(171, 12.7%),’ ‘hazard of asbestos(168, 12.5%),’ ‘NO SMOKING and NO FOOD(164, 12.2%)’ and ‘prevention of asbestos fibers from being airborne(12, 0.9%).’A questionnaire consisted of 11 questions regarding the obse tance of enforcement ordinances associated with the removal and disposal of asbestos. According to an investigation on the current status of the workplace based on inspectors’ checklists, 3 scores were maintained in average. This paper has limitations because it has failed to randomly investigate the workplace because it is very strict to visit the asbestos removal and disposal sites.

Indoor, outdoor, and personal nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) exposures were studied in a population of housewives. Daily Indoor and outdoor NO₂ concentrations were measured and compared with simultaneously personal exposures of 17 housewives for 7 consecutive days in 17 houses. In this study, indoor and outdoor NO₂ samples at home were collected only while the housewives were at home samples. Time activity patterns and house characteristics were used to determine the effects of these factors on personal exposure. Since housewives spent their times in indoor houses with mean of 78.3%, their NO₂ exposures were associated with indoor houses NO₂ levels (r= 0.89) rather than outdoor NO₂ level (r= 0.85). Contribution of indoor NO₂ concentration on personal exposure was estimated by 70.77% by using of mass balance model. The close association between measured indoor NO₂ concentrations and measured personal exposure and contribution of indoor NO₂ concentration suggests that measuring indoor concentrations of NO₂ in the home is sufficient to estimate personal exposure accurately.