This study was performed to evaluate the odor occurrence of offensive leather odor in a district in Gyeonggi-do, where Jeil industrial complex is located, and its residential district, by using olfactory field frequency measurement (Gird Method). In addition, we measured the composite odor. The target points were 9 spots in Jeil industrial complex and 12 spots in the residential district, and we conducted the measurements 13 times each spot. As a result, odor occurrence in descending order was investigated as follows, leather industry > drug industry > food industry. Moreover, odor exposure of the industrial complex exceeded the industrial zone standard of 0.15 (=German odor standard) in all 9 spots (average 0.78). In addition, odor exposure of the residential district exceeded the residential zone standard of 0.10 (=German odor standard) in 12 spots (average 0.78). All the composite odors were below 20 (industrial zone standard). However, as the odor intensity of the sampling site and the lab analysis data showed a large deviation, we found that much supplementation is needed of the odor analysis techniques in the equipment measurement methods.
A survey on the indoor air quality of schools was conducted on a total of 10 schools in each location, such as industrial zones, roadside zones and clean zones of the Jeonbuk Province. Regardless of their location, 75% of the schools were not suitable to the environmental standard, and five schools were inadequate in both the first and the second half measurement results. Compared to the public facilities survey conducted by the Jeollabukdo Institute Health and Environment Research from 2008 to 2016, the concentration of CO2, total airborne bacteria (TAB), and PM10, with the exception of HCHO, was higher in school classrooms than in any other public facilities. The correlations between pollutants and test items demonstrated that total airborne bacteria (TAB) were significantly correlated with the degree of ventilation, and the PM10 was correlated with the cleaning status, respectively. Although the other test items of indoor air quality in the school were measured in the same way as the public facilities measurement methods, the PM10 is applied in accordance with the simplified method. In order to investigate the difference between the measurement methods, the results were compared at the same point at the same time. When comparing the concentrations of PM10, the gravimetric method, which is a public facilities measurement method, showed a significant difference from the light scattering method, which is a method of measuring PM10 in schools. By comparison, it was confirmed that the light scattering method was measured lower than the gravimetric method. The light scattering method is useful for confirming the change of the particulate matter, but it is considered difficult to judge the concentration of the particulate matter in the classroom by the instantaneous measurement because of the potential error caused by high humidity, etc. Secondary pollution ions were measured at 17.1% ~ 40.5% in the industrial zone schools, 7.4%~27.4% in the roadside zone schools and 8.1%~21.8% in the clean zone schools, The percentage of pollution ions were not clearly distinguished by location.
The emission of odor, characterized by the combustion conditions and biomass types resulting from the use of a biomass incinerator, was analyzed. The following biomass types were considered: bark, board waste, sawdust, wood flour, wood fiver, wastewater sludge, and timber wastewater. As a study method, the physico-chemical characteristics of each biomass type were analyzed to predict the potential substances that might be emited under incomplete combustion conditions. And, the emission components of odor emission by biomass were analyzed at the laboratory level using a combustion device. In addition, the characteristics of the contaminant (odor) emission per mixture ratio of biomass were analyzed in a stoker incinerator that is in operation in an actual establishment at a scale of 300 ton/day. In the biomass emission experiment using the combustion device at the laboratory level, the major substances such as Acetic acid, Styrene, Toluene, Benzene, Dichloromethane, etc. were analyzed, and these components were determined to increase odor index. VOCs measurement in the outlet of the stoker incinerator indicated that Acetaldehyde, Ethanol, Acetonitrile, Ethyl acetate, Toluene, etc. were detected as the major substances. These were similar to the emission substances presented by the experiment that had investigated emissions by biomass type. A study on the Effect of Operational Conditions in biomass stocker incinerator on the concentration of odorous materials emitted from stack showed a close relationship between the input by biomass type and urea, temperature in the incinerator, and the tendency to emit/produce odor.
In this study, 38 residents of the Jeonnam areas in Korea were assessed for their level of exposure to VOCs. The aim was to understand the difference in levels of indoor, outdoor, and personal exposure to VOCs (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene) and a health effect assessment was conducted to determine whether there was any fatal cause from carcinogenic or non-carcinogenic elements from case and control group. Personal exposure to benzene showed a higher distribution than indoor and outdoor concentrations, and it was found that the average concentration of the case group was higher than that of the control group in all indoor, outdoor, and personal exposures. With regard to benzene, in the CTE, RME, and Monte-Carlo analysis, all subjects in the case group were seen to exceed the lifetime cancer risk of 10−6 defined by the US EPA and in the RME analysis the control group subjects were also seen to exceed the lifetime cancer risk of 10−6 defined by the US EPA. In the case of toluene, ethylbenzene on the CTE, RME, and Monte-Carlo analysis, the non-carcinogenic standard of 1 was not exceeded.
The goal of this study was to measure the indoor and outdoor fine and ultrafine particulate matter concentrations (PM10, PM1.0) of some houses in Yeosu and in S university in Asan from March to September 2018. PM10 concentration in indoor air in Yeosu area was 18.25 μg/m3, while for outdoor air it was 14.53 μg/m3. PM1.0 concentration in indoor air in the Asan area was 1.70 μg/m3, while for outdoor air it was 1.76 μg/m3, showing a similar trend. Heavy metal concentrations in the Yeosu region were the highest, at Mn 2.81 μg/m3, Cr 1.30 μg/ m3, and Ni 1.11 μg/m3 indoors. Outside, similar concentrations were found, at Cr 3.44 μg/m3, Mn, 2.60 μg/m3, and Ni 1.71 μg/m3. Our analysis of indoor and outdoor PM concentrations in the Asan region, which was carried out using the MOUDI (Micro-orifice Uniform Deposit Impactor) technique, found that PM concentration is related to each particle size concentration, as the concentration of 18 μm and 18-10 μm inside tends to increase by 3.2- 1.8 μm and 0.56-0.32 μm.
In this study, the grid field olfactory odor method was supplemented to the domestic situation in the surrounding areas of a domestic science industrial complex. The actual condition of the occurrence of odor frequency in the field was then investigated over the first period of late spring to summer and the second period of autumn in 2017. The frequency of odor occurrence in the area around the science industrial complex was increased as odor discharge facilities in the nearby area were concentrated. The odor occurrence frequency of the total period was 0.09~0.28, that of the first period was 0.08~0.32, and that of the second period was 0.05~0.25. The odor occurrence frequency in summer was higher than in autumn. The frequency by which the measurement of odor occurrence by smell type was most dominant was mainly smell of chemicals, plastics, and livestock houses during the first period, and the smell of chemicals, burning gases, and plastics during the second period. And the frequency of each smell type was judged to be different according to season. The odor occurrence frequency was measured as higher than 0.15, which is the standard of Germany's odor frequency in an industrial area, and it was judged that measures for odor management in the region were necessary. Since most of the odor discharge facilities are non-continuous systems and the odor generation frequency is more important than the concentration of the minimum detection concentration, it was judged that the German grid method can reflect the odor occurrence characteristics of the odor complaints or receptors for a certain period of time compared to the domestic measurement method. In the future, it was judged that the field olfactory odor method would be able to replace the evaluation method of odor assessment in Korea with the survey method of odor assessment under actual conditions in areas where it is difficult to access the odor discharge source or the receptor where odor complaints occur.
The Odor-causing compounds from grilled meat restaurants are mainly ammonia, aldehydes, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Acetaldehyde is known to have the greatest odor contribution. This study examines the application of silica gel for acetaldehyde in gas stream. Heat-pretreated silica gel showed relatively good adsorption performance and at 150oC, its breakthrough capacity reached up to 51 mg/g. By using Thomas' dynamic model, which well estimated the adsorption performance in this study, the effects of inlet concentration and retention time on adsorption capacity were evaluated. The adsorbent saturated with acetaldehyde was regenerated by reducing the pressure, which was controlled by the vacuum pump. The design factors were found to be 10 sec−1 of space velocity, -184 kPa·hr of desorption condition, and 10 to 1 of the ratio of cross sectional area to the height for the fixed-bed. The cyclic operation of adsorption and desorption step in the fixed bed packed with silica gel appeared to have 7.0-8.8 mg/g of acetaldehyde removal capacity and 99% of regeneration.
Outdoor air pollution with particulate matter has become more severe in Korea. Ambient particle concentration affects the indoor environment through various routes through building envelopes. In this study, we investigated particle exposure in residential buildings. Indoor and outdoor particle sources determined the indoor concentrations and particle exposure. This paper measured indoor particles and CO2 concentrations in two different apartment buildings and conducted the survey for 24 hours. The I/O ratio of the occupant awake period was higher than the asleep period. The I/O ratio in the awake period is 0.93-3.65, while the I/O ratio in the asleep period is 0.31- 0.76.Indoor peak events such as cooking or cleaning temporarily increase the I/O ratio and emit the indoor particle sources. Decay rate constant is 0.49-6.84 (1/h) in the indoor peak events during the operation of the exhaust hood and natural ventilation. The size range of 0.3-0.5 μm size is over half for the proportions of emitted particles (55.6%). Daily exposure is divided into indoor sources (45.2%) and outdoor sources (54.8%). We found the differences for the proportion of particle exposure. The ratio of daily exposure in particles for 0.3-0.5 μm size is 43.1 (indoor)/ 56.9 (outdoor) %. However, indoor sources are higher than outdoor sources for the ratio of daily exposure in particles for the 0.5-10.0 μm size.
Asthma is a chronic diseases that restricts the air passage ways and which is thought to be caused by several factors such as genetics, obesity, mVOC, air pollution, allergens, and fungi. Domestic information on fungi in the indoor air in the houses of asthma patients in the spring and fall is rarely available. Thus, this study was carried out to investigate fungal concentration and diversity. Air samples were collected from the houses of 6 asthma patient in April and October of 2017 located in Seoul and Gyeonggi Provinces using an impaction method. The average concentrations of suspended fungi in the indoor air at the houses of adult asthma patient in October exceeded the 500 CFU/m3 level recommended by the Enforcement Managements of the Indoor Air Quality Control Act. A total of 70 fungi were isolated and identified. Four genera and 11 species were from the April sampling and 10 genera and 27 species were from the October sampling. Among the identified fungi, five species, Arthrinium marii, Penicillium austrosinicum, Penicillium concavorugulosum, Penicillium exsudans and Penicillium johnkrugii were found to be unrecorded species in Korea. The known properties of all identified fungi and the morphological and molecular characteristics of the five unrecorded species were described.
In this study, real-time monitoring of air quality using a real-time mobile monitoring system was conducted to identify the emission characteristics and current status of air pollutants and odorous substances that are mainly generated in domestic dyeing industrial areas and to trace the pollutant sources. The concentration of toluene in the industrial area was detected up to 926.4 ppb, which was 3 to 4 times higher than that of other industrial areas. The concentration of methylethylketone was 124.7 ppb and the concentration of dichloromethane was 129.5 ppb. Acrolein concentration was highest at E point at 521.6 ppb, methanol concentration was highest at D point at 208.8 ppb, and acetone concentration was highest at M and N points at 549.3 ppb. The most frequently detected concentration of pollutants in the air quality monitoring results in the industrial area was, in descending order, toluene > methanol > acrolein > dichloromethane > acetone, which was similar to the chemical emissions used in the industrial area by the Pollutant Release and Transfer Register data. The concentration of odorous substances measured in real time was compared with the concentration of minimum detection, and the concentration of hydrogen sulfide was about 10 times higher than the concentration of minimum detection at A point, which was judged to be the main odorous cause of A point. In the future, if the real-time mobile measurement system is constructed to automatically connect wind direction/wind speed, PRTR (Pollutant Release and Transfer Register) data and SEMS (Stack Emission Management System) data, etc., it was judged that more accurate monitoring could be performed.
Sulfide dissolved in wastewater is a potential source of hydrogen sulfide. Hydrogen sulfide is an odorous substance that causes civil complaints and is a dangerous substance that threatens the corrosion of structures and the safety and health of workers. The removal efficiencies of the chemical oxidant and the coagulants were compared to evaluate the removal of dissolved sulfide. Since the effectiveness may vary depending on the characteristics of the wastewater, water was used as a control, and 5 mg/L of dissolved sulfide was dissolved in water and sewage wastewater. When oxidant was used, the results showed a high sulfide removal rate in sewage wastewater than water, and the removal efficiency was enhanced with increasing oxidant concentration. Sulfide removal efficiencies after one hour after injecting oxidants H2O2, NaOCl, NaClO2 to sewage wastewater were 70%, 90%, and 100%, respectively. After the oxidants were administered four times, the removal was 90%, 100%, and 100%, respectively. In the case of sulfide removal with the oxidizing agent, the removal efficiency was NaClO2, NaOCl, H2O2 (highest - lowest). NaClO2 showed 100% removal efficiency within 10 minutes under all conditions (A condition, B condition), making it the most sewage effective agent in this study. In the case of the coagulants, 100% of the sulfides dissolved in water were removed in the first 10 minutes under all conditions. In sewage wastewater, FeCl2 and FeSO4 also showed 100% removal efficiency under all conditions after one hour, and FeCl3 showed 90% and 99% removal rates under A and B conditions, respectively. That is, the monovalent iron coagulants (FeCl2, FeSO4) were found to be somewhat more effective in the removal of sulfides in sewage wastewater than the divalent iron (FeCl3) coagulants. When the sulfides were removed with coagulants, FeCl2 had the highest removal efficiency followed by FeSO4 and FeCl3. Moreover, it was found that NaClO2 has the best reaction efficiency at the minimum reaction time and the reaction concentration.
Smoking is a disservice to not only for smokers who smoke, but also for nonsmokers due to smoke or smell. In particular, smoking harms health by increasing the discomfort associated with the smell generated by burning the cigarette, and giving rise to lung injury or cancer caused by smoke inhalation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics of various concentrations of nicotine, PM2.5, and heavy metals (As, Cr, Cd, Pb) generated by smoking according to the smoking intensity. When smokers smoked continuously, the amount of nicotine, PM2.5, Cr, and Cd produced by smoking increased proportionally and became statistically significant. However, As and Pb showed a different pattern from other materials, and the concentration increased by 2~3 times when 10 cigarettes were smoked. As for the change in PM2.5 for 12 hours immediately after smoking, about 70% of the particles were deposited on the floor or wall even in a sealed room where no ventilation was available, and the concentration naturally decreased. However, the remaining particles were found to remain in the air even though the time passed exceeded 12 hours.