This study was to investigate distribution characteristics for air pollutants and to assess probability of health effect for children in kindergartens from August, 2006 to January, 2007. The mean concentrations for standards of maintenance in kindergartens were 91.5 ㎍/㎥ for PM10, 1,185 ppm for CO2, 69.3㎍/㎥ for formaldehyde, 174 CFU/㎥ for TBC and 0.41 ppm for CO, respectively. For NO2, Rn, TVOC, and O3, the mean concentrations in kindergartens were 29.40 ppb, 1.51 pCi/ℓ, 257.3 ㎍/㎥, and 3.74 ppb, respectively. The I/O ratio of every air pollutants exceeded "1" except for O3. In results of calculated safety factor to assess probability of health effect for children by air pollutants in kindergartens, safety factor for CO2 was 1.2 for fixed point. It means that children have probability of health effect caused by CO2. In cases of Monte-Carlo analysis, safety factor for PM10 was 1.0 and safety factor for CO2 was 1.2.

This study was undertaken to investigate the distribution characteristics of the hazardous agents in indoor environment in 7 vessels in Incheon harbor from July to August, 2004. The measured parameters include several indoor air pollutants (PM10, CO2, HCHO, and TVOCs) and physical parameters (noise, vibration, temperature, and humidity). The levels of pollutants and hazardous components in vessels were compared with standards and guidelines of indoor air quality on the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Labor in Korea. The major results obtained from this study were as followed : The PM10 and CO2 levels in every vessel did not exceed the indoor air standard of 150 ㎍/㎥ and 1000 ppm, respectively. The level of PM10 showed a decreasing tendency as the weight of vessels is increased. The airbornce concentration of HCHO was the highest one by exceeding its standard in a 500 ton vessel. The noise level in engine room exceeded the workplace standard (90 dB(A)) recording above 100 dB(A). The TVOCs level in every engine room was more than its standard (500㎍/㎥). Based on our preliminary study of indoor air pollutants in vessels, it is suggested that long and middle term plan for the management of IAQ should be established through future investigation of vessels.

This study was performed to estimate the emission rate of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and to evaluate the risk level affected by indoor air pollutants (IAPs) in 27 new apartments (prior to residence) in Seoul City from December 2004 to March 2005. The indoor air pollutants investigated in this study include formaldehyde, several aromatic VOCs (benzene, toluene, styrene, xylene, and ethylbenzene). All measurements were made based on the standard method of Ministry of Environment in Korea. The indoor concentration levels for benzene, xylene, toluene, ethylbenzene, styrene, and formaldehyde have significant increase trend 5 hours after closing windows and doors. Levels of air pollutants did not exhibit significant difference between living rooms and bedrooms. The air exchange rates by the concentration decay method using SF6 were 0.37 for low floor, 0.32 for middle floor, and 0.75 for high floor. The emission rate showed the highest level in the middle floor and second one in the low floor, when estimated by the IAQ model for benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, styrene, and formaldehyde. Considering the above result, it is suggested that the estimation of emission rate be considered when the new apartment is designed and constructed with respect to construction materials to emit low VOCs. Moreover, the related regulation should be established for IAQ management.

For indoor air quality at a newly built apartment before move-in, we monitored formaldehyde and VOCs and assessed human exposure and probabilistic health risk. We selected 801 newly built apartments all over the country. The results of the research on the condition show the mean concentrations of formaldehyde 294 ㎍/㎥, 210(median) 1497㎍/㎥(maximum), benzene 6㎍/㎥, (4 and 92㎍/㎥), toluene 1003㎍/㎥(773 and 5013 ㎍/㎥), ethylbenzene 120㎍/㎥, (62 and 1192㎍/㎥), xylene 287㎍/㎥(138 and 2723㎍/㎥) and styrene 64㎍/㎥, (42 and 531㎍/㎥). Formaldehyde from carcinogen and toluene and xylene from non-carcinogen were assessed the risk for human health. The excess cancer risk of formaldehyde for human beings between carcinogens is per 1.36 of average 1000 persons. This implies that it is over a level per 1.00 of 1000 persons demanding active risk reduction. Hence, we strongly need the active reduction plan and accurate source assumption. Among a variety of factors affecting indoor air quality for householders, closing construction or density of indoor air processing additional interior construction and indoor area, indoor air quality with a variety of districts show significant. The excess cancer risk for human beings of formaldehyde between carcinogens is per 1.36 of average 1000 persons. Non-carcinogen toxicity rate for human-beings with toluene and xylene among non-carcinogens is over HQ 1 from Seoul to local area.

This study performed and re-analysed the articles of exposure assessment for the indoor environment of houses in many environment-related journals published. in Korea since 1990. Based on this comparative study, we estimated the unit health risk on indoor environment. The objective of this study was to offer scientific data for decision-making policy for improvement and management of indoor air quality on Korean house in. The pooled concentrations for the critical air pollutants in the house were 13.93±13.91㎍/m3 (PM10), 680±226 ppm for (CO2), 1.9±1.6 ppm (CO), 419±158 CFU/m3 (bacteria), 0.036 ± 0.002 ppm (NO2), and 104.935 ± 16.424 Bq/m3 (Rn), The pooled concentrations for the volatile organic compounds were 6.9±6.7㎍ /m3 (benzene), 39.3±55.1㎍/m3 (toluene), 4.2±4.0㎍/m3 (ethylbenzene), 11.4±8.3㎍/m3 (m, p-xylene), 4.2 ±1.5㎍/m3 (styrene) and 6.3±4.5㎍/m3 (o-xylene). The unit cancer risk for men and women by inhalation of benzene was 3.7 × 10-5 and 4.8 × 10-6, respectively. In additio

Recently, indoor air quality (IAQ) in workplace, residence, and schools has been one of the major concerns of people, scientists and the related public. This study was performed to investigate the characteristics of indoor air quality(IAQ) in kindergartens, elementary school, middle schools, and high schools from June 2004 to May 2005 in Korea. We measured indoor air pollutants such as PM10, CO2, formaldehyde, total bacteria colony(TBC), CO, radon, total volatile organic compounds(TVOCs), asbestos, and O3 from school classrooms. The subjects were classified by building year based on the time span of 1, 1 - 3, 3 - 5, and 5 - 10 years. The levels of pollutants and physical factor in schools were compared with standards and guidelines of indoor air quality on the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the Ministry of Education, and Human Resources Development of Korea. The major results obtained from this study can be summarized as follows. Asbestos and O3 were not detected in all surveyed classrooms. However, we were able to detect CO, TBC, TVOCs, and formaldehyde in kindergartens, TBC in elementary schools, TBC, TVOCs and formaldehyde in middle schools, and formaldehyde in high schools. This study was conducted to provide a basis for the management IAQ in school. Therefore, we suggest that a national plan for the management of IAQ in school should be established through a long-term, continuous investigation for the proper assessment of IAQ in school and for the health risk assessment for student.

In this paper, exposure levels of electromagnetic field were measured in residential environments and from appliances. First, the measurements of residential environments were taken in central locations in bedroom, living room, and kitchen in each home. Both arithmetic and geometric mean of normal-power condition are higher than low-power condition (all electrical devices turned off/unplugged), and the background fields in homes show a geometric mean of about 0.022 uT. Second, we measured broadband magnetic fields of domestic appliances at various distances. The highest magnetic field is 44.3 uT from the microwave oven, and the lowest is 1.4 uT from the Kimchi Refrigerator. The magnitude of magnetic fields from appliances dropped off at a rate inversely proportional to distance, but the ratio of drop-off on Korean appliances is lower than US and UK

This study was performed to investigate the concentration levels of CO2 and the associated parameters in the subway from lines 1 to 8 in Seoul metropolitan area, during 1 to 30 Sept. 2005. CO2 concentration was measured at the entrance and center in subway passenger cabin by non-dispersive infrared analyser. The associated parameters for CO2 were estimated based on the number of passenger, open and closed doors etc. The mean CO2 concentrations were measured to be 1,646±712 ppm in subway passenger cabins. The CO2 concentrations showed the highest values between 7 and 9 AM in rush hour(p〈0.01). The correlation coefficient between CO2 and the number of passenger was highly significant(r=0.824). The general linear model indicated that subway line, subway location (ground and underground tract), and measurement point (enterance and center of cabins) and running time (morning and afternoon) significantly influenced the concentrations of CO2. An extended study is needed to examine the sources of CO2 in subway cabins and to compare pollutants concentration among subway lines.

Numerical analysis was conducted to characterize the particle charging quantities in the charging cell of a 2-stage parallel-plate electrostatic precipitator with respect to particle size. The numerical method took into consideration of particle charging rate equations and particle equations of motion, allowing the locally varying non-uniform electric field and ion number concentration along the particle trajectory. The charging rate model developed by Lawless (1996) was used in the present study. According to the present study, the numerical results showed good agreement with the available experimental data.

We have invented mobile HEPA filter unit of hemopoietic stem cell transplantation clean room (class 100), which is a capsule type to protect the patient from being infected by harmful Aspergillus spore. This equipment is based on the basic structure of US Federal Standard 209D, biological clean room standard of NASA NHB 5340-2 and measurement standard of Japanese JACA No. 24-1989. Performance of HEPA filter was evaluated by dioctyl phthalate (DOP) test method, resulting in 99.97% efficiency for 0.3 ㎛ particles. HEPA filter unit used only 98 W electricity with 24 V storage cell for the patient's treatment for over three hours. When the wind speed was 0.2 to 0.3 m/sec as in bone marrow transplantation clean room, the air flow was constant laminar vertical type. When the amount of dust was measured in the hospital, the equipment maintained the grade of clean class 100 and microbe was not detected. The noise level was less than 52 dB(A). The amounts of microbe inside and outside the building were almost same. The amount was even more in cancer sick room, serious case room and X-rays room than in the general rooms. Also, elevators and stair room were found to transport dust to other areas. Even though the patient with low immunity can be protected from Aspergillus spore by a HEPA filter unit, the system preventing microbe system such as BMT clean room should be placed in rooms such as PET, CT, MRI, and radiation room so that the patients can be protected from having infected by the extremely harmful Aspergillus spore.

Nowadays, cremation is becoming generalized and also the frequency of utilization of cremation is increasing in Korea. Futhermore, there is a possibility that indoor air pollution is caused by particles, gas pollutants or microbial pollutants from laying down and cremation of corpses, and also the bereaved family and grievers inside the crematory. Therefore, the major goals in this study were that first, we investigated and analyzed the air quality of particular indoor environments such as the crematory. Second, we assessed the health risk for workers. Finally, we collected and assessed the basic data in special indoor environments because this kind of study had not been performed. We sampled and analyzed PM10 (heavy metal), VOCS, HCHO, infectious microorganisms to grasp the characteristics of indoor air quality in the crematory through sampling four times from 7th July to 16th October in 2004. Besides, we did personal air sampling of PM10 (heavy metal) and VOCS to grasp personal exposure of workers from indoor hazardous air pollutants. We conjectured that main sources of pollutants in crematory are cremation, buried corpses, and moving of grievers, also increasing the seriousness of microbial pollutants gathering strength, especially. As we assessed infectious microorganisms of indoor air and executed research for indoor hazardous air pollutants, we want to offer the way of study and policy of management for particular indoor environments like a crematory.

The present study investigated the hypothesis that a extremely low frequency magnetic field (ELF-MF) partially suppresses the synthesis of human growth hormone (HGH) in a group of 28 primary schoolchildren living nearby and 60 primary schoolchildren aged 12 years living far away from overhead transmission power lines from December 2003 to April 2004 in Seoul, Korea. The mean personal exposure levels of the primary schoolchildren living nearby overhead transmission power line were 0.37 μT, whereas the levels for the primary schoolchildren living away from overhead transmission power line was 0.05 μT. From simple analyses, the mean growth hormone levels in the primary schoolchildren living nearby were lower than away from overhead transmission power line, and statistically significant differences in the levels of the growth hormone (p = 0.0316), whereas not statistically significant differences in the levels of the growth hormone related to the distance from residence to power line less and more than 100 m by cut-off point (p = 0.4017). In conclusion, these results may indicate that urinary levels of nocturnal growth hormone are altered in primary schoolchildren exposed to extremely low frequency magnetic field at overhead transmission power line.

Electromagnetic fields of all frequencies represent one of the most common and fastest growing environmental influences, about which anxiety and speculation are spreading. All populations are now exposed to varying degrees of electromagnetic field, and the levels will continue to increase as technology advances. The objectives of this study were to measure and analyze emitting characteristics of extremely low frequency electromagnetic field at micro-environments. We measured magnetic field at microenvironments such as home, school, educational institute, internet pc game room for children attending the primary school. The range of time weighted average (TWA) of 60 Hz EMF in micro-environment were 0.26∼ 7.62 mG and the highest TWA 7.62 mG was measured in PC room possessed more than 50 computers. We will measure personal exposure levels of primary students and analyze correlation between major micro-environments and personal exposure level.

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.

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.

Currently, Ministry of Environment has promulgated and executed 'the legislation of indoor air quality for public facilities' but the data of indoor air pollutant for public facilities of this law was very insufficient. Therefore, collection of data for indoor air pollutants and execution for risk assessment in order to offer scientific data for decision-making of policy to present reasonable standards and preventive techniques of engineering were required. Therefore, this study collected and re-analysed the articles of exposure assessment for indoor environment in journals related environment in Korea since 1990 and estimated the safety factor on residents in public facilities. The objective of this study was to offer scientific data for decision-making of policy for improvement and management of indoor air quality in Korea. As the results of this study, the risk assessment for the critical pollutants in CTE (central tendency exposure) showed that safety factors according to pollutants were less than 1 which means safe level in micro-environments. It was investigated that the safety factors of CO in hospital, NO2 in terminal, PM10 and NO2 in subway station respectively were over than 1 in RME (reasonable maximum exposure). Through the results, it was investigated that health risk by inhalation of criteria and guideline air pollutants in domestic public facilities was not high. It should be considered effect of inhalation by other hazardous air pollutants because this study was examined just partial pollutants. Presentation of scientific data for expansion of study is requisite and active research of health risk assessment about indoor air quality.

The PC game rooms in Korea have a problem in the aspect of indoor air quality because there are many occupants for 24 hours where the smoking is allowed. This study was carried out to evaluate indoor air quality (IAQ) including the size distribution of respirable suspended particulates (RSP) and airborne nicotine concentration in selected PC game rooms. The subjects are 6 PC game rooms in Seoul and Sung-Nam Cities. In this study, airborne RSP and nicotine concentrations were measured during a period from February to March, 2003. Significant correlation has been found between the concentrations of RSP and nicotine in PC game room. Also the negative correlation was found between room area and number of operating fan. The correlation coefficients between RSP size distribution and nicotine concentration were 0.868, 0.866, 0.870 in the stages 2 (cut-point 14.80㎛), 5 (cut-point 3.50㎛), and 8 (cut-point 0.52㎛) from Marple's 8-stage cascade impactor, respectively. In conclusion, RSP concentration in PC game room has a tendency to increase by smoking. Therefore, it is suggested that the effective air control system and education program be applied for PC game room.

There has recently become one of the major concern expressed the general public and regulation agencies concerning health risks associated with indoor air pollution in Korea. A new indoor air quality program under "Legislation of Indoor Air Quality Management for Public Facilities" is enforced to act on the end of May, 2004 by the Korea Ministry of Environment. The purposes of this article were to discuss the sustainable development of indoor air pollution and to strengthen the importance of the sustainability of indoor air quality. Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability future generations to meet their own needs and a new theory that grew out of the conservation / environmental movement of the 1970's. While the conservation/environmental movement asked questions about preserving the Earth's resources, sustainable development includes questions about how human decisions affect the Earth's environment. Sustainable development of environmental pollution has been discussed over the last 20 year in most countries, but an important health problems of indoor air pollution became a social issues in recent years. We must develop global perspectives and maintain effective balance between available resources and human needs. The further understanding of the sustainable development of indoor air pollution is extremely useful in defining the components of healthful indoor air in major indoor environments. Additional information concerning more detailed housing characteristics, daily activity patterns, and seasonal factors which may influence indoor pollutants should provide important information on sustainable development in indoor air pollution.

This study was to assess the lifetime cancer and non-cancer risk of exposure of worker and user at public facilities in Korea to volatile organic compounds (VOCs). We measured the concentrations of two aldehydes and five VOCs in indoor air at 424 public buildings that 8 kinds of public facilities (70 movie theaters, 86 offices, 86 restaurants, 70 academies, 22 auditoriums, 30 PC-rooms, 30 singing-rooms and 30 bars) all over the country. There were estimated the human exposure dose and risks with averages of the using-time and frequency for facility users and office workers, respectively. Carcinogens (formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and benzene) were estimated the lifetime excess cancer risks (ECRs). non-carcinogens (toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, and styrene) were estimated the hazard quotients (HQs). The average ECRs of formaldehyde and benzene for facility worker and user were 1×10-3~1×10-4 and 1×10-4~1×10-5 level, respectively, in all facilities. HQs of four non-carcinogens did not exceed 1.0 for all subjects in all facilities. The estimated ECRs for restaurant and auditorium were the highest, and the PC-room and bar were the next higher facilities. Furthermore, people in a smoking facility had the highest cancer risk. Higher ECRs of formaldehyde and benzene were observed in indoor smoking facilities such as restaurant and auditorium. Higher HQs of toluene and xylene were observed at the restaurant and office building.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are well known for strong carcinogen. However, the human exposure anslysis of PAHs is quite difficult and unreliable because of hard for estimation of actual expose dose. Then urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) has been a biological marker of exposure to PAHs. The purpose of this study was to investigate total amount from exposure to PAHs acused by indoor occupational exposure, and residence at Seoul metropolitan area and Kyeonggi province in Korea. Thirty-five housewives were included in this study from April 2003 through February 2004. Dietary habit and general characteristics such as age, type of building, existence of passive smoking, period of residence, fuel type for heating and ventilation type were obtained by self administered questionnaire. Urine samples were collected at morning and freeze quickly. Urinary creatinine was measured for converting into 24 hr urine. Concentration of the indoor PAHs was examined by NIOSH method number 5506. Urinary 1-OHP and PAHs were analysed by HPLC. Correlation coefficient between urinary 1-OHP levels and pyrene concentration of indoor air was 0.66 and statistically significant(P<0.01). The difference of urinary 1-OHP level due to dietary habits were not significant. Urinary 1-OHP level of Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter were 0.21±0.12, 0.10±0.17, 0.16±0.12, 0.17±0.14 ㎍/g cr, respectively. The arithmetic means of urinary 1-OHP for four season wee 0.16±0.14 ㎍/g cr. There was a trend that urinary 1-OHP level of residents who dwelling in apartment were higher compared with detached home. Comparison of 1-OHP level between heating by kerosene and LPG, Much higher gas heating type than kerosene type (P<0.05). This result implies that the urinary 1-OHP can be applied as the PAHs exposure indices.