This study evaluated changes in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and aerosol particle concentrations following the use of certain spray-type household chemical products in an indoor environment. Four commercially available products in South Korea (including sticker/tar removers, a razor cleaner, and a fabric stain remover) were analyzed using real-time VOC monitoring with proton-transfer-reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometry (PTR-ToF-MS) and particle number concentration measurement with an Optical Particle Sizer. Immediately after spraying 17 grams of each product, VOC concentrations increased sharply, and hazardous substances such as benzene, 1,3-butadiene, formaldehyde, and acrolein remained at elevated levels for a certain period. Additionally, some products exhibited benzene concentrations exceeding levels of potential exposure concern, and the operation of an air purifier reduced VOC levels by 73%. This research provides insight into changes in indoor air quality and associated exposure risks due to household chemical use, and it may serve as a basis for future air quality management and regulatory standards.

The objective of this study was to investigate ELF-MF exposure levels in infant living environmental spaces at daycare centers. To achieve the objective of the study, we surveyed ELF-MF levels using EMDEX II at daycare centers from October 2013 to October 2014. The ELF-MF level of 53 daycare centers in terms of arithmetic mean (AM) and geometric mean (GM) were 0.59 ± 0.76 mG and 0.33 mG, respectively. And the ELF-MF level of 260 daycare center classrooms was 0.50 ± 0.71 mG (GM: 0.28 mG). The exposure levels of ELF-MF for all daycare centers were far below the recommended standards cited in guidelines in Korea (833 mG) and international reference levels proposed by WHO or ICNIRP (2,000 mG). Furthermore, we discovered out that as distance increased, ELF-MF emission levels decreased significantly in all electrical instruments. Below the 2 mG ELF-MF levels when an electrical instrument moved away stage 1 (Grade). Thus, these results will provide useful data for the determination of ELF-MF management and reduction methods at infant daycare centers.