The purpose of this study was to evaluate indoor air pollutants of children’s facilities in libraries. The indoor pollutants, which were managed under the “Indoor Air Quality Control Standards” and “Environmental Safety Standards for Children’s Activity Zones,” were measured within five months. The new environmental pollutants such as phthalates and pesticides were also measured. The pollutant-measuring device was installed in children’s spaces in libraries and children’s libraries of the metropols. The result of investigating indoor pollutants showed that the concentration of fungus and floating bacteria had low distributions due to the use of air purifiers in all libraries. The concentration of HCHO and TVOCs was also measured lower than the environmental standards in well-ventilated libraries. On the other hand, phthalates and pesticides were detected in all libraries. In the case of heavy metals, they were mainly found in the finishing materials of the library walls and floors. As a result, indoor pollutants are managed under court receivership. On the other hand, phthalates and pesticides, which are not regulated by environmental standards should be managed because they were detected in all libraries.

In this study, we estimated nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) concentrations in microenvironments where residential indoor, residential outdoor, other indoors, and transportation using measured personal exposure and multiple linear regression analysis of time-weighted average model, and compared with measured NO₂ concentration in microenvironments. Measured residential indoor, outdoor and other indoor NO₂ concentration was 22.22±9.59 ppb, 23.64±9.62 ppb, and 22.07±13.90 ppb, respectively. NO₂ concentrations in residential indoor and outdoor, total outdoor, other indoor, and transportation by multiple regression analysis were significantly estimated as 20.48 ppb, 32.79 ppb, 24.35 ppb, and 28.82 ppb, respectively (p= 0.000). Measured and estimated NO₂ concentration were similar with each other, therefore NO₂ concentrations in each microenvironment were able to be estimated using time-weighted average model and personal exposure with multiple regression analysis.

This study was conducted to examine how inhaling woody essential oil during work influences attention. The indoor experiment was conducted using woody essential oil that blends Hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa (Siebold & Zucc.) Endl.) and pine (Pinus densiflora Siebold & Zucc.) and the control experiment was done with odorless air. The subjects were 19 high school and college students (male: 8, female: 11, average age: 19.47±3.20) and double-blind cross-over trial was conducted to identify the effect of essential oil on the body and attention. The subjects sat on the chair and closed their eyes for stabilization for 30 seconds. Then, they inhaled woody essential oil and odorless air for three minutes each. During each stimulation periods, the subjects calculated a multiplication of two digit-numbers in their minds and their heart rate variability (HRV) was measured. Physiological changes were measured using the total variation of LF/HF, which is an indicator of activities of sympathetic nerves and psychological changes were measured using the Semantic Differential Method (SD method) and the Profile of Mood States (POMS). As a result, inhaling woody essential oil increased total variation of LF/HF (diffrence of LF/HF in stimulation and LF/HF in rest; ΔLF/HF) compared to inhaling odorless air and led to the activation of sympathetic nerves. Also, it increased tranquility and reduced anger (A-H) and total mental disorder (TMD) among the psychological indicators. In case of calculations, it significantly increased the number of multiplications solved, number of correct answers, and percentage of correct answers. Overall, this study showed that inhaling woody essential oil during work effectively improved the subjects' attention.

Perceived air quality (PAQ) is defined as evaluation of indoor air satisfaction and comfortable sensory by occupants. However, there are differences between criteria of indoor pollutants and lowest sensory thresholds. In this study, we compared indoor PAQ by questionnaire with measured benzene, toluene and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations in home indoors. The NO2 concentration was the highest in Seoul, while benzene and toluene were the highest in Asan. Average PAQ score in winter was higher than that in summer. Significant correlations between PAQs of home indoor air pollution and measured pollutant concentrations were not shown and correlation coefficients (r) ranged between -0.453<r<0.258. Several groups have been divided to analyze what may affect PAQ scores such as gender, city, home indoor smoking, passive smoking, and self-reported respiratory symptoms. Gender, city, and self-reported respiratory symptoms by indoor air quality were associated with high PAQ scores by using of logistic regression analysis. We are confirmed that no association between concentrations of home indoor pollutant and PAQ scores. Therefore we further need to develop new indicator indoor air pollutants, measurement, and evaluation by PAQ.