This study aimed to assess the pollution level in 13 crowded subway stations in an effort to understand the spatial and seasonal factors of Indoor Air Quality. The main measured items were particulate pollutants such as PM10 and PM2.5 and gaseous pollutants such as CO2, HCHO, Rn, TVOC, BTEX, and Styrene at concourses and platforms in the summer and winter periods. The influence of the draught created by the movement of the train was classified into lateral and island platforms, and the concentrations of PM by location (entrance, middle, and end) were statistically compared and analyzed. As a result, the concentrations of PM were confirmed high in the order of Platform > Concourse > Ambient air. In particular, in the case of platform PM10, the frequency exceeding the standard value (100 μg/m3) was 38.5% and the maximum concentration was 196.2 μg/m3. All gaseous pollutants were at lower levels than the standard, and the factors affecting CO2 and Rn were identified as the number of users and geological characteristics, respectively. The principal component analysis (PCA) demonstrated that PM was found to be a major indicator of the air quality management of subway stations. In particular, the concentrations at entrance and end areas in the lateral platform were about 1.4 times higher with regard to PM10 than in the middle area, and about 1.9 times higher with regard to PM2.5 due to the effect created by the draught produced by the movement of the train. Therefore, in order to manage PM in the platform area, a specialized management plan for places with particularly high PM concentration within the platform area is required. In addition, it is necessary to evaluate the effect created by the draught produced by train movement when selecting locations for measuring indoor air quality.

High concentrations of PM2.5 were generated in new apartments before moving in, and PM2.5 reduction efficiencies using air cleaners and ventilation systems were evaluated. The experimental results for different air cleaner capacities showed that the PM2.5 reduction efficiencies for 46.2 m2, 66 m2, and 105.6 m2 areas were 81.7%, 92.9%, and 92.5%, respectively. Thus, the larger the air cleaning application area, the higher the PM2.5 reduction efficiency. However, there was no difference in the efficiency of overcapacity air cleaners above a certain capacity. The efficiencies of air cleaners located at the living room center, interior wall, and edge were 81.7%, 79.2%, and 75.8%, respectively. There was, therefore, no significant difference in the PM2.5 reduction efficiencies of air cleaners in different locations. Furthermore, the PM2.5 reduction efficiencies at distances of 1 m, 2 m, and 3 m were 81.7%, 81.3%, and 81.7%, respectively. Therefore, there was also no significant difference in efficiency with distance. The PM2.5 concentration decreases rapidly during natural ventilation. Therefore, when the indoor PM2.5 is higher than the outdoor PM2.5, the air cleaner should be used after natural ventilation. The efficiency of PM2.5 reduction using an air supply-type ventilation system in apartments was 35%, which is not high. The simultaneous operation of the ventilation system and kitchen range hood was effective, showing a PM2.5 reduction efficiency of 69.1%. However, a water sprayer was not effective, showing a PM2.5 reduction efficiency of 24.3%. The results of this study suggest that PM2.5 reduction performance should be standardized by evaluating the efficiency of different ventilation systems. Effective usage and maintenance standards for ventilation systems need to be disseminated, and ventilation systems and air cleaners should be used effectively.

세척수에 포함된 무기물질의 함량이 먹는 물의 수질기준을 초과하여, 참외 GAP 인증을 받지 못하는 사례가 최근 들어 종종 발생하고 있다. 이에 농업현장에서는 껍질을 제거하여 먹는 참외의 소비특성을 감안하여 세척수 수질기준의 일부를 완화해 줄 것을 요청하고 있다. 이에, 본 연구에서는 성주 지역에서 2017-2019년 GAP 인증 참외의 세척에 이용되는 지하수 142건의 수질자료를 근거로 무기물질 4종(불소, 비소, 철, 망간)의 인체 위해성을 평가 하였다. 연구 결과, 성주 지역 GAP 참외의 세척에 사용 되는 지하수를 음용수 수준으로 섭취하는 우리나라 국민의 4종 무기물질에 대한 HQ는 모두 평균 0.10 이하로 안전한 수준이었다. 특히, 심미적 영향물질인 철, 망간의 경우 성주 지역 지하수를 음용수 수준으로 섭취하는 경우 HQ 가 평균 0.00. 과다노출군의 경우 0.01나타났는데, 일반 참외를 섭취하는 국민의 HQ(평균 0.01, 과다노출군 0.03)보다 낮은 수준이었다. 따라서, 성주 지역 지하수를 GAP 농산물의 세척에 활용하더라도 철, 망간을 포함한 4종 무기 물질이 인체에 미치는 영향은 미미할 것으로 생각된다.

Although concerns about Arsenic (As) contamination in agricultural foods have currently increased, there in on adequate international risk management standards for As particularly on agricultural commodities and processed agricultural products. This scenario holds true also in Korea. Australia, and New Zealand has determined the As maximum level (ML) but only on cereals grains which is based on total As contents. In addition,Japan has regulated the ML based on trivalent As contents in agricultural commodities, which do not have legal restrictions. On the other hand, China has developed a systemic risk management to restrict the As contamination above MLs in agricultural commodities and processed agricultural products based on inorganic and total As contents. The establishment of an adequate analytical method for As specification in agricultural foods is essential to determine the acceptable level of As in agricultural food. Probabilistic approach may remove some uncertainties in calculating human risk assessment from As. It should be reviewed in terms of maximum levels to set the best scenario based on a realiability and availability to achieve effective As management on agricultural foods in Korea.

This study was performed to investigate the recognition of Korean farmers for the safety of environment-friendly organic materials (EFOMs). The main purchase line of environment-friendly organic materials was the sustainable agriculture organizations, and decisive basis for the materials purchase was because they thought that agricultural produce cultivated with EFOMs were safe. Currently farmers obtained the most information about EFOMs through farmer’s education operated by agricultural technology center. Sixty nine percent of respondents hoped that they would get the information on the website and through official education opened by of the government or relative institutions. Whereas, only a few respondents hoped that they would get the information from the sellers. Therefore we thought that government and related institutions should operate the education program to give the sellers the scientific and accurate information about EFOMs. In addition, farmers are highly recognized the necessity of safety-related information provided by government and related institutions. Most Farmers thought that safety education for farmers using EFOMs was very important. Also, it was confirmed that farmer respondents thought to need to establish the shelf-life and user guideline and to label about toxic category of EFOMs. The Cronbach’ alpha coefficient calculated in order to verify the reliability of survey questions was 0.699. That value indicates that responses of the respondents in this study might be reliable.