This study was conducted to investigate the influence of moisture removal using a moisture condensation tube on the odor concentration, when sampling a malodorous substance from an odor discharge facility’s emission sites. For high-temperature and humid gas streams, the odor concentration was decreased through the use of a moisture condensation tube. The multiple odor concentration of the high-temperature and humid gas streams emitted from boiler-burning equipment decreased from a 3,000 to a 1,221 dilution factor when using one or two moisture condensation tube. This multiple odor concentration was further decreased to a 1,000 dilution factor by using two moisture condensation tubes and glass beads, and also was decreased to a 374 dilution factor by using two moisture condensation tubes and silicagel. Among the designated offensive odorous substances, ammonia, trimethylamine and acetaldehyde that have high solubility in water showed high reduction rate of their concentration. Compared to the result using a sampling tube only, the concentration was decreased by 94.8% ~ 97.7% for ammonia, by 87.5% ~ 95.9% for trimethylamine and by 100% for acetaldehyde. The findings of this study indicate that sampling using a moisture condensation tube affects the concentration of multiple odors. Therefore, it is considered that using a sampling tube only for emissions sampling enhances analytical accuracy and precision rather than using moisture condensation tube with sampling tube, even for the emissions containing moisture.

The efficiency of using 7 indoor plants, which were Chrysalidocarpus lutescens, Ficus robusta, Sansevienria trifasciata, Rhapis excelsa, Scindapusus aureus, Anthurium andraeanum and Pachira aquatica, for B·T·E (Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene) removal were assessed at 1200 Lux light intensity in airtight chambers (1.27 m3). Rhapis excelsa, Chrysalidocarpus lutescens and Ficus robusta were among the most effective plants, completely removing for B·T·E within 38 hours, wherease Scindapusus aureus and Sansevienria trifasciata were the lowest in terms of removal efficiency. But when the removal efficiency was measured per unit leaf area (μg·m−3·−2), it was found that Scindapusus aureus, Anthurium andraeanum and Sansevienria trifasciata removed higher amount than Rhapis excelsa, Chrysalidocarpus lutescens and Ficus robusta. Plants with wide leaves and a big leaf area including Rhapis excelsa and Chrysalidocarpus lutescens showed higher removal efficiencies of B·T·E than those with smaller leaves such as Scindapusus aureus. Among the plants tested over 120 hours, the species that emitted the highest levels of CO2, involved with photosynthesis and respiration in plants, Pachira aquatica (11,560 ppm) was emitting 10 times more CO2 than Scindapusus aureus (1,260 ppm).

The concerns about potential risks and hazards in children’s playgrounds are increasing and the restrictions for environmental harmful substances in playgrounds have been reinforced in many countries. In this study, the concentrations of heavy metals were analyzed in 142 samples including 105 of sand flooring and 37 playing equipment such as swing, slide, sporting equipment, bench and fence in 18 children’s playgrounds. Heavy metals in sand flooring were investigated and categorized by natural environmental factors such as season, rainfall, post-rainy day, and artificial factors as road, type, and material of nearby play equipment. The concentration of heavy metals such as Pb, Hg, Cu, and Zn were significantly higher in sand flooring near the play equipment than at places away from the playing equipment (p < 0.05). Spearman’s rank correlation analysis showed that play equipment had a positive correlation with the sand flooring with regard to the concentration of Pb (r = 0.42, p < 0.01) and Cu (r = 0.39, p < 0.01). The concentration of heavy metals in the sand flooring showed a statistically significant difference depending on the season, post-rainy day, the distance from a roadway, type of equipment, and the material. The play equipment’s heavy metal concentration and other environmental factors contributed to the heavy metal concentration in the sand flooring’s surface in playgrounds.