This study was carried out to investigate the presence of a correlation between heavy metals in urine samples and upper airway diseases. For the study, 51 household residents of Gwangyang, both with and without upper airway disease, were targeted. Urine samples were collected from the subjects along with a questionnaire from April 24th to 27th, 2017. The heavy metals in the urine samples were preprocessed and analyzed using an inductively coupled plasma/mass spectrometer. The geometric mean concentration of urinary arsenic and cadmium was 138.66 μg/L and 0.75 μg/g creatinine among those with upper airway disease and 166.42 μg/L and 1.19 μg/ g creatinine among those without upper airway disease. This was not a statistically significant difference. The concentration of urinary arsenic and cadmium was found to be increased by 1.19 times (95% CI; 0.15-9.31) and 1.26 times (95% CI; 0.31-5.04) in household residents with upper airway diseases with more than 144.86 μg/L and 0.85 μg/g creatinine, respectively.

An elementary school is an important public place for children and it is where they spend most of their days. Ten elementary schools of environmental pollutants were measured in the classroom, playground and school zones (June 19 ~ Nov 1, 2012). Dust measurements of some schools were more indoor air. Measurements of black carbon concentrations were higher overall school zones. Also, in the case of formaldehyde, benzene and some environmental standards were exceeded. In the case of outdoor pollutants not statistically significant, but in some cars and vans that were correlated with pollutants. Thus, strategies and actions are necessary that will protect the health of children in schools from environmental pollutants.

The objective of the present study was to estimate the health risk level for children exposed to phthalate and identify the pathways including indoor floor dust, surface wipe and hand wipe in elementary-schools and institutes. The samples of indoor place were collected at children's facilities (50 elementary-schools and 46 academies) in summer (Aug ~ Sept, 2008), winter (Dec 2008 ~ Feb, 2009) and Spring (Mar ~ Apr, 2009) periods. Hazard Index (HI) were estimated for the non-carcinogens and the examined phthalate were diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), dibutyl-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP), butylbenzyl phthalate (BBzP). Risk analysis indicates that did not exceed 0.01 (HI) for all subjects in all facilities it's 50^th % and 95^th % value. For DEHP, DnBP and BBzP their detection rates through multi-pathways were high and their risk based on health risk assessment was also observed to be acceptable.

The aim of this study was to calculate the health risks which children were exposed to trace metals through several pathways including air, floor dust, wipe and hand wipes in elementary-schools and academies. The samples were collected at children's facilities (50 elementary-schools and 46 academies) in summer (Aug ~ Sept, 2008), winter (Dec 2008 ~ Feb, 2009) and Spring (Mar ~ Apr, 2009) periods. The lifetime Excess Cancer Risks (ECRs) were estimated for carcinogen trace elements such as As, Cd, and Cr. For carcinogens, the Excess Cancer Risk (ECR) was calculated by considering the process of deciding Cancer Potency Factor (CPF) and Age Dependent Adjust Factor (ADAF) of the data of adults. Hazard Quotients (HQs) were estimated for the non-carcinogens trace metals like Cd, Cr, Hg and Pb. The average ECRs for young children were 1×10^-9~1×10^-8 (50%th percentile) level in all facilities. Non-carcinogens did not exceed 0.1 for all subjects in all facilities. For trace metals their risk based on health risk assessment was also observed to be acceptable.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the health risk and management of childhood exposure to indoor aldehydes in elementary-schools and academies. The samples were collected at children's facilities (50 elementary-schools and 46 academies) in summer (Aug ~ Sept, 2008), winter (Dec 2008 ~ Feb, 2009) and Spring (Mar ~ Apr, 2009) periods. The overall mean concentration of formaldehyde was 68.3 ㎍ /m³ and 27.2% of exceeded the 100 ㎍/m³ by the school health guideline. The concentration ratio of Indoor air and outdoor air (I/O) of aldehydes exceeds 1.0. The level of indoor air contamination did appear to be high, and 24.6% of the academies evaluated had exceeded the formaldehyde level specified by the public health act (120㎍ /m³). We estimated the lifetime excess cancer risks (ECRs) of formaldehyde, and the hazard quotients (HQs) of non-carcinogens (acetaldehyde and benzaldehyde). In addition, for carcinogens, the excess cancer risk (ECR) was calculated by considering the process of deciding cancer potency factor (CPF) and age dependent adjust Factor (ADAF) of the data of adults. The average ECRs of formaldehyde for young children were 1×10^-6~1×10^-5 level in all facilities. HQs of formaldehyde did exceed 0.1 for all subjects in elementary school.

This study was to assess the lifetime cancer and non-cancer risk on exposure to volatile organic compounds This study was assessed the lifetime cancer and non-cancer risk of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) exposure in young children at elementary-schools and academies in Korea. The samples were collected at children's facilities (50 elementary-schools and 42 academies) in summer (Aug ~ Sept, 2008), winter (Dec 2008 ~ Feb, 2009) and Spring (Mar ~ Apr, 2009) periods, and analyzed by GC-MSD. We estimated the lifetime excess cancer risks (ECRs) of benzene and the hazard quotients (HQs) of non-carcinogens toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene and styrene. In addition, for carcinogens, the excess cancer risk (ECR) was calculated by considering the process of deciding cancer potency factor (CPF) and age dependent adjust Factor (ADAF) from the data in adults. The average ECRs of benzene for young children were 1×10^-7~1×10^-9 level in all facilities. HQs of four non-carcinogens did not exceed 1.0 for all subjects in all facilities.

This study assessed the health risk of trace elements in indoor children-facilities by multi-pathway measurements (Air, Dust, Wipe, Hand washing). The samples of indoor place were collected at various children's facilities (40 day-care houses, 42 child-care centers, 44 kindergartens, and 42 indoor playgrounds) in summer (Jul~Sep, 2007) and winter (Jan~Feb, 2008) periods, and analyzed by ICP-MS. The lifetime Excess Cancer Risks (ECRs) were estimated for carcinogen trace elements such as As, Cd, Cr and Ni. For carcinogens, the Excess Cancer Risk (ECR) was calculated by considering the process of deciding Cancer Potency Factor (CPF) and Age Dependent Adjust Factor (ADAF) of the data of adults. Both Hazard Quotients (HQs) and Hazard Index (HI) were estimated for the non-carcinogens and children sensitivity trace elements like Cd, Cu, and Cr. The average ECRs for young children were 1×10^-10~1×10^-6 (50%th percentile) level in all facilities. Non-carcinogens and Children's sensitivity materials did not exceed 1.0 (HQs, HI) for all subjects in all facilities. For trace elements their detection rates through multi-pathways were not high and their risk based on health risk assessment was also observed to be acceptable. In addition, through education on the risk of multi-pathway exposure of trace elements for managers of facilities as well as for users the risk control of exposure of children.

This study was performed to investigate the concentration of indoor aldehydes in children’s facilities. The samples were collected from various children's facilities (40 playrooms, 42 day-care centers, 44 kindergartens, and 42 indoor playgrounds) in summer (Jul~Sep, 2007), winter (Jan~Feb, 2008) and spring (Mar~Apr, 2008). The ratio of Indoor and outdoor (I/O) of aldehydes exceeds 1.0 and the formaldehyde levels in each child-care facilities were significantly different. We evaluated the lifetime cancer and non-cancer risk of young children due to indoor aldehyde exposure. We estimated the lifetime excess cancer risks (ECRs) of formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and the hazard quotients (HQs) of non-carcinogens (benzaldehyde and formaldehyde). Formaldehyde was evaluated for both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk. The average ECRs of formaldehyde for young children were 1×10^-4~1×10^-5 level in all facilities. HQs of four non-carcinogens did not exceed 1.0 for all subjects in all facilities.

The indoor level of phthalates in children-facilities was assessed in this study. The samples of house dust were collected at various children's facilities (40 day-care houses, 42 child-care centers, 44 kindergartens, and 42 indoor playgrounds) in summer (Jul~Sep, 2007) and winter (Jan~Feb, 2008) periods, and analyzed by GC-MS. The DEHP was detected in almost every sample (detection rate : 99%) and the detection rate of DnBP and BBzP was more than 80%. The average concentrations of DEHP, DEP, DnBP, and BBzP in house dust were 388 ㎍/g dust, 37㎍/g dust, 108㎍/g dust and 349㎍/g dust, respectively. The relationship between construction period and DEHP level was statistically significant. But, other factors such as flooring material, construction period and water leakage were not statistically significant relationship with phthalates levels. The Phthalate levels were similar or more higher than other the European country.

This study was followed up asthma incidence rate in primary schools indoor air quality. To investigate the history and prevalence rate of allergic diseases(asthma, atopy dermatitis, allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis), the standardized and generally used International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood(ISAAC) questionnaire was used to conduct the symptom survey for all participating subjects. The concentrations of major indoor air pollutants(dust mite allergen, aldehydes , VOCs, TBC, phthalate) were observed from April to May 2007. Sampling was undertaken at 19 primary schools. The sampling sites of air pollutants are classroom’s indoor and hallway. Dust mite allergen part it was detected from the case classroom and infirmary. The exposure quality of aldehyde and the place pollution level was indoor>outdoor>hallway, which whole is disease incidence rate high group appears more highly the low group than. The partially result of formaldehy and VOCs, the concentration of high environmental disease incidence rate showed also high. However, house dust allergen, TBC and phthalate measurement school was not the effect where the comparison of difference.

This study was performed to investigate airborne volatile organic compounds(VOCs), formaldehyde, respiratory particulate for concentration in primary schools. The concentrations of major indoor air pollutants(VOCs , benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, styrene, formaldehyde, PM-10) were observed from November to December 2006. Sampling was undertaken at 81 primary schools. The sampling sites of air pollutants are classroom and hallway. VOCs with distribution of most of general environmental contamination material will be able to confirm that it shows the log-normal distribution which is similar exposure distribution. The exposure quality of VOCs and the place pollution level was indoor> hallway>outdoor, which whole is located in the metropolis and the industrial areas is higher than farm village area. It tried to observe the I/O ratio, it appeared highly from the interior of the material of most. The mean concentrations of formaldehyde, respiratory particulate were 22.07㎍/㎥, 88.06㎍/㎥ respectively. Indoor and outdoor ratios(I/O) of formaldehyde and respiratory particulate were 3.6 and 1.4, respectively. The concentration of respiratory particulate is 27.2% higher than guideline for school hygiene(100㎍/㎥). From the comparison in the construction year, the highest concentration of formaldehyde is showed under one year. However, as time passed by the concentrations of formaldehyde become lower.