The concentration of TVOCs in public transportation in the spring and summer of 2018 was measured. Public transportation measured the concentration of TVOCs on six subway lines in Seoul, two lines of high-speed trains, and intercity buses. The measurements were taken during the operation of each route of the surveyed public transportation from the origin to the destination. In addition, the measurement time was divided into the congestion time and the non-congestion time. In the spring of 2018, in the order of subway, train A, train B, and intercity buses, TVOC concentrations during the congestion time zone were 205.9 μg/m3, 121.3 μg/m3, 171.1 μg/m3, and 88.7 μg/m3, respectively. During the non-congestion time zone, the concentrations were 177.2 μg/m3, 108.8 μg/ m3, 118.2 μg/m3, and 126.1 μg/m3, respectively. In the summer of 2018, TVOC concentrations in the order of the aforementioned transportation modes during the congestion time zone were 169.8 μg/m3, 175.8 μg/m3, 78.0 μg/ m3, and 185.3 μg/m3, respectively. During the non-congestion time zone, the concentrations were 210.8 μg/m3, 116.1 μg/m3, and 162.7 μg/m3, respectively. An analysis of BTEX concentration among VOCs in public transportation in descending order were followed by toluene > xylene > ethylbenzene > benzene. Toluene, which has the highest concentration among the BTEX compounds, was found to be 12.86 μg/m3 to 91.41 μg/m3 during spring congestion time and 7.10 μg/m3 to 39.52 μg/m3 during non-congestion time. During the summer congestion time, the concentration was 6.68 μg/m3 to 249.48 μg/m3 and 13.23 μg/m3 to 214.5 μg/m3 during the non-congestion time. The concentration of benzene was mostly less than 5 μg/m3 in transportation. Particularly in the case of toluene, the concentration is significantly higher than that of other VOCs. Accordingly, further study of toluene exposure hazards will be needed. Five percent of the surveyed TVOC concentrations exceeded the recommended indoor air quality standard of 500 μg/m3, and all 13 cases representing this percentage were found in the subway. In addition, nine of the 13 cases that exceeded the recommended standard were measured during congestion time. Therefore, VOCs in public transportation vehicles during congestion time need to be managed.
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.