The objective of this study is to identify the research trend in the field of indoor environment in Korea. We collected 419 papers published in the Journal of the Korean Society for indoor environment between 2004 and 2018, and attempted to produce datasets using a topic modeling technique, Latent Dirichlet Allocation(LDA). The result of topic modeling showed that 8 topics (“VOCs investigation”, “Subway environment”, “Building thermal environment”, “School health”, “Building particulate matter”, “Asbestos risk”, “Radon risk”, “Air cleaner and treatment”) could be extracted using Gibbs sampling method. In terms of topic trends, investigation of volatile organic compounds, subway environment, school health, and building particulate matter showed a decreasing tendency, while the building thermal environment, asbestos risk, radon risk, air cleaners, and air treatment showed an increasing tendency. The results of this topic modeling could help us to understand current trends related indoor environment, and provide valuable information in developing future research and policy frameworks.

The purpose of this study is to implement through the utilization of geographical information that was currently constructed in the development of the radon map creation methodology. In addition, we suggested a model for forecasting radon gas in soil based on the mechanism of radon exhalation from soil. To provide basic data for radon mapping in Korea, we compared the results obtained using the proposed model with the results of a field survey. Based on the comparison, we discussed the feasibility of the proposed model. The soil radon exhalation rate prediction model was built on the first order prediction model in the steady-state based on the law of conversion of mass. To verify the model by comparing the predicted value with a field survey, a grid of 7.5 × 6.3 cm was created at a 1:500,000 map of Korea, and the intersection point of the grid was selected as measurement site. The results showed a low error rate when compared with the previous studies, and it is expected that the model proposed in this study and the currently constructed geogenic information database can be used in combination to map the soil radon gas in Korea.

With increasing public awareness regarding radon, this study has been conducted with the aim of providing more accurate information about radon to the public. We investigated the radon emissions from gypsum boards, which are known to emit relatively higher levels of radon among the building materials available on the market. Radon emissions were measured over three weeks using the closed chamber method with nuclear track detectors. For ceiling materials, the arithmetic mean of the radon emissions was 43.8 ± 42.2 Bq/m3 (geometric mean: 28.9 ± 5.6), 156.2 ± 150.5 mBq/m2/h per unit area (geometric mean, 103.1 ± 2.7) and 21.1 ± 19.9 mBq/kg/h per unit mass (geometric mean: 14.4 ± 2.6). Regarding the wall materials, the arithmetic mean of radon emissions was 24.1 ± 24.0 Bq/m3 (geometric mean: 15.6 ± 2.6), 133.3 ± 143.4 mBq/m2/h per unit area (geometric mean, 76.8 ± 3.0) and 13.0 ± 10.4 mBq/kg/h per unit mass (geometric mean, 9.5 ± 2.3). According to the results of this study, higher radon concentrations and emissions were detected in the ceiling materials than in the wall materials, but these values were lower than those previously measured in building materials.

The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of ELF (Extremely Low Frequency) exposure on the health of elementary school students. A total of 103 students 12~13 years old were chosen for the study. The experimental group consisted of 56 students who went to school near an overhead powerline. The ELF exposure and environmental hazard factors were evaluated during a 24-hour exposure period. The body and dwelling characteristics of the students as well as disease occurrence related to the respiratory system and allergies were investigated through a questionnaire. The brain wave and electrocardiogram were also inspected. The exposure of the group exposed while at a school located near a powerline was 6.8 mG (p<0.01). Based on the questionnaire results, neither the body or dwelling characteristics of the two groups were affected by the ELF emitted from powerline. There was no significant difference between the two groups in relation to the rate of occurrence of respiratory diseases such as wheezing, asthma and bronchitis. Although brain waves of the group exposed to ELF were lower than that of the group not exposed to it in terms of absolute power of gamma and beta, there is no significant difference between the health status of the two groups. According to our study, school students who lived near a power line were exposed to higher ELF levels than those away from a power line. The two groups have significant differences inBrain wave and ECG, but this change doesn't mean there is a difference in health status. Finally, our study has a limitation in terms of the number of study subjects and the restricted area examined.

An elementary school is a significant facility for educating and cultivating children and it is where they spend most of their days. The purpose of this study is to conduct an analysis on PM10 and TBC concentrations in 110 elementary schools in Suwon. We investigated 110 elementary schools from March 2011 to December in 2012. The mean concentration of PM10 and TBC were 51.3 ± 18.0 μg/m3(GM: 47.9 μg/m3) and 311.0 ± 125.3 CFU/m3 (GM:293.3 CFU/m3), respectively. All measurement concentrations did not exceed the Ministry of Education IAQ guidelines. Also, the concentrations of PM10 and TBC were not affected by various conditions such as Outdoor PM10, school construction year, class student number, temperature(oC) and humidity(%). The results of the study suggest that management of the IAQ plan in elementary schools should be implemented through Daily-Pattern and Activity-Pattern analysis for assessment of IAQ.

This case study carried out to improve the situation of large gap between scientific evidence and public perception on Extremely Low Frequency-Electric and Magnetic Fields (ELF-EMFs) problems in Korea. According to literature review on techniques and applications for EMF risk communication (RC) in Korea and other countries, the program which is appropriate for Korean society for RC was developed and the questionnaire to survey on perceptional level on ELF-EMFs based on this program was also developed. As some results of survey the perceptional levels on ELF-EMFs problems from some primary-school students and adults according to the educational tools (a presentation, a brochure, and a VOD) and protocols which were developed for RC, we identified in this study that the educational programs for RC have some effects to supply the right information and to improve the perceptional level on ELF-EMF problems to the general population such as the primary-school students and adults in Korea.

This study was performed to investigate the exposure levels of magnetic field (MF) in residences near electrical transformer rooms in apartment buildings in Korea. We determined that the location of transformer rooms in apartment buildings in Korea is not same as in other countries. In particular, in Korea, the transformer on the pole near buildings serves residential buildings of less than 5 floors. In the buildings taller than 5 floors transformers are often placed below the parking lots in the basement. We estimated that there were, however, about 85,000 with transformer room adjacent to an apartment and had identified about 1,600 apartment buildings with transformers that can be included in the TransExpos study. The mean value of measured MFs was 1.17 mG in apartments above transformer room and 0.97 mG in other floors from transformer room. This study was concluded that apartments in building with transformer room can be classified into high-exposure category based on their location in relation to transformer room.

The purpose of this study were to investigate the state of indoor environmental factors and energy consumption during winter in residential houses and to analyze factors which influenced this environment. Energy consumptions and indoor environmental factors of this survey were conducted in 21 houses(apartment, 11 and detached houses,10) between December, 2010 and February, 2011 which measured energy consumptions and indoor environmental factors as well as kept records of interviews with residents and other related factors. The results obtained were as follows. Indoor environmental factors which were found to influence apartment houses higher than detached houses. The average gas consumption of detached houses(90.98³) was higher than that of apartment houses(76.33³). Gas consumption showed positive correlations to temperature and carbon dioxide in the residential houses. The mean concentration of PM₁₀, and CO₂ in large family were higher than those of small family. We found that the more gas consumption, the higher concentration of PM₁₀, CO₂ and temperature(p<0.01).

The objective of this study is to offer basic scientific data to support policy decision-making for the improved control of suspended microorganism and to provide baseline data in order to improve the studies of bioaerosol in Korea. Therefore, this study collected and re-analyzed articles on suspended microorganism in various indoor environments and atmospheric environment in Korea that were published in environmental journals since 1980. The survey on the bioaerosol concentration in hospital among the public facilities have been performed abundantly. Also, the survey on the distribution of microorganism during yellow sand, pollen and fungus in atmosphere have been performed mostly. The impactional sampling method that is the sampling method of suspended microorganism have been used mostly in the survey on bioaerosol in Korea. Among the various indoor environments, the pooled average total bacteria concentration of 222.75 CFU/㎥ (95% CI：210.29 ∼ 245.22 CFU/㎥) was found in hospitals. It were lower than the guideline concentration (800 CFU/㎥) recommended by the Korean Ministry of Environment. And the pooled average concentration of bacteria and fungi in houses was 148.06 CFU/㎥(95% CI : 20.39 ∼ 275.74 CFU/㎥) and 22.66 CFU/㎥(95% C I：0 ∼ 49.73 CFU/㎥) respectively. Staphylococcus spp., Micrococcus spp., Enterococcus., Corynebacterium., Escherichia spp., and Pseudormonas spp. for bacteria and Penicillium spp., and Aspergillus spp. for fungi were showed in various indoor environments.

This study was to investigate distribution characteristics for air pollutants and to assess probability of health effect for children in kindergartens from August, 2006 to January, 2007. The mean concentrations for standards of maintenance in kindergartens were 91.5 ㎍/㎥ for PM10, 1,185 ppm for CO2, 69.3㎍/㎥ for formaldehyde, 174 CFU/㎥ for TBC and 0.41 ppm for CO, respectively. For NO2, Rn, TVOC, and O3, the mean concentrations in kindergartens were 29.40 ppb, 1.51 pCi/ℓ, 257.3 ㎍/㎥, and 3.74 ppb, respectively. The I/O ratio of every air pollutants exceeded "1" except for O3. In results of calculated safety factor to assess probability of health effect for children by air pollutants in kindergartens, safety factor for CO2 was 1.2 for fixed point. It means that children have probability of health effect caused by CO2. In cases of Monte-Carlo analysis, safety factor for PM10 was 1.0 and safety factor for CO2 was 1.2.

This study was undertaken to investigate the distribution characteristics of the hazardous agents in indoor environment in 7 vessels in Incheon harbor from July to August, 2004. The measured parameters include several indoor air pollutants (PM10, CO2, HCHO, and TVOCs) and physical parameters (noise, vibration, temperature, and humidity). The levels of pollutants and hazardous components in vessels were compared with standards and guidelines of indoor air quality on the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Labor in Korea. The major results obtained from this study were as followed : The PM10 and CO2 levels in every vessel did not exceed the indoor air standard of 150 ㎍/㎥ and 1000 ppm, respectively. The level of PM10 showed a decreasing tendency as the weight of vessels is increased. The airbornce concentration of HCHO was the highest one by exceeding its standard in a 500 ton vessel. The noise level in engine room exceeded the workplace standard (90 dB(A)) recording above 100 dB(A). The TVOCs level in every engine room was more than its standard (500㎍/㎥). Based on our preliminary study of indoor air pollutants in vessels, it is suggested that long and middle term plan for the management of IAQ should be established through future investigation of vessels.

We have invented mobile HEPA filter unit of hemopoietic stem cell transplantation clean room (class 100), which is a capsule type to protect the patient from being infected by harmful Aspergillus spore. This equipment is based on the basic structure of US Federal Standard 209D, biological clean room standard of NASA NHB 5340-2 and measurement standard of Japanese JACA No. 24-1989. Performance of HEPA filter was evaluated by dioctyl phthalate (DOP) test method, resulting in 99.97% efficiency for 0.3 ㎛ particles. HEPA filter unit used only 98 W electricity with 24 V storage cell for the patient's treatment for over three hours. When the wind speed was 0.2 to 0.3 m/sec as in bone marrow transplantation clean room, the air flow was constant laminar vertical type. When the amount of dust was measured in the hospital, the equipment maintained the grade of clean class 100 and microbe was not detected. The noise level was less than 52 dB(A). The amounts of microbe inside and outside the building were almost same. The amount was even more in cancer sick room, serious case room and X-rays room than in the general rooms. Also, elevators and stair room were found to transport dust to other areas. Even though the patient with low immunity can be protected from Aspergillus spore by a HEPA filter unit, the system preventing microbe system such as BMT clean room should be placed in rooms such as PET, CT, MRI, and radiation room so that the patients can be protected from having infected by the extremely harmful Aspergillus spore.

Nowadays, cremation is becoming generalized and also the frequency of utilization of cremation is increasing in Korea. Futhermore, there is a possibility that indoor air pollution is caused by particles, gas pollutants or microbial pollutants from laying down and cremation of corpses, and also the bereaved family and grievers inside the crematory. Therefore, the major goals in this study were that first, we investigated and analyzed the air quality of particular indoor environments such as the crematory. Second, we assessed the health risk for workers. Finally, we collected and assessed the basic data in special indoor environments because this kind of study had not been performed. We sampled and analyzed PM10 (heavy metal), VOCS, HCHO, infectious microorganisms to grasp the characteristics of indoor air quality in the crematory through sampling four times from 7th July to 16th October in 2004. Besides, we did personal air sampling of PM10 (heavy metal) and VOCS to grasp personal exposure of workers from indoor hazardous air pollutants. We conjectured that main sources of pollutants in crematory are cremation, buried corpses, and moving of grievers, also increasing the seriousness of microbial pollutants gathering strength, especially. As we assessed infectious microorganisms of indoor air and executed research for indoor hazardous air pollutants, we want to offer the way of study and policy of management for particular indoor environments like a crematory.

This study was performed to investigate the characteristics of indoor air quality (IAQ) in 30 public facilities from February to April, 2004 in Seoul. The collected samples are PM10, formaldehyde, and total suspended bacteria in indoor air and measured by the IAQ standard method of Ministry of Environment in Korea(M.E.K). As the results of the survey, the mean concentration of PM10 was 55.19 ㎍/m3 in indoor air and 51.15 ㎍/m3 in outdoor air. The mean concentration of PM10 in the Kindergarten was higher than the IAQ standards by established by M.E.K. The mean concentration of formaldehyde was 43.08 ㎍/m3 in indoor air and 5.05 ㎍/m3 in outdoor air, respectively. All of them were less than IAQ standards of Korea. The concentration of total suspended bacteria in the streamer room was higher than IAQ standards. The concentration of formaldehyde was different according to the year of construction of building. Total suspended bacteria in streamer room was necessary for control. Moreover, this study was for investigation a part of indoor air pollution condition in public facilities. It means that this study can't represent for all of public facilities. Therefore, we suggest that long and middle term country plan for management of IAQ should be established through long-term and continuous investigation of IAQ condition.

환경오염물질 배출 사업장에서는 환경오염 물질 배출에 대한 규제에 대응하고 나아가 자체적인 환경오염 물질 배출 개선을 위한 환경 모니터링 시스템 운영이 필수적이다. 현재 환경관리공단에서는 일정 규모 이상의 사업장을 대상으로 TMS(Tele Metering System)를 설치하여 전국적으로 환경오염 배출 물질을 실시간 감시 중에 있으며, 환경오염 배출 기준치 초과 시에는 예･경보를 발생시키도록 대처하고 있다. 그러나 기존 대부분의 환경 모니터링 시스템들은 환경 배출 물질 초과 발생 시 원인 분석 기능이 없고 특정 측정 장소(굴뚝 상단의 배출구나 특정 수질 측정소 등)에서의 환경오염 물질 농도 데이터만 활용하고 있다. 특히 이력이 제대로 관리되지 않기 때문에 유사 문제 혹은 동일한 문제 발생 시에도 즉각적인 조치가 이루어지지 못한다. 이에 본 연구에서는 기존 환경 모니터링 시스템의 한계점을 적극 보완하여 개선된 시스템을 기획하며, IoT 센싱 기술을 기반으로 하여 실시간으로 사업장 내 이상 상황을 인지하고 원인을 분석하여 해당 조치를 작업자에게 즉각적으로 지원하는 원스톱 환경 모니터링 및 감시 진단 시스템을 개발하고자 한다.

In this study, we investigated PM10, NO2, and 1-hydroxypyrene(1-OHP) in urine at indoor environments which are 35 houses and 20 hospitals for using air cleaner and non-using air cleaner in Seoul metropolitan area and Kyoung-gi province from April, 2003 to February, 2004. Moreover, we examined effect of improvement for indoor air quality and health effect by concentration of 1-OHP also we investigated removal efficiency by air cleaner for PM10, NO2, and 1-OHP that were 28.5%, 27.4%, and 42.1% respectively. Concentration of PM10, NO2, and 1-OHP were 19.02±18.14㎍/m3, 8.66±3.06ppb, and 0.19±0.18㎍/g creatinine when air cleaner was no worked. The concentration for PM10, NO2, and 1-OHP were 13.60±10.79㎍/m3, 6.29±2.71ppb, and 0.11±0.10㎍/g creatinine, respectively. It was significant statistically. Therefore, it is considered using the air cleaner to remove the partial pollutants in indoor environment and is positive effect for health.