The objective of this study was to investigate ELF-MF exposure levels of the elderly groups in their living environments using 24-hour personal measurement. In addition, EMF risk perception was investigated. Through evaluations of ELF-MF exposure levels in the proximity of the participants of 58 elderly groups, it was found that TWAam was 1.31 mG (TWAgm: 0.84). ELF-MF exposure levels of the elderly group that live in the proximity of a non-visible power line was high, but there were no statistically significant differences between the non-visible power line elderly group and visible power line elderly group. Moreover, there were no statistically significant differences in ELF-MF exposure according to gender, age, city classification, incomes, residence type, and size. The results showed that the perception of the ELF-MF was very low, as indicated by more than roughly 58.6% of the elderly surveyed saying that they did not know what ELF-MF was. In addition, there was no awareness among the group of how to avoid behavior of EMF from some electric equipment and facilities. Thus, these results will provide useful data for the determination of ELF-MF management and risk communication methods in the living environment for elderly people.

The objective of this study was to investigate ELF-MF exposure levels in infant living environmental spaces at daycare centers. To achieve the objective of the study, we surveyed ELF-MF levels using EMDEX II at daycare centers from October 2013 to October 2014. The ELF-MF level of 53 daycare centers in terms of arithmetic mean (AM) and geometric mean (GM) were 0.59 ± 0.76 mG and 0.33 mG, respectively. And the ELF-MF level of 260 daycare center classrooms was 0.50 ± 0.71 mG (GM: 0.28 mG). The exposure levels of ELF-MF for all daycare centers were far below the recommended standards cited in guidelines in Korea (833 mG) and international reference levels proposed by WHO or ICNIRP (2,000 mG). Furthermore, we discovered out that as distance increased, ELF-MF emission levels decreased significantly in all electrical instruments. Below the 2 mG ELF-MF levels when an electrical instrument moved away stage 1 (Grade). Thus, these results will provide useful data for the determination of ELF-MF management and reduction methods at infant daycare centers.

The objective of this study was to assess RF-EMF exposure levels in indoor daycare centers in a Metropolitan city. RF-EMF measurements were collected and surveyed from 50 volunteer daycare centers in the Korea between October 2013 and October 2014. Through our research, it was found that the main exposure source for indoor daycare centers is the frequency bands for TV and Radio broadcasting (FM: 88.1~107.9 MHz), mobile phone (869~894 MHz, 1840~1870 MHz, 1885~2170 MHz), wireless LAN and home electronics, etc., including TRS, Wireless Data Communication. The RF-EMF exposure levels for all daycare centers were far below the recommended standards of EMF Guideline Korea and international reference levels proposed by ICNIRP (International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection). However, in terms of long term health effects some uncertainty exists, and thus minimizing exposure may reduce this uncertainty. The data we collected will be useful data for determining RF-EMF management and risk communication at daycare centers.

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.

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 objective of this study was to evaluate Extremely Low Frequency Magnetic Fields (ELF-MFs) exposure level of housewives and the relation of residential environments with ELF-MFs exposure level in home. ELF-MFs measurements were performed for 58 housewives include 31 working women. Twenty-four hours personal MF exposure levels of housewives were slightly higher than working women as an arithmetic mean. However the median of 24 hours personal exposure levels for working women were significantly higher than housewives (p<0.05). The median of personal exposure levels due to the activity at home, working women were higher than housewives significantly (p<0.05). As a results of correlation of residential environments, such as their living environments, total income, type of water supply pipes, and distance from power line with ELF-MFs exposure level in home was different from the type of residence (p<0.05). This study could be informed as guidance for ELF-MFs exposure analysis in residential environment.

To investigate characterization of EMF(Electromagnetic Field) emission from VDT(Visual Display Terminal) in computer room, we were divided into 3 types of placement monitors which are 1) back side of monitor faced the ground(back view type), 2) arrangement of monitors was a line type(two sides type), and 3) disposition of monitors was s straight(horizontal line type). We also measured monitors classified types at the front, side and back by distance and evaluated by TCO(The Swedish Confederation of profession Employers) and MPR-2(Measure and Proof Radiation Board) guide line. Magnetic field emission level by the type of VDT, it was indicated that MF(Magnetic Field) level was below the backgrounds level when CRT moved away about 70~90cm, LCD moved away about 40~50cm. We evaluated MF emission level by the number of VDT, it did not show any relationship. Finally, estimated MF emission level by the placement of VDT, it was showed the MF level less than the background level, when VDT moved away 40~50cm in all dispositions with exception of 2 sites. Background level of case was higher than emitted from VDT, so that did not effect on MF level by distance. However, we find out that as distance increased, MF emission level decreased significantly in all cases. We measured MF emission level of one monitor and others (back and forth) monitor in line type. Below the background level when one monitor type moved away 70cm, others monitor type moved away 40cm. However, other monitor types affected MF level which is located back monitor. The data demonstrate that avoiding excessive MF exposure from VDT using computer room, to have a space between user and VDT at least 50㎝.

In this paper, exposure levels of electromagnetic field were measured in residential environments and from appliances. First, the measurements of residential environments were taken in central locations in bedroom, living room, and kitchen in each home. Both arithmetic and geometric mean of normal-power condition are higher than low-power condition (all electrical devices turned off/unplugged), and the background fields in homes show a geometric mean of about 0.022 uT. Second, we measured broadband magnetic fields of domestic appliances at various distances. The highest magnetic field is 44.3 uT from the microwave oven, and the lowest is 1.4 uT from the Kimchi Refrigerator. The magnitude of magnetic fields from appliances dropped off at a rate inversely proportional to distance, but the ratio of drop-off on Korean appliances is lower than US and UK

The present study investigated the hypothesis that a extremely low frequency magnetic field (ELF-MF) partially suppresses the synthesis of human growth hormone (HGH) in a group of 28 primary schoolchildren living nearby and 60 primary schoolchildren aged 12 years living far away from overhead transmission power lines from December 2003 to April 2004 in Seoul, Korea. The mean personal exposure levels of the primary schoolchildren living nearby overhead transmission power line were 0.37 μT, whereas the levels for the primary schoolchildren living away from overhead transmission power line was 0.05 μT. From simple analyses, the mean growth hormone levels in the primary schoolchildren living nearby were lower than away from overhead transmission power line, and statistically significant differences in the levels of the growth hormone (p = 0.0316), whereas not statistically significant differences in the levels of the growth hormone related to the distance from residence to power line less and more than 100 m by cut-off point (p = 0.4017). In conclusion, these results may indicate that urinary levels of nocturnal growth hormone are altered in primary schoolchildren exposed to extremely low frequency magnetic field at overhead transmission power line.

Electromagnetic fields of all frequencies represent one of the most common and fastest growing environmental influences, about which anxiety and speculation are spreading. All populations are now exposed to varying degrees of electromagnetic field, and the levels will continue to increase as technology advances. The objectives of this study were to measure and analyze emitting characteristics of extremely low frequency electromagnetic field at micro-environments. We measured magnetic field at microenvironments such as home, school, educational institute, internet pc game room for children attending the primary school. The range of time weighted average (TWA) of 60 Hz EMF in micro-environment were 0.26∼ 7.62 mG and the highest TWA 7.62 mG was measured in PC room possessed more than 50 computers. We will measure personal exposure levels of primary students and analyze correlation between major micro-environments and personal exposure level.

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.

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.

This study was conducted to evaluate the characterization of airborne bioaerosol in public facilities in Seoul. A total of 17 public facilities were investigated from December, 2002 to February, 2003. As results of the survey, the mean concentrations of bacteria and fungi in indoor air of public facilities were 378.08±296.33CFU/m3 by RCS and 106.38±171.63CFU/m3 and 347.46±335.32CFU/m3 and 95.23±62.61CFU/m3, by Six-stage cascade air sampler respectively. The mean concentrations of bacteria in indoor air (by ventilation method) were 517.14±343.93CFU/m3 of natural ventilation and 215,83±100.71CFU/m3 of mechanical ventilation. The mean concentrations of fungi in indoor air (by ventilation method) were 83.14±79.16CFU/m3 of natural ventilation and 133.50±248.07 CFU/m3 of mechanical ventilation. The mean concentrations of bacteria in indoor air were 449.44CFU/m3 for the ground and 217.50±103.68CFU/m3 for the underground. The mean concentrations of fungi in indoor air were 63.89±77.66CFU/m3 for the ground and 202.00±290.08CFU/m3 for the underground.