Recently, indoor air quality (IAQ) in workplace, residence, and schools has been one of the major concerns of people, scientists and the related public. This study was performed to investigate the characteristics of indoor air quality(IAQ) in kindergartens, elementary school, middle schools, and high schools from June 2004 to May 2005 in Korea. We measured indoor air pollutants such as PM10, CO2, formaldehyde, total bacteria colony(TBC), CO, radon, total volatile organic compounds(TVOCs), asbestos, and O3 from school classrooms. The subjects were classified by building year based on the time span of 1, 1 - 3, 3 - 5, and 5 - 10 years. The levels of pollutants and physical factor in schools were compared with standards and guidelines of indoor air quality on the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the Ministry of Education, and Human Resources Development of Korea. The major results obtained from this study can be summarized as follows. Asbestos and O3 were not detected in all surveyed classrooms. However, we were able to detect CO, TBC, TVOCs, and formaldehyde in kindergartens, TBC in elementary schools, TBC, TVOCs and formaldehyde in middle schools, and formaldehyde in high schools. This study was conducted to provide a basis for the management IAQ in school. Therefore, we suggest that a national plan for the management of IAQ in school should be established through a long-term, continuous investigation for the proper assessment of IAQ in school and for the health risk assessment for student.

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 paper describes to evaluate the performance of ventilation as a change of CO2 concentration with ventilation rate under 35 occupants in a school classroom. Variations of the CO2 concentration as a function of time are measured at center point of classroom with air ventilation rates by the CO2 gas monitor. For 800 m3/h of ventilation rate in the classroom, the average CO2 concentration is 913 ppm. The ventilation rate is sufficient to meet acceptable indoor air quality (≤ 1,000 ppm of CO2, KS school standard) in the classroom of 35 students.

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.

Currently, Ministry of Environment has promulgated and executed 'the legislation of indoor air quality for public facilities' but the data of indoor air pollutant for public facilities of this law was very insufficient. Therefore, collection of data for indoor air pollutants and execution for risk assessment in order to offer scientific data for decision-making of policy to present reasonable standards and preventive techniques of engineering were required. Therefore, this study collected and re-analysed the articles of exposure assessment for indoor environment in journals related environment in Korea since 1990 and estimated the safety factor on residents in public facilities. The objective of this study was to offer scientific data for decision-making of policy for improvement and management of indoor air quality in Korea. As the results of this study, the risk assessment for the critical pollutants in CTE (central tendency exposure) showed that safety factors according to pollutants were less than 1 which means safe level in micro-environments. It was investigated that the safety factors of CO in hospital, NO2 in terminal, PM10 and NO2 in subway station respectively were over than 1 in RME (reasonable maximum exposure). Through the results, it was investigated that health risk by inhalation of criteria and guideline air pollutants in domestic public facilities was not high. It should be considered effect of inhalation by other hazardous air pollutants because this study was examined just partial pollutants. Presentation of scientific data for expansion of study is requisite and active research of health risk assessment about indoor air quality.

Recently, concern about Sick House Syndrome (SHS) has been increased in Korea. And it is suspected that formaldehyde (HCHO) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are major factors for SHS. This study was surveyed the indoor air quality in new apartments in Korea. The HCHO and VOCs were measured at 90 sites and analysed by HPLC-UV and GC/MS, respectively. The range of HCHO concentrations at 90 sites were 9.39∼248.78㎍/㎥ and the mean value 105.41㎍/㎥ and the concentrations of HCHO at 42 sites (46.7%) exceeded the indoor air quality guideline (100㎍/㎥) in Japan. Among the 4 VOCs, toluene concentrations were the highest and the mean value 127.33㎍/㎥ and that concentrations at 12 sites (13.8%) were exceeded the indoor air quality guideline (260㎍/㎥) in Japan. There was a tendency which the longer the movement and measurement period is, the more the pollutants concentration is decreased. HCHO and VOCs concentrations of domestic results was similar to Japan's survey results in 2000.

There has recently become one of the major concern expressed the general public and regulation agencies concerning health risks associated with indoor air pollution in Korea. A new indoor air quality program under "Legislation of Indoor Air Quality Management for Public Facilities" is enforced to act on the end of May, 2004 by the Korea Ministry of Environment. The purposes of this article were to discuss the sustainable development of indoor air pollution and to strengthen the importance of the sustainability of indoor air quality. Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability future generations to meet their own needs and a new theory that grew out of the conservation / environmental movement of the 1970's. While the conservation/environmental movement asked questions about preserving the Earth's resources, sustainable development includes questions about how human decisions affect the Earth's environment. Sustainable development of environmental pollution has been discussed over the last 20 year in most countries, but an important health problems of indoor air pollution became a social issues in recent years. We must develop global perspectives and maintain effective balance between available resources and human needs. The further understanding of the sustainable development of indoor air pollution is extremely useful in defining the components of healthful indoor air in major indoor environments. Additional information concerning more detailed housing characteristics, daily activity patterns, and seasonal factors which may influence indoor pollutants should provide important information on sustainable development in indoor air pollution.

실내 공기질의 오염이 점차 심각해짐에 따라 실내 공기질 개선을 위한 다양한 연구와 관련 제도가 점차 도입되고 있다. 그러나 실내 공기질 개선에 사용되는 기성 제품들은 높은 휘산성으로 인해 장기적인 포름알데히드 농도 저감에는 큰 효과를 나타내지 않고 있으며, 이에 따른 장기적인 포름알데히드의 방출에 대한 유효성 검증이 불분명한 실정이다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 콘크리트에 적용 가능한 실내 공기질 개선을 위한 기능성 물질을 선정하기 위하여 시공성능, 압축강도 및 포름알데히드 농도 변화를 측정하였으며, 그 결과 기능성 물질의 종류에 관계없이 모두 시공성능 및 압축강도를 일반 콘크리트(모르타르)와 동등 수준을 확보하였다. 또한 기능성 물질의 화학작용으로 인하여 포름알데히드의 농도 저감이 가능한 것으로 나타나 향후 실내 공기질 개선을 위해 기능성 물질의 사용이 가능할 것으로 사료된다.

최근 웰빙이라는 자연친화적인 건강한 삶을 핵심 가치로 추구하면서 실내 공기질의 개선을 위한 다양한 친환경 제품이 개발되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 기존 친환경 도료의 문제점을 해결할 뿐만 아니라 천연방사성 물질인 라돈 저감이 가능한 활성탄 복합 시트를 개발하고 라돈, HCHO, VOCs에 대한 저감 효과를 평가 하였다. 활성탄 복합 시트는 규산나트륨 에멀젼과 활성탄을 혼합하여 활성탄 액상 도료를 제조하고 에어스프레이 공법을 통하여 복합 시트로 제작하였다. 제작된 활성탄 복합 시트에 대한 유해물질 저감 성능을 분석하기 위해 라돈은 환경부 고시, HCHO 및 VOCs는 KCL-FIR-1085 기준에 부합하도록 설계하였다. 실험결과, 제작된 활성탄 복합 시트는 20시간에서 약 90.8%의 라돈 저감 효율을 가지는 것으로 평가되었고, HCHO 및 VOCs는 3시간에서 각 96.7%, 96.6%의 저감 효율이 나타났다.이러한 결과는 실내 공기 질 개선을 위한 제품 개발 시 기초 자료로서 활용할 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.

The final goal of this research is to develop a botanical biofiltration system, which combines green interior, biofiltering, and automatic irrigation, which can purify indoor air pollutants according to indoor space and the size of biofilter. The biofilter used in this experiment was designed as an integral form of water metering pump, water tank, blower, humidifier, and multi-level planting space in order to be more suitable for indoor space utilization. This study was performed to compare indoor air quality between the space adjacent to a botanical biofilter and the space away from the biofilter (control) without generation of artificial indoor air pollutants, and to evaluate plant growth depending on multiple floors within the biofilter. Each concentration of indoor air pollutants such as TVOCs, monoxide, and dioxide in the space treated with the biofilter was lower than that of control. Dracaena sanderiana ‘Vitoria’ and Epipremnum aureum ‘N Joy’ also showed normal growth responses regardless of multiple floors within the biofilter. Hence, it was confirmed that the wall-typed botanical biofilter suitable for indoor plants was effective for indoor air purification.

In recent, many researches are in progress to improve the indoor air quality. So, we proposed the specified concrete mixed with functional materials. In order to evaluate the performance of functional concrete, the mechanical properties, durability and the change in formaldehyde concentration were compared. According to the results, the specified concrete compared to normal concrete, showed similar levels in terms of mechanical properties and durability, while its effect of reducing concentrations of formaldehyde was notably efficient.

The elevator is needed healthy and comfortable indoor air quality (IAQ) for using many people, but we found nothing about IAQ studies of an elevator. In general, air in the elevator car is sucked from the elevator’s hoistway straight into the car using a fan. The air sucked into the hoistway may be filled with dust, mold and bacteria. This study was performed to measure of characteristics of indoor air quality (PM10, falling bacteria, CO2, Rn and HCHO) in elevator`s hoistway, CAR and lobby of 8 sites (4 apartments and 4 commercial buildings) in Gyeongnam from May, 2010 to January, 2011. With regards to the differences of pollutant distribution among hoistway, CAR, and lobby, the concentration of Rn and HCHO were the highest in hoistway followed by CAR and lobby, and PM10, falling bacteria and CO2 were the highest in CAR followed by hoistway and lobby. Mean concentrations of PM10 were 104.9 μg/m3 in CAR, 92.3 μg/m3 in hoistway and 68.2 μg/m3 in lobby, respectively.

Perceived air quality (PAQ) is defined as evaluation of indoor air satisfaction and comfortable sensory by occupants. However, there are differences between criteria of indoor pollutants and lowest sensory thresholds. In this study, we compared indoor PAQ by questionnaire with measured benzene, toluene and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations in home indoors. The NO2 concentration was the highest in Seoul, while benzene and toluene were the highest in Asan. Average PAQ score in winter was higher than that in summer. Significant correlations between PAQs of home indoor air pollution and measured pollutant concentrations were not shown and correlation coefficients (r) ranged between -0.453<r<0.258. Several groups have been divided to analyze what may affect PAQ scores such as gender, city, home indoor smoking, passive smoking, and self-reported respiratory symptoms. Gender, city, and self-reported respiratory symptoms by indoor air quality were associated with high PAQ scores by using of logistic regression analysis. We are confirmed that no association between concentrations of home indoor pollutant and PAQ scores. Therefore we further need to develop new indicator indoor air pollutants, measurement, and evaluation by PAQ.

Indoor air quality can be affected by indoor sources, ventilation, decay and outdoor levels. Although technologies exist to measure these factors, direct measurements are often difficult. The purpose of this study was to develop an alternative method to characterize indoor environmental factors by multiple indoor and outdoor measurements. Using a mass balance model and regression analysis, penetration factor (ventilation rate divided by the sum of ventilation rate and deposition constant) and source strength factor (source strength divided by the sum of ventilation rate and deposition constant) were calculated using multiple indoor and outdoor measurements. Subsequently, the ventilation rate and NO2 generation rate were estimated. Mean of ventilation rate was 1.41 ACH in houses, assuming a residential NO2 deposition constant of 0.94 hr-1. Mean generation rate of NO2 was 16.5 ppbv/hr. According to house characterization, inside smoking and family number were higher NO2 generation rates, and apartment was higher than single-family house. In conclusion, indoor environmental factors were effectively characterized by this method using multiple indoor and outdoor measurements.

The concentrations of HCHO(formaldehyde), PM10(particulate matter), CO₂(carbon dioxide) and TBC(total bacteria counter) distribution in schools(Chung-Nam Area) were examined, and the results were compared with the recommended criterion of the administration law of indoor air. The subjects were an elementary school, a middle school and a high school in Chung-Nam area, and the concentration of TBC was examined by Single Stage Air Cascade Sampler, which applied the inertia collision catching method of 28.29L/min(flux) during 5 months from March, 2007 to July, 2007. The instrument(LD-3B, SIBATA Company)was used to examine PM10, by a light scattering method and a light transmission method. The instrument(Airboxx(KD Engineering) was used to examine CO₂. The instument(Z300XP(Environmental sensor)was used to examine HCHO. The result indicated that the PM10 average concentrations of the surveyed classrooms were 49 μg/m3 in Spring and 59 μg/m3 in Summer. The CO₂ average concentration of the surveyed schools were 576 ppm in the classroom and 527 ppm in the stateroom. The average concentration of TBC were 729 CFU/m3 in an elementary school, 401 CFU/m3 in a middle school, 381 CFU/m3 in a high school. The HCHO average concentration of the surveyed schools were 0.03 ppm in the classroom, 0.02 ppm in the stateroom.

새로운 환경문제로 실내공기 오염이 대두되면서 건축 실내공간뿐만 아니라 자동차, 지하철 등 육상의 교통시설 내부의 공기오염에 대한 연구가 진행되고 있다. 그러나 해상의 중요한 교통수단인 선박의 실내 공기오염에 대한 관심은 그리 높지 않다. 특히 선박은 일반 건축물에 비해 기밀성이 매우 높고 항해 중이거나 선상 근무시에는 오랜 시간을 선박의 실내에서만 생활하기 때문에 선박의 실내 공기질은 승선자의 쾌적성 뿐만 아니라 건강을 위해 매우 중요한 요소이다. 이에 본 연구에서는 선박의 실내공기환경을 개선하기 위해 새로 건조된 선박을 대상으로 실내 공기질을 측정 분석하였다.

Indoor air quality is the dominant contributor to total personal exposure because most people spend a majority of their time indoors. Especially when indoor environments have sources of contaminants, exposure to indoor air can potentially pose a greater threat than exposure to ambient air. In this study, estimations of volatile organic compounds and formaldehyde emission rate in indoor environments of new apartments were carried out using mass balance model in indoor environment, because indoor air quality can be affected by source generation, outdoor air level, ventilation, decay by reaction, temperature, humidity, mixing condition and so on. Considering the estimated emission rate of volatile organic compounds and formaldehyde, it is suggested that new apartment should be designed and constructed in the aspect of using construction materials to emit low hazardous air pollutants.

Despite the wide distribution of air pollutants, the concentrations of indoor air pollutants may be the dominant risk factor in personal exposure due to the fact that most people spend an average of 80% of their time in enclosed buildings. Researches for improvement of indoor air quality have been developed such as installation of air cleaning device, ventilation system, titanium dioxide(TiO2) coating and so on. However, it is difficult to evaluate the magnitude of improvement of indoor air quality in field study because indoor air quality can be affected by source generation, outdoor air level, ventilation, decay by reaction, temperature, humidity, mixing condition and so on. In this study, evaluation of reduction of formaldehyde and nitrogen dioxide emission rate in indoor environments by TiO2 coating material was carried out using mass balance model in indoor environment. we proposed the evaluation method of magnitude of improvement in indoor air quality, considering outdoor level and ventilation. Since simple indoor concentration measurements could not properly evaluate the indoor air quality, outdoor level and ventilation should be considered when evaluate the indoor air quality.

Indoor air quality has been addressed as an important atmospheric environmental issue and has caught attention of the public in recent years in Korea. Good indoor air quality in classrooms favour student's learning ability, teacher and staff's productivity according to other studies. In this study, each classroom at four different schools was chosen for comparison of indoor and outdoor air quality by means of source generation types such as new constructed classroom, using of cleaning agents and purchased furniture. Temperature, relative humidity (RH), carbon dioxide (CO2), formaldehyde (HCHO), total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) and particulate matter with diameter less than 10 ㎛ (PM10) were monitored at indoor and outdoor locations during lesson. HCHO was found to be the worst among parameters measured in new constructed classroom, HCHO and TVOCs was worst in classroom with new purchased furniture, and TVOCs was worst in classroom cleaned by cleaning agents. Indoor CO2 concentrations often exceeded 1500 ppm indicating importance of ventilation. Active activity of students during break time made the PM10 concentration higher than a lesson. Improvements and further researches should be carried out considering indoor air quality at schools is of special concern since children and students are susceptible to poor air quality.