Asthma is a chronic diseases that restricts the air passage ways and which is thought to be caused by several factors such as genetics, obesity, mVOC, air pollution, allergens, and fungi. Domestic information on fungi in the indoor air in the houses of asthma patients in the spring and fall is rarely available. Thus, this study was carried out to investigate fungal concentration and diversity. Air samples were collected from the houses of 6 asthma patient in April and October of 2017 located in Seoul and Gyeonggi Provinces using an impaction method. The average concentrations of suspended fungi in the indoor air at the houses of adult asthma patient in October exceeded the 500 CFU/m3 level recommended by the Enforcement Managements of the Indoor Air Quality Control Act. A total of 70 fungi were isolated and identified. Four genera and 11 species were from the April sampling and 10 genera and 27 species were from the October sampling. Among the identified fungi, five species, Arthrinium marii, Penicillium austrosinicum, Penicillium concavorugulosum, Penicillium exsudans and Penicillium johnkrugii were found to be unrecorded species in Korea. The known properties of all identified fungi and the morphological and molecular characteristics of the five unrecorded species were described.

As indoor activities continue to increase, the importance of indoor air is emphasized. Moreover, children's activities are emphasized as being vulnerable. In this study, vocal organic compounds (VOCs) and CO2 in the indoor air were analyzed among children aged 4 to 7 years attending day care centers in Seoul. In the case of VOCs, the average concentration measured during a period of 24 hours in an asthmatic home was 143.9 (μg/m3). The average concentration measured during a period of 24 hours in the asthma and rhinitis home was 146.7 (μg/m3). In CO2, the average concentration measured during a period of 24 hours in the asthmatic home was 665.9 (ppm). The average concentration measured during a period of 24 hours in the asthma and rhinitis home was 695.9 (ppm). In this study, asthma symptoms increased as the concentration of indoor pollutants increased. Exposure of VOCs (μg/ m3) and CO2 (ppm) among environmental factors shows that respiratory symptoms such as asthma can be induced.

This study was carried out to assess the improvement of treatment by the house-plant. For the purpose of this study, 17 asthma-patients residing in Seoul were selected as participants during January to March 2007. We measured VOCs and conducted clinical survey during April to September 2007. In this study, 6 species of houseplants known to be eco-friendly were investigated for the health effect along with 12 other plants. The research focused on peak expiratory flow rate(PEFR) and disease specific quality of life. When the results were compared to the non-intervention households, the intervention households had reduced levels of acetaldehyde, benzene, ethylbenzene, xylene and styrene. The reduction rate estimated from this comparative study was statistically significant(p<0.05). There was however no association between the intervention and the estimated PEFR between morning and evening data in asthma-patients.

The objective of the present study was to assess the health effect of houseplant. we selected 22 households of newly-built apartments and 17 asthma patients. Before intervention in the households, we conducted clinical survey investigations during April and October, 2006. In this study, 6 species of houseplants known to be eco-friendly and 14 other plants were recruited. While the clinical research items were lung function, erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR), white blood cell count(WBC), total eosinophil count(TEC) and total-immunoglobulin E(T-IgE). There was no association between the intervention and the estimated inflammation reaction and allergic reaction. However, peak expiratory flow rate(PEFR) of evening data were positive effect in the intervention asthma-patients households compared with the nonintervention.

This study was undertaken to determine the concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the indoor air between houses of atopy, asthma patients and new houses. Total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) in the indoor and outdoor air of normal houses were measured as 92.6 and 72.5 ㎍/㎥, respectively. TVOCs in the indoor and outdoor air of atopy patient's houses were 152 and 42.1 ㎍/㎥. TVOCs in the indoor and outdoor air of asthma patient's houses was 165 and 50.1 ㎍/㎥. TVOCs in the indoor and outdoor air of new houses was 158 and 78.3 ㎍/㎥. It was found that the concentrations of VOCs were higher in the indoor air of atopy, asthma patient's and new houses than the normal houses. This suggests that the concentration of VOCs can influence atopy and asthma.