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.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the concentration of aldehydes from new apartments in three cities(Suncheon, Yeosu, and Gwangyang) of Chonnam region. The target apartments were within 3 months after the completion of construction. Aldehydes were sampled using 2,4-DNPH cartridge and analyzed by HPLC. Temperature and relative humidity were monitored continuously every one minute by digital temperature and hygrometer. As the concentration ratio of formaldehyde between back-up and front cartridge was 3.94 6.97%, the 2,4-DNPH cartridge method satisfied a breakthrough problem for the sample collection. The repeatability of retention time and peak area for HPLC were excellent as 0.5 and 1.5%, respectively. The upper floor of S apartment (16 pyong) showed the highest concentration of formaldehyde as 1,093㎍/㎥. The average concentration of formaldehyde was the highest in K apartment(52 pyong) as 1,045㎍/㎥. The average concentration of formaldehyde in S apartment(16 pyong) and C apartment(25 pyong) were 872.6㎍/㎥ and 737.5㎍/㎥, respectively. The I/O ratios of formaldehyde were 56.9 60.0(mean : 59.1), 37.9 43.3(mean : 39.8) and 18.3 29.3(mean : 23.3) in K, C and S apartment, respectively. Therefore, it is believed that the indoor concentration of formaldehyde was very serious in new apartment. From these results, it is important that building material which emit low indoor pollutant should be selected for new apartments. In addition, management program for indoor air, such as using an adequate amount of adhesives, should be considered and indoor optimum condition should be maintained in new apartments.

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.