This study was to assess the lifetime cancer and non-cancer risk on exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and formaldehyde of worker and user at public facilities in Korea. We measured the concentrations of formaldehyde and VOCs in indoor air at 160 public buildings that 5 kinds of public facilities (30 hotel, 30 fitness center, 25 gosiwon, 30 reading-room and 45 video-room) all over the country. There were estimated the human exposure dose and risks with averages of the using-time and frequency for facility users and office workers, respectively. Carcinogens (benzene and formaldehyde) were estimated the lifetime excess cancer risks (ECRs). Non-carcinogens (toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, and styrene) were estimated the hazard quotients (HQs). HQs of four non-carcinogens did not exceed 1.0 for all subjects in all facilities. Higher HQs of toluene were observed at the reading-room. The average ECRs of formaldehyde and benzene for facility worker and user were 1×10^-4~1×10^-6 level in all facilities. The estimated ECRs for reading-room were the highest and the fitness center and gosiwon were the next higher facilities. Because lifetime ECRs of carcinogens exceeded 1×10^-4 for facility worker in the most facilities, risk management of formaldehyde and benzene in the facilities was necessary. IAQ guidelines should be determined strictly to prevent occurrence of disease caused by poor IAQ beforehand.

This study was performed in the 175 selected child-care facilities in the urban area (Seoul, Suwon, Daejeon, and Busan) and the industrial complex area (Sihwa and Yeosu) to measure of the characteristics of VOCs in the indoor air from August, 2007 to April, 2008. All samples were collected at the indoor and outdoor places to the child-care facilities in spring, summer, and winter seasons using the Tenex absorption trap and were analyzed through the GC/MSD. The mean concentration of VOCs in the 175 child-card facilities showed the highest levels of 73.68 ㎍/m³in the toluene and the lowest levels of 0.28 ㎍/m³in the chlorobenzene. In the concentration of the TVOC, it exceeded 2.5 times more as the indoor air quality guideline in Korea. The result of this study was found that the concentration of VOCs in the child-care facilities in Korea may influenced from the some factors such as the constructional period, traffic density, and ventilation rate. These findings may expected to imply that effective risk management strategies should be applied to minimize the public health effects for children in the child-care facilities in Korea.

Toluene, xylene, styrene, and ethylbenzene are main volatile organic compounds emitted from painting materials. According with the development of gas chromatography equipment, it has been possible to analyze the low level of ambient VOCs concentration. In this study, the limit of detection and the limit of quantitation were analysed for VOCs originated from painting materials in GC/FID/liquid injection analysis system. The results of %RSD for four standard solutes showed a great reproducibility in terms of detection time and detection area. The limit of detection and the limit of quantitation in SRI GC appeared to be 501.64 pg and 1.67 ppb for toluene, 572.03 pg and 1.90 ppb for ethylbenzene, 1077.22 pg and 3.59 ppb for m,p-xylene, 36563.35 pg and 121.76 ppb for styrene, respectively.

This study presents residential indoor and outdoor exposure concentrations distributions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs, benzene, toluene, xylene) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) in industrial area (case) and agricultural area (control) during 5 days. Concentrations of VOCs and NO₂ were measured with passive samplers in residential indoor and outdoor. Most of benzene, toluene and NO₂ mean concentrations in case area were higher than those in control area. Considering the indoor and outdoor ratios (I/O) were higher than 1, the residence might be have the sources of indoor air pollutants such as smoking and using of gas range. Residential indoor concentrations of benzene, toluene, and NO₂ with indoor smokers were higher than those and without indoor smokers. In conclusion, it is suggested that personal exposures to air pollutants might be affected by indoor sources as well as outdoor pollutants emitted from industrial complex, and indoor air quality and outdoor air quality should be simultaneously considered to reduce the personal exposure to air pollutants.

21종류의 폴리스티렌 용기를 대상으로 용출조건에 따른 용기내 증류수로 용출되는 5종의 VOCs(톨루엔, 스티렌, 에틸벤젠, 이소프로필벤젠 및 n-프로필벤젠)를 Purge&Trap 장치를 연결하여GC-FID로 분석하였다. 각 표준물질은 1~50 ng/ mL의 농도범위에서 직선성(r2 =0.9976~0.9995)을 나타냈으며, 검출한계는 0.041~0.092 ng/mL, 정량한계는 0.135~0.304 ng/mL 이었다. 용출조건은 첫째, 60oC에서 30분, 둘째, 95oC에서 30분, 셋째, 실생활에서 컵라면 섭취시를 고려하여 끓은 물을 부은 후 뚜껑을 덮고 3분간 유지한 다음 뚜껑을 열고 5분 동안 개방하여 용출시키는 것으로 설정하였다. 톨루엔, 에틸벤젠, 이소프로필벤젠 및 n-프로필벤젠은 평균용출량이 모든 조건에서 5 ng/mL 이하로 검출되었으며 스티렌의 경우는 60oC에서 평균용출량이 4.02 ng/mL, 95oC에서는 52.71 ng/mL, 컵라면 섭취시의 조건에서는 17.23 ng/mL로 검출되었다.

IIn this research, ambient VOCs samples were collected by specially prepared stainless steel canisters from August 2002 to September 2004 at seven representative sites in Gumi. 29 kinds of VOCs which are presented by United States EPA method TO-14 were analyzed using GC/MSD. Based on the monitored data, the characteristics of VOCs concentrations in atmosphere in Gumi were grasped, pollution sources and contributions were also analyzed by PMF model, one kind of receptor models. As a whole, the average annual concentrations of VOCs in industrial complexes were higher than that in residential areas. In residential area1 and residential area2, the VOCs that had high concentrations in industrial complexes showed comparatively lower concentrations. But the aromatic substances mainly attributed to vehicle exhaust showed high concentrations which indicated that VOCs emitting sources in industrial areas have no direct effect on the VOCs concentration in residential areas. The results from PMF modeling indicated that a total of seven sources were independently identified and each source was contributed to the ambient Gumi City from Freon relation source (17%), electronic industrial complex source (27.86%), organic solvent source (19.26%), vehicle exhaust source (17.59%), Textile relation source (8.31%), and unknown source - 1, 2 were up to 2.96%, 7.02% in terms of VOCs, respectively.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the potential exposure of chemicals from the working environment of nail shops and determine health-related symptoms from the nail shop workers by self-reporting questionnaire. A total of 54 nail shop workers from 15 different locations were asked to conduct a survey concerning their working environment. VOCs (including toluene and nine other substances) and aldehyde(including formaldehyde and four other substances) detected. We studied on the relationship between the environmental concentration of chemical substances and the self-reported symptoms of nail shop workers. There was a significant relationship between the neck pain and substances such as 2- propanol, benzene, toluene, n-buthylacetate, ethylbenzene, and xylene (p<0.01). Furthermore, symptoms in the nose irritation, neck irritation and recurrent coughs had significant relationship with benzene (p<0.05), whereas, toluene showed significant relationship with neck irritation and symptoms such as coughs and fatigue (p<0.05).

The emission characteristics of VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) from assembly metal product manufacturing industry (Korean standard industry classification code: 28) were studied. The sampling was carried out at 54 sites in Shiwha-Banwol industrial area with 3 M OVM (Organic Vapor Monitor) #3500 from August to October in 2008. The EPA 8020/8040 (10 chemicals) was used as a standard solution for the quantitative analysis with GC/FID. As the results, the VOCs concentration appeared to range from 0.9 ppb to 22,721.1 ppb, and the average concentration ratio of benzene : toluene : ethylbenzene : m,p-xylene : o-xylene : styrene appeared to be 0.005 : 1.000 : 0.198 : 0.096 : 0.057 : 0.110. Total VOC concentration of the "Manufacture of Structural Metal Products, Tanks, Reservoirs and Steam Generators" (KSIC code: 281) appeared to be seven times higher than that of "Manufacture of other fabricated metal products; metal working service activities" (KSIC code: 289).

According to the development of GC equipment, it has been possible to analyze the low level of ambient VOCs concentration. In this study, the limit of detection and the limit of quantitation were estimated for two GC equipments of the VOCs analysis, which would contribute to improve the quality of VOCs analysis results. The results of %RSD for ten standard solutes showed a great reproducibility in terms of detection time and detection area. The limit of detection and the limit of quantitation in SRI GC appeared to be 0.175 ppb and 0.583 ppb for benzene, and 0.223 ppb and 0.743 ppb for toluene, respectively. On the other hand, The limit of detection and the limit of quantitation in FISON GC appeared to be 0.149 ppb and 0.496 ppb for benzene, and 0.094 ppb and 0.313 ppb for toluene, respectively.

In this paper the lifetime risk assessment of exposure to airborne volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in environmental atmosphere was carried out in one of the Korean industrial city, Gumi based on their measurements of VOCs at five representative outdoor monitoring sites. According to this study toluene, trichloroethylene, and dichloromethane are three main VOCs in Gumi. The carcinogenic risks 5the carcinogenic VOC are greater than the benchmark concentration (1.0E-6) in all five designated sites. Particularly, the Lifetime Cancer Risk in industrial complex 1 and 2 reached 9.64E-5 and 1.32E-4, respectively, both of which are far higher than the benchmark risks. The components of predominant risk in industrial areas are found as chloroform, benzene and trichloroethylene, while those of other sites are benzene and chloroform. It was estimated that the contributions of those componentsto cancer risk are not less than 90%. For non carcinogenic VOCs, the total hazard indices in 5 monitored sites are less than 1. The hazard index in industry complex No. 2 recorded the highest among 5 sites up to 0.663 due to the dominant contribution of 1, 2-dichloropropane by up to 50% (0.335). Based on this analysis, effective emission reduction for chloroform, benzene, trichloroethylene, and 1,2-dichloropropane will rapidly I the cancer risks and hazard indices in Gumi.

To characterize testing bags for the interior parts and components of new vehicles, three types kinds of bags (Tedlar bag, Polyester Al bag, and PET bag) were selected and investigated.. All testing bags were initially purged with 5 L of pure nitrogen gas. Then, they were heated consecutively for four times in a chamber at 60 and 100℃ at hourlys intervals. Changes in background concentration levels of VOCs and HCHO were then measured. After the 4th heat treatment at 100℃, the background concentrations in PET bag were lower by 5 times than the ftrst time treatment. The results of PET bags were superior to the other bags under the same treatment conditions. Even without heat treatment test, the background concentrations of PET bag was also lower than the others by 2 to 6 times. Based on our results, it can be concluded that the PET bag is the most suitable for sample tests as it is physically the most stable along with the lowest background of all 3 sample bags with the least bias.

Recently, it was under an obligation to install the VOCs recycling unit in the cleaners and the gas station to prevent from discharging VOCs emitted from the cleaners and the gas station. The objectives of this study was to investigate the VOCs recycling unit used thermoelectric module to recycle the organic solvent from the cleaners and after washing. The traditional way was the use of the VOCs recycling unit with the compressor. But the recycling unit has many weak points , noise, size, danger of fire, additional pollution and so on. In order to improve these weak points, it was developed the new VOCs recycling unit using the thermoelectric module through this study. The cooling block with 32 thermoelectric module was applied to cool the hot VOCs where comes to occur from the dryer in high temperature condition. Also a water-cooled equipment was used to remove the heat from the hot surface of thermoelectric module. The experimental results from new VOCs recycling unit shows that the maximum recovery rate of the unit was 83.2 % and the recycled VOCs' purity was 98 % or more. And the noise problem was solved by applying the thermoelectic module to the VOCs recycling unit.

This study was performed to analysis the concentration of TVOC, 5VOC and formaldehyde for building material of total 262 using 20L test chamber. The concentration of TVOC, 5VOC and formaldehyde were measured 1.001㎎/㎡･h, 43.032㎍/㎡･h, 0.012㎎/㎡･h, respectively. TVOC concentration of paint and floor covering occupied the largest concentration of the indoor building materials as 2.689㎎/㎡･h, 2.120㎎/㎡･h, respectively. 5VOC concentration of floor covering was measured 106.636㎍/㎡･h. Toulene and xylene were occupied the largest part of the 5VOC as 51.2% and 33.1%, respectively. The concentration of formaldehyde for furniture materials occupied the largest concentration of the indoor building material as 0.072㎎/㎡h.

In this study, we attempt to analyze biofilter"s removal efficiency for volatile organic compounds from paint factory. this experiment conducted in a pilot plant with microorganisms immobilized polyurethane foam. 7 main components (Toulene, MEK, MIBK, o-Xylene, m-Xylene, Butyl acetate, Ethyl benzene) emitted from factory ventilation opening were analyzed. During the test period, the biofilter treated VOCs in 5 seconds (EBCT) and pressure drop was less than 30 ㎜H₂O/m in media. Removal efficiencies of all components were between 80~90% in 10 days of operation and higher than 94% after 40 days. The result of this experiment shows that biofilter can be useful technology for VOCs removal in the paint industry.

This study aims to present the fundamental strategies for improving the Indoor Air Quality ( IAQ ) in newly unoccupied apartment units. The results of this study can be summarized as follows, The field survey of 160 newly unoccupied units with airtight doors and windows showed that the concentrations of HCHO and TVOC were higher than the standards. The emission rates of HCHO and TVOC were proportional to the height. The small chamber test of pollutant concentration for building materials showed that pollutants were emitted dominantly from the wood furnishings and adhesives.

In this study, we attempted to estimate the association between asthma oriented by indoor air sources and personal exposure by comparing the case (asthma-patient) and control (non-asthma-patient) groups. We selected 27 participants who showed positive response on lung function and methacholin provocation test. We performed environmental survey with 15 and 10 cases during May and June 2007, respectively. There was no significant difference between the case and control groups in the level of formaldehyde and TBC (Total Bacterial Count). In the dust allergen test, the case concentration was higher than the control's, without signifiant difference. In the personal exposure assessment of VOCs using OVM (Organic Vapor Monitor) badge, the case concentrations of Benzene, Toluene, and Ethylbenzene were higher than the control's, but there was no significant difference. The personal exposure of Xylene case study was significantly higher than the control's

In this study, VOCs originating from vehicles were measured at 8 underground parking lots(two apartments, four department stores, and two large-scale marts) in Daejeon. The indoor air quality at underground parking lots of the department stores and marts was affected by the availability of the ventilation facility and their operation frequency. At the underground parking lots with a ventilation facility, the maximum VOCs concentration was 727㎍/㎥, and the minimum was 73.5㎍/㎥. The average concentration ratio of BTEX to TVOCs at the underground parking lots was almost constant, which was approximately 44.8%. TVOCs and BTEX were strongly correlated with a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.88. The relative ratio of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene was 1 : 9.51 : 0.71 : 2.53, directly reflecting the influence of vehicles sources.

This study was followed up asthma incidence rate in primary schools indoor air quality. To investigate the history and prevalence rate of allergic diseases(asthma, atopy dermatitis, allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis), the standardized and generally used International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood(ISAAC) questionnaire was used to conduct the symptom survey for all participating subjects. The concentrations of major indoor air pollutants(dust mite allergen, aldehydes , VOCs, TBC, phthalate) were observed from April to May 2007. Sampling was undertaken at 19 primary schools. The sampling sites of air pollutants are classroom’s indoor and hallway. Dust mite allergen part it was detected from the case classroom and infirmary. The exposure quality of aldehyde and the place pollution level was indoor>outdoor>hallway, which whole is disease incidence rate high group appears more highly the low group than. The partially result of formaldehy and VOCs, the concentration of high environmental disease incidence rate showed also high. However, house dust allergen, TBC and phthalate measurement school was not the effect where the comparison of difference.

This study was performed to investigate airborne volatile organic compounds(VOCs), formaldehyde, respiratory particulate for concentration in primary schools. The concentrations of major indoor air pollutants(VOCs , benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, styrene, formaldehyde, PM-10) were observed from November to December 2006. Sampling was undertaken at 81 primary schools. The sampling sites of air pollutants are classroom and hallway. VOCs with distribution of most of general environmental contamination material will be able to confirm that it shows the log-normal distribution which is similar exposure distribution. The exposure quality of VOCs and the place pollution level was indoor> hallway>outdoor, which whole is located in the metropolis and the industrial areas is higher than farm village area. It tried to observe the I/O ratio, it appeared highly from the interior of the material of most. The mean concentrations of formaldehyde, respiratory particulate were 22.07㎍/㎥, 88.06㎍/㎥ respectively. Indoor and outdoor ratios(I/O) of formaldehyde and respiratory particulate were 3.6 and 1.4, respectively. The concentration of respiratory particulate is 27.2% higher than guideline for school hygiene(100㎍/㎥). From the comparison in the construction year, the highest concentration of formaldehyde is showed under one year. However, as time passed by the concentrations of formaldehyde become lower.

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.