In this paper, a survey on students’ perceptions of air pollution, particulate matter (PM) and indoor air quality (IAQ) in school classrooms was analyzed. A total of 174 students participated in the survey, where 127 and 47 participants were elementary school students and middle school students, respectively. The elementary school was located in a rural area of Korea, whereas the middle school was located in an urban area. The questionnaire of the survey was mainly composed of three parts: (1) students’ perceptions of air pollution, (2) students’ perceptions of IAQ in the classroom, and (3) students’ perceptions of how to improve IAQ in the classroom. Based on our study, the responses of the students for the given questionnaire showed an opposite tendency. The students in the rural area tended to have positive perceptions regarding IAQ in the classroom as well as air pollution, whereas the students in the urban area revealed negative perceptions for the same items. Our survey results can be used by school officials in order to maintain and improve IAQ in school classrooms based on the perceptions of the students.

The urban expressway is widely used to avoid traffic jams in highly-populated urban areas. However, vehicle exhaust can be easily transported to the neighboring area including residential buildings. In this study, we investigated the transport and penetration of vehicle exhaust into the nearby high-story residential building. Black carbon (BC) and lung deposited surface area (LDSA) concentrations were monitored every 1 min using an aethalometer (AE51, Magee) and a nanoparticle aerosol monitor (AeroTrak 9000, TSI), respectively. For comparison, the measurement was carried out in both the living room and balcony of the apartment from January 18 to January 25, 2016. The CO2 concentration indicated the presence of residents in the living room and transport of vehicle exhaust from the roadway in the balcony. Its diurnal variation showed a significant difference between weekdays and the weekend, implying the different time activity of residents and traffic volume. BC and LDSA concentrations were 1.4±1.5 μg/m3 and 53.9±45.0 μm2/cm3 indoors, and 1.9±1.0 μg/m3, 76.2±34.5 μm2/cm3 outdoors, respectively. The indoor to outdoor concentration ratios range from 0.6 to 0.8, indicating the significant influence of outdoor vehicle exhaust. The highest concentrations of BC and LDSA were observed in the morning rush hours, except for those indoors during the weekend. In particular, the outdoor effect is significant during the morning rush hours. Indoor air quality management is urgently needed for residents living near the urban expressway.

To research indoor air pollution in the training rooms of technical high school, the temperature, air current, humidity, CO₂, CO, O₃ were measured by Indoor Climate System(ICS 500, Casella, UK) at each classroom, scientific laboratory, electricity training room, electronic equipment training room and welding training room. The change of air pollution concentration and its correlation were additionally compared and analyzed. At closed small space such as classroom, scientific laboratory, electronic equipment training room and electricity training room, the CO₂ concentration was obtained to the 2,030ppm(max.), which is higher than notified and recommended standard value(1,000ppm) by Ministry of Health and Welfare and Ministry of Environment, Korea. At welding training room where is larger and more ventilated than general classroom, CO concentration was measured to the 3.6ppm, which is higher than average 1ppm measured at other training rooms. The concentration of O₃ is not yet regulated from the standards of underground air quality, but at welding training room it was measured as 0.11ppm(max.) that is higher than 0.01ppm measured at other training rooms. The higher value of temperature, air current, radiant temperature and CO₂ concentration was shown at scientific laboratory, electricity training room and electronic equipment training room where are closed and same with the scale of classroom. And the higher concentration of CO₂, CO and O₃ was shown at welding training room which was opened larger classroom. The indoor air pollution by CO₂, CO and O₃ may directly affect on the training room where many students work at a small space, and they should be controlled appropriately. Each experimental formulas were made for the estimation of CO₂, CO and O₃ concentration depending on some kinds of variables at each training room. It is found that indirect ventilation system with a filter will be needed for regular and constant ventilation and the ventilation system should be applied to protect and make clean and comfortable environment of training rooms at technical high school.

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.

In this study, the paint, which has very close relationship to the of indoor air quality, was examined for the air pollution leveling test, and using the various passive sampler, the test was evaluated on the regard of TWA(Time Weighted Average). This study is to examine how the air pollution levels differ between the regular paint that is used for public and the new developed environment friendly paint. The consecutive experiments were performed in the small chamber test to investigate the VOCs and formaldehyde, ammonia emissions and characteristics from paint which are commonly used as the complete material of building. In conclustion, the natural paint showed the highest emission of VOCs among the selected paints, and water paint showed the highest contents of ammonia. Formaldehyde showed N.D(Not Detected) in most of tests and found a small amount in vinyl paint however, it was not as bad as to fail the certify level of building materials. It is recommended to constantly develop the chamber system and it will be very much possible to be used for the estimation of indoor air pollutants from the various paints and other complete materials.

We gathered exposure data on indoor air pollution, and investigated the dose-response slope factor for indoor air pollutants, such as volatile organic compounds, aldehydes and radon. Population cancer risks (that is the theoretical cancer deaths) were estimated from exposure to the pollutants. In addition, the damage costs, due to their risks, were estimated using WTP (willingness to pay) and VSL (value of a statistical life), which were investigated by a dichotomous contingent valuation method (DCVM). As a priority for human health risks and damage costs, management strategies are required for both radon and formaldehyde as indoor air pollutants. When the numeric results of human risks and damage costs are applied for other purposes, some assumptions and uncertainties have to be considered to use the results as useful screening tools for the administration of practical risk-based priorities.

신축공동주택에서는 BAKE OUT등의 입주 전(前) 전처리후 저 농도의 잔여 오염원의 제거를 위해서는 단시간에 고효율의 공기정화기능에 맞춰진 기계적 장치보다는 설치 및 유지, 운영비가 저렴하고 비교적 안전한 생물학적 처리법이 더 효율적이므로 생물학적 실내공기정화 기술의 개발이 시급한 실정이다. 이를 위해 본연구는 실내공기자연정화효과가 있는 식물에 의한 biofilter의 개발을 목표로 하였으며, biofilter hardware의 안전하고 지속적인 기능성 향상을 위해 토양별 공기유동과 수분유지력을 실험을 하였다. 식물에 의한 biofilter는 공기유동과 함께 오염원이 필터내로 유입되어 생물학적 오염 정화 기능으로 인해 정화된 공기가 배출되는 원리이다. 그러나 식물에 의한 biofilters는 공기유동이 높아지면 수분유지력이 낮아지는 특성이 있어 공기유동과 수분유지의 최적 조건을 찾는것이 중요하다. 또한 공기유동과 수분유지에 영향을 미치는 요인은 biofilter내 토양은 공기유동, 수분유지력은 biofilter의 성능과 안정성을 결정짓는 가장 중요한 요인이라 할수 있다. 실험결과, 기기내 공기유동은 3번째 모델에서 공기의 유입과 출입이 가장 최적이며, 토양구성은 vermiculite/ perlite/ peatmoss=v/v/v=0.25/0.25/0.50으로 구성된 토양에서 가장 효율적을 알수 있었다. 이때, 재관수시점은 토양수분의 60%를 관수시점으로 산정하였을 경우 4th-model은 24시간, 3rd-model은 24시간, 2nd-model은 18시간, 1st-model은 18시간, control은24시간으로 나타났다. 그러므로 본연구에서 개발된 biofilter는 공기유동 과 수분을 장시간 유지할수 있으므로 공기유동시 biofilter내 여러 자연 필터와 함께 식물이 실내오염원을 정화할수 있는 유용한 장치가 될 수 있다고 하겠다.

가스성 오염물질의 지표를 제공하는 이산화탄소를 시료로 사용하여, 식물의 공기정화 능력을 분석한 실험 결과는 다음과 같다. 공시 6가지 식물 모두 광합성이 활발한 낮 시간 동안에는 식물이 오염원을 흡수함에 따라, 이산화탄소 농도가 빠르게 감소하였다. 호흡작용을 통해 이산화탄소가 방출되므로 빛이 차단되는 밤 시간에는 농도가 다시 증가하였고, 특히 18시 ~ 20시 사이에는 급격한 농도 증가율을 보였다. 다음 날 아침 빛을 쬐기 시작하면 다시 오염원이 흡수되면서 농도가 감소한다. 이러한 이산화탄소 농도의 교환 현상을 통해, 빛의 양이 증가함에 따라 식물의 광합성량이 증가하며 그 결과 이산화탄소 제거율 역시 증가함을 알 수 있었다. 24시간 동안 측정한 식물별 광합성량과 호흡량을 가감한, 식물별 이산화탄소의 정화총량은 엽면적 1000 cm2 당 Ficus benjamina 49 ppm, Epipremnum aureum 99 ppm, Chamaedorea elegans 34 ppm, Fatsia japonica 123 ppm, Spthiphyllum spp. 115 ppm, Hedera helix 42 ppm으로 나타났다. 이산화탄소 순간소모량의 최대치를 보인 시간대는 각 식물별로 상이한데, 대개의 경우 광량 0.67 ~ 1.54 mW/cm3의 조건에서 가장 활발한 이산화탄소 흡수율을 보였다. Epipremnum aureum의 경우, 이산화탄소의 흡수가 비교적 높은 속도로 장기간 지속되었으며, 다른 식물에 비해 상대적으로 낮은 호흡량을 보였다. Fatsia japonica는 매우 대칭적인 이산화탄소 농도변화곡선을 보여, 광합성과 호흡이 일정하게 일어남을 알 수 있었다. 광량의 변화에 그리 민감하지 않아 폭넓은 광량조건의 실내공간에도 적합하다고 판단된다. Spthiphyllum spp. 역시 장기간에 걸쳐 비교적 안정적으로 광합성이 일어났다. Hedera helix는 1.24 mW/cm3이상의 광조건에서 상당히 높은 이산화탄소 흡수율을 보였으나, 1.00 mW/cm3이하에서의 낮은 제거율로 보아 저광도 실내공간보다는 고광도의 전이공간이나 실외에 적합하다고 판단된다. 위의 연구결과를 통하여 이산화탄소 제거에는 Fatsia japonica, Spthiphyllum spp., Epipremnum aureum 순서로 효과적임을 알 수 있었다.

본 연구는 실내식물의 공기정화능을 연구하기 위하여 Ficus benjamina, Epipremnum aureum, Chamaedorea elegans, Fatsia japonica, Spthiphyllum spp., Hedera helix를 사용하여 동일한 환경조건의 밀폐 챔버 내부에 넣은 후, 250 ppb의 포름알데히드를 투입하여 광합성과 호흡을 통한 두 가스물질의 농도 변화량 및 제거속도를 24시간 동안 일정시간간격으로 측정하였다. 식물별 엽면적 1,000㎠ 당 제거량은 Ficus benjamina 128.6 ppb, Epipremnum aureum 152 ppb, Chamaedorea elegans 127.8 ppb, Fatsia japonica 165.9 ppb, Spthiphyllum spp. 156 ppb, Hedera helix 115 ppb로 나타났으며 포름알데히드의 농도변화곡선을 분석한 결과, Fatsia japonica와 Spthiphyllum spp.가 가장 폭넓은 광조건에서 비교적 높고 안정적인 감소율을 보였다. Epipremnum aureum의 경우, 총 제거량은 높았으나 시간대별 제거율이 불규칙하여 특정범위의 광량조건을 필요로 하는 것을 알 수 있었다. 특히 Hedrera helix의 경우, 매우 불규칙적인 농도변화로 포름알데히드 농도에도 민감함을 알 수 있었다.