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Indoor air quality assessment in child care and medical facilities in Korea

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment volume 184, pages 6395–6409 (2012)Cite this article

Abstract

In order to characterize the status of indoor air pollution in some important facilities, a list of key criteria pollutants [particulate matter (PM10), carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), formaldehyde (HCHO), and bioaerosol] was measured from a total of 91 randomly selected sites in 18 different cities, Korea (February 2006 to December 2009). The target facilities include 43 child care facilities, 38 medical facilities, 6 elementary schools, and 4 postnatal care centers. The results showed that some air pollutants (e.g., CO and HCHO) did not exceed the recommended guideline [e.g., the Korean indoor air standard (KIAS) values of 10 ppm and 100 ppb, respectively]. However, concentration of PM10, CO2, and bioaerosol occasionally exceeded their respective guidelines (e.g., seven, three, and two cases). Discrete seasonalities were observed from indoor pollutants because of varying ventilation practice (e.g., summer time dominance of PM10, HCHO, and bioaerosol or winter dominance of CO2 and CO). However, as the concentrations of the indoor pollutants were scarcely above the recommended guideline level, more diversified approaches are desirable to diagnose the status of indoor pollution and to provide a realistic strategy for the improvement of IAQ.

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Acknowledgment

This work was supported by a National Research Foundation of Korea grant funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (No. 2009–0093848).

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Environment & Energy, Sejong University, Seoul, South Korea

    Ehsanul Kabir & K.-H. Kim

  2. Department of Environmental Health, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea

    Jong Ryeul Sohn

  3. Gyeong-gi Do Institute of Health & Environment, 324-1 Pajang-dong, Jangan-gu, Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, 440-290, Republic of Korea

    Bo Youn Kweon & Jong Hyun Shin

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  1. Ehsanul Kabir
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  2. K.-H. Kim
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  3. Jong Ryeul Sohn
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  4. Bo Youn Kweon
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  5. Jong Hyun Shin
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Correspondence to K.-H. Kim.

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Kabir, E., Kim, KH., Sohn, J.R. et al. Indoor air quality assessment in child care and medical facilities in Korea. Environ Monit Assess 184, 6395–6409 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-011-2428-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-011-2428-5

Keywords

  • Indoor air quality
  • PM10
  • CO2
  • CO
  • HCHO
  • Bioaerosol
  • Child care facility
  • Medical facility
  • Elementary school
  • Postnatal care center