Abstract
The purpose of this study was to survey the distribution patterns of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and formaldehyde in the various indoor environments using cluster analysis. We investigated VOCs and formaldehyde in subway stations, underground shopping areas, medical centers, maternity recuperation centers, public childcare centers, large stores, funeral homes, and indoor parking lots from June 2005 to May 2006 (9 p.m. to 6 a.m.). The concentration of total volatile compounds (TVOCs) in maternity recuperations was 2,605.7 μg/m3, which was higher than that stated in the guideline and other chosen facilities. TVOCs in public childcare centers were 1,951.6 μg/m3, which also exceeded the guideline. Moreover, the concentration of TVOCs in every facility exceeded the guideline of the Ministry of Environment, Korea. In the case of formaldehyde, the mean concentration of 336.5 μg/m3 found only in public childcare centers exceeded the 120 μg/m3 stated in the guideline. Finally, by applying cluster analysis, three patterns of the indoor air pollutions were distinguished. In the results of the analysis, concentrations of TVOCs and formaldehyde of cluster 3 were higher than clusters 1 and 2, which were 2,561.4 and 184.9 μg/m3, respectively.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Dong-Sul, K., & Hyeong-Seok, K. (1990). Pattern recognition using concentration of air pollutants in the under ground mall. Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment, 6(1), 1–1.
Hopke, P. K. (1985). Receptor modeling in environmental chemistry. New York: Wiley Interscience.
Hopke, P. K. (1991). Receptor modeling for air quality management. New York: Elsevier Science Publishing Company Inc.
Hwang, I. J., Kim, T. O., & Kim, D. S. (2001). Source identification of PM-10 in Suwon using the method of positive matrix factorization. Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment, 17(2), 133–145.
James, E. (1991). An engineering approach to controlling indoor air quality. Environmental Health Perspectives, 95, 15–21.
Lee, S. C., & Chang, M. (2000). Indoor and outdoor air quality investigation at school in Hong Kong. Chemosphere, 40, 109–112.
Moon, K. H., Byeon, S. H., Choi, D. W., Lee, E. I., Oh, E. H., & Kim, Y. W. (2006). Risk assessment of aldehydes in some residential indoor air included atopy patient’s homes. Korean Society of Environmental Health, 32(1), 19–26.
Nam, B. H., Hwang, I. J., & Kim, D. S. (2002). Pattern classification of PM-10 in the indoor environment using disjoint principal component analysis. Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment, 18(1), 25–37.
National Academy of Sciences (NAS). (1993). Human exposure assessment for airborne pollutants. Washington: National Academy Press.
Shim, S. H., & Kim, Y. S. (2006). Characteristics and evaluation of indoor air quality in new apartment houses—with a focus on volatile organic compounds and formaldehyde. Korean Society of Environmental Health, 32(4), 275–281.
Son, B., Breysse, P., & Yang, W. (2003). Volatile organic compounds concentration in residential indoor and outdoor and its personal exposure in Korea. Environment International, 29(2), 79–85.
Stolwijk, J. A. (1992). Risk assessment of acute health and comfort effects of indoor air pollution. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 641, 56–62.
Tichenor, B. A., Sparks, L. A., White, J. B., & Jackson, M. D. (1990). Evaluating sources of indoor air pollution. Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association, 40, 487–492.
Yoo, S. J., & Kim, D. S. (1997). Classification of ambient particulate matters using cluster analysis and disjoint principal component analysis. Korean Society for Atmospheric Preservation, 13(1), 51–63.
Acknowledgements
This study was sponsored by the Converging Research center Program through the Nation at Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lee, C.M., Kim, Y.S., Nagajyoti, P.C. et al. Pattern Classification of Volatile Organic Compounds in Various Indoor Environments. Water Air Soil Pollut 215, 329–338 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-010-0481-2
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-010-0481-2