TY - JOUR
T1 - Risk assessment of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and formaldehyde in Korean public facilities
T2 - Derivation of health protection criteria levels
AU - Kim, Ho Hyun
AU - Lim, Young Wook
AU - Shin, Dong Chun
AU - Sohn, Jong Ryeul
AU - Yang, Ji Yeon
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2016 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2011/6
Y1 - 2011/6
N2 - This study suggests criteria to conduct a risk assessment of VOCs and formaldehyde in uncontrolled public facilities. Pollutants and facilities were selected based on two years of monitoring data and exposure scenarios in 573 uncontrolled public facilities, composed of 10 types of public institutions. With the exception of social welfare facilities, lifetime ECRs of formaldehyde and benzene in each facility were higher in employees than in users, except in social welfare facilities. In social welfare facilities, the risk of benzene for users (1×10-5) was higher than that of workers (1×10-6) because facility users live in the facility 24 hours per day, compared to workers who spend an average of 8 hours per day in the facility. The risk of benzene to workers in restaurants, academies, performance halls, internet café and pubs were estimated as high as 1×10-4 and the risk to workers in the theaters and karaoke bars were recorded as 1×10-5. Because lifetime ECRs of carcinogens exceeded 1×10-4 for workers and users in most facilities, risk management of formaldehyde and benzene in these facilities is necessary. Although HQs of toluene and xylenes did not exceed 1.0, their HQs did exceed 0.1 in some facilities, so they were evaluated as potentially harmful materials. Additionally, criteria for health protection in IAQ by facility are suggested at 60-100 μg/m3 for formaldehyde, 400-500 μg/m3 for TVOCs, 10-20 μg/m3 for benzene, 150-170 μg/m3 for toluene and 100 μg/m3 for xylenes, based on the survey on IAQ and HRA methodology. The excess rates of IAQ to health protection criteria in all facilities were 16% for formaldehyde, 8% for TVOCs and benzene, 9% for toulene, and 5% for xylenes.
AB - This study suggests criteria to conduct a risk assessment of VOCs and formaldehyde in uncontrolled public facilities. Pollutants and facilities were selected based on two years of monitoring data and exposure scenarios in 573 uncontrolled public facilities, composed of 10 types of public institutions. With the exception of social welfare facilities, lifetime ECRs of formaldehyde and benzene in each facility were higher in employees than in users, except in social welfare facilities. In social welfare facilities, the risk of benzene for users (1×10-5) was higher than that of workers (1×10-6) because facility users live in the facility 24 hours per day, compared to workers who spend an average of 8 hours per day in the facility. The risk of benzene to workers in restaurants, academies, performance halls, internet café and pubs were estimated as high as 1×10-4 and the risk to workers in the theaters and karaoke bars were recorded as 1×10-5. Because lifetime ECRs of carcinogens exceeded 1×10-4 for workers and users in most facilities, risk management of formaldehyde and benzene in these facilities is necessary. Although HQs of toluene and xylenes did not exceed 1.0, their HQs did exceed 0.1 in some facilities, so they were evaluated as potentially harmful materials. Additionally, criteria for health protection in IAQ by facility are suggested at 60-100 μg/m3 for formaldehyde, 400-500 μg/m3 for TVOCs, 10-20 μg/m3 for benzene, 150-170 μg/m3 for toluene and 100 μg/m3 for xylenes, based on the survey on IAQ and HRA methodology. The excess rates of IAQ to health protection criteria in all facilities were 16% for formaldehyde, 8% for TVOCs and benzene, 9% for toulene, and 5% for xylenes.
KW - HCHO
KW - Health protection criteria
KW - Public facility
KW - Risk assessment
KW - VOCs
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U2 - 10.5572/ajae.2011.5.2.121
DO - 10.5572/ajae.2011.5.2.121
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84866374748
VL - 5
SP - 121
EP - 133
JO - Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
JF - Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
SN - 1976-6912
IS - 2
ER -