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KMID : 1039220190290030351
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Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
2019 Volume.29 No. 3 p.351 ~ p.357
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Inactivation of Indoor Airborne Fungi Using Cold Atmospheric Pressure Plasma
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Paik Nam-Won
Heo Sung-Min
Lee Il-Young
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Abstract
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Objectives: The objectives of this study were to investigate fungal contamination in a 31-year old university building in Seoul, Korea, and to study the inactivation of fungi using cold atmospheric pressure plasma(CAP).
Methods: To investigate the fungal contamination in a university building, air samples were collected from five locations in the building, including two study rooms, a storage room, a laboratory, and a basement. The sampling was performed in a dry season(February to April) and in a wet season(July). To study the inactivation efficacy of fungi by CAP, airborne fungal concentrations were measured before and after the operation of the CAP generator.
Results: Humidity was an important factor affecting fungal growth. The airborne fungal concentrations determined in the wet season(July) were significantly higher than those determined in the dry season(February to April). In the basement, the values determined in the dry and wet season were 319 and 3,403 CFU/m3, respectively. The inactivation efficiency of fungi by CAP was 83-90% over five to nine days of operation.
Conclusions: The university building was highly contaminated by airborne fungi, especially in summer. It is concluded that humidity is an important factor affecting fungal growth and CAP is a highly useful technique for inactivation of indoor airborne fungi.
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KEYWORD
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Cold atmospheric pressure plasma, CAP, fungi, indoor air, humidity
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