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KMID : 1156220120380060493
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Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
2012 Volume.38 No. 6 p.493 ~ p.502
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A Study on the Concentration of Nanoparticles and Heavy Metals in Indoor/Outdoor Air in a University Administrative Public Office
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Choi Soo-Hyun
Im Ji-Young
Park Hee-Jin
Chung Eun-kyng
Kim Jong-Oh
Son Bu-Soon
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Abstract
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Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate the mass concentration of nanoparticles and understand the characteristics of elements of heavy metal concentrations within nanoparticles in the air using Micro-Orifice Uniform Deposit Impactor Model-110 (MOUDI-110), based on indoor and outdoor air.
Methods: This Study sampled nanoparticles using MOUDI-110 indoors (office) and outdoors at S University in Asan, Korea in order to reveal the concentration of nanoparticles in the air. Sampling continued for nine months (10 times indoors and 14 times outdoors) from March to November 2010. Mass concentrations of nanoparticle and concentrations of heavy metals (Al, Mn, Zn, Ni, Cu, Cr, Pb) were analyzed.
Results: Indoors, geometric mean concentration of nanoparticles ranged in size from 0.056 μm to 0.10 μm and those of 0.056 μm or less recorded 0.929 μg/m3 and 1.002 μg/m3, respectively. On the other hand, the levels were lower outdoors with 0.819 μg/m3 and 0.597 μg/m3. Mann-Whitney U tests showed that the difference between the indoors and the outdoors was statistically meaningful in terms of particles of 0.056 μm or less (p<0.05) in size. These results are possibly influenced by the use of printers and duplicators as the factor that increased the concentration of nanoparticles. In seasonal concentration distribution, the level was higher during the summer compared to in the autumn. Those of 0.056 μm or less in size presented a statistically meaningful difference during the summer (p<0.05). These results may be influenced by photochemical event as the factor that makes the levels high. Regarding zinc, among the other heavy metals, the fine particles ranged in size from 0.056 μm to 0.10 μm and those of 0.056 μm or less recorded 1.699 ng/m3 and 1.189 ng/m3 in the outdoors. In the indoors, the levels were lower, with 0.745 ng/m3 and 0.617 ng/m3. Cr and Ni at the size of 0.056 μm or less, both of which have been known to pose severe health effects, recorded higher concentrations indoors with 0.736 ng/m3 and 0.177 ng/m3, compared to 0.444 ng/m3 and 0.091 ng/m3 outdoors. By season, Zn, Ni, Cu and Pb posted a high level of indoor concentration during the fall. As for Cr, the level of concentration indoors was higher than outdoors both during the summer and the autumn.
Conclusion: This study indicates the result of an examination of nano-sized particles and heavy metal concentrations. It will provide useful data for the determination of basic nanoparticle standards in the future.
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KEYWORD
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nanoparticles, heavy metals, indoor
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