Journal of Environmental Health Sciences (한국환경보건학회지)

Korean Society of Environmental Health (한국환경보건학회)
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Microbiological Contamination in Office Buildings by Work Space Structure

사무공간 구조에 따른 실내공기 중 생물학적 오염분포 특성

  • Won, Dong-Hwan (Department of Environmental Health, College of Health Science, Korea University) ;
  • Huh, Eun-Hae (Department of Environmental Health, College of Health Science, Korea University) ;
  • Jeong, Ho-Chul (GS Engineering & Construction Research Institute) ;
  • Moon, Kyong-Whan (Department of Environmental Health, College of Health Science, Korea University)
  • 원동환 (고려대학교 보건과학대학 환경보건학과) ;
  • 허은혜 (고려대학교 보건과학대학 환경보건학과) ;
  • 정호철 (GS건설기술연구소) ;
  • 문경환 (고려대학교 보건과학대학 환경보건학과)
  • Received : 2012.02.14
  • Accepted : 2012.05.07
  • Published : 2012.06.29
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Abstract

Objectives: This study was undertaken in order to evaluate by work space zoning and structure the concentrations of biological contaminants in the indoor air of domestic office buildings. Methods: Air samples were collected in the office spaces of 15 office buildings in Seoul from June 28 to July 28, 2011. Prior to the sampling, each office was classified into 'open-plan office', 'cellular office' and 'mixed office' according to the work space zoning. To evaluate the biological contamination of indoor air, total suspended bacteria (TSB), Gram positive bacteria (GPB), Staphylococcus aureus (S.A), Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Gram negative bacteria (GNB) and fungi were investigated. During the sampling, temperature, relative humidity and carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) were measured. Results: The TSB concentrations ($GM{\pm}GSD$) were $452({\pm}1.3)cfu/m^3$ in open-plan offices, $366({\pm}1.3)cfu/m^3$ in cellular offices and $287({\pm}1.5)cfu/m^3$ in mixed offices, and there were significant differences between the three groups (p<0.05). The highest concentrations ($GM{\pm}GSD$) of fungi were found in the indoor air of cellular offices $128({\pm}1.0)cfu/m^3$, which was at least three times higher than the concentrations in mixed offices $43({\pm}1.0)cfu/m^3$ (p<0.05). Conclusions: Microbiological contamination in the indoor air of office buildings by work space structure was the highest with the open-plan office layout which includes no high walls or doors separating the occupants.

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