Journal of Environmental Health Sciences (한국환경보건학회지)

Korean Society of Environmental Health (한국환경보건학회)
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Indoor PM2.5 Concentration Distribution and Health Risk Assessment according to the Implementation of a Seasonal Management System

미세먼지 계절관리제 시행 여부에 따른 실내 PM2.5 농도 분포 및 노출에 따른 건강위해성 평가

  • Shin-Young Park (Department of Environmental & Chemical Engineering, Seokyeong University) ;
  • Dann-Ki Yoon (Department of Nano & Biological Engineering, Seokyeong University) ;
  • Hyeok Jang (Department of Nano Chemical & Biological Engineering, Seokyeong University) ;
  • Sung Won Yoon (Department of Environmental & Chemical Engineering, Seokyeong University) ;
  • Cheol-Min Lee (Department of Environmental & Chemical Engineering, Seokyeong University)
  • 박신영 (서경대학교 환경화학공학과) ;
  • 윤단기 (서경대학교 나노생명공학과) ;
  • 장혁 (서경대학교 나노화학생명공학과) ;
  • 윤성원 (서경대학교 환경화학공학과) ;
  • 이철민 (서경대학교 환경화학공학과)
  • Received : 2023.06.29
  • Accepted : 2023.07.14
  • Published : 2023.08.31
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Abstract

Background: Since 2019, the Ministry of Environment has implemented a seasonal fine dust management system from December to March, targeting high PM2.5 levels with the aim of reducing PM2.5 concentrations and protecting public health. The focus of improving the seasonal management system lies in the atmospheric PM2.5 levels. Considering the primary goal of protecting public health, it is necessary to analyze the policy effects from an exposure perspective rather than a concentration-based approach. Objectives: This study aims to quantitatively assess the improvement of indoor PM2.5 levels and the health impacts of the seasonal management system by comparing the periods before and during its implementation in residential environments. Methods: PM2.5 concentrations within residential environments in a metropolitan area were measured using an optical particle counter (IAQ-C7, K-weather, Ltd, Korea) at one-minute intervals during the pre-implementation period (November 21~25, 2022) and during the implementation period (December 19~23, 2022). Based on the measured PM2.5 concentrations, a quantitative evaluation of cancer and mortality risks was conducted according to age and gender. Results: The results of comparing indoor and outdoor PM2.5 concentrations before and during the implementation of the seasonal management system showed a decrease of approximately 56.6% and 47.9%, respectively. Health risk assessments revealed that both the safety-limit-based and safety-target-based Hazard Quotients (HQ) exceeded the threshold of 0.1 for children under 19 years of age, both before and after the implementation. The mortality risk decreased by approximately 47.9% after the implementation, with children aged 0-9 showing the highest mortality risk at 0.9%. Conclusions: The findings of this study confirmed the positive health impacts of the seasonal management system across all age groups, particularly children under 19 who are more vulnerable to fine dust exposure.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

본 결과물은 환경부의 재원으로 한국환경산업기술원의 환경성질환사업의 지원을 받아 연구되었으며(2022003310002), 본 연구는 2023년도 환경부 주관 「화학물질 안전관리 전문 인력 양성 사업」의 화학물질 특성화대학원 지원 사업을 통한 성과물임을 밝힙니다.

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