| Keywords |
Formaldehyde; Indoor air quality; Health risk assessment |
| Abstract |
This study evaluated indoor air quality and conducted health risk assessments for facilities used by vulnerable populations in Gwangju, Korea. Total of 400 multi-use facilities, including medical institutions, daycare centers, postpartum care centers, and elderly care facilities, were investigated between 2020 and 2024.
Measured parameters included PM10, PM2.5, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, and total airborne bacteria. The distribution of pollutant concentrations reflected indoor activity patterns and seasonal ventilation characteristics of each facility type. The average concentrations of formaldehyde were 18.1 μg/m in medical 3 institutions, 15.2 μg/m in daycare centers, 13.6 μg/m in elderly care facilities, and 29.2 μg/m in postpartum 3 3 3 care centers. Deterministic risk assessment indicated that excess cancer risk for patients in medical institutions and mothers and newborns in postpartum care centers were below the acceptable level of 1 × 10?6. For other groups, excess cancer risk values exceeded 1 × 10?6 but remained below the maximum acceptable risk level of 1 × 10?4. Probabilistic risk assessment yielded results consistent with the deterministic evaluation. These findings suggest that indoor air quality management in facilities serving vulnerable populations should incorporate both concentration reduction and facility-specific risk management strategies. |