Measurements of Indoor Carbon Monoxide Concentrations and Personal Exposures in Korea

Abstract

Indoor concentrations and personal exposures to carbon monoxide (CO) were measured in Korea in January 1989. Newly developed passive CO sampler were placed in a kitchen and living room for the indoor concentration measurements and were worn by a housewife for monitoring the personal CO exposures. Thirty-five homes were selected from an urban area and a rural area. Since yeontan (coal briquette) is used as the fuel in all types of ondol (heating systems used in Korean homes), high CO concentrations were expected. In fact daily averages of indoor CO concentrations were 23 ppm in kitchens and 12 ppm in living rooms. The overall daily average of the personal CO exposures, 18 ppm, was between the two inddor CO concentrations. When analyzing effects of household characteristics on the indoor and personal CO levels. CO concentrations in living room varied significantly between the two areas, and the personal CO exposures depended on the type of ondol. House ventilating methods and socioeconomic conditions were also found to be important factors to determine indoor CO concentrations in Korea.