Indoor air quality and its determinants in underground shopping malls in Korea

Jeonghoon Kim; In-Keun Shim; Soo Ran Won; Eun Seol Hwang; Yumi Lee; Sujung Park; Jungmin Ryu; Jongchun Lee

doi:10.1016/j.envint.2023.108395

Indoor air quality and its determinants in underground shopping malls in Korea

Environ Int. 2024 Jan:183:108395. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108395. Epub 2023 Dec 16.

Authors

Jeonghoon Kim¹, In-Keun Shim², Soo Ran Won³, Eun Seol Hwang², Yumi Lee², Sujung Park², Jungmin Ryu², Jongchun Lee²

Affiliations

¹ Indoor Environment and Noise Research Division, Environmental Infrastructure Research Department, National Institute of Environmental Research, Incheon, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: kimxls88@gmail.com.
² Indoor Environment and Noise Research Division, Environmental Infrastructure Research Department, National Institute of Environmental Research, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
³ Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

PMID: 38118208
DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108395

Abstract

Underground shopping malls (USMs) are often open or semi-open environments with interconnected passageways, resulting in the sharing of indoor air. However, indoor air quality (IAQ) within these spaces can vary due to many diverse emission sources. We investigated the relationships between IAQ and geographical areas, as well as IAQ and store types, within USMs, in Korea. In 2020, we studied 10 different USMs, with a total of 128 outlets. We conducted comprehensive IAQ assessments (including measurements of fine particles (PM_2.5), aldehydes, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs)) in stores, passages, and outdoor areas. The stores were categorized into three types: clothing, fashion accessories, and food services. Additionally, we measured environmental factors such as CO₂ levels and presence of storefront walls. PM_2.5 levels were higher outdoors, whereas aldehyde and VOC levels exhibited elevations within passages and the interior of stores than in the outdoor environment. The store-to-passage ratios for PM_2.5, individual aldehydes, and VOC concentrations ranged from 1.06 to 4.93. Formaldehyde and total VOC (TVOC) concentrations were found to be elevated in clothing and fashion accessory stores, whereas PM_2.5 concentrations were more prominent in food service establishments. Specific individual compounds, including propionaldehyde, hexaldehyde, benzene, n-heptane, toluene, n-octane, xylene, d-limonene, n-undecane, n-dodecane, and ethylbenzene concentrations exhibited associations with store types. Multivariate regression models demonstrated positive associations between most aldehydes and VOCs with CO₂ concentrations and presence of storefront walls. This study underscored variations within USMs based on area and store type. Aldehyde and VOC concentrations were notably higher in clothing and fashion accessory stores than in food service outlets; these elevations were closely linked to CO₂ levels and presence of storefront walls. These findings suggest that monitoring CO₂ levels within USM stores, optimizing air-conditioning systems, and designing future stores without storefront walls can collectively contribute to an overall improvement of IAQ within USMs.

Keywords: Aldehydes; Indoor air quality; PM2.5; Underground shopping malls; Volatile organic compounds.

MeSH terms

Air Pollutants* / analysis
Air Pollution, Indoor* / analysis
Aldehydes / analysis
Carbon Dioxide
Environmental Monitoring / methods
Particulate Matter / analysis
Republic of Korea
Volatile Organic Compounds* / analysis

Substances

Air Pollutants
Volatile Organic Compounds
Carbon Dioxide
Aldehydes
Particulate Matter