• Textile Coloration and Finishing
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2021

This study aims to prepare the fabric with detoxification properties against chemical warfare agent by the simple treatment. For this purpose, polypropylene non-woven fabric(PP) was treated with polyethyleneimine(PEI) and guanidinylated PEI and detoxification properties of the guanidinylated PEI treated PP were evaluated using diisopropylfluorophosphate(DFP), as a chemical warfare agent simulant, and compared with the untreated and PEI treated PP. The half-lives of DFP on guanidinylated PEI treated PP and untreated PP were 334 min and 714 min, respectively. The half-life of DFP with guanidinylated PEI treated PP was 53.22% shorter than with untreated PP. This result shows that guanidine group in guanidinylated PEI treated PP was acted as a base catalyst for hydrolysis of DFP and decreased half-life of DFP. Therefore, it is expected that guanidinylated PEI treatment can be an simple pathway to prepare the detoxification fabric material for protective clothing against chemical warfare agents.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.65-86
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• 1990

Living conditions of the rural elderly were assessed in terms of clothing behavior, health and nutritional status, housing and envioronmental condition, and psychological adjustment. The subjects were eighty individuals over sixty residing in the rural community of Iksan-kun, Chollabukdo. The interview method using questionnaires, direct measurement, and observation was used for this study. Data were compared with those obtained from a previous study of the elderly residing in an urban area. Clothing behavior showed that the elderly residing in the rural community were more concerned about plain and conservative design of clothes than their urban counterparts. Special protective clothes for cropdusting with agricultural chemicals had not been prepared. The following urgent needs were pointed out: development and supply of agricultural chemical protective clothing and development and education of appropriate washing and clothing care methods. The health status of the elderly was generally good, but poor eating habits were found more frequently in the rural elderly than among the urban dwellers. Several dietary nutrient intakes were insufficient. Contrasting the urban elderly with the rural group, it was found that the urban group lacked sufficient vitamin A and vitamin C and the urban women had insufficient calorie whereas the rural group was deficient in protein, vitamin A, calorie, and fat. A significant relationship was found between dietary nutrient intake and health index, food habit points, self recognized health status, meal satisfaction, and economic status. Urgent needs of the development of a nutrition education program for the elderly were pointed out. Most of elderly residing in the surveyed rural communities were living alone or with their spouse only, therefore only one room was used among the three or four available rooms. Most of the rural elderly were living either in a traditional Korean house built with differing floor levels or in a modified Korean style house. Minimal modernization had been made for kitchen facilities such as sink and gas range or for heating facilities with the briquette boiler. However, sanitary space such as lavatory and bathroom had not been remodeled. A housing welfare program for rural communities should be implemented at the national level. The comparison of psychological characteristics of the rural elderly with their city counterparts revealed that the rural elderly have a more stable psychological status and optimistic attitude than those living in a city. However, it was found that most of the elderly did not have any future plan. Community programs for the elderly including hobbies or leisure activities or education programs to generate close interpersonal relationships with their children should be developed and provided.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.123-136
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• 2024

This study aimed to assess the mobility and thermal comfort of personal protective equipment (PPE) among female healthcare workers, taking into account wearers' physique and PPE protection levels. A total of 16 participants (age: 26.3 ± 8.3 y, height: 161.5 ± 7.3 cm, body weight: 57.1 ± 11.0 kg, BMI: 21.9 ± 3.6), representing diverse body types, underwent four PPE conditions: L (Low_Plastic gown ensemble), M (Medium_Tyvek 400), H (High_Tyvek 800J with Powered Air Purifying Respirator [PAPR]), and E (Extremely high_Tychem 2000 with PAPR, Bib apron, and Chemical-resistant gloves). The mobility protocol consisted of 10 different tasks in addition to donning and doffing. The 10 tasks were repeated twice at an air temperature of 24.3 ± 0.1℃, 59±4%RH. Findings revealed a disproportionate relationship between PPE protection and wearer discomfort. Significant differences in clothing microclimate and total sweat rate were observed between the lowest (L) and highest (E) protection levels (p < 0.01), while distinctions among medium levels were inconclusive. Subjective evaluations favored conditions H and L over M and E (p < 0.05), indicating reduced heat, and humidity, increased comfort, and lower exertion. Instances of mobility discomfort, specially in the small body type group, underscored the need for a suitable PPE size system for Korean adult female medical workers. Furthermore, enhancements in gloves, shoe cover, and PAPR hood designs are essential for improving ease of movement and preventing hindrance.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.37 no.12 s.142
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• pp.59-67
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• 1999

This study analyzed firefighter's actual wearing condition of turnout gear The results are as fellows: 1. When a firefighter is employed, Korea applies only the minimum of firefighters stature and weight but America applies both the minimum and the maximum. The choice of size is highly related with stature more than chest circumference. 2. The satisfaction degree of thermal barrier is very low, 3%. They used rubber gloves rather than heatproof gloves. This is more serious in small country like 'up', 'myun' than in cities. For laundering, they used sprinkling method with firefighting hose. Firefigthers hoped that their clothes could be classified tv the seasons and fire places. 3. frefighter had high unsatisfaction with the movement of hands and leges in the aspect of movement adjustability, air permeability, weight, body temperature regulation, and breathing in the hygenic aspect, fire resistance, thermal resistance property, water proof, chemical reactivity and electrical conductivity. Thev were also unsatisfied with water proof boots and gloves. They were generally satisfied with helmets but firefighters over 90kg of weight were rather unsatisfied. 4. The satisfaction degree for physical fitness was very low and the items with which they were not satisfied depend on physical features. 5. To develop turnout gear, they wanted changes in design, material and size. Reflection tape need to be replaced with high quality products and they wanted the use of velcro and zipper in fastening system.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.73-82
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• 2024

Objectives: The unsafe use of pesticides in agriculture represents a major hazard to human health. This study was conducted to investigate the association between pesticide exposure and health symptoms among chili farmers in northeast Thailand. Methods: This cross-sectional analytic study included 141 chili farmers in Sakon Nakhon Province, in northeast Thailand. Data regarding health symptoms were gathered using a self-report questionnaire. A medical technician tested blood cholinesterase activity using an erythrocyte method, and an occupational medicine specialist at Ramathibodi Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand reviewed the results. Associations between personal characteristics, pesticide exposure factors, and health symptoms were analyzed using multiple logistic regression. Results: Of the 141 chili farmers studied, 66.7% experienced pesticide poisoning, as indicated by below-normal cholinesterase levels. Fatigue was the most frequently reported symptom associated with pesticide exposure, affecting 37.6% of participants. This was followed by nausea and vomiting (31.9%), dizziness (14.9%), and dry throat (14.9%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that several factors were significantly associated with adverse symptoms: amount of work experience, volume of pesticides used, use of chemical pesticides, use of leaking containers during spraying, direct pesticide exposure while working, contact with pesticide-soaked clothing, consumption of food and drinks in the fields, and blood cholinesterase level indicating risk. Conclusions: This study suggests potential health risks for chili farmers stemming from exposure to and contamination by pesticides used in agricultural practices. To mitigate these risks, it is essential to supply personal protective equipment and to implement educational programs aimed at improving protective behaviors among farmers.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.516-529
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• 2018

This study investigated the dyeing properties and bio-functions of cotton fabrics dyed with naturally fermented Ecklonia cava extract in order to compare it with a comparison of unfermented extract. Hot water-extracted Ecklonia cava was fermented naturally under the various conditions of a fermenting period (2-8 days) and amount of molasses (0.1-1.8% v/v); in addition, it was also tested for characterization by FT-IR, antioxidant activity, total polyphenol content, and anti-microbial activity. For dyed cotton fabrics, color strength (K/S), physical color properties, dyeing fastness, sun protective property, and anti-microbial activity were evaluated considering dyeing conditions. As a result, the fermented dye under fermentation condition of 0.1% v/v with molasses during 4 days was revealed as having a similar chemical structure to the unfermented one and showed a total polyphenol content with 32.88mg/g and better antioxidant activity than the unfermented one. As for dyed fabrics, the color strength value by K/S was the highest under the condition of 0.1% v/v of molasses during 4 days among all fermenting conditions. The dyed fabrics had a reasonably good fastness (except for light). Anti-microbial activity against K. pneumoniae was better for the fermented extract-dyed fabric especially with lower dye concentrations.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.39-53
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to determine the characteristics of an experimental protective clothing material with regard to comfort and isolation from the hazardous heavy metals produced in municipal waste incineration. An analysis was conducted on the total concentrations of heavy metals in some parts such as surface, middle layer, and interior for the treated fabric, and the untreated one, and working clothes. We conclude that the processed fabric with charcoal for working clothes showed the least exposure to heavy metals of the three. Working clothes worn by workers during waste incineration were much more contaminated than the untreated and treated materials. The material of working clothes could be chosen according to the function with regard to its original chemical characteristics, which are the proper results of the dyeing process. The processed fabric material has high degrees of moisture regain, thermal insulation, water vapor penetration, and antibacterial function; consequently, it is much more comfortable to wear. The fabric material proposed in this research contributed much more to blocking heavy metal concentrations (such as Cd, Pb, Cu, Cr, Zn, Mn) than did the fabric of working clothes at present. Consequently, we strongly suggest that the material of working clothes be upgraded by adopting the above-mentioned charcoal-processed fabric. Materials of working clothes must be improved to increase comfort and prevent harmful gas, flying dust, and heavy metals from permeating the fabrics.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.117-129
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• 2023

This study tested the effect on the toxicity of formaldehyde to select a shelter site due to formaldehyde leakage. As a result of the experiment, the range of ERPG-2 and 3 is between 2.2km and 9.6km, ASET is 6 minutes at 1km, 15 minutes at 3km, 22 minutes at 5km, and the lethality rate is 99.9% at 1km and 9% at 3km. In areas where refuge time is less than 15 minutes or the lethality rate is more than 2%, a shelter is installed. This is because if there are only a few evacuees, the evacuation time may take longer than the pre-movement time of 15 minutes or less specified in PD 7974-6:2004, and the lethality rate with the lowest number of deaths was calculated to be 2%. The shelter must be equipped with a hepa-filter, positive pressure equipment, air purifier, air respirator, goggles, chemical protective clothing type 4 and sufficient parking space must be secured to ensure the safety of evacuees.

• Korean Journal of Hazardous Materials
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.18-26
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• 2014

We analyzed the demand of competent authorities requiring adequate technical information for initial investigation of chemical accidents. Reflecting technical reports on chemical accident response by environmental agencies in the U.S. and Canada, we presented information on environmental diffusion and toxic effects available for the first chemical accident response. Hydrogen fluoride may have the risk potential to corrode metals and cause serious burns and eye damages. In case of inhalation or intake, it could have severe health effects. The substance itself is inflammable, but once heated, it decomposes producing corrosive and toxic fume. In case of contact with water, it can produce toxic, corrosive, flammable or explosive gases and its solution, a strong acid, may react fiercely with a base. In case of hydrogen fluoride leak, the preventive measures are to decrease steam generation in exposed sites, prevent the transfer of vapor cloud and promptly respond using inflammable substances including calcium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, ground limestone, dried soil, dry sand, vermiculite, fly ash and powder cement. The method for fire fighting is to suppress fire with manless hose stanchions or monitor nozzles by wearing the whole body protective clothing equipped with over-pressure self-contained breathing apparatus from distance. In case of transport accident accompanied with fire, evacuation distance is 1,600m radius. In cae of fire, fire suppression needs to be performed using dry chemicals, CO₂, water spray, water fog, and alcohol-resistance foam, etc. The major symptoms by exposure route are dyspnoea, bronchitis, chemical pneumonia and pulmonary edema for respiration, skin laceration, dermatitis, burn, frostbite and erythema for eyes, and nausea, diarrhea, stomachache, and tissue destruction for digestive organs. In atmosphere, its persistency is low, and its bioaccumulation in aquatic organism is also low.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.72-85
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• 2020

This article is a study on the activity of rescue workers for designing simulation training scenarios assuming chemical accidents. On the basis of the complexity of the indoor scene in the case of chemical accidents and terrorism, we designed a 12-step simulation training scenario for two teams to analyze the improvement in firefighters' capabilities. On the basis of activity measurement in the simulation scenario, step 2 of training had the most drops in the maximum heart rate, as follow: N1, from 163 bpm to 153 bpm; N2, from 186 bpm to 151 bpm; N3, from 168 bpm to 162 bpm; and N4, from 166 bpm to 152 bpm. In terms of intensity level in the allowable activity time, it was found that in step 2 both N1 and N2 reduced from Level 5 to Level 3, N3 remained at Level 4, N4 reduced from Level 4 to Level 3, and the maximum allowable activity time increased.