• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.169-176
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• 2004

ETS (environmental tobacco smoke) is composed of exhaled mainstream smoke (MS) from the smoker, sidestream smoke (SS) emitted from the smoldering tobacco between puffs and contaminants that diffuse through the cigarette paper and mouth between puffs. These emissions contain both vapor phase and particulate contaminants. ETS is a complex mix of over 4,000 compounds. This mix contains many known or suspected human carcinogens and other toxic agents. More of these toxic compounds are found in SS than in MS. Workplace exposure to ETS can result in significant smoke intake, and passive smoke exposure may be related to impair respiratory function and an increase risk of lung cancer in nonsmokers. For nonsmokers sharing a work environment with cigarette smokers, the workplace must be considered hazardous independently of any specific industrial toxic exposure. The risk is particularly important when a high percentage of the workers smoke or where smokers and nonsmokers work in poorly ventilated areas. Nicotine is converted in the body to cotinine; cotinine therefore can be used as an indirect measure of a person's recent exposure to tobacco smoke. Levels of nicotine in hair and levels of cotinine in body fluids (saliva and urine) have been shown to increase with increasing environmental nicotine levels and with self-reported ETS exposure. The measurement of nicotine or cotinine in hair may be more appropriate for longer-term exposure to tobacco. The purpose of this study is to comparing airborne nicotine levels and hair cotinine level in restaurant workers. Concentration of airborne nicotine and hair nicotine (and cotinine) is closely related to exposed frequency of sidestream smoke in the workplace. Nicotine in hair is a better predictor of airborne nicotine than hair cotinine. Hair nicotine can be a useful tool to assess ETS exposure interventions. It may have limiting levels of ETS exposure by placing regulatory restrictions on smoking in workplaces and in public spaces.

• 환경영향평가
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• 제29권2호
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• pp.93-111
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• 2020

현행 국내 건강영향평가는 환경영향평가제도 내 특정 개발사업에 한해서 수행된다. 하지만 건강영향평가가 개발사업의 시행 단계에서 수행됨에 따라 심각한 건강 악영향이 예상됨에도 불구하고 적절한 조치를 취하지 못하는 경우가 있다. 특히 산업단지 개발사업의 경우에 운영으로 인한 건강 악영향 예상 및 개발단계에서의 건강영향평가로 인해 환경갈등이 자주 발생하고 있다. 이 연구는 산업단지 개발에 있어 건강영향을 고려한 계획 적정성 평가 방법을 제안하고 이를 실제 개발사업들에 적용하고자 하였다. 이 연구는 US EPA의 CalEnviroScreen 3.0 및 US ATSDR의 Public Health Assessment를 참조해서 건강영향을 고려한 계획 적정성 평가 방법을 제안하였다. 평가 방법으로는 지역사회 특성, 배경노출, 그리고 개발부담으로 구분한 지표 사용을 제안하였다. 문헌조사 등을 통해 지역사회 특성 지표 5개, 배경노출 지표 3개, 개발부담 지표 7개를 선정하였으며, 건강영향평가 관련 전문가들에게 계층적 의사결정법 설문조사를 통해 각 지표의 가중치를 산출하였다. 과거 국가 주도의 3개 국가산업단지 개발사업에 대해 시범 적용하였으며, 이를 통해 각 지표들에 대한 활용자료 및 평가값을 세분화하여 평가 방법을 구체화하였다. 건강영향을 고려한 계획 적정성 기준은 산업단지 개발에 대한 정부의 정책방향과 연계하여 첫째 총점기준, 둘째 총점 및 지역사회 특성기준, 그리고 개발부담 지표에 예외를 둔 총점 및 지역사회 특성기준으로 제안하였다.

• 한국전문물리치료학회지
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• 제30권1호
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• pp.23-31
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• 2023

Background: Several factors contribute to shoulder pain, including abnormal neck posture, repeated use of the upper limbs, work involving raising the upper limbs above the head, and the effects of vibration. However, previous study has reported that constant vibration exposure could impact improvement of the stability on joints related with muscle recruitment and activation. For this difference reason, we need to verify for the complex study of relationship with repetitive upper limb movements, poor head posture, and constant vibration exposure. Objects: Our study was made to investigate the influence of vibration exposure on the shoulder muscle activity during forward-head and over-head tasks with isometric shoulder flexion. Methods: In a total of 22 healthy subjects, surface electromyography (EMG) data were collected from shoulder muscles (upper/lower trapezius, serratus anterior, and lumbar erector spinae) on tasks (neutral-head task [NHT], forward-head task [FHT], and over-head task [OHT]) with and without vibration exposure. Results: In all tasks, the EMG data of the upper trapezius and serratus anterior significantly increased with vibration exposure (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the EMG data of the lumbar erector spinae significantly increased with vibration exposure in the NHT and FHT (p < 0.05). Conclusion: We suggest that continuous vibration exposure during the use of hand-held tools in the tasks could be associated with harmful effects in the workplace. Lastly, we clinically need to examine the guidelines regarding the optimal posture and vibration exposure.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• 제50권1호
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• pp.112-117
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• 2012

나노기술의 발전과 함께 나노물질을 포함한 소비재가 대중화되고 있다. 그러나 지난 10여년간 조심스럽게 제기되고 있는 나노물질의 잠재적 위해성으로 인해, 나노제품 사용을 불안해하고 있다. 특히 나노제품을 직접 취급하는 생산시설(연구소 및 업체)의 작업자는 직접적인 인체 노출을 초래하게 된다. 따라서 이들에 대한 인체 및 환경 노출 안전관리를 위하여, 직접적인 노출평가가 필요하다. 본 연구에서는 기상 및 액상 반응을 통해 나노물질을 생산하는 두 곳의 업체를 현장 방문하여 나노물질의 주요 노출대상 공정과 노출원을 파악하고 SMPS를 이용한 실시간 현장 모니터링을 실시하였다. 분석 결과, 액상 공정도 기상으로의 나노입자 노출이 심각하게 발생하고 있음을 확인하였다. 가장 문제가 되는 점은 나노물질의 잠재적인 위해성에 관한 인식의 부족으로 제대로 된 방호활동을 못하고 있다는 점이다. 따라서 보다 다양한 나노물질 취급 시설에 대한 환경노출 평가가 필요하고 이를 바탕으로 한 나노물질 취급 안전관리 방법이 제시되어야 한다.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• 제23권4호
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• pp.257-265
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• 2008

Nanotechnology is emerging as one of the key technologies of the 21 st century and is expected to enable one to broaden the applicability across a wide range of sectors that can benefit public and improve industrial competitiveness. Already, consumer products containing nanomaterials are available in markets including coatings, computers, clothing, cosmetics, sports equipment and medical devices. Recently, Institute of Occupational Medicine in UK reported an occupational hygiene review for nanoparticles in the viewpoint of nanotoxicity. They reported that the exposure control is very important issues in workplace for exposure assessment, but no proper methods are available to measure the extent of exposures to nanoparticles in the workplace. Therefore, for the estimation of exposure of nanomaterials, we have to approach the material-balance methodology, which similarly carried out in TRI (toxic release inventory) for hazardous chemicals. In order to use this methodology, the exposure source of nanomaterials should be determined firstly. Therefore, herein we investigated the main sources and processes for the exposure to nanomaterals by conducting the survey. The results could be used to define and assess nanohazard sources.

• KSBB Journal
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.33-40
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• 2010

Conventional disinfectants and disinfection method are expensive, hazardous and often require long periods of exposure. Recently, there is growing interest in complex disinfection process as a disinfection technique in medical instruments such as endoscope, hand piece bur to improve the disinfection efficiency and conveniency. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of a new complex process for the purpose of disinfection of Escherichia coli in water. Three single process (electrolysis, UV and ultrasonic process) was combined dual and triple disinfection process. The order of disinfection performance for E. coli in dual process lie in: Electrolysis + UV > Electrolysis + Ultrasonic > UV + Ultrasonic process. Disinfection efficiency of E. coli and degradation of N, N-Dimethyl-4-nitrosoaniline (RNO, indicating material of OH radical formation) of dual process was higher than that of the triple process (Electrolysis + UV + Ultrasonic process). In electrolysis + UV process, disinfection tendency was well agreed with RNO degradation tendency.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제34권10호
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• pp.3083-3087
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• 2013

Diacetylene lipid monomers possess the capability to self-assemble into vesicles via polymerization under ultraviolet irradiation, resulting in the formation of polydiacetylene (PDA) liposomes. Exposure of the polymerized vesicles to external stimuli is known to induce a unique blue-to-red color transition. The cyclic oligosaccharide ${\alpha}$-cyclodextrin known for its use in many applications, such as drug delivery, purification, and stimulus sensing, is able to form an inclusion complex with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) in aqueous solution. In this study, we prepared polymeric liposomes with PEG (PEG-PDA) with the aim of improving the stability of the vesicles and colorimetric response toward ${\alpha}$-cyclodextrin. We demonstrated that PEG-PDA liposome displays unique characteristics compared with native PDA liposome and it also shows apparent chromic properties of the inclusion complex formation with ${\alpha}$-cyclodextrin.

• 환경영향평가
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• 제20권4호
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• pp.497-507
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• 2011

This research studied human health risk assessment of benzene from industrial complexes of Chungcheong Province (Seosan industrial complex) and Jeonla Province (Iksan industrial complex and Yeosoo industrial complex). The residents near the industrial complexes areas can be often exposed to volatile organic compounds (e.g., benzene, toluene, xylenes) through a number of exposure pathways, including inhalation of the organic pollutant via various environmental matrices (air, water and soil), contaminated water, and soil intake. Benzene is well known to be a common carcinogenic and toxic compound that is produced from industrial and oil refinery complexes. In this study, a number of samples from water, air, and soil were taken from the residential settings and public school zones located near the industrial complex sites. Based on the carcinogenic risk assessment, the risk estimates were slightly above $10{\times}10^{-6}$ at all three industrial sites. According to deterministic risk assessment, inhalation was the most important route. The distribution of benzene in the environment would be dependent on vapor pressure, and the physical property influencing the extent of the potential risks. Non-carcinogenic risk assessment of benzene shows that the values of Hazard Index(HI) were much lower than 1.0 at all industrial complexes. Therefore, benzene was not a cause of concern in terms of non-carcinogenic risk posed to the residents near the sites. When compared to probabilistic risk assessment, the CTE(central tendency exposure) cancer risk values of deterministic risk assessment were close to the mean values predicted by the probabilistic risk assessment. The RME(reasonable maximum exposure) values fell within the range of 95% to 99.9% estimated by the probabilistic risk assessment. Since the values of carcinogenic risk assessment were higher than $10{\times}10^{-6}$, further detailed monitoring and refined risk assessment for benzene may be warranted to estimate more reliable and potential inhalation risks to receptors near the industrial complexes.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제34권3호
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• pp.188-198
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• 2008

Since 2003, the National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER) of Korea has been conducting "The monitoring study on exposure level and biomarkers of environmental pollutants" in the Ulsan industrial complex with the goals to establish a surveillance system for residents, to evaluate the health effects associated with chronic exposure to environmental pollutants and to develop the environmental health indicators in Ulsan industrial complex. This program consists of three phases an initial or foundation phase in which the program is developed, made operational and extended to the community, followed by an evaluation and accountability assessment of the surveillance system and finally an improvement in the quality of life and the maintenance of good health for Ulsan residents. In the period 2003 to 2008, the study program developed the surveillance system which will be used for the full-length survey. All participants in this study were contacted at a presentation meeting for residents, introduced to the objectives and protocols of the survey, and asked to participate. Informed consent was obtained from each participant. The study is now underway and includes questionnaires, health examinations and the analysis/collection/banking of bio-sample such as blood and urine. To date 828 subjects have participated and already 588 subjects have been followed up. We are committed to complete health examinations and to arrange storage of biosample for all participants. During the current year, we will analyze metals (Pb in blood and Cd, inorganic As and Hg in urine) in 1,972 samples and VOCs (11 species) and PARs (18 species) in 300 samples (blood sample). Moreover, the summary of the first step and the further preparation of the second step are currently underway. In this article, we introduce the study and its protocols and the distribution and size of the study participants. In conclusion, this survey will be continuously conducted on the established cohort and will enable the identification of relationship between environmental pollutant exposures and the health status of residents in Ulsan industrial complex.

• 분석과학
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• 제37권4호
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• pp.251-260
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• 2024

As polymers became very important in our lives, their negative impact on general health and the environment raised a serious issue. Here, enhancing their life term is presented as a compromise solution between the need and harm. In the study, six PVC films, the plain and five filled with improvers, underwent radiation exposure for 300 hours at room temperature to investigate their photodegradation rates. The modified films were embedded with organotin(IV) complex derivatives (Ph₃SnL, Ph₂SnL₂, Bu₃SnL, Bu₂SnL₂, and Me₂SnL₂ (where L is levofloxacin)), and their effectiveness was evaluated. The PVC films were compared before and after exposure to various tests including UV-Vis spectroscopy, gel content analysis, theoretical calculations, and EDX microscopy. Findings indicated that the presence of organotin(IV) complex derivatives, particularly Ph3SnL, notably decreased UV light absorbance and the amount of gel content in PVC sheets in comparison to untreated PVC. Furthermore, EDX analysis showed that the PVC-Ph₃SnL blend exposed to radiation exhibited the highest chlorine content, reaching 30 %. This blend demonstrated superior efficacy in stabilizing the polymeric materials.