• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.110-122
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• 2006

Objective : This study was conducted to quantify chronic lead exposure from various media(ie. working environment, food, ambient air), and to certify the usefulness of exposure assessment using Monte-Carlo simulation in the fields of occupational health. Methods : Data were obtained from Korean Industrial Health Association, Korea Food and Drug Administration, and the Ministry of Environment. Then lead worker's exposure was estimated indirectly from various media and parameters (ie. volume inhaled, body weight, dietary intake, etc.). Uncertainty was analyzed by Monte Carlo simulation with Crystal Ball software. Exposure doses and hazard indices were simulated with various hypothetical scenarios including weekly working hours and respiratory protective equipment. Results : Without respiratory protective equipment, the total exposure dose per kilogram of body weight of lead workers was estimated as $5.45{\times}10^{-3}mg/kg/day$, and hazard index was estimated as 2.26, and exposure contributions were calculated as follows : working environment(82.42 %); foods(17.57 %); and ambient air(0.01 %). But, if working condition has changed - reduction of working hours and using respiratory protective equipment, the total exposure dose per kilogram of body weight was estimated between $1.34{\times}10^{-3}-1.49{\times}10^{-3}mg/kg/day$, and hazard index was estimated between 0.56 - 0.62. Conclusions : This study suggested that occurrence of hazardous impact(ie. increased blood pressure) through lifetime lead exposure would be expected, and that the Monte-Carlo simulation was useful for the fields of occupational health.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.230-239
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• 2018

Objective: The purpose of this study is to identify the kinds and exposure levels of health hazards in the metalworking process in relation to acute poisoning accidents caused by methanol in 2016. Methods: The number of industries, workplaces, exposed workers, regional distribution, and exposure level of health hazards in metalworking process were investigated based on employee exposure assessment database provided by KOSHA (the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency), which was collected from workplace hazard evaluation programs in Korea. Exposure metrics for methanol were assessed by RCR (risk characterization ratio). Results: The numbers of processes, workplaces, and exposed workers of metalworking, which include CNC (computer numerical control) were 25, 14,405, and 169,102 respectively. The numbers of samples of chemical hazards including methanol were 91,325, and it was found that workers in metalworking were exposed to 249 kinds of chemical hazards. There were 16 kinds of special controlled substances including beryllium. It is estimated that the number of workplaces involving CNC process was 2,537, and the number of exposed workers was 27,976. In CNC process, the total number of workplaces handling methanol was 36, and 298 workers were estimated to be exposed. There was no exceeded that surpassed the OEL and 49% of samples were below the limit of detection. Methanol exposure concentrations in Gyeonggido Province were statistically significantly higher than in other areas (p <0.0001). Conclusions: In the metalworking process including CNC, there is exposure to a wide variety of health hazards. There was no sample exceeding the OEL for methanol. Therefore, it is necessary to recognize the limits of the employee exposure assessment system and urgently improve measures to prevent the occurrence of events like methanol poisoning.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.135-143
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• 2018

Objectives: There have been many studies on exposure assessment of workers at companies using asbestos as a raw material and at sites of the removal of materials containing asbestos. However, no research has been carried out on the asbestos exposure of workers in industries involving asbestos-containing waste, such as workers at collection and transportation service companies, mid-treatment companies(solidification of asbestos-containing waste), and landfill sites. The objective of this study was to assess the asbestos exposure concentrations of workers in industries handling waste containing asbestos. Methods: For this study, we carried out field investigations at 15 companies: seven collection and transportation service companies, three mid-treatment companies, and five final treatment companies(landfill sites). We took both personal and area samples. Results: The range of asbestos exposure levels of workers handing asbestos-containing wastes at collection, mid-treatment, and landfill companies were 0.000 fibers/cc-0.009 fibers/cc, 0.000 fibers/cc-0.038 fibers/cc, and 0.000 fibers/cc-0.024 fibers/cc, respectively. Conclusions: The asbestos exposure levels of workers at mid-treatment companies were higher than those at collection and transportation companies and at final treatment companies. In the case of collection and transportation workers, the possibility of exposure to levels exceeding those found in the present study is not particularly high considering the characteristics of the work. However, in the case of intermediate or final disposal workers, it is considered that there is a possibility of exposure to levels above those found in this study.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.21 no.2 s.74
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• pp.138-142
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• 2006

Occupational asthma is commonly known to be induced by isocyanate exposure. Spray painters generally use isocyanates for 2-pack spray painting to coat wooden panel surfaces in the furniture industry in South Australia. Due to a lack of actual exposure data, this study conducted environmental and dermal/ocular monitoring from a company in the furniture industry. According to this study, there was no significant airborne contamination, due to the use of high volume low pressure (HVLP) spray guns, low concentration of hardener in paint solutions and appropriate respirator like full face-air line respirator. There was no significant HDI detection in the general work area around the spray booths. Owing to the use of disposable nitrile gloves during the spray painting, no significant dermal exposure was found. According to color monitoring, there was a possible dermal exposure from surfaces in the workplace, unless either protective gloves were worn or appropriate working practices like clean-up process and storage in a secure places. No eye contamination was detected from the spray painters. No significant exposure levels from inhalational, dermal, ocular were found. The area of most concern was work practices.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.480-484
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• 2002

Accumulation of cadmium (Cd) was investigated in organs (gill, liver, kidney, intestine) of olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) exposed to sub-lethal concentration (5, 10, 50, 100 $\mu$g/L) of Cd for 30 days. Cd exposure resulted in an increased Cd accumulation in liver of flounder for exposure periods and Cd concentration, and Cd accumulation increased linearly with the exposure time. At 20 days of Cd exposure. the order of Cd accumulation in organs was Bill>intestine>liver>kidney and after 30 days of exposure, Cd accumulation in organs was intestine>liver>gill>idney. An inverse relationship was observed between the accumulation factor (AS) and the exposure level, but AE shows an increase with exposure time.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.71-78
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• 2010

We investigated the effect of Cu exposure on the activities of protective antioxidant enzymes in the gills and digestive glands of the manila clam Ruditapes phillippinarum exposed to subchronic concentrations (0, 20, 40, and $80{\mu}gL^{-1}$) of waterborne Cu. No mortality occurred during the experimental period, and no significant condition index differences were observed in any exposure group compared with the control. No significant differences were observed in the digestive glands and gills of the clams observed during 15 days of exposure, but after 30 days, the SOD activity in the gill showed a significant difference between the $80{\mu}gL^{-1}$ Cu-exposed group and the control. GPx activities in the digestive glands and gills were significantly lower after 30 days of Cu exposure. Gill GR activity in the high-exposure group ($80{\mu}gL^{-1}$) was significantly elevated compared with that in the control group. GST activities in the digestive glands of all groups did not change over 30 days. However, GST activity in the gill at $80{\mu}gL^{-1}$ Cu was significantly higher after 15 and 30 days of exposure. GSH activities in the gill showed patterns similar to those of GST activities during exposure periods. In the digestive glands, GSH activity was higher only at $80{\mu}gL^{-1}$ after 30 days exposure. In digestive glands and gills, the MDA levels of clams exposed to $80{\mu}gL^{-1}$ Cu were significantly higher after 30 days of exposure.

• Journal of ILASS-Korea
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.81-89
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• 2018

The objective of this study is to estimate the level of exposure of traffic-related air pollutants (TRAPs) on the pedestrians in Seoul area. The road network's link-based pollutant emission was calculated by using a set of mobile source emission factor package and associated activity information. The population information, which is the number of pedestrian, was analyzed in conjunction with the link-based traffic emissions in order to quantify exposure level by selected 23 spots. We proposed the Exposure Intensity, which is defined by the amount of traffic emission and the population, to quantify the probability of exposure of pedestrian. Link-based traffic NOx and PM emissions vary by up to four times depending on the location of each spot. The Hot-spots is estimated to be around 1.8 times higher Exposure Intensity than the average of the 23 selected spots. The information of Exposure Intensity of each spot allows us to develop localized policies for air quality and health. Even in the same area, the Exposure Intensity over time also shows a large fluctuation, which gives suggestions for establishing site-specific counter-measures.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science
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• v.24 no.10
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• pp.1017-1026
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• 2013

Four countries are participating in exposure assessment for Mobi-Kids Study. Each country evaluates RF and ELF exposure from mobile phones considering telecommunication system and environment in the corresponding area. The results will be used to determine accumulation exposure level of each subject in case and control groups to assess the potential carcinogenic effects of childhood and adolescent exposure to radio frequency(RF) and extremely low frequency( ELF) from mobile phones on the central nervous system. This paper analyzes exposure types of mobile phones which have been used in Korea for about 10 years, based on Mobi-Kids protocol. It includes investigation of mobile phone models released in the domestic market, design of numerical phone models to represent each exposure type, and measurement of ELF radiation from mobile phones.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2004

Purpose: A number of reports about the intoxicated patients have been introduced, but there were few multicenter studies. The purpose of this study was to analyse the patients with toxic exposure in the Daejon province. Methods: The patients who were presented to the four academic emergency departments in Daejon with toxic exposure were enrolled from January to June 2003. The collected variables were according to the form which modified from the Toxic Exposure Surveillance System (TESS) of the American Association of Poison Control Centers. Results: The toxic exposure patients were 362 cases which is $0.78\%$ of total patients presented to the emergency department. The most common exposure site was home ($84\%$). Eighteen percent of cases were exposed by two or more substances. The most common substance was the pesticides ($34.8\%$), and the non-prescription drugs ($32.6\%$) was followed. The suicidal attempt was the top reason for exposure ($67.1\%$). The route of exposure other than ingestion was $3.6\%$. Although the most patients left the hospital within a day, the average treatment period was 4.4 days. Thirty-one patients ($8.6\%$) were expired, and 22 among them were exposed to the paraquat. Conclusion: We reported the current status of toxic exposure in Daejon province by modified TESS style.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.21-34
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the influencing factors of prevention practices against infection exposure among emergency medical technicians (EMTs) in emergency rooms. Methods: A self-reported questionnaire was filled out by 100 EMTs in emergency rooms from June 1 to August 31, 2017. The questionnaire consisted of items concerning the defensive environment for the prevention of infection exposure, perception of preventive behavior, and degree of performance of preventive actions against infection based on a five-point Likert scale. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, ${\chi}^2$ test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and linear regression. Results: The defensive environment for the prevention of infection exposure was 4.12. The perception of preventive action was 4.71, and the degree of performance of preventive actions against infection was 4.54. There was a significant relationship between the degree of performance of preventive actions against infectious exposures and the degree of perception of preventive behavior(r=.506, p=.01) and prevention of infectious exposure(r=.506, p=.01). The protective environment(B=.360, t=3.236, p=.002) and perceived level (B=.904, t=4.662, p=.000) were influenced by the degree of prevention of infection exposure. Conclusion: It is important to manage the protection environment for infection exposure prevention and to enhance the awareness of infection prevention actions against infection exposure among the EMTs in emergency rooms.