• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.153-160
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• 2001

Objectives : The authors evaluated the effects on renal function of workers chronically exposed to low-level organic solvent mixtures. Methods : The authors measured the level of urine ${\beta}2$-microglobulin(${\beta}2$-MG) and microalbumin as biochemical markers of renal function and damage in 29 male workers exposed to organic solvents for more than five years and compared their results with those of 30 male office clerks as a reference group. Results : 1. The mean values of hemoglobin, hematocrit, SGOT, SGPT, ${\gamma}$-GTP were all within normal limits and there was no significant difference, except for hemoglobin(p<0.01), between exposed and reference group. 2. The values of BUN and serum creatinine were within reference limits and there was no significant difference between exposed and reference group. 3. The difference of mean values of urine microalbumin corrected by urine creatinine were statistically significant (p<0.01), but those of urine ${\beta}2$-MG was not. 4. There were no correlation of urine hippuric acids with BUN, serum creatinine, urine microalbumin and ${\beta}2$-MG. 5. There were no significant difference of BUN, serum creatinine, urine microalbumin and ${\beta}2$-MG upon work duration. Conclusions: It is assumed that chronic low-level organic solvent exposure in these workers shows early renal dysfunction, glomerular changes. The result corresponds to previous studies showing the relationship between hydrocarbon exposure and glomerulonephritis. For evaluation of impairment on kidney tubules, we need further study using more precise markers and long-term follow-up.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Environmental Biology Conference
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• 2001.12a
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• pp.130-130
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• 2001

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.891-902
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• 2004

In order to predict air pollution and Yellow-sand dispersion precisely, it is necessary to clarify the sensitivity of meteorological field input interval. Therefore numerical experiment by atmospheric dynamic model(RAMS) and atmospheric dispersion model(PDAS) was performed for evaluating the effect of temporal and spatial resolution of meteorological data on particle dispersion. The results are as follows: 1) Base on the result of RAMS simulation, surface wind direction and speed can either synchronize upper wind or not. If surface wind and upper wind do not synchronize, precise prediction of Yellow-sand dispersion is strongly associated with upwelling process of sand of particle. 2) There is no significant discrepance in distribution of particle under usage of difference temporal resolution of meteorological information at early time of simulation, but the difference of distribution of particles become large as time goes by. 3) There is little difference between calculated particles distributions in dispersion experiments with high temporal resolution of meteorological data. On the other hand, low resolution of meteorological data occur the quantitative difference of particle density and there is strong tendency to the quantitative difference.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.31 no.12
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• pp.999-1012
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• 2022

To investigate the reason for the spatial difference in PM_2.5 (Particulate Matter, < 2.5 ㎛) concentration despite a similar synoptic pattern, a synoptic analysis was performed. The data used for this study were the daily average PM_2.5 concentration and meteorological data observed from 2016 to 2020 in Busan and Seoul metropolitan areas. Synoptic pressure patterns associated with high PM_2.5 concentration episodes (greater than 35 ㎍/m³) were analyzed using K-means cluster analysis, based on the 900 hPa geopotential height of NCEP (National Centers for Environmental Prediction) FNL (Final analysis) data. The analysis identified three sub-groups related to high concentrations occurring only in Busan and Seoul metropolitan areas. Although the synoptic patterns of high PM_2.5 concentration episodes that occur independently in Busan and Seoul metropolitan areas were similar, there was a difference in the intensity of pressure gradient and its direction, which tends to be an important factor determining the movement time of pollutants. The spatial difference in PM_2.5 concentration in the Korean Peninsula is due to the difference and direction of the atmospheric pressure gradient that develops from southwest to northeast direction.

• Hwankyungkyoyuk
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.1-13
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• 2009

The purpose of this study is to investigate the attitudes of Korean parents on environmental education for their elementary children. To accomplish of this purpose, a questionnaire survey was administered to 231 (55 males, 176 females) parents from elementary school in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, Korea. The self-reported Environmental Education Attitude Scale was revised and adopted to measure the difference among children's grade, gender, and age of parents. The SPSS 12.0 program was used to analyze the data. The major finding of this study represented that elementary parents have a great understanding about the importance of environmental education. Through the analyses, this study found several things. 1) There were significant differences among grade and age in the necessity of environmental education. However, there were no gender differences in this field. In other words, parents have strong agreement with the necessity of environmental education in childhood. 2) There were significant differences among grade in the effect of environmental education. However, there were no gender and age differences in this area. 3) There were significant differences among grade and gender in proper areas of environmental education according to academic years. However, there was no significant age difference in this questionnaire. 4) There were significant differences among grade, gender, and age group in the level of environmental education. 5) There were significant differences among grade, gender, and age in the subject for environmental education. Further implications and limitations of this study were discussed.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.93-111
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• 2003

This study aimed to examine the water consumption of urban households according to pro-environmental attitude for environmental protection. In contrast to preview studies, this study purposed to include various related independent variables, motive to environmental behavior, in special, in the model, and suggest informative data for research, education and strategies related to environmental protection. The data were from 665 housewives living in five urban areas. For the analysis of data, frequencies, means, percentages, GLM analysis, DMR test and Chi-square test were used. The main results of this study were as follows; 1. The respondents held high pro-environmental attitude that pro-environmental behaviors are important to protect environment. The pro-environmental attitude among the respondents were statistically different from the independent variables : spouse's occupation, living area, help of housekeeper, knowledge about environmental protection, convenience to check water consumption, and perception of voluntary conservative behavior among neighborhood 2. There were great difference on water consumption among respondents. The significant independent variables to have effects on water consumption were different between water consumption per person and higher/lower average water consumption. The relationships of pro-environmental attitude and motive to pro-environmental behavior with two water consumption as dependent variables were unique. Also, living areas and knowledge about environment protection were consistently important to explain the difference of water consumption.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.27 no.11
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• pp.1049-1057
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• 2018

This study aims to analyze and compare environmental attitudes of interest groups, including visitors, local residents, Buddhist monks, and staff of the Korea National Park Service in Gayasan National Park. To achieve this purpose, five hypotheses were formulated and tested. While three hypotheses were statistically rejected, two were accepted. In every interest group, the environmental attitude level of women was higher than that of men. Local residents particularly showed statistically significant differences in accordance with occupation. The difference in environmental attitude between visitors and local residents was not statistically significant. Finally, the environmental attitude level between interest groups was divided into three groups. The staff of the Korea National Park Service showed the highest level of environmental attitude, followed by Buddhist monks, and a group of visitors and residents recorded the lowest. However, the average level of environmental attitude of every interest group scored above the mid-point of 3. Therefore, it can be concluded that there exists no difference between or conflicts among interest groups related to strengthening conservation and management policies regarding the protection of Gayasan National Park.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.46-60
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to analyze the difference of productivity according to environmental factors among 25 Regional base public hospitals. Also this study is to propose a method to improve the productivity of Regional base public hospitals in the future by improving the public performance and stable management performance by studying the productivity variables affecting profitability. The survey period was based on the last three years, and 25 Regional base public hospitals were selected for the survey. The dependent variable is the total capital medical marginal profitability and the medical profit marginal profitability which are the indicators of profitability. The independent variable, productivity, is classified into three indicators: capital productivity, labor productivity, and value added productivity. The ANOVA analysis method was used to analyze the productivity difference according to the frequency factor and the environmental factors of the Regional base public hospitals. Finally, we conducted a hierarchical regression analysis to examine the productivity variables affecting profitability. The results of this study showed that there were differences in productivity due to environmental factors such as hospital size, competition in the local medical market, and differences in management performance. The difference in productivity and profitability depending on the environmental factors suggests that it is difficult for Regional base public hospitals in each regional base to perform a balanced public service. In order to overcome this, it is necessary to provide balanced medical services such as government financial support expansion, regional medical demand forecasting and facility infrastructure construction.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.497-510
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• 2019

Objectives: The aim of this study was to secure the reliability of using the CalTOX model when evaluating LADD (or ADD) and Risk (or HQ) among local residents for the emission of BTEX (Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, Xylene) and by closely examining the difference in the confidence interval of the assessment outcomes according to the difference in the probability density function of input variables. Methods: The assessment was made by dividing it according to the method ($I^{\dagger}$) of inputting the probability density function in meteorological variables of the model with log-normal distribution and the method of inputting ($II^{\ddagger}$) after grasping the optimal probability density function using @Risk. A T-test was carried out in order to analyze the difference in confidence interval of the two assessment results. Results: It was evaluated to be 1.46E-03 mg/kg-d in LADD of Benzene, 1.96E-04 mg/kg-d in ADD of Toluene, 8.15E-05 mg/kg-d in ADD of Ethylbenzene, and 2.30E-04 mg/kg-d in ADD of Xylene. As for the predicted confidence interval in LADD and ADD, there was a significant difference between the $I^{\dagger}$ and $II^{\ddagger}$ methods in $LADD_{Inhalation}$ for Benzene, and in $ADD_{Inhalation}$ and ADD for Toluene and Xylene. It appeared to be 3.58E-05 for risk in Benzene, 3.78E-03 for HQ in Toluene, 1.48E-03 for HQ in Ethylbenzene, and 3.77E-03 for HQ in Xylene. As a result of the HQ in Toluene and Xylene, the difference in confidence interval between the $I^{\dagger}$ and $II^{\ddagger}$ methods was shown to be significant. Conclusions: The human risk assessment for BTEX was made by dividing it into the method ($I^{\dagger}$) of inputting the probability density function of meteorological variables for the CalTOX model with log-normal distribution, and the method of inputting ($II^{\ddagger}$) after grasping the optimal probability density function using @Risk. As a result, it was identified that Risk (or HQ) is the same, but that there is a significant difference in the confidence interval of Risk (or HQ) between the $I^{\dagger}$ and $II^{\ddagger}$ methods.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Environmental Toocicology Conference
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• 1998.06a
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• pp.94-98
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• 1998