• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.569-576
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• 2019

Objectives: The main purpose of this study was to assess firefighters' daily personal noise exposure and explore noise levels related to specific tasks and their contributions to total noise exposure using 24-hour full-shift noise exposure measurements with task-based data. Methods: Noise exposure was assessed for eight firefighters (two rescuers, two drivers, and four suppressors) using time-activity diaries. We collected a total of 24 full-shift personal noise sample sets (three samples per a firefighter). The 24-hour shift-adjusted daily personal noise exposure level (L_ep,d), eight weekly personal noise exposures (L_eq,w), and 40 task-specific L_eq values (L_{eq activity}) were calculated via the ISO/NIOSH method. Results: The firefighter noise-sample datasets showed that most firefighters are exposed to noise levels above EU recommended levels at a low-action value. The highest noise exposure was for rescuers, followed by drivers and suppressors. Noise measurements with time-at-task information revealed that 82.3% of noise exposure occurred when checking equipment and responding to fire or emergency calls. Conclusions: The results indicate that firefighters are at risk of noise-induced hearing loss. Therefore, efforts at noise-control are necessary for their protection. This task-specific noise exposure assessment also shows that protective measures should be focused on certain tasks, such as checking and testing equipment.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.275-282
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• 2018

Objective: Since certain chemicals are widely applied in a variety of consumer products, exposure via simultaneous use of multiple consumer products can put human health at risk. For this reason, use patterns of consumer products are an important factor inhuman health risk assessment. The aim of this study is to investigate co-use patterns of air-fresheners and deodorizers in Korea in order to estimate potential cumulative exposure. Methods: To collect the information on use patterns of air-fresheners and deodorizers, ten air-fresheners and 14 deodorizers were selected. A total of 3,000 participants were recruited and asked through on line questionnaires whether they had simultaneously used the selected air-fresheners and deodorant products in their daily lives. Results: Among the 3,000 participants, 45.6% had used more than two air fresheners and 46.3% used more than two deodorizers. The most common types of air fresheners used concurrently include liquid and candle types for indoor environments, while those of deodorizers were fabric trigger sprays and refrigerator gels. In addition, 73.7% used more than two products without product categories. Fabric trigger sprays were contained in all of the high-ranking product combinations. Conclusions: This study showed that many consumers concurrently used air-fresheners and deodorizers in their daily routines. For accurate exposure assessment, co-use patterns of consumer products should be further investigated.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.11 no.3_4
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• pp.75-87
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• 1996

There are numerous and evidential findings that TCDD (2, 3, 7, 8-tetrachlorodibenzo-Pdioxin, or dioxin) is a potential carcinogen and general toxin in rodents. flowever, human risk assessment for dioxin exposure has been a topic of debate, owing in part to the large animal interspecies differences in its toxicity. We review dioxin-related reports indicating its toxicity, toxic effects in animal, and human epidemiologic findings. The intent of this paper does not provide a causal inference about chronic human diseases related to dioxin exposure. This summary would give a valuable clue for a researcher to conduct or design a further dioxin-related study.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.538-541
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• 2009

Humans have a long history of asbestos use. There are reports from the Roman era, of asbestos victims among the slaves who worked in asbestos mines. The fact that asbestos can induce lung cancer and mesothelioma was verified epidemiologically in the 1960s. Asbestos related diseases are predominantly occupational in nature but can be caused by environmental exposure. Environmental mesothelioma is mainly associated with tremolite asbestos and this information comes from many countries including Turkey, Greece, Corsica, New Caledonia and Cyprus. In 1993, the first case of mesothelioma in Korea was reported in an asbestos textile worker. Recently, some asbestos disease victims who lived near an asbestos factory have their cases before the courts. A series of recent asbestos-related events in Korea, for example, the shocking revelation of asbestos containing talc in baby powders have caused the general public to become aware of the health risks of asbestos exposure. Asbestos related diseases are characterized by a long latency period, especially, mesothelioma which has no threshold of safety. Hence the best strategy for preventing asbestos related diseases is to decrease asbestos exposure levels to as low as possible.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.393-397
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• 2012

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to measure passengers' exposure to ultrafine particles (UFP) and to determine effects of fuel, operating condition and position of seat. Method: UFP exposures in front and back seats of the Elephant vehicle in Seoul Grand Park were simultaneously measured by a condensation particle counter (P-Trak model 8525, TSI). The measurements were conducted 7 times with diesel-powered vehicle and 3 times with electricity vehicle in one day. The vehicle stopped at 3 locations along with 2.2 km of driving route. Results: UFP concentration in diesel-powered vehicle was significantly higher than electricity vehicle. At front seat of diesel-powered vehicle, average UFP exposure during stopping was significantly higher than during moving. When diesel-powered vehicle moved, UFP exposure in back seat was significantly higher than in front seat. Conclusions: Passengers in the diesel-powered Elephant vehicle could be exposed to high level of UFP. The UFP exposure was associated with operation condition and position of seat.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.95-105
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• 2009

Chemical Ranking and Scoring (CRS) system is a useful tool to screen priority chemicals of large body of substances. The relative ranking of chemicals based on CRS system has served as a decision-making support tools. Exposure potential and toxicity are significant parameters in CRS system, and there are differences in evaluating those parameters in each CRS system. In this study, the parameters of exposure potential, human toxicity, and ecotoxicity were extensively compared. In addition the scoring methods in each parameter were analyzed. The CRS systems considered in this study include the CHEMS-1 (Chemical Hazard Evaluation for Management Strategies), SCRAM (Scoring and Ranking Assessment Model), EURAM (European Union Risk Ranking Method), ARET (Accelerated Reduction/Elimination of Toxics), and CRS-Korea. An comparative analysis of the several CRS systems is presented based on their assessment parameters and scoring methods.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.247-254
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• 2007

This study was performed with the questionnaire survey on mercury knowledge and mercury exposure avoidance behavior, which was conducted among 1076 dental personnel in September, 2004. As for the factors effecting the mercury knowledge, it seems that they are closely related with the personnel's educational backgrounds, and their understandings of causing environmental hazardousness in the dental offices. And also, the factors effecting the behavior of mercury exposure avoidance are strongly connected with the knowledge points on mercury, the knowledge of air states in the dental clinic offices, the use of pincettes and gloves in squeezing, and rubber dam and gloves in mulling, the experience of environmental education on mercury, etc. In the survey, the higher points in mercury knowledge is closely related with the higher points in the behavior of mercury exposure avoidance. Nevertheless, the very fact that the lower points in the behavior among personnel takes on the aspect of the relatively higher points in knowledge on mercury may be understood that the generally acquired knowledge on mercury cannot be the critical factor of the behavior of mercury exposure avoidance.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.20 no.11
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• pp.1373-1382
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• 2011

This research had been conducted from May to October 2007, studying 110 residents of G, Y, H industrial area in Jun-nam province. It is designed to understand the difference in levels of indoor, outdoor and personal exposure to VOCs(benzene, toluene, Ethylbenzene) and a health risk assessment was conducted to see if there was any fatal cause from carcinogenic or non - carcinogenic elements from a case group and a control group in all areas as well as each different area. In the case of benzene in the air, the geometric levels for the case group are indoor, outdoor and personal exposure; a higher than for the control group. As a results of the Monte - Carlo study about benzene, it shows that the case group's carcinogenicity is higher than that of the control group and it also shows that, on the CTE, RME condition and Monte - Carlo analysis, all subjects are seen to exceed the carcinogenicity tolerance $10^{-6}$ of US EPA. In the case of toluene, ethylbenzene on the CTE, RME condition and Monte - Carlo analysis, these do not exceed the non - carcinogenic standard of 1, but toluene in RME condition for both groups' personal exposure and the indoor and personal exposure of ethylbenzene in Monte - Carlo show that these seem to exceed the standard.

• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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• v.34
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• pp.16.1-16.11
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• 2022

Background: Antimony is used in catalysts, pesticides, brake systems, pharmaceuticals, and synthetic fire retardants in the plastic, paint, and rubber industries. Accumulation of trivalent antimony compounds in the body can cause cardiotoxic effects and increase the risk of electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities and sudden death. Antimony exposure can result in action potential prolongation, causing a cardiac repolarization delay, which appears as QTc prolongation and T-wave abnormalities on the ECG. There are no studies on antimony-associated cardiac toxicity in Korea. Case presentation: Accordingly, the present study reports cases of ECG abnormalities in workers handling antimony trisulfide at a company located in the Gyeongsangbuk-do region. Nineteen workers employed at an automobile brake lining manufacturer were exposed to antimony trisulfide dust through thermoforming, grinding, and drilling processes. In 2020, the workers were reported to work 12-hour shifts, 5 days a week. The time-weighted average (TWA) of antimony trisulfide exposure measured in workers was 0.0028 mg/m³. Two workers were excluded from the analysis due to pre-existing medical conditions (cardiovascular disease). Of the remaining 17 workers, ECG abnormalities were found in 41% (seven out of 17: four with QTc prolongation and T-wave abnormalities; two with only T-wave abnormalities; and one with only QTc prolongation). Conclusions: This case report outlines the first few cases in Korea in which potential cardiac toxicity caused by occupational exposure to antimony was identified. However, data regarding cardiac toxicity caused by antimony exposure are still lacking in Korea; thus, additional studies are needed to identify causal relationships.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.107-114
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• 2018

Objectives: The objectives of this study are to describe strategy for exposure assessment of humidifier disinfectant (HD) used in the national program to associate the use of HD with lung injury. Methods: Strategy and method employed to evaluate HD use characteristics were developed to associate health effects including HD associated with lung injury (HDLI). We developed HD-specific questionnaire to assess potential HD exposure, which was consistently used in the national program. Trained environmental health scientists visited the residences of registered subjects and investigated HD use characteristics. Results: Major HD exposure related variables were type of HD brand/s used; HD volume added to the humidifier, frequency of HD addition, and time spent in room/s with the humidifier; duration of HD use in the household in average months/year, weeks/month, and days/week; average sleeping hours in a room with an operating humidifier containing a disinfectant; number of HD brands used and type of HD; average distance of the bed from the humidifier in meters. Conclusions: We concluded that estimated airborne HD concentration was significantly associated with the risk of HDLI.