• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
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• 2002.04a
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• pp.1.1-2
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• 2002

Ultimate objective of industrial hygiene is the prevention of health impairment that may result from exposure to chemicals at workplaces. This implies the definition of permissible levels of exposure, that is, levels that according to the present status of knowledge are estimated to cause no adverse health effects during the lifetime of the workers, and the regular assessment of the possible health risk associated with exposure by comparing the current or the integrated exposure with the permissible exposure limits. Workers in solvent thinner-using occupation environment might be highly exposed to VOCs(volatile organic compounds) because solvent thinner has been used extensively such as painting, spraying, degreasing, coating and so on in Korea. The purpose of this study was to recognize, evaluate and propose the alternative control the VOCs from solvent thinner-using workplace.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2007

Medaka(Oryzias latipes) and earthworm(Eisenia fetida) toxicity tests were carried out and ecological risk assessment in water and soil was performed with national monitoring data. NOEC of alachlor was $100\;{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$ in the medaka early life-stage test. Embryonic development, hatchability and time to hatching of medaka eggs were affected by this chemical. The $LC_{50}$ and NOEC of alachlor were $94.1\;mg\;kg^{-1}\;and\;55.0\;mg\;kg^{-1}$, respectively, in the earthworm acute toxicity test. The environmental monitoring has been carrying out by NIER since 1999. Exposure levels of alachlor in water and soil were $ND{\sim}0.54\;{\mu}g\;L^{-1}\;and\;ND{\sim}0.9\;{\mu}g\;kg^{-1}$, respectively, in national monitoring data which had been performed from 2000 to 2004. The measured water and soil exposure levels were applied to evaluate the environmental risk assessment. The PNEC of alachlor in water and in soil were determined as $1\;{\mu}g\;L^{-1}\;and\;55.0\;{\mu}g\;kg^{-1}$, respectively using the safety factors which were suggested in EU and OECD. The HQs (PEC/PNEC) were determined to be below 1 for both water and soil when the maximum exposure levels ($0.54\;{\mu}g\; L^{-1}$ in water and $0.9\;{\mu}g\;kg^{-1}$ in soil) were applied. Conclusively, our study indicated that there was not significant ecological risk of alachlor in water and soil of our monitoring sites.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.360-365
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• 2008

In the last several years, studies on the association of oxidative stress damage with exposure in the work place have been conducted. Xenobiotics create an imbalance of the homeostasis between oxidant molecules and antioxidant defense. By monitoring oxidative stress biomarkers, information was obtained on damages induced by oxidative stress and the toxicity of xenobiotics. In the present study, a Job Exposure Matrix (JEM) was constructed using the data from the Working Environment Measurement (WEM) of painters in the shipyard industry from the past 3 years to assess the exposure status. Additionally, by measuring the concentration of urinary malondialdehyde (MDA), the effect of lipid peroxidation was examined. The subjects consisted of 68 workers who were exposed to mixed organic solvents in the painting process and 25 non-exposure controls. The exposure indices of the exposure groups were significantly different (sprayer: 0.83, touchup: 0.54, assistant: 0.13, P<0.05). The urinary MDA concentration of the exposure group was 48.60${\pm}$ 39.23 ${\mu}mol$/mol creatinine, which was significantly higher than 18.03${\pm}$16.33 ${\mu}mol$/mol creatinine of the control group (P<0.05). From the multiple regression analysis of urinary MDA, the regression coefficient for exposure grade was statistically significant. In future studies, evaluation of the antioxidant levels of subjects should be performed simultaneously with quantitative exposure measurements.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.22 no.2 s.57
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• pp.157-163
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• 2007

Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) is the most widely used BFR (brominated flame retardants) as a reactive flame retardant in printed circuit boards, and as additive applications in several types of polymers. The purpose of this study is to assess the adverse effects of TBBPA on the benthic amphipod (Hyalella azteca). Results on the acute toxicity of TBBPA using Hyalella azteca showed that NOEC and LOEC are 100mg/kg and 200mg/kg, respectively. In addition, when chronic toxicity of TBBPA was investigated at the concentration ranges between 0.01 to 100mg/kg, it was found that NOECs are $10mg/kg(fecundity){\sim}100mg/kg(viability)$, respectively. Significant fecundity inhibition was appeared at 100mg/kg of TBBPA, however, this concentration did not show severe adverse effect on weight increment. The values of PNEC were determined as 0.1mg/kg (fecundity) and 1mg/kg (lethal effect), respectively, using a safety factor suggested by EU and OECD.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2014

Objectives: The purpose of this review is to suggest future directions for the Korean Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) in terms of an environmental health monitoring system and recent environmental health issues in Korea. Methods: The national scale biomonitoring program and environmental health researches which conducted by Ministry of Environment was reviewed for this study. The scope, contents and utilization of results of KoNEHS as a biomonitoring program and other basic function for environmental health monitoring was analyzed. Results: Biomonitoring survey was conducted for basic functions, such as evaluating exposure levels of environmental chemicals and analyzing exposure factors. In order to expand the basic purposes of KoNEHS, the biomonitoring function should be strengthened by enlarging the range of chemicals analyzed and including all age groups in the biomonitoring and health status monitoring functions by using official health-care and mortality data. Exposure factors such as time-activity patterns and micro-environmental pollution levels were studied. The data from the environmental health study were established into a standardized database system for supporting environmental health policy. A definition and concept of environmental health services should be established. Conclusion: To achieve the aims of environmental health, changes in environmental health status and related factors must be observed and predicted reflecting real conditions. In this regard, improving the methodology and system through diverse approaches is necessary for KoNEHS.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.437-444
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• 2019

Background: Headache/eyestrain symptoms are common health problems that people experience in daily life. Various studies have examined risk factors contributing to headache/eyestrains, and physicochemical exposure was found to be a leading risk factor in causing such symptoms. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of headache/eyestrain symptoms with physicochemical exposure among Korean construction workers depended on worksite. Methods: This study used data from the 4th Korean Workers Conditions Survey and selected 1,945 Korean construction workers as participants. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to determine the relationship. Results: Exposure to vibrations among all construction workers affected the moderate exposure group [odds ratio (OR) 1.53, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01-2.32], the high exposure group (OR 1.77 95%CI 1.17-2.67), and the indoor high exposure group (OR 1.61, 95%CI 1.02-2.55) and among outdoor construction workers, the moderate group (OR 6.61, 95%CI 15.4-28.48) and the high group (OR 6.61, 95%CI 1.56-27.98). When exposed to mist, dust, and fumes, the indoor high exposure group was significantly affected (OR 1.63, 95%CI 1.07-2.47). All construction workers exposed to organic solvents were affected, high exposure group (OR 1.69, 95%CI 1.15-2.49) and indoor high exposure group (OR 1.77, 95%CI 1.08-2.89). The high exposure group in all construction worker (OR 1.70, 95%CI 1.20-2.42) and the indoor high exposure group (OR 1.83, 95%CI 1.17-2.89) also were affected by secondhand smoking exposure. Conclusion: Many physicochemical exposure factors affect headache/eyestrain symptoms among construction workers, especially indoor construction workers, suggesting a deficiency in occupational hygiene and health environments at indoor construction worksites.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.45-52
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• 2009

In recent years, pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment have become a matter of increasing public concern. Environmental risk assessment (ERA), including an exposure assessment, is considered the best scientifically based approach for evaluating the potential effects of pharmaceuticals on ecosystems. Computerized exposure models constitute an important tool in predicting environmental exposures of pharmaceuticals. This paper presents the applicability of an exposure model by comparing measured data of selected pharmaceuticals with predicted environmental concentrations from an exposure model. $PhATE^{TM}$ (Pharmaceutical Assessment and Transport Evaluation) model developed by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) was adapted to run simulations for the Keum River. A set of 7 pharmaceuticals of high production in Korea was modeled. The PECs generated by the $PhATE^{TM}$ model that were then compared to the measured concentrations. The $PhATE^{TM}$ model predicted concentrations for 7 pharmaceuticals including acetaminophen, acetylsalicylic acid, erythromycin, ibuprofen, lincomycin, mefenamic acid, and naproxen were in good agreement with actual measured concentrations, which demonstrated the utility of $PhATE^{TM}$ as a predictive tool. In conclusion, $PhATE^{TM}$, although it does not intend to accurately represent reality, could be utilized for rapid predictions of the environmental concentrations of pharmaceuticals.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.386-391
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• 2007

Mercury contamination and its health effects have become major concern of environmental health study in Korea. Mercury exposure of some group were investigated to get the accurate data for policy making and study. About 2,000 children at 26 elementary schools participated in this survey to evaluate the exposure levels and to investigate main exposure source of mercury. Analysis of mercury levels in the whole blood and urine samples were conducted and questionnaire survey was done about the factors influencing exposures simultaneously. Mercury exposure levels of domestic children were N.D. to 17.26 ppb in blood, 0.17 to $21.67{\mu}g/g$-creatinine in urine. The mean(arithmetic) levels are 2.42 ppb in blood and $2.53{\mu}g/g$-creatinine in urine. Both of them were below the recommendation levels of US EPA and German CHBM I $5.8{\mu}g/l$ and $5{\mu}g/l$ in blood, $5{\mu}g/g$-creatinine of German CHBM I in urine. But 1%, 0.51% of levels in blood exceed the level of CHBM I and US EPA, 8%, 0.85% of children were over the level of CHBM I and CHBM II in urine. Multi-valuable regression analysis showed that the existence of road near the residence in addition to the preference for fish have significance with blood mercury exposure level of domestic children. The existence of factory near the house and the experience of dental amalgam treatment had statistical relations with urine mercury level.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.151-161
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• 2013

The assessment of personal exposure is a critical component in population-based epidemiologic studies of air pollution. This study was conducted to apply and compare the four exposure estimation methods of individual-level to air pollution concentration in a cohort including 2,283 subjects in Gwangyang, Korea. Individual-level exposure of air pollution were estimated using multiple approaches, including average across all monitors, nearest monitor, and spatial interpolation by inverse distance weighting and kriging. The mean concentrations of $PM_{10}$, $NO_2$, $SO_2$, CO, $O_3$ by four exposure estimation methods were slightly different but not significantly different from each other. Cross-validation showed that kriging was more accurate than other exposure estimation methods because kriging has probably predicted individual exposure levels equivalent to residential locations after estimating the parameters of a model according to the spatial surface of air pollution concentration. These data support that spatial interpolation methods may provide better estimates than selecting the value from the nearest monitor and averaging across values from all monitors by reflecting spatial attributes of air pollution on personal level.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.81-93
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• 2011

Although pesticides have increased crop production and controlled disease, they have produced a number of adverse health effects. Pesticides have potential human toxicity and a variety of groups, such as farmers or industrial workers, as well as the general population, are exposed to pesticides. The purpose of this article, therefore, is to provide an overview of pesticide exposure and health through a literature review, focusing on exposure assessment, acute poisoning, chronic health effects, and future research needs. The exposure types and levels of pesticides vary by study subjects and need to be assessed by integrating several methods focused on the epidemiological purpose. Acute pesticide poisoning is a major public health problem in the world. Paraquat is the main causative pesticide for acute poisoning in Korea and should be banned in order to save several thousands of lives every year. Occupational pesticide exposure also causes numerous chronic diseases among farmers and industrial workers, including cancers, respiratory diseases, depression, retinal degeneration, diabetes, and abnormal menstrual cycle. However, controversy exists regarding the long-term effects of low-dose environmental pesticide exposure. The area of pesticide study is relatively new with broad study populations and it has received little academic and policy attention, particularly in Korea. More detailed studies investigating the risk of pesticide-related health effects and intervention efforts to reduce the problems are needed in Korea.