• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제40권1호
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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.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제44권6호
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• pp.572-580
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• 2018

Objectives: Human biomonitoring (HBM) is a measurement of the chemicals and their metabolites in human biological samples and has been successfully employed to determine the exposure levels of environmental chemicals. In this study, we analyzed seasonal variations of the blood or urinary levels of chemicals, and assessed that these differences could affect the results of association study. Methods: The Korea National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) is a nationwide survey that analyzes exposure levels of environmental pollutants, 19 kinds of chemicals including heavy metals and organic chemicals, and the exposure factors in the general population. Based on KoNEHS data, we analyzed the levels of chemicals concentrations over the total survey period (2012-2014) and each season, and assessed the association of thyroid measures with phthalate metabolite and BPA. Results: Exposure levels of blood mercury and lead were lower in summer compare to winter. Bisphenol A and PAHs metabolites were higher in spring and summer, but lower in autumn. VOCs metabolites were generally lower in summer and autumn. Phthalate metabolites were higher in all other seasons than in winter. Pyrethroid metabolite, 3-PBA, was higher in summer and autumn. Regarding seasonal variation of chemical exposures, the statistical significance and size of effects between thyroid measures and phthalate and BPA were changed with season. Conclusion: Seasonal variations of chemical exposure and health outcome should be considered for interpreting biomonitoring results from a public health context.

• 한국환경보건학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국환경보건학회 2005년도 Proceedings of KSEH.Minamata Forum
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• pp.16-16
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• 2005

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제45권2호
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• pp.142-153
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• 2019

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine environmental chemical exposure related to residential and personal lifestyle characteristics in the adult Korean population. The observations of this study can provide information useful for developing reduction approaches for exposure to chemicals among the general adult population. Methods: The second stage of the Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNHES) was conducted from 2012 to 2014, with 6,478 persons participating. Using the results of the survey, the relationship between exposure levels of heavy metals and organic chemicals and exposure factors, e.g. residential and personal lifestyle characteristics, were analyzed. Results: The exposure levels of VOCs and PAHs were significantly lower in participants living at a distance of more than 100 m from roads versus living closer to roads. Home ventilation lowered VOC and PAH exposure but did not lower chemical exposure from household products. Use of public transportation showed lower exposure to heavy metals, VOCs, and PAHs. Current smoker was significantly higher for levels of heavy metals, VOCs, and PAHs, and the exposure trend was similar for current drinkers. Physical activity was related with higher exposure to phthalates and environmental phenols. Conclusion: Our observations based on a nationally representative population for Korea show that exposure to chemicals varies by residential and personal lifestyle, and this should be considered for developing appropriate mitigation measures and policies. Given the health concerns surrounding environmental chemicals, it is necessary to develop comprehensive measures to reduce chemical exposure.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• 제30권sup호
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• pp.5.1-5.5
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• 2015

Objectives To protect public health from risk, the Minister of Environment in Korea legislated an act concerning the registration and evaluation of chemical substances. In this study, we estimated the value of a statistical life (VSL) of carcinogenic chemicals to evaluate the socioeconomic analysis in Korea. Methods The estimation of the health benefit can be calculated through an individual's VSL and willingness to pay (WTP). To estimate the VSL and WTP, we used a contingent valuation method through a web-based survey. Results The survey is conducted with 1434 people living in Seoul and six large cities. An analysis of the survey is essential to review the distribution of the characteristics of the target population. The statistically significant variables affecting the WTP are location, age, household income, quality of life. Through the review of data, we secured statistical validity. The WTP was estimated as 41205 Korean won (KRW)/person, and the estimated VSL appeared as 796 million KRW/person. Conclusions There is a case in which the amount of statistical life value is estimated in connection with domestic environmental policy, fine dust, etc. However, there are no cases of evaluation for chemical. The utilization of this result is possible for conducting other study with chemicals.

• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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• 제35권
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• pp.49.1-49.7
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• 2023

The Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS) is a state-approved statistical survey that has been conducted by the Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute (OSHRI) every 3 years since 2006 to monitor changes in the working conditions of Koreans. This cross-sectional national survey involves a sample of 50,000 employed people aged 15 or older. KWCS measures various working conditions through > 130 survey questions, including questions regarding working hours, labor intensity, work-life balance, degree of exposure to risk factors, and subjective health status. Professional survey interviewers visit households and conduct face to face interviews. KWCS provides data and statistics for occupational safety and health polices and research in Korea. Furthermore, OSHRI holds academic conferences every year, awards high-quality academic papers, and supports researchers using data. Microdata is publicly available through the OSHRI website (https://oshri.kosha.or.kr).

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제47권3호
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• pp.227-244
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• 2021

Objectives: The Korean National Environmental Health Survey provides representative biomonitoring data for environmental pollutants in South Korea. Over the last decade, there have been various studies published using this data. In this study, we aimed to provide information and implications by reviewing each study. Methods: We searched comprehensive electronic databases from PubMed, Google Scholar, and Naver Academic database using the key words 'Korean National Environmental Health Survey' and 'KoNEHS' through March 2021. A total of 57 studies were selected after reviewing the relevance of the data. Results: The most frequently studied pollutants were heavy metals (10), Cotinine (8), Bisphenol A (7), and Phthalates (6), in that order. In particular, Phthalates, Bisphenol A, and Parabens were often studied together (6). A decline in urinary cotinine and heavy metals in the body was shown over time among studies on exposure association. It was demonstrated that Phthalates and Bisphenol A were significantly related to obesity and diabetes from the studies of health impacts. Cross-section study design, spot urine, and insufficient health status information were mostly reported as limitations of the data. Conclusion: Since research has been focused on adults, further investigations of children and adolescents are required. In this regard, it is necessary to maintain the consistency of the data structure and provide integrated weights for all ages. In addition, it would allow the measurement of several environmental pollutants by considering subsample design. Lastly, integrated studies with multi-cycles and the health effects from co-exposure to multiple chemicals would be expected to provide important knowledge.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제33권5호
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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.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제13권2호
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• pp.141-147
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• 2022

Background: On the basis of its role for the development of occupational health research, information, good practices, the International Commission on Occupational Health (ICOH) launched the present survey to collect information on public health and prevention policies put in place by the governments of the countries in the world to contain the pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted through an online questionnaire focused on COVID-19 data, public health policies, prevention measures, support measures for economy, work, and education, personal protective equipment, intensive care units, contact tracing, return to work, and the role of ICOH against COVID-19. The questionnaire was administered to 113 ICOH National Secretaries and senior OSH experts. Collected data refer to the period ranging from the beginning of the pandemic in each country to June 30, 2020. Results: A total of 73 questionnaires from 73 countries around the world were considered valid, with a 64.6% response rate. Most of the respondents (71.2%) reported that the state of emergency was declared in their country, and 86.1% reported lockdown measures. Most of the respondents (66.7%) affirmed that the use of face masks was compulsory in their country. As for containment measures, 97.2% indicated that mass gatherings (meetings) were limited. Regarding workplace closing, the most affected sector was entertainment (90.1%). Conclusion: The results of this survey are useful to gain a global view on COVID-19 policy responses at country level.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제46권3호
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• pp.297-311
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• 2020

Objective: We compared the level of blood cadmium exposure with health impacts by using data from a survey of residents near an abandoned mine and a national health survey. Methods: For this study, we used data from 7,046 individuals who participated in the Health Effects Survey of Abandoned Metal Mines (AMS, 2008-2011) and 6,871 individuals who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey IV-VI (KNHANES, 2008-2013). To evaluate the health impacts, the quartiles (S1 to S4) were classified according to blood cadmium concentration, and then the odds ratios of S2 to S4 over S1 for exceeding the reference values of renal function, blood pressure, and bone density were compared. Similarly, the odds ratio of AMS over KNHANES was confirmed. Results: In the AMS, adjusted for general characteristics, the geometric mean of blood cadmium concentration was 1.34 ㎍/L, which was statistically significantly higher than that of the KNHANES 1.22 ㎍/L (p<0.001). In the integrated data of AMS and KNHANES, the estimated odds ratio of S4 over S1 for exceeding the reference value was found to be 1.70 for serum creatinine, 1.71 for hypertension, and a T-score 2.02 for the tarsal bone. They were all statistically significant. Conclusion: Residents around abandoned metal mines had a higher blood cadmium concentration than the general population, and the odds for exceeding the reference values were higher for some health indicators. Continuous biomonitoring should be conducted for vulnerable areas such as around abandoned metal mines, and measures to reduce cadmium exposure and management of chronic diseases are needed.