• 지역사회간호학회지
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• 제13권1호
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• pp.79-88
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• 2002

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the indoor environment i.e. house type and age, ventilation method, use of bed & sofa, cockroach, ants, etc. on HDM (House dust mites), especially Der fI allergen. Method: Samples of dust from mattresses, pillows and the floor were collected by using a vacuum cleaner from April. 2000. The amount of Group I allergen(Der. fI) of HDM (house dust mites) were measured by two-site ELISA. Indoor Environmental characteristics were accessed by using questionnaires on 178 house wives living in the Seoul area. Results: The amount of HDM allergen (Der fI) was higher in sofa using house. There were higher concentrations of HDM allergen (Der fI) in sofas made from quilt material than for those that were made from leather. Homes that had pets like dogs living in them had higher concentrations of HDM allergen (Der fI) than without dogs. Conclusion: The photophobic mites thrive in dark. warm and humid environments; Items such as pillows. mattresses, box springs, blankets. carpets. and upholstered furniture should be considered ideal environments for the mite. Therefore, an indoor environmental control program should be carried out to avoid the HDM allergen.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제13권2호
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• pp.25-33
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• 1987

This study was carried out to evaluate student exposures to dust in classroom of middle schools. A total of four schools, such as two in an urban and two in a rural area, were selected for this study. In this study, airborne dust concentrations were measured during a period from July 8 to July 18, 1986. Additional measurements of dust concentrations were conducted from November 4 to 7, 1986 to compare the results by seasonal variation. The results of this study were as follows. 1. Respirable dust concentrations were measured by both filtration method (C mg/m$^3$) and Digital Aerosol Monitor (cpm) to calculate anexchange factor K. K- value was 0.159 as follows. $K=\frac{c}{cpm} = \frac{2.71}{17.09} = 0.159$ 2. In summer when windows were opened, the concentrations of airborne respirable dusts measured by filter sampling method were 0.54-1.37 mg/m$^3$ in the morning and 0.79-1.75 mg/m$^3$ in the afternoon. Thus, higher levels were indicated in the afternoon. Meanwhile, the concentrations of airborne respirable dusts measured in winter were approximately twice as high as those in summer. 3. The highest dust concentrations were determined in School D which is a coeducational school with classroom of concrete floor. Walking roads in School D were not paved and students did not wear indoor-shoes. Dust levels in School D were approximately twice as high as levels in School B. All of the measured dust levels in four schools exceeded Korean Standard for outdoor air, 0.3 mg/m$^3$ for 24 hours. Results by Digital Aerosol Monitor indicated that there was no significant difference in dust levels among grades. The concentration of airborne dusts in the classroom was 1.5-3.0 times higher than that in the hall way. The concentration of airborne dusts during recess was 1.3-1.6 times higher than that during class. In winter, the dust concentrations during clean-up exceeded the permissible exposure limit, 10 mg/m$^3$ (as total dusts), for occupational exposures. 4. The concentrations of total dusts measured in winter were 1.5-2.4 times higher than those of respirable dusts measured simultaneously.

• 가정과삶의질연구
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.107-125
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• 2005

Each ethnic group has a different cultural background and has developed its own culture in the name of a tradition. The interaction between different cultures is ever increasing through the process of acculturation or culture contact The purpose of this study is to provide baseline information about domestic living of Korean immigrants in Australia and Australians for a larger cross-cultural study project. As the first step, the usage of domestic space and seating styles of 52 Korean households in Melbourne were analyzed. Ethnographic research was conducted, utilizing a questionnaire. The findings of this research are as follows: 1. The most popular type of Living-Dining-Kitchen arrangement was the one which the kitchen is separated from the living and dining area. The level of satisfaction was the highest when the living room, dining room, and kitchen were all separated. 2. A laundry room was indispensable for Koreans in Australia, and they wanted to dry laundry and do ironing in there. Most people were satisfied with the toilet separated from the bathroom A drain hole on the floor of the bathroom was not indispensable for most Korean-Australians. 3. Korean-Australians tend to engage in various activities in their individual rooms, and they estimated that the size of most rooms were small. They also wanted to renovate the house to expand the rooms. 4. The seating style of Korean-Australians was mostly chair-seating. Yet, they often made beds on the floor for guests, and made kimchi sitting on the floor. Also, when they were relaxing, they were using both chair-seating and floor-seating. 5. Korean-Australians were not very satisfied with the use of floor carpets because of the dust collected on the carpets, and the difficulty to clean. It may be related to their preferred floor seating style, as well. 6. Almost all Korean-Australians take off their shoes inside of the house for hygienic reasons. They had a shoes cabinet at the entrance inside of the house. 7. The most popular heating system was ducted heating. The level of satisfaction about this was moderate because hot air contains lots of dust and it makes rooms very dry. Many were using electric blankets and their desired heating system was Ondol (heated floor). 8. Korean-Australians thought that the living room was the most important place for the family, and believed it should be decorated well to entertain guests. They also pointed out that the lighting was not bright enough in general.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제27권4호
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• pp.324-332
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• 2017

Objectives: Much scientific evidence indicate a positive association between moldy environments and respiratory illnesses and/or symptoms. However, few comprehensive assessments of mold have been performed for such settings. Spore counts or microscopic enumeration only may not be sufficient for evaluating fungal exposure. Recently, Mold Specific QPCR technology developed by the US EPA (Environmental Relative Moldiness Index, ERMI) has been widely used worldwide and great performance for assessing fungal exposure has been shown. Methods: We aimed to develop a Korean version of ERMI suitable for the distribution of fungal flora in Korea. Thirty dwellings in the Seoul and Incheon area were selected for sampling, and each was classified as 'Flooded, 'Water-damaged' or 'Non-water-damaged'. Results: Dust on the floor and airborne sampling were collected using an MAS100 and a 'Dustream' collector. Samples were analyzed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction(QPCR) for the 36 molds belonging to ERMI. Student t-test and ANOVA tests were carried out using SAS software. The median ERMI values of flooded, water damaged, and non-water damaged dwellings were 8.24(range: -5.6 to 27.9), 5.47(-25. 4 to 32.7), and -15.30(-24.6 to 14.8), respectively. Significant differences were observed between flooded and non-water damaged dwellings (P=0.001) and between water-damaged and non-water damaged dwellings (P=0.032). Conclusion: Our findings indicate that ERMI values attributed to dust samples in Korea could be applicable for the identification of flooded or water damaged buildings. However, much data is needed for continuously developing the Korean version of ERMI values.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제46권3호
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• pp.187-189
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• 2008

House dust mites produce inhalant allergens of importance to allergic patients, We measured the major group 1 allergens, Der p 1 and Der f 1, from the house dust mites Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farina, respectively in 100 randomly selected domestic homes from Cheonan, Korea, Dust samples were collected by vacuuming from the living room floor and 1 mattress in each home, Der p 1 and Der f 1 were measured by double mono-clonal ELISA. Der p 1 levels were very low, with geometric mean levels for floors and mattresses being $0.11\;{\mu}g/g$ (range: 0.01-4.05) and $0.14\;{\mu}g/g$ (range: 0.01-30.0), respectively. Corresponding levels of Der f 1 were higher, $7.46\;{\mu}g/g$ (range: 0.01-262.9) and $10.2\;{\mu}g/g$ (range: 0.01-230.9) for floors and mattresses, respectively. D. farinae appears to be the dominant house dust mite in Cheonan.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제37권4호
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• pp.279-288
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• 2011

Objectives: This study investigated the levels and components of floor-settled dust in two elementary schools located at different sites (one near the Shihwa industrial complex and the other in a rural area) in order to evaluate the amounts of trace metal elements (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) and microorganisms. Methods: Over twenty settled-dust samples were collected from the two elementary schools. Trace metal elements were extracted from the dust using hydrochloric acid and nitric acid, and the amounts were measured by ICP-OES. Microbiological analysis was performed by bacterial culturing using R2A medium and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Results: The results showed that the amounts of three metal elements (Cr, Pb, and Zn) were significantly different between the schools (${\alpha}$=0.05, p<0.04). In addition, microbial communities in each school were highly correlated with one another. Among the identified microorganisms, a number of potentially opportunistic microorganisms, including antibiotic-resistant bacteria such as Acinetobacter baumannii, were found. Conclusions: This study will provide preliminary data for assessing levels and types of chemical and microbiological agents in elementary schools and for further evaluating human health risks associated with the agents.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제28권4호
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• pp.382-392
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• 2018

Objective: Allergic diseases such as asthma due to fungal exposure in houses have increased, and proper management is urgent. Mold can grow in the air, floor, walls, and other areas according to environmental conditions, and there are many limitations to the conventional methodology for examining fungal exposure. For this reason, the degree of fungal contamination is being evaluated by ERMI (Environmental Relative Moldiness Index), a quantitative analysis method proposed by the EPA. In this study, we compared ERMI values between water-damaged dwellings and non-damaged ones to evaluate the effectiveness of Korean ERMI values. We also explored the association of ERMI values with the level of airborne mold and characteristics of dwellings. Methods: Floor dust was collected after installing a Dustream collector on the suction port of a vacuum cleaner. The collected samples were filtered to remove only 5 mg of dust, and DNA was extracted using the FastDNA SPIN KIT protocol. Results: The ERMI values were found to be 19.6 (-6.9-58.8) for flooded houses, 7.5 (-29.2-48.3) for leaks/condensation, and 0.8 (-29.2-37.9) for non-damaged dwellings. The airborne concentration of mold for flooded, leakage or condensed, and non-damaged houses were $684CFU/m^3$, $566CFU/m^3$, and $378CFU/m^3$, respectively. The correlation between ERMI values and the levels of airborne mold was low (R = 0.038), but a weakly significant association of the ERMI values with the concentration of particulate matter ($PM_{10}$) was observed as well(R=0.231,P<0.05). Conclusions: Our findings show that the reference value using ERMI can be used to distinguish water-damaged and non-damaged dwellings. It is believed that ERMI values could be a promising tool for assessing long-term fungal exposure in dwellings.

• 한국산학기술학회논문지
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• 제19권3호
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• pp.679-686
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• 2018

지하철 터널 내에 축적된 미세먼지와 초미세먼지를 제거하기 위해서는 새로운 형식의 분진흡입차량이 필요하다. 따라서 최근 개발된 분진흡입차는 초미세먼지 제거를 위한 흡입시스템과 사이클론형식의 전처리부 및 전기집진기를 장착하고 있다. 본 논문에서는 집진차량의 하부에 설치된 먼지 흡입시스템이 다양한 크기의 먼지입자를 효과적으로 흡입하고 처리하기 위해 사이클론형식의 전처리부가 포함된 집진시스템을 설계하고 집진효율을 ANSYS FLUENT의 전산유체해석을 통해 확인하였다. 흡입구와 사이클론형 프리필터가 연결된 격자모델을 기반으로 공기유동과 상차분모델(Discrete Phase Model)을 이용하여 다양한 입자의 크기와 종류 및 흡입팬의 용량에 따른 입자의 거동을 해석하였다. 다양한 입자의 크기와 종류, 흡입팬의 용량에 대해서 해석결과 집진차량의 운영속도 5km/h에서 미세먼지처리를 위해서는 흡입팬의 용량 $1500m^3/min$에서 흡입구가 궤도면으로부터 약 100mm이내일 때 $100{\mu}m$ 이하 크기의 먼지를 모두 처리할 수 있음을 확인하였다. 이러한 흡입구와 사이클론형식의 프리필터를 탑재한 터널집진차량은 후단에 설치된 전기집진기의 부하를 줄이고, 지하 터널내의 미세먼지와 초미세먼지의 제거에 효과적으로 활용될 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• 제26권
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• pp.8.1-8.9
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• 2011

Objectives: This study assessed the health risks for children exposed to phthalate through several pathways including house dust, surface wipes and hand wipes in child facilities and indoor playgrounds. Methods: The indoor samples were collected from various children's facilities (40 playrooms, 42 daycare centers, 44 kindergartens, and 42 indoor-playgrounds) in both summer (Jul-Sep, 2007) and winter (Jan-Feb, 2008). Hazard index (HI) was estimated for the non-carcinogens and the examined phthalates were diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), dibutyl-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP), and butylbenzyl phthalate (BBzP). The present study examined these four kinds of samples, i.e., indoor dust, surface wipes of product and hand wipes. Results: Among the phthalates, the detection rates of DEHP were 98% in dust samples, 100% in surface wipe samples, and 95% in hand wipe samples. In this study, phthalate levels obtained from floor dust, product surface and children's hand wipe samples were similar to or slightly less compared to previous studies. The $50^{th}$ and $95^{th}$ percentile value of child-sensitive materials did not exceed 1 (HI) for all subjects in all facilities. Conclusions: For DEHP, DnBP and BBzP their detection rates through multi-routes were high and their risk based on health risk assessment was also observed to be acceptable. This study suggested that ingestion and dermal exposure could be the most important pathway of phthalates besides digestion through food.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제30권2호
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• pp.174-184
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• 2020

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to improve the working environment by identifying the work satisfaction of the cleaning workers of the aircraft and measuring and assessing the harmful factors of the cleaning process. Methods: We asked 23 cleaning companies for questionnaires and got 100 answers from 5 companies. The A-E Airline health manager has been contacted to establish a site survey schedule. The in-flight and lounge were measured using direct reading equipment. The harmful factor to be measured are noise, dust, temperature, volatile organic compound, total airborne bacteria, and total airborne bacteria. Results: Uncomfortable positions when replacing blanket, cleaning the table, and cleaning the floor have been identified as factor that reduce work satisfaction. Noise when replacing newspapers and cleaning toilets has been identified as a factor that lowers work satisfaction. Temperature and humidity were found to reduce work satisfaction during in-flight disinfection. Measurements of aircraft cabin and lounge with direct read equipment have shown that none of the items exceed the exposure criteria. Conclusions: As a result of measuring direct-reading equipment, no items exceeded the exposure criteria for each harmful factor. A clear survey of the working environment is required based on the results, and additional research is needed using personal sample measurement.