• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제12권3호
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• pp.396-402
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• 2021

Background: Styrene is one of the aromatic compounds used in acetonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) producing petrochemicals, which has an impact on health of workers. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the health risks of styrene emitted from the petrochemical industry in Iran. Methods: Air samples were collected based on NIOSH 1501 method. The samples were analyzed by the Varian-cp3800 gas chromatograph. Finally, risk levels of styrene's health effects on employees were assessed by the quantitative method of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) and the semiquantitative way by the Singapore Occupational Safety and Health Association. Results: Based on the results, the employees had the highest average exposure to styrene vapors (4.06 × 10^-1mg.(kg - day)^-1) in the polybutadiene latex (PBL) unit. Therefore, the most top predictors of cancer and non-cancer risk were 2.3×10^-4 and 7.26 × 10^-1, respectively. Given that the lowest average exposure (1.5 × 10^-2mg.(kg - day)^-1) was in the dryer unit, the prediction showed a moderate risk of cancer (0.8 × 10^-6) and non-cancer (2.3 × 10^-3) for the employees. The EPA method also predicted that there would be a definite cancer risk in 16% and a probable risk in 76% of exposures. However, according to the semiquantitative approach, the rate of risk was at the "low" level for all staff. The results showed that there was a significant difference (p < 0.05) between the units in exposure and health risk of styrene (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Given the high risk of styrene's health effects, appropriate control measures are required to reduce the exposure level.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• 제5권4호
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• pp.185-192
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• 2016

Objective: The purpose of this study was to find the limited patterns of middle-aged women in selective functional movement evaluation and analyze the effects of pattern improvement exercises and general control groups on the Health Risk Appraisal (HRA). Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: The 31 subjects were physically healthy middle-aged women aged 40-59 living in Seoul, The subjects were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group. Forty-three physically healthy women were originally recruited and randomly assigned to either the experimental group (n=22) or the control group (n=21). However, due to lack of participation, a total of seventeen subjects in the exercise group and fourteen subjects in the control group participated in the study. All subjects were tested using Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA) and HRA for the baseline measurement and joined an exercise program of their group for one hour per session, twice a week for four weeks. The experimental group was provided with the corrective exercises and the control group was given the general fitness program. A follow-up test was conducted after eight weeks from the baseline measurement. Results: Both experimental and control group showed significant changes in SFMA and HRA scores (p<0.05). In the experimental group and control groups, the SFMA and HRA showed significant improvement from baseline to 4 weeks (p<0.05). Also, in the experimental group, the SFMA was significantly improved from baseline to 8 weeks (p<0.05). For the experimental group, there was a significant improvement in SFMA after 4 weeks compared to the control group (p<0.05). Conclusions: The corrective exercise in the experimental group had a positive effect on the SFMA score as well as the general squat exercise in the control group. The corrective exercise and general control group had the same positive effect on the HRA score.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제32권4호
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• pp.250-257
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• 2020

Purpose: This study examined the effects of training using the slime on the hand function and problem behavior in adults with intellectual disabilities. Methods: Five adults with intellectual disabilities who were judged as Level 1 or Level 2 were selected. The training consisted of one session (50 min)/day, one day/week for 10 weeks (preparatory activities: 5 min, slime activities: 40 min, finishing activities: 5 min) The functions of the hand (Purdue Pegboard Test [PPT], grip strength test [GST]) and problem behavior (Korean Behavior Problems Inventory [KBPI]) were assessed three times (first assessment; pre, second assessment; post-5 weeks, third assessment; post-10 weeks). Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to analyze changes in the subjects' performance before and after the intervention. Results: In the PPT, the use of the non-dominant hand was increased significantly (p<0.05). No significant differences were observed in the remaining results, but the mean value increased. In addition, although the problem behavior was not statistically significant, an increase in the problem behavior score was noted. Conclusion: The training using the slime for adults with intellectual disabilities is effective in hand function improvement and reducing problem behavior.

• 한국응용과학기술학회지
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• 제36권3호
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• pp.930-941
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• 2019

본 연구는 간호 대학생을 대상으로 시나리오를 통한 건강사정 실습교육이 의사소통 능력, 비판적 사고 성향 및 학업성취에 미치는 효과를 보기 위한 비동등성 대조군 사전-사후 설계의 유사실험 연구이다. C북도 G군 소재 J대학교와 G도 P시 소재 P대학교에서 건강사정 교과목을 수강하는 간호학과 2학년 학생을 대상으로 실험군 35명, 대조군 34명에게 각각 시나리오를 통한 실습교육과 전통적 실습교육 수행 전 후로 자료를 수집하였다. 연구결과, 시나리오를 통한 건강사정 실습교육을 받은 실험군이 전통적 실습교육을 받은 대조군보다 의사소통 능력(t=2,797, p=.007), 비판적 사고 성향(t=2,406, p=.019), 정보수집능력(t=2,977, p=.004), 문제인식능력(t=3.584, p=.001)이 통계적으로 유의미하게 높아졌다. 그러므로 간호학생들의 의사소통 능력, 비판적 사고 성향, 정보수집능력 및 문제인식능력 향상을 위해 건강사정 수업 시 시나리오를 통한 실습교육프로그램을 활용할 수 있을 것으로 생각된다.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제37권2호
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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.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제43권3호
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• pp.202-213
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• 2017

Objectives: HRA (Health Risk Assessment) is an important tool for measuring the health impacts of air pollution. HRA is already being used widely as an important reference for crafting air pollution policies. However, the absence of a domestic CRF (Concentration Response Function) standard, which is a main component for HRA, could cause confusion amongst policy-makers. The purpose of this study is to tabulate a domestic CRF standard for a PM (Particulate Matter)-related HRA. Methods: This study suggested a domestic CRF standard for HRA thorough a literature review. The literature review for meta-analysis was limited to the English language for epidemiological studies published from January 1980 to March 2016. This meta-analysis was conducted by assuming both fixed- and random-effects of CRF. In addition, studies that reported HRA of air pollution for WHO (World Health Organization), the EC (European Commission), and the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) were reviewed to compare the CRFs of South Korea to the recommended CRFs of WHO, the EC, or the EPA. Additionally, a domestic CRF standard was supplemented by these. Results: Nineteen studies were selected for the CRF for South Korea. Fifty-three CRFs were derived for meta-analysis. CRFs with a standard for PM-related HRA were divided according to the following four criteria: air pollution, exposure characteristics, type of health impact, and age group. Finally, a domestic CRF standard was created comprised of 21 CRFs. Among these, six CRFs were derived from the results of foreign HRA studies. Conclusions: This study is important in that a domestic CRF standard is first suggested. In addition, this study suggests a further area of study for using HRA as a policy tool and a direction of epidemiological study.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제49권3호
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• pp.159-168
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• 2023

Background: An ongoing environmental exposure assessment of humidifier disinfectants (HDs) has been conducted since November 2011 among individuals who experienced HD exposure-related adverse health effects. It is being performed in order to determine and quantify exposure to humidifier disinfectants in victims and their families. To date, the assessment has encompassed Cycles I-to-V. There is no report summarizing the characteristics of the subjects from the overall cycles. Objectives: We intended to examine the individual characteristics related to demographics, HD usage, and HD exposure using integrated data from Cycles I-to-V of the environmental exposure assessment of HDs and the changes with the cycles. Methods: We included 7,543 individuals who participated in Cycles I-to-V of the environmental exposure assessment of HDs. We summarized the participants' characteristics regarding their demographics (e.g., sex, education level, and age), HD usage history (e.g., product name, ingredient, and frequency of HD use), and HD exposure (e.g., daily time of HD use, cumulative time of HD use, and exposure intensity). In addition, their characteristics were compared across the cycles of the exposure assessment. Results: Among the 7,543 participants from Cycles I-to-V, there were more male participants than females (51.05% overall), except for Cycles I and III. Across all cycles, a higher proportion of survivors was observed than deceased individuals. While PHMG was the most prevalent ingredient in HDs throughout all the cycles, its proportion gradually decreased over the course of the examination cycles. Participants in Cycle I reported longer daily times of HD use compared to those in the subsequent cycles. On the other hand, cumulative time of HD use was shorter in the earlier cycles than in the later cycles. Conclusions: Using the integrated data from the full cycles of the environmental exposure assessment, this study identified changes in demographic characteristics as well as the HD exposure characteristics between the participants across different cycles.

• 한국소음진동공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국소음진동공학회 2001년도 추계학술대회논문집 II
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• pp.691-694
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• 2001

The recent national contract (Ecotechnopia 21) supported by the ministry of environment puts much significance on new issues for the assessment of human effects arising from vibration and noise exposed to human. This paper focuses only on hand-arm vibration since it has been a major problem in protecting vibration exposure to human. To set up a systematic way of assessing adverse effects of hand-arm vibration, surveys were made on recent international standards and researches related to hand-arm vibration. The measurement and evaluation methods of hand-arm transmitted vibration, the relationship between vibration exposure and effects on health, and the assessment methods of nerve dysfunctions are addressed in this paper. Those methods are linked into a logical way of assessing effects of hand-arm vibration on human. Finally, the current activities and achievements in this work are briefly summarised.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• 제15권4호
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• pp.115-122
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• 2000

Biocides, or non-agricultural pesticides, are a broad class of chemical. They are including biological agents used to disinfect/sanitize, pesticides for non-agricultural use, wood preservatives, antifoulants, etc. Since the early 1980s, many adverse effects of biocides to human health and ecosystem have been found in the world. Especially, antifouling biocide like TBT caused serious toxic effects on the marine organisms. Therefore, OECD began to work on biocides in mid 1996 to help Member countries co-operate in the assessment and registration of these products. EU also announced the Biocidal Products Directive (BPD, 98/8/EC) in 1998 to harmonize regulatory approaches to allow EU countries to conduct evaluations of biocides more efficiently. Korea just start to consider of biocides regulation. Some biocides products are regulated, but not all the biocides which are using in Korea. Therefore, we need to make a appropriate regulation for the all biocides categories. In addition, there are necessary to develop risk assessment tools, to survey the use pattern and amount, to research on the ecosystem contamination by the biocides .

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제36권5호
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• pp.418-434
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• 2010

As concerns regarding water pollution grow, the need increases for a fast and accurate assessment of ecological risk. In this context, many studies have been conducted to identify biomarkers which can sensitively indicate exposure to and effects of various contaminants in a water environment. However, the utility of most such biomarkers in the real water environment is not yet validated. In this paper, we conducted a thorough review of publications that were related to developing or evaluating molecular and biochemical biomarkers of freshwater fish in ecological risk assessment, and evaluated whether these biomarkers of interest could link to the effects on higher biological levels, such as histopathology and above. Biomarkers of interest included those associated with metabolism, oxidative stress, reproduction and endocrine disruption, genotoxicity, and defense against heavy metal exposure. We found that, when used alone, most molecular and biochemical biomarkers are not sufficient to understand the effects of toxic substances in higher biological levels, due to defense or acclimation mechanisms of organisms. Moreover, some biomarkers respond not only to hazardous substances but also to the changes in water quality and disease outbreak. Molecular and biochemical biomarkers may be most useful in understanding the potential biological effects of toxic compounds when used in parallel with relevant endpoints of higher biological levels.