• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• 제55권8호
• /
• pp.2802-2811
• /
• 2023

In a first-of-its-kind study, terrestrial radionuclide concentrations were measured in 35 topsoil samples from the outskirts of Dhaka using HPGe gamma-ray spectrometry to assess the radiological consequences of such a vast number of brick kilns on the plant workers, general as well as dwelling environment. The range of activity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K is found at 19 ± 3.04 to 38 ± 4.94, 39 ± 5.85 to 57 ± 7.41, and (430 ± 51.60 to 570 ± 68.40) Bq/kg, respectively. ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K concentrations were higher than the global averages. Bottom ash deposition in lowlands, fly ash buildup in soils, and the fallout of micro-particles are all probable causes of the elevated radioactivity levels. ¹³⁷Cs was found in the sample, which indicates the migration of ¹³⁷Cs from nuclear accidents or nuclear fallout, or the contamination of feed coal. Although the effective dose received by the general public was below the recommended dose limit but, most estimates of hazard parameters surpass their respective population weighted global averages, indicating that brick kiln workers and nearby residents are not safe due to prolonged exposures to terrestrial radiation. In addition, the soil around sampling sites is found to be unsuitable for agricultural purposes.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• 제48권2호
• /
• pp.84-89
• /
• 2023

Background: Food consumption is one of the most important routes for radionuclide intake for the public; therefore, there is the need to have a comprehensive understanding of the amount of radioactivity in food products. Consumption of radionuclide-contaminated food could increase potential health risks associated with exposure to radiation such as cancers. The present study aims to determine radioactivity levels in some food products (milk, rice, sugar, and wheat flour) consumed in Mali and to evaluate the radiological effect on the public health from these radionuclides. Materials and Methods: The health impact due to ingestion of radionuclides from these foods was evaluated by the determination of activity concentration of radionuclides ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, ⁴⁰K, and ¹³⁷Cs using gamma spectrometry system with high-purity germanium detector and radiological hazards index in 16 samples collected in some markets, mall, and shops of Bamako-Mali. Results and Discussion: The average activity concentrations were 9.8±0.6 Bq/kg for ²³⁸U, 8.7±0.5 Bq/kg for ²³²Th, 162.9±7.9 Bq/kg for ⁴⁰K, and 0.0035±0.0005 Bq/kg for ¹³⁷Cs. The mean values of radiological hazard parameters such as annual committed effective dose, internal hazard index, and risk assessment from this work were within the dose criteria limits given by international organizations (International Commission on Radiological Protection and United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation) and national standards. Conclusion: The results show low public exposure to radioactivity and associated radiological impact on public health. Nevertheless, this study stipulates vital data for future research and regulatory authorities in Mali.

• 한국가스학회지
• /
• 제27권3호
• /
• pp.134-140
• /
• 2023

활성탄은 주로 기체나 액체상의 흡착제로 사용되는 탄소질 재료이다. 휘발성 유기화합물의 흡착열 축적 및 산화 등에 의해 화재가 꾸준히 발생함에 따라 석탄과 야자껍질을 원료로 하는 분말 및 입상활성탄을 대상으로 폭발특성 및 열안정성을 평가하였다. 입도분석을 통해 분말활성탄은 입도범위 (0.4~3) ㎛를 가지는 것을 확인하였으며, 시차주사열량계와 열중량분석기를 사용하여 발열개시온도 및 분해거동 등의 열적 특성을 분석하였다. 부유분진에 대한 폭발위험성을 평가한 결과, 석탄계 및 야자계 분말활성탄 모두 St1 등급으로 폭발에 의한 위험성이 약한 분진으로 분류되지만 이는 상대적인 크기를 나타내는 것으로 폭발에 의한 위험성이 절대적으로 작음을 의미하는 것이 아니므로 피해저감을 위한 대책을 수립할 필요가 있다.

• 한국환경보건학회지
• /
• 제37권5호
• /
• pp.376-386
• /
• 2011

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the microbial hazards posed by food utensils and fixtures in food service operations at selected middle and high schools located in Seoul, Korea. Methods: We collected 200 samples of utensils and fixtures including cups, spoons/chopsticks, food trays and tables from five different schools in Seoul. Target microorganisms of this study were divided into two groups: total bacterial count and total coliform as indicators of microbial contamination and Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus as pathogens of food poisoning. We used selective media to quantify microbial concentration and 16S rRNA PCR assay for qualitative analysis. In addition, intensive interviews with nutritionists were conducted and observations were made to identify factors that may affect microbial contamination. Logistic regression analysis was employed to examine the relationship between the microbial concentration and operation characteristics of each operation. Results: The level of microbial concentration in school B and C were significantly lower than in school A, D and E (p<0.05). Some samples from school A, D and E showed over 3.4 log CFU/100 $cm^2$ (total bacterial count) and 1.0 log CFU/100 $cm^2$ (total coliform), which requires immediate hygienic action. The number of customers per staff member, periodicity of hygiene education for staff and daily operation time of sterilizers were also found to be important factors related with the microbial contamination of food service operations. Conclusions: These results suggested that not only a HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) approach, but also efforts to assess internal risk factors within operations be needed to reduce the microbial contamination of food utensils and fixtures. This study is expected to provide preliminary data for assessing microbial hazards in food service operations.

• 한국안전학회지
• /
• 제13권4호
• /
• pp.271-278
• /
• 1998

Every safety and health activity relies to some extent on education and training. Through effective education and training, people learn how to recognize safety and health hazards and how to control them. Thus, in most cases education and training is the first step in an accident prevention program. In this study, we analyzed safety training course-compare with Industrial Safety & Health Act, KISCO and KISA's rules,-and applied to workplace. In the safety training of workplace on the ground of the Industrial Safety & Health Act, the ratio of periodic employee refresher training to the total training subjects is only 25% and it of supervisor training is 16.7%. The ratio of training implemented in workplace about Knowledge, Skill, Attitude is as follows Periodic update training ; 15.1% : 7.5% : 64.2% New employees training ; 15.7% : 5.9% : 58.8% Job-change training ; 32.6% : 23.2% : 39.5% Specific safety & health training : 34.8% : 8.7% : 45.6%.

• International Journal of Contents
• /
• 제12권3호
• /
• pp.17-21
• /
• 2016

The purpose of this study was to obtain qualitative data on Korean-American dry cleaners' concerns about work-related health and safety and their attitudes toward the use of PPE(Personal Protective Equipment). Two focus group discussions were conducted with convenient samples of Korean-American drycleaners in middle-eastern state. A total of 13 individuals participated in two focus groups. Participants had concerns as both owners and workers. As owners, they were concerned mostly about compliance of environmental regulation and economic depression. The participants knew very little about the hazards of chemical exposure and expressed vague concerns about chemical exposure and health. Majority of participants do not use PPE and had no intention of using it in the future because of their limited knowledge about the hazardous nature of chemical exposure. The findings from this study would guide the development of intervention to increase drycleaners knowledge of chemical exposure and use of PPE.

• 대한간호학회지
• /
• 제24권1호
• /
• pp.70-84
• /
• 1994

People experience health behaviors for themselves and theses have diversity according to each culture and people and further there is an inherent meaning in health behavior The purpose of this study was to explore the health cconcept of Korean people and their pattern of health behavior The research method was a questionaire including open questions and the subjests were 164 adults age from 21 to 61. The result of this study are as follows : 1. Perceived health concepts by adults were “possibility”, “responsibility”, “being free”, “happiness”, “brightness”, “power”, “life”, “importance”, “mental rest”, “state of nnonilliness”, “death” 2. Health behaviors carried out by Korean adults were “maintance of psychological comfort”, “exercise”, “work”, “maintance of balanced diet”, “having a hobby”, “eating health food”, “health check up”, “prevention of hazards”, “eating natural food”, “maintenance of personal relationships”, “rest”, “having religion”, “making contract with nature”, “relaxation”, “limit one’s tastes”. 3. The perceived purposes of health behavior by Koran adults were maintenance of a joyful life, health maintenance, health restoration, prevention of illness, achievement of reponsibility, haying a hobby, longevity, peaceful death. Korean health concepts in this study showed a trend that reflects the rule of family and forcused harmony and eating habits. Korean health behavior in this study showed a trend that forcuses on emotional comfort which reflects oriental thinking. The result of this study will contribute to build a theory of health behavior and to derive strategies of health behavior to promote health.

• 한국직업건강간호학회지
• /
• 제29권4호
• /
• pp.228-234
• /
• 2020

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the past and present status of occupational safety and health education in Korea and to explore future plans for these fields. Methods: We summarized past empirical or theoretical literature. Results: Occupational safety and health education strive to protect workers' health and create healthy workplaces by solving various problems such as workers' occupational diseases and mental health in the rapidly changing occupational environment. For occupational safety and health education to be effectively utilized in occupational sites, a live education that can be applied to the field should be provided. The need for education to explore and develop the ability to prepare for new hazards, including infectious diseases such as COVID-19, has increased. Conclusion: It is believed that the occupational health education element of the new era will be occupational health education. This focus will develop the ability to closely assess and predict the collective, organizational, and personal responses of affected workplaces and the impact of occupational health sciences.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• 제46권6호
• /
• pp.319-328
• /
• 2013

Objectives: This study estimated the association of cardiovascular health behaviors with the risk of all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in middle-aged men in Korea. Methods: In total, 12 538 men aged 40 to 59 years were enrolled in 1993 and followed up through 2011. Cardiovascular health metrics defined the following lifestyle behaviors proposed by the American Heart Association: smoking, physical activity, body mass index, diet habit score, total cholesterol, blood pressure, and fasting blood glucose. The cardiovascular health metrics score was calculated as a single categorical variable, by assigning 1 point to each ideal healthy behavior. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to estimate the hazard ratio of cardiovascular health behavior. Population attributable risks (PARs) were calculated from the significant cardiovascular health metrics. Results: There were 1054 total and 171 CVD deaths over 230 690 person-years of follow-up. The prevalence of meeting all 7 cardiovascular health metrics was 0.67%. Current smoking, elevated blood pressure, and high fasting blood glucose were significantly associated with all-cause and CVD mortality. The adjusted PARs for the 3 significant metrics combined were 35.2% (95% confidence interval [CI], 21.7 to 47.4) and 52.8% (95% CI, 22.0 to 74.0) for all-cause and CVD mortality, respectively. The adjusted hazard ratios of the groups with a 6-7 vs. 0-2 cardiovascular health metrics score were 0.42 (95% CI, 0.31 to 0.59) for all-cause mortality and 0.10 (95% CI, 0.03 to 0.29) for CVD mortality. Conclusions: Among cardiovascular health behaviors, not smoking, normal blood pressure, and recommended fasting blood glucose levels were associated with reduced risks of all-cause and CVD mortality. Meeting a greater number of cardiovascular health metrics was associated with a lower risk of all-cause and CVD mortality.

• 한국직업건강간호학회지
• /
• 제29권4호
• /
• pp.363-371
• /
• 2020

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of information regarding health and safety risks on the subjective health status of workers using data from the Fifth Korean Working Conditions Survey. Methods: Among the survey respondents, 30,094 people classified as salaried workers, of which 8,513 (28.3%) used protective equipment. Results: Although the majority of workers using protective equipment reported being well-informed about safety and health risks, 15% of them were still insufficiently informed. Multivariate analyses have shown that the subjective health status of workers using protective equipment was significantly better if they received sufficient information. When the workers using protective equipment were classified by the kinds of hazards they were exposed to, the satisfaction of information was also significantly beneficial for the subjective health status of all groups. However, in workers who did not use protective equipment, information satisfaction did not appear to be a significant factor. Conclusion: These results suggest that when providing information on safety and health risks, it is necessary to focus on workers using protective equipment, for whom the effects of the policy are clearly expected.