• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제47권5호
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• pp.245-252
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• 2014

Arsenic is a unique element with distinct physical characteristics and toxicity whose importance in public health is well recognized. The toxicity of arsenic varies across its different forms. While the carcinogenicity of arsenic has been confirmed, the mechanisms behind the diseases occurring after acute or chronic exposure to arsenic are not well understood. Inorganic arsenic has been confirmed as a human carcinogen that can induce skin, lung, and bladder cancer. There are also reports of its significant association to liver, prostate, and bladder cancer. Recent studies have also suggested a relationship with diabetes, neurological effects, cardiac disorders, and reproductive organs, but further studies are required to confirm these associations. The majority of research to date has examined cancer incidence after a high exposure to high concentrations of arsenic. However, numerous studies have reported various health effects caused by chronic exposure to low concentrations of arsenic. An assessment of the health effects to arsenic exposure has never been performed in the South Korean population; thus, objective estimates of exposure levels are needed. Data should be collected on the biological exposure level for the total arsenic concentration, and individual arsenic concentration by species. In South Korea, we believe that biological exposure assessment should be the first step, followed by regular health effect assessments.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제45권6호
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• pp.569-576
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• 2019

Objectives: The main purpose of this study was to assess firefighters' daily personal noise exposure and explore noise levels related to specific tasks and their contributions to total noise exposure using 24-hour full-shift noise exposure measurements with task-based data. Methods: Noise exposure was assessed for eight firefighters (two rescuers, two drivers, and four suppressors) using time-activity diaries. We collected a total of 24 full-shift personal noise sample sets (three samples per a firefighter). The 24-hour shift-adjusted daily personal noise exposure level (L_ep,d), eight weekly personal noise exposures (L_eq,w), and 40 task-specific L_eq values (L_{eq activity}) were calculated via the ISO/NIOSH method. Results: The firefighter noise-sample datasets showed that most firefighters are exposed to noise levels above EU recommended levels at a low-action value. The highest noise exposure was for rescuers, followed by drivers and suppressors. Noise measurements with time-at-task information revealed that 82.3% of noise exposure occurred when checking equipment and responding to fire or emergency calls. Conclusions: The results indicate that firefighters are at risk of noise-induced hearing loss. Therefore, efforts at noise-control are necessary for their protection. This task-specific noise exposure assessment also shows that protective measures should be focused on certain tasks, such as checking and testing equipment.

• 한국환경성돌연변이발암원학회지
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.39-45
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• 1999

Human Carcinogenic Potency (HCP) can be estimated based on human daily exposure dose to carcinogen (Dh), body weight (Wh), 10% tumorigenic dose (TD10), and slope factor at TD10 (Q10) from 2-yr bioassay data. This approach is more relevant to humans generally exposed to low doses of carcinogens and can reduce more of extrapolation errors from high dose in animal experiments to low dose in humans than HERP (human exposure dose/rodent potency dose) proposed by Ames et al. (Science, 236, 271-280, 1987). TD50 and HERP have been routinely used to compare rodent carcinogenic potency and human carcinogenic potency, but those approaches have had limitations in extrapolation of high dose to low dose in humans. The advantages of HCP are to estimate human exposure dose (Dh) by human monitoring instead of environmental monitoring, to consider slope factor (Q10) which reflects the tendency of curve at low dose, and to use TD10 which represents much lower dose thant TD50 or HERP. HCP will be a useful parameter for the estimation of human carcinogenic potency in risk assessment and management of carcinogens.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제56권5호
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• pp.1874-1879
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• 2024

Owing to strict radiation safety management in Korean nuclear power plants (NPPs), most radiation workers receive very low radiation doses, even lower than the annual dose limit for the general public. However, the occupational dose distribution indicates that some Korean NPP workers receive a relatively higher dose than the average dose. This inequity in radiation exposure could be reduced by providing customized radiation protection measures, such as dose constraints, to workers receiving relatively higher doses. In this study, dose normalization was performed to identify the highest radiation exposure work in Korean pressurized water reactors (PWRs). The results show that most of the occupational exposure in Korean PWRs occurs during the planned maintenance period. Finally, the three highest radiation exposure tasks in Korean PWRs were identified: nozzle dam installation and removal, eddy current testing, and man-way opening and closing.

• 한국패류학회지
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• 제28권1호
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• pp.29-35
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• 2012

Growth patterns of the Manila clam, Ruditapes philippinarum in each tidal level were studied in the intertidal zone in Tae-an on the west coast of South Korea from April to August 2009. Environmental factors and the specimens of R. philippinarum were monthly collected at three intertidal locations: low intertidal zone, low-middle intertidal zone and middle intertidal zone. Temperature of sediment in low intertidal zone were lower than those in other intertidal locations. Concentrations of Chl-${\alpha}$ were not significantly different between in each tidal level. Exposure hours in low intertidal zone were shorter than those in other intertidal locations. Density of each year class in low intertidal zone were higher than those in low-middle intertidal zone and middle intertidal zone. Growth factors of R. philippinarum in low intertidal zone were better than those in other intertidal locations. The growth rate of under one year class individuals of low intertidal zone were higher than those in low-middle intertidal zone and middle intertidal zone, before the main recruitment period of R. pilippinarum. Although the growth patterns of R. philippinarum may be affected by various environmental factors, we suggests that the exposure duration is the main affect in the growth patterns of R. philippinarum in intertidal zone.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제8권1호
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• pp.1-10
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• 2017

Considerable effort has been made to address the issue of occupational health and environmental exposure to mercury. This review reports on the current literature of mercury exposure and health impacts on dental personnel. Citations were searched using four comprehensive electronic databases for articles published between 2002 and 2015. All original articles that evaluated an association between the use of dental amalgam and occupational mercury exposure in dental personnel were included. Fifteen publications from nine different countries met the selection criteria. The design and quality of the studies showed significant variation, particularly in the choice of biomarkers as an indicator of mercury exposure. In several countries, dental personnel had higher mercury levels in biological fluids and tissues than in control groups; some work practices increased mercury exposure but the exposure levels remained below recommended guidelines. Dental personnel reported more health conditions, often involving the central nervous system, than the control groups. Clinical symptoms reported by dental professionals may be associated with low-level, long-term exposure to occupational mercury, but may also be due to the effects of aging, occupational overuse, and stress. It is important that dental personnel, researchers, and educators continue to encourage and monitor good work practices by dental professionals.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제44권4호
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• pp.370-379
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• 2018

Objectives: Bisphenol A (BPA) has been extensively used in a variety of consumer products, resulting in widespread non-occupational human exposure. It is often detected in the human body. Studies have reported many health effects associated with endocrine and metabolic disruptions, including obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases. This study was performed to explain the relationship between BPA exposure and obesity in the Korean 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, we analyzed the exposure levels for BPA and the influence on obesity of BPA. Results: In model 1, the volume-based measure concentration of BPA, total, female and the 30s to 60s age group were positively related with BMI. In model 2, creatinine adjusted as a covariate and positive associations for BPA with BMI were observed in the female group and was marginally significantly associated in low body weight group. In model 3, creatinine adjusted (g/g-creatinine), BPA exposure, and BMI were positively related with sex, in females, and there was a marginally significant association with the low body weight group in the BMI categories. BMI was significantly associated with BPA in the female group in all three models. Conclusion: This study added further evidence that exposure to EDCs, include bisphenol A, is related with obesity among the general population. Given the environmental health concerns over BPA, it is necessary to develop comprehensive measures to reduce BPA exposure.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제3권2호
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• pp.152-165
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• 1993

This study was performed at eleven small-sized plating factories located in Seoul, Incheon, Ansan, and Taejeon from July 21 to October 6, 1992. The major objectives of this study were to evaluate worker exposure to hexavalent chromium and local exhaust ventilation (L.E.V.) systems at the chromium plating operations. The most suitable L.E.V. systems for chromium plating tanks were designed as examples for recommendation to the industry. The results are summarized as follows. The range of chromium plating operations investigated included decorative, hard, and black chromium plating on several kinds of parts. Most of plating tanks were not equipped with proper control methods against emission of hexavalent chromium mists and workers were not wearing appropriate personal protectives. The ariborne hexavalent chromium concentrations showed an approximate lognormal distribution. The geometric means of both personal and area samples were within the Korean and ACGIH standards, $50{\mu}g/m^3$. However, in comparison with the NIOSH criterion, $1{\mu}g/m^3$, the geometric means of personal samples at two factories and the geometric means of area samples at two factories exceeded it. The geometric means of personal and area samples of high exposure groups (above the NIOSH criterion) were 7 and 27 times higher than those of low exposure groups (below the NIOSH criterion), respectively. The L.E.V. systems of high exposure groups were improperly designed, and the factory with the highest exposure level had no L.E.V. systems at all on chemical etching process. Whereas at factories of low exposure groups, mist control methods such as mist suppressants, tank cover, and/or auxillary L.E.V. systems were added to L.E.V systems. The evaluation of L.E.V. systems showed that there was no chromium plating operation satisfying the ACGIH criteria for capture velocity, slot velocity, and exhaust rate simultaneously. To increase performance of L.E.V. systems, it must be designed to minimize the impact of boundary layer separation. Push-pull ventilation hood and downward plenum ventilation hood were suggested for the Korean industry.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• 제34권2호
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• pp.55-64
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• 2009

In a pressurized heavy water reactor (PHWR), radiation workers who have access to radiation controlled areas submit their urine samples to health physicists periodically; internal radiation exposure is evaluated by the monitoring of these urine samples. Internal radiation exposure at PHWRs accounts for approximately 20 $\sim$ 40% of total radiation exposure; most internal radiation exposure is attributed to tritium. Carbon-14 is not a dominant nuclide in the radiation exposure of workers, but it is one potential nuclide to be necessarily monitored. Carbon-14 is a low energy beta emitter and passes relatively easily into the body of workers by inhalation because its dominant chemical form is radioactive carbon dioxide ($^{14}CO_2$). Most inhaled carbon-14 is rapidly exhaled from the worker's body, but a small amount of carbon-14 remains inside the body and is excreted by urine. In this study, a method for dual analysis of tritium and carbon-14 in urine samples of workers at nuclear power plants is developed and a method for internal dose assessment using its excretion rate result is established. As a result of the developed dual analysis of tritium and carbon-14 in urine samples of radiation workers who entered the high radiation field area at a PHWR, it was found that internal exposure to carbon-14 is unlikely to occur. In addition, through the urine counting results of radiation workers who participated in the open process of steam generators, it was found that the likelihood of internal exposure to either tritium or carbon-14 is extremely low at pressurized water reactors (PWRs).

• Toxicological Research
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• 제30권3호
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• pp.205-210
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• 2014

Didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC) is used for various purposes, such as a fungicide for coolants, an antiseptic for wood, and disinfectant for cleaning. Despite the increasing likelihood of DDAC inhalation, available data on its toxicity from inhalation are scarce. Therefore, this study was aimed at confirming the toxicity of DDAC after inhalation exposure for 2 wk. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to approximately $0.15mg/m^3$, $0.6mg/m^3$, and $3.6mg/m^3$ DDAC aerosols in whole-body exposure chambers. After DDAC exposure for 2 wk, effects of DDAC on body weight, blood, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), and the lungs were verified. The mass median aerodynamic diameter of DDAC aerosols was $1.86{\mu}m$ and the geometric standard deviation was 2.75. The concentrations of DDAC aerosols for the low, medium, and high groups were $0.15{\pm}0.15mg/m^3$, $0.58{\pm}0.40mg/m^3$, and $3.63{\pm}1.56mg/m^3$, respectively. Body weight gain was significantly influenced by DDAC exposure. In the high group, a body weight decrease of 2.6 g was observed, whereas a 25.8 g increase was observed in the normal control group after the first 3 days. The low and medium groups showed 23.3 g and 20.4 g increases, respectively, after the first 3 days. Decreases in body weight were recovered during the next 4 days. In contrast, no changes were noted in hematological and blood biochemistry parameters after DDAC exposure. Furthermore, only mild effects were observed on bronchoalveolar cell differentiation counts and cell damage parameters in the BAL fluids of the medium and high groups. Although inflammatory cell infiltration and interstitial pneumonia were partially observed, fibrosis was not found in the lungs of the medium and high groups. In conclusion, body weight gain and the lungs were mainly affected by DDAC exposure. The no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) for DDAC was determined as $0.15mg/m^3$.