• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2005.05a
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• pp.911-916
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• 2005

Noise map is a presentation of existing data or predicted noise situation in terms of noise indicator. However, it has shortcoming for assessing the number of people exposed, or the number of dwellings affected to any relevant limit values of noise level in certain areas. In this study, so called over-ride value noise mapping is proposed to make up for the shortcoming by using over-ride function of object-oriented programming and it is to show the guard of the area where it is satisfied the standard of option, or it is not satisfactory. Over-ride value noisemap data is combined with topography layer, population and house statistics, and GIS space statistical analysis. The over-ride value noise mapping can also he applied to make the road traffic noisemap, the railroad noisemap, the aircraft noisemap, and the industrial site noisemap This can express noise damage information more exactly.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.249-261
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• 2020

Background: Hearing loss is one of the most prevalent worker health conditions worldwide. Although the effect of noise exposure on hearing is well researched, other workplace exposures may account for significant hearing loss. The aim of this review was to determine whether occupational hand-arm vibration exposure through use of power or pneumatic tools, independent of noise exposure, is associated with permanent hearing loss. Do workers suffer from hand-arm vibratione-induced hearing loss? Methods: Peer-reviewed articles published in English between 1981 and 2020 were identified through five online databases with five search keywords. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines, including online database search methodology, study selection, article exclusion, and assessment of potential study design confounders and biases, were followed. Results: Database searches retrieved 697 articles. Fifteen articles that reported 17 studies met the criteria for review. All but two studies revealed statistically significant associations between occupational exposure to hand-arm vibration and hearing loss. The majority of the study results revealed associations between hand-arm vibration and hearing loss, independent of potential age and noise confounders. Conclusion: Few studies have examined the association between occupational exposure to hand-arm vibration and hearing loss. Dose response data were limited as only one study measured vibration intensity and duration. Although the majority of studies identified statistically significant associations, causal relationships could not be determined. Further research using standardized and uniform measurement protocols is needed to confirm whether the association between occupational exposure to hand-arm vibration and permanent hearing loss is causal and the mechanism(s).

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.464-470
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• 2023

Objectives: This study evaluated occupational exposures to noise and heat stress during routine non-outage works in three coal-fired power plants in the Republic of Korea. Methods: The data were collected during the summer of 2020. Full shift noise exposure of 52 workers were measured using noise dosimeters. Heat stress of 16 worksites were measured for 70 minutes using wet-bulb globe temperature monitors. Results: The noise dosimetry results revealed time-weighted averages that ranged from 47.5 to 88.9 dBA. 2 out of 52 noise measurements exceeded 85 dBA. Based on the arithmetic mean, the coal service group showed the highest level at 80.2 dBA by job tasks. Noise exposures exceeding 85 dBA were measured in the coal service and plant operator group. Heat stress index measurements ranged from 20.3℃ to 37.2℃. 1 out of 9 indices measured in coal facilities and 4 out of 7 indices measured in boiler house exceeded 1 hour TWA during moderate work. Heat stress indices measured from boiler houses were significantly higher than those measured from coal equipment. Conclusions: The results show that overexposure to noise and heat stress may be encountered during routine non-outage work activities in coal-fired power plants. Appropriate actions should be taken to reduce future health outcome from occupational exposure to noise and heat stress in the industry.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Emotion and Sensibility Conference
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• 1999.11a
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• pp.211-215
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• 1999

It is well known that a long-term exposure to a loud noise environment affects performance, since it distracts attention, and also is able to evoke stress accompanied by negative emotional states. The purpose of this study was to analyze dynamics of subjective and physiological variables during long-lasting (30 min) exposure to intensive white noise (85 dB[A]). Physiological signals on 23 college students were recorded by BIOPAC, Grass Neurodata systems and AcqKnowledge 3.5 software. Autonomic variables, namely skin conductance level (SCL), non-specific SCR number (N-SCR), inter-beat intervals in ECG (RR intervals), heart rate variability index (HF/LF ratio of HRV), respiration rate (RESP), and skin temperature (SKT) were analyzed on 5 min epoch basis. Psychological assessment (subjective rating of stress level) was also repeated on every 5 min basis. Regression and correlation analyses were employed to trace the time course of the dynamics of the subjective and autonomic physiological variables and their relationship. Results showed that intense noise evokes subjective stress with associated autonomic nervous system responses. However, it was shown that physiological variables endure specific changes in the process of exposure to loud white noise. Discussed are probable psychophysiological mechanisms mediating reactivity to long-term auditory stimulation of high intensity.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.37-42
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• 1999

Long-term exposure to loud noise affects performance since it changes arousal level, distracts attention, and also is able to evoke subjective stress accompanied by negative emotional states. The purpose of the study was to analyze dynamics of subjective and physiological variables during a relatively long-lasting (30 min) exposure to white noise (85 dB[A]). Physiological signals were recorded on 15 college students during 30 min of intense auditory stimulation. Autonomic variables, namely skin conductance level , non-specific SCR number, inter-best intervals in ECG, heart rate variability index (HF/LF ratio of HRV), skin temperature, as well as respiration rate were analyzed on 5 min epoch basis. Psychological assessment (subjective rating of stress level) was also repeated every 5 min. Statistical analysis was employed to trace the time course of the dynamics of subjective and autonomic physiological variables and their relationships. Results showed that the intense noise evoked subjective stress as well as associated autonomic nervous system responses. However it was shown that physiological variables endured specific changes in the process of exposure to the loud white noise. Discussed were probable psychophysiological mechanisms mediating reactivity to long-term auditory stimulation of high intensity, namely short-term activation, followed by transient adaptation (with relatively stable autonomic balance) and then a subsequent wave of arousal due to tonic sympathetic dominance.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.33-38
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• 2014

Purpose Auto exposure control (AEC) in SPECT/CT automatically controls the exposure dose (mA) according to patient's shape and size. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of AEC in SPECT/CT on exposure dose reduction and image quality. Materials and Methods The model of SPECT/CT used in this study was Discovery 670 (GE, USA), Smart mA for AEC; and $^{99m}Tc$ as a radioisotope. To compare SPECT and CT images by CT exposure dose variation, we used a standard technique set at 80, 100, 120, 140 kVp, 10, 30, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250 mA, and AEC at 80, 100, 120, 140 kVp, 10-250 mA. To evaluate resolution and contrast of SPECT images, triple line phantom and flangeless Esser PET phantom were used. For CT images, noise and uniformity were checked by anthropomrphic chest phantom. For dose evaluation to find DLP value, anthropomorphic chest phantom was used and the CT protocol of torso was applied by standard technique (120 kVp, 100 mA) and AEC (120 kVp, 10-250 mA). Results When standard and AEC were applied, the resolutions at SPECT images with attenuation correction (AC) were the same as FWHM by center 3.65 mm, left 3.48 mm, right 3.61 mm. Contrasts of standard and AEC showed no significant difference: standard 53.5, 29.8, 22.5, 15.8, 6.0, AEC 53.5, 29.6, 22.4, 15.7, 6.1 In CT images, noise values at standard and AEC were 15.4 and 18.5 respectively. The application of AEC increases noise but the value of coefficient variation were 33.8, 24.9 respectively, obtaining uniform noise image. The values of DLP at standard and AEC were 426.78 and 352.09 each, which shows that the application of AEC decreases exposure dose more than standard by approximately 18%. Conclusion The results of our study show that there was no difference of AC in SPECT images based on the CT exposure dose variation at SPECT/CT images. It was found that the increased CT exposure dose leads to the improvement of CT image quality but also increases the exposure dose. Thus, the use of AEC in SPECT/CT contributes to obtaining equal AC SPECT images, and uniform noise in CT images while reducing exposure dose.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.393-405
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• 2018

Objective: This study examines the types of hazardous factors in the working environment and the time-trend for their exposure levels over 10 years (2007 to 2016). Study Design and Method: The types of hazardous factors and exposure levels were drawn from the 19 measurement reports on the working environment over 10 years at a shock absorber manufacturing facility. Risk assessment of the types of factors and time-trend of exposure levels were evaluated using the factors and exposure levels. Results: A total of 34 hazardous factors were evaluated. The types were noise, 15 organic compounds, seven kinds of acid sand alkalis, eight kinds of heavy metals, and three other compounds. Special management materials used were nickel, hexavalent chrome, and sulfuric acid. Human carcinogens (1A) used were trichloroethylene, nickel, and sulfuric acid. There were six types of substances belonging to the IARC's 2B (body carcinogens) classification or higher, including, methyl isobutyl ketone, ethyl benzene, and trichloroethylene. No detection was found for 627 out of the 2065 total measurements in 19 exposure survey reports, representing 30.4%. Organic solvents, acid and alkali products, and heavy metals showed continuous low exposure concentrations. Noise, welding fumes, and the evaluation of mixed solvents show a gradual decrease in geometric mean and maximum over the time-trend of 10 years. Conclusions: In the case of a shock absorber manufacturing facility, the hazardous factors of noise and the evaluation of mixed solvents still indicate high concentrations exceeding the exposure limits and necessitate reduction studies. These two factors and welding fumes showed a continuous decrease in their ten-year tendency. Organic compounds, acids/alkalis, and heavy metals were managed smoothly in a work environment of continuous low concentrations.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.153-160
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• 2008

Personal noise exposure was assessed in railroad operators working in 40 operation units including the Gyeongbu line, Honam line, and Janghang line between 2004 and 2006. 8-hour TWA were assessed based on the MOL (Ministry of Labor) guideline on noise evaluation, and 17% of these measurements exceeded 85 dBA while 70% were over 80 dBA. When the ACGIH TLV is adopted, 40% of measurements were over TLV (85 dBA). The noise exposure risk of railroad operators was higher for diesel locomotive operation and longer operational distances; in addition, the risk was higher for passenger car operation compared to freight car driving. Given that in Korea, over the past 30 years diesel locomotives have provided most of the railway's motive power and that hearing protective equipment is not likely to be used by workers during operation, railroad operators are at a high risk of noise-induced hearing loss. The result of audiometric test among 568 railroad operators showed that 32.6% of those tested had a hearing threshold shift of more than 40 dB. In conclusion, this study calls for more fundamental measures including noise control countermeasures within the operation areas, development of equipment that generates less noise and adopting limitation on the operation distance for a work shift.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.354-359
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• 2013

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate exposure levels to K2 rifle noise at a military rifle range among soldiers in training, the left and right ears of shooters, and control managers in the day and night times. Methods: For this study, we visited military rifle ranges and measured the noise of a K2 rifle with a sound level meter (3M Quest SoundPro$^{TM}$) at four different locations with values of Peak (dB(A)) and Max (dB(A)). Results: The highest peak value of impulse noise level averaged 150.4 dB(A), ranging from 149.7 to 150.5 dB(A) at the left-ear side. Impulse noise levels in the daytime were also recorded as higher than during the night. This result was significantly different between daytime and nighttime locations, such as soldier training, right ear of shooter, and control manager (P < 0.001). Conclusion: This study confirmed that there is a need for proper management of impulse noise at military rifle ranges.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.74-78
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• 2014

Objectives: Purpose of this study was to evaluate the noise level exposures at the different cannonball type and locations in the tank gun drill ranges. Methods: We visited the tank gun drill ranges and measured with a sound level meter(3M Quest SoundPro$^{TM}$) with the value of Peak(dB(A)). Results: The highest peak value of impulse noise level averaged 166.3 dB(A) at the site of loading solider. The highest peak value of impulse noise level by size of cannonball averaged 165.9 dB(A) at the 120 mm size cannonball of the tank. This result was significantly different from the other size of cannonballs such as 7.62 mm, 90 mm, and 105 mm(p < 0.001). Among the four types of soldier site on the tank, average noise levels of loading soldier, 156.6 dB(A), were higher than the other three types of soldier site (p > 0.05). Conclusions: This study confirmed that there were needed for a proper control to reduce the amount of impulse noise exposure at the tank gun drill ranges.