• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.104-110
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• 2009

It is well known that the saponin of Korean red ginseng (KRG) has an anti-oxidant effect and could suppress the accumulation of lipid peroxidation. The aim of the present study was to observe the inhibitory effect of KRG on mice with noise-induced hearing loss, and to determine its optimal dose. BALB/c mice with a normal hearing level and normal Preyer's reflexes were used in the study. The mice in the permanent-threshold-shift (PTS) group were exposed to noise (120-dB SPL, white noise band) in a noise booth for 3 h a day, for three consecutive days. The mice in the experimental group were given heat-processed red-ginseng extract (50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, and 200 mg/kg), and those in the control group were given normal saline alone during their noise exposure. The mice in the temporary-threshold-shift (TTS) group were exposed to noise (120 dBSPL, white noise band) in a noise booth for 3 h. The mice in the experimental group were given heat-processed red-ginseng extract (50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, and 200 mg/kg), and those in the control group were given normal saline alone before their noise exposure. The hearing levels of the mice were measured through auditory brainstem response (ABR) immediately and I, 3, 5, 7, and 14 days after their noise exposure. Cochleae were removed from the mice 14 days after their noise exposure. lmmunochemical and immunofluorescent staining were performed to observe the expression of 8-oxoG in cochlea. In the PTS group, the hearing function of the mice in all the groups was not recovered after their noise exposure. In the TTS group, however, the hearing function of the mice in all the groups was recovered within 14 days. Reduced hearing impairment and early recovery were observed in the mice that were given 200 mg/kg KRG, and early recovery was observed in the mice that were given 100 mg/kg KRG The immunopositive staining of 8-oxoG was detected in the stria vascularis in the control group but was diminished in the mice that were given 200 mg/kg KRG The ingestion of more than 100 mg/kg KRG demonstrated a protection and recovery effect on the noiseinduced-TTS group. Since KRG has been reported to be a safe compound even up to hundreds of mg/kg, a higher concentration of it may effectively protect and recover TTS.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.181-191
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• 1991

The present study determined the overall noise level and the distribution of sound pressure level over audible frequency range of noise produced at various work sites. Work-related noise greater than 80dBA produced from 98 separate work sites at 37 manufacturing companies and machine shops were analysed for the overall sound level (dBA) and frequency distribution. In addition, to determine the possible hearing loss related to work site noise, a hearing test was also conducted on 1,374 workers in these work sites. The results of the study were as follows ; 1. Of the total 98 work sites, 57 work sites(58.2%) produced noise exceeding threshold limit value (${\geq}90dBA$) set by the Ministry 01 Labor. In terms of different manufacturing industries the proportion of work sites which exceeded 90dBA was the highest for the cut-stone products industry with 6/6 work sites and lowest for the commercial printing industry with 1/13 work sites. 2. The percentage of workers who were exposed to noise greater than 90dBA was 19.8% (1,040 workers) 01 the total 5,261 workers. In terms of different industries, cut-stone products industry had the most workers exposed to noise exceeding 90dBA with 82.8%, textile bleaching and dyeing industry was next at 30.6% followed by fabricated metal products industry with 27.9%, plastic products manufacturing industry had the lowest percentage of workers exposed to 90dBA exceeding noise with 4.5%. 3. There was a statistically significant correlation between the frequency of noise-induced hearing loss and the percentage of workers exposed to noise exceeding 90dBA (P<0.05). 4. The frequency analysis of noise produced at the 98 work sites revealed that 44 work sites (44.9%) had the maximum sound pressure level at high-frequencies greater than 2KHz. In addition, significantly higher sound pressure level was detected at the high-frequencies at 90dBA exceeding work sites as compared to below 90dBA work sites (P<0.01). 5. The differences in sound level meter's A-and C-weighted sound pressure levels were analysed by frequencies. Of the 28 work sites which showed 0-1 dB difference in the two weighted sound levels, 20 work sites (71.4%) had significantly higher sound pressure levels at high-frequencies greater than 2KHz (P<0.01). Furthermore, there was a tendency for higher sound pressure levels to occur in the high-frequency range as the differences in the two weighted sound levels decreased.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.1188-1193
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• 2009

Todays, many young people suffer from noise-induced hearing loss by using wearable hearing devices, such as Bluetooth headset. This paper present hearing loss reduction and more natural volumn control algorithms considering individual hearing characteristics and threshold of feeling for Bluetooth headset. Experimental results using CSR Bluetooth headset example design board(DEV-PC-1645) show that individuals maybe able to perceive without the inconvenience at the less sound intensity and the more sensitive frequency bands. As a result, we may prevent hearing loss to reduce excessive sound energy in each frequency bands.

• 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 Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.29 no.3 s.54
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• pp.539-553
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• 1996

The study was conducted from May to September in 1994 to investigate applicability of the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly-Screening version(HHIE-S) in parallel with the pure-tone audiometer to the initial screening test of noise-induced hearing loss(NIHL) in some noise-exposed workers. Subjects were selected by systemic sampling that took every 10th person from 6, 700 workers taking the annual occupational health examination by the department of Health Maintenance of Dongsan Hospital Keimyung University in Taegu. The authors administered the pure-tone audiometric test and self-reported questionnaire of HHIE-S including items of sociodemographic and job-related variables concurrently. The final subjects analysed were 1,019(488 males and 531 females) excluding fourteen persons who had many missing values in their questionnaires. The reliability coefficients of HHIE-S scale by Cronbach's alpha were 0.84. In the univariate analysis of hearing handicap measured by the HHIE-S, work duration, military service and the hearing threshold loss at 1KHz and 4KHz by the initial audiometer were significant in males while age, work duration and hearing threshold loss at 1KHz and 4KHz were significant in females. In the stepwise linear regression analysis, hearing threshold loss at 1KHz and 4KHz, was the only selected variable explaining the hearing handicap in males and hearing threshold loss at 1KHz and 4KHz, age, and work duration were selected in females. In ROC curves for HHIE-S scores against NIHL as gold standard which was defined by the follow-up audiogram as more than 30dB of the average of 0.5/1/2KHz and 50dB at 4KHz, the optimal cutoff for the parallel HHIE-S appeared to be 8. The results suggest that HHIE-S appeared to have some reliability and validity in this data and might be used in screening NIHL in parallel with pure-tone audiometer in noise-exposed workers.

• 대한예방의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1995.10a
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• pp.317-318
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• 1995

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 2007.12a
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• pp.59-59
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• 2007

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.24 no.11
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• pp.854-860
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• 2014

Workers engaged in car inspection works have been exposed to many occupational hazards including noise, particulate matter, and volatile organic substances. Noise-induced hearing loss(NIHL) is one of the leading health hazards among Korean workers. The aim of this study is to evaluate the noise levels in several car inspection shops by introducing the evaluation methods of KMOEL/OSHA and ACGIH. Six sites in central area of Korea were selected to monitor the noise levels of workers by personal and area sampling methods for two consecutive days in spring, summer, fall and winter seasons. Dosimeters have been used for this noise monitoring program. Obtained noise levels by the evaluation method according to KMOEL/OSHA are the range of 50.2~88.2 dB(A), these are lower than KOEL/OSHA standards level of 90 dB(A). But highest noise by ACGIH's evaluation methodology is recorded 92.3 dB(A) and is greater than NIHL standard level of 85 dB(A). So that many workers may be exposed to the dangerous noise environment. The higher the car inspection loads daily, the higher the noise levels in the sites. Seasonal fluctuation of noise levels at the process might give monitoring results with high variations. Area noise levels showed higher than those of personal sampling, which illustrate some high noise spots in the car inspection areas.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.603-611
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• 2015

This research is aimed at cutting off hearing loss and other harmful factors due to noise and providing basic material for noise reduction plan. As the research method, this research assessed noise by measuring acoustic pressure level and frequency in various situation of non-treatment and treatment. As the measurement result, average noise degree of high speed handpiece of non-treatment, ultrasonic waves scaler, and low speed handpiece showed 58~66 dB(A). Average noise degree of scaling of treatment, tooth elimination, and denture adjust showed 73~81 dB(A). The result is inferior to recognized standards of noise induced hearing loss. But the result of assessing this with (noise rating) NR curve was NR-73~78, which exceeded general workplace noise standard. This level can cause hearing loss when exposed to a long time. Therefore, treatment office noise during dental treatment can cause psychological and physical damage in dental clinic employees, and it is urgently required to establish systematic and active noise reduction plan.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.457-464
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• 1999

To develop managing guidance of occupational noise exposure for metal working facility, we have studied about drafting contour map of noise exposure, methods of noise assessment and actual calculation method of time weighted noise exposure. Therefore we have suggested that contour maps of noisy workplace are very important for controlling metal working fluid facility and two kinds of noise assessment method, so called, personal andstatic exposure are necessary to avoid argument between workers and managing group. Finally we would like recommend that the Korean specification of noise exposure should be modified to protect ONIHL(oocupational noise induced hearing loss).