• 한국직업건강간호학회지
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• 제13권1호
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• pp.59-69
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• 2004

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate cardiovascular risk factors, their interaction, degree of cardiovascular risk and to analyze the effects of related fcators in women workers. Method: A Survey was conducted in 529 employed women in 36 workplaces from October 25, 2002 to December 12, 2002. The survey was distributed and collected by occupational health nurses working at work sites. Result: The result were as followings; The female workers had about 2 cardiovascular risk factors. 82.1% were not exercising more than 3 times a week, 45.9% reported noise-exposure, 38.2% had higher perceived stress, 25.4% were shift-workers, 10.4% were long-time workers(over 60hour/week), 4.4% were frequent drinker, 3.9% were current smokers. The rate of obesity in measured as BMI greater than 25 was 4.0%. Many cardiovascular risk factors were correlated. Job-related and health behavior-related cardiovascular risk factors were correlated statistically. Expose to noise, reported perceived stress were powerful predictors in their degree of cardiovascular risk. Conclusion; Based on the results of this study, cardiovascular prevention programs for women in workplace should be designed as a multifactorial approach, which include stress management and job-related risk factor management as essential components to be effective in addressing the needs of the population.

• 환경위생공학
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• 제18권3호통권49호
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• pp.100-109
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• 2003

Recently, Indoor air quality(IAQ) in workplace, residential environments and schools has been concern of people, scientists and related the public. And so in Seoul has recognized the healthy effect related to IAQ in schools. Therefore, the objective of this study reported in this article were to measure and compare the perception of IAQ of selected air pollutants at three different schools in Seoul. We performed a questionnaire survey of 400 students about their awareness for the importance of IAQ in our school. And we measured the IAQ of 3 schools considering as site region, construction year and studying level. The indoor air pollutants and parameters such as temperature, relative humidity, respirable particulate matter(PM10), formaldehyde(HCHO), total bacteria counts(TBC), carbon dioxide(CO$_2$), and noise were monitored in indoors. In results, all most response of occupant has recognized the awareness of IAQ at schools. The PMIO, TBC and Noise level of all schools were higher than the standard of the public 150 ${mu}$g/m$^3$ and 500CFU/m$^3$, the level formaldehyde(HCHO) was below 0.1 ppm of the healthy guideline of Korea And the concentration of CO$_2$ were investigated below 1,000 ppm of the standard implying ventilation in 2 schools except for 1 school(c school). Finally, the control of most important pollutants of IAQ in school were PM10, TBC and Noise. Therefore, it can be concluded that the indoor air quality of selected 3 schools studied was perceived as acceptable, it is recommended that the government related IAQ was suggested the guideline and control of IAQ problems in schools, and all member relating school need to be effort to reduce the exposure of sources to undesirable indoor pollutants such as Particlate and Noise.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제32권2호
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• pp.140-148
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• 2006

Recently, indoor air quality (IAQ) in workplace, residential environments and schools has been concerned of people, scientists and related the public, and has recognized the health effects related to indoor air pollution. Therefore, this study was performed to investigate the characteristics of IAQ in 55 kindergartens, elementary school, middle schools, and high schools from June, 2004 to May, 2005 in Korea. We measured indoor air pollutants($PM_{10},\;CO_2$, HCHO, total bacteria colony(TBC), CO, radon, TVOCs, asbestos, and $O_3$), and physical factors(noise, temperature, relative humidity, and illumination) with necessary of management for IAQ in school. We classified into 5 kinds of the school by period since building completion, <1 year, 1-3 years, 3-5 years, and 5-10 years. The concentration of pollutants and the level of physical factors compared with standards and guidelines of IAQ on the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development. The major results obtained from this study were as follows. Temperature, relative humidity and illumination among the physical factors did not exceed the standards, but noise exceeded it. Asbestos and $O_3$ did not detect in surveyed classrooms. CO, TBC, TVOCs, and HCHO in kindergartens, TBC in elementary schools, TBC, TVOCs dnd HCHO in middle schools, and HCHO in high schools detected the standards. This study is conducted as a part of efforts to provide a foundational data for further relative researches on management of IAQ of school. Therefore, we suggest that country plan for management of IAQ in school should be established through long-term and continuous investigation for assessment on IAQ in school and health risk assessment for students.

• 대한안전경영과학회지
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• 제17권3호
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• pp.115-123
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• 2015

The study conducted statistical analysis of survey on the 239 workers participating in national Tower Crane installation/dismantlement in order to identify work environment and health hazard exposure of Tower Crane workers. Consequently for work related safety status of Tower Crane workers, the number of installation/dismantlement work was the highest at 15-20 times per month, and safety equipments were not arranged at work and they felt highly anxious when boarding on the Tower Crane. Furthermore, it is found that they feel anxious working in the influence of the weather, noise, vibration, wind, the sun ray, and structure characteristic. They have very low satisfaction in the insecureness of workplace and the work environment, and recognizes that their work affect highly on the health. 81.6% of workers have experienced accident at work, the cause of accidents were mainly due to poor work environment, and the health abnormality they have experienced were mostly fatigue and concentration reduction. For job stress, job demand and conflict in relationship were the highest sections. Total 66.5% of workers complained of musculoskeletal disorder related subjective symptom, and back pain patients were the highest of all groups.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.250-260
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• 2013

Objectives: The aim of this study is to analyze the current status of the possession of measurement and analytical instruments among work environment monitoring organizations that have been designated by the Ministry of Employment and Labor (MoEL) in Korea. Methods: Data for measurement and analytical instruments were gathered by inspectors who had been assigned by the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (KOSHA) and MoEL during the evaluation program for designated work environment monitoring service providers in 2012. Data for 11 monitoring instruments and nine analytical instruments were collected from 108 organizations. Basic data such as the type of service provides and the size of employment were also recorded by the inspector. Results: The total number of personal air samplers including high and low flow rates operated in Korea was 5,418, with average of 50.2. Average operation number of noise dosimeters was 35.0, while 3,780 dosimeters were used in 108 work environment monitoring organizations. There were 10,488 monitoring instruments in total. All service providers possessed at least one AAS and GC in their analytical laboratory. Total number of HPLC/MS was five, followed by ICP/MS of seven, with an average of 0.07. Conclusions: Based on the data, domestic work environment monitoring service providers possessed relatively reasonable measurement and analytical instruments. Nearly all instruments had been imported from advanced countries such as USA, UK and Japan. Periodic gathering of data on these instruments may help maintain good workplace monitoring results and the health of workers at the sites.

• 환경위생공학
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.1-9
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• 2005

Recently, indoor air quality (IAQ) in workplace, residential environments and schools has been concerned of people, scientists and related the public, and has recognized the healthy effectsrelated to IAQ, specially in schools in Korea. Therefore, objectives of this study in this study were to measure and compare the perception of TAQ of selected air pollutants in Seoul from April to September 2004. Measurement place measured 2 schools of Seoul and local 9 schools (by Kyonggi Province, Chungchong-bukdo Chungchong-namdo, Chollado-bukdo, Cholla-namdo, Kyongsang-bukdo, Kyongsang-namdo, Kwangju, schoolin Pusan each 1 place). Temperature, humidity, illumination, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, TBC (total bacteria count), noise, PM10, TVOC(total volatile organic compounds), HCHO (formaldehyde) were measured simultaneously. Also, we Performed a questionnaire survey of 250 students and 50 teachers about their awareness for the importance of IAQ in their schools. Among this article, we handled noise, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, TBC, TVOC, HCHO, PM 10 in our conclusion. Major results were as follows ; Carbon monoxide (CO) was lower than indoor air standard of Korea. Carbon dioxide $(CO_2)$ appeared that 4 schools among our sample target school exceeded in normal standard. 4 schools were almost similar with normal standard. TBC appeared that 7 schools among 11 schools were higher than standard. Noise measured school's mean value passed exceeded standard. And school which passed over standard appeared to 7 schools among 11 schools. HCHO was exceeded 4 schools by standard that excess and certainly interrelation between school's establishment year and facilities of construction was detected. PM10 was exposed all schools by fitness in standard. TVOC appeared that 9 schools among 11 measurement school was exceeded health effect standard of Japan.

• 환경위생공학
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• 제13권1호
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• pp.123-134
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• 1998

The study was performed to investigate the differences among various evaluation criteria for noise-induced hearing loss(NIHL). The subjects were 100 workers who had received detailed audiometric examinations after the periodic annual examination for hearing loss. The evaluation criteria included were as follows: The criterion I was NIHL of 50dB or greater at 4,000Hz in either ear which is one of the legal requirements for determining occupational hearing loss in Korea. The criterion II was NIHL of 40dB or greater by 4-divided classification(a+b+c+d/4 at 500Hz(a), 1,000Hz(b), 2,000Hz(c), 4,000Hz(d)) which is also one of the legal requirements for determining occupational hearing loss in Korea. The criterion III was NIHL of 31dB of greater by 6-divided classification(a+2b+2c+d/6) which is the workers' compensation standard. The criterion IV was NIHL of 40dB or greater by 6-divided classification(a+2b+2c+d/6), the criterion used to prohibite workers to be employed in the noisy workplace. The criterion V was NIHL of 40dB or greater by 3-divided classification(a+b+c/3) which is the guideline of the Japanes Labour Department. The results were as follows; 1. The percentage of workers with NIHL by the criterion I was the highest(96%) and covered all workers with NIHL diagnosed by other criteria. Therefore, this criterion was the most sensitive one for early detection of NIHL among various evaluation criteria. 2. The percentage of workers with NIHL by the criterion II was 29% of the subjects, but all of them could be diagnosed as having NIHL by the criterion I and 33.1% of the NIHL by the criterion III could not be covered by the criterion II. Thus, this criterion was not considered suitable as an initial step for determining occupational hearing loss. 3. The percentage of workers with NIHL by the criterion III was 45% of the subjects. This percentage was 46.9% of the NIHL by the criterion I and was estimated to cover 3.6% of all noise exposed workers. 4. The percentage of workers with NIHL by the criterion IV was 28% of the subjects, but 37.8% of the NIHL by the criterion III and 70.8% of the NIHL by the criterion I were not covered by the criterion. Therefore, these workers could have been employed in the noisy workplaces. 5. Employed relocation which was one of the post management methods was an option in the criterion I in Korea and in the criterion V in Japan. The number of NIHL by the criterion I was 6.7times greater than that by the criterion V. Thus, although employee relocation was not used exclusively, many more workers with NIHL could have been relocated. In conclusion, this study revealed that the criteria being used for managing occupational hearing loss showed a lack uniformity among them. In addition, since these criteria are all relied on the total threshold shifts caused by the noise exposure at the time of hearing test with no consideration given to the past noise exposure history nor age, it can be said that they are not an effective tool for occupational hearing loss management. Since legal requirements are usually followed after being diagnosed as having NIHL, it is recommended that a uniform diagnostic criterion should be used to minimize confusion. Pre-employment hearing tests should also be utilized so as to managing occupational hearing loss after employment rather than being used as a legal roadblock of prohibiting workers with mild hearing loss from being employed. Thus, what is needed is an establishment of a rational criterion for occupational hearing loss management rather than for legal requirements.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제14권1호
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• pp.17-30
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• 2023

The human reproductive system can be affected by occupational exposure to many physical and chemical risk factors. This study was carried out to review the studies conducted on the issue of the pathophysiological effects of occupational physical and chemical risk factors on the reproductive system of females and males. In this systematic review, the databases such as "Google Scholar," "Pub-Med," "Scopus," and "Web of Science" were used. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA 2020), the studies included in our study were published between 2000 and 2021. In order to extract the required data, all sections of the articles were reviewed. Out of 57 articles we reviewed, 34 articles were related to field studies and 23 articles to clinical studies. Among them, 43 studies dealt with the pathophysiological effects of chemical agents, six studies dealt with the pathophysiological effects of physical factors, and 8 studies dealt with the pathophysiological effects of physicochemical factors on the human reproductive system. Physical (noise, heat, and radiofrequency radiation) and chemical (such as carbamate and organophosphate pesticides, benzene, toluene, xylene, formaldehyde, NO2, CS2, manganese, lead, nickel, and n-hexane) risk factors had pathophysiological effects on the human reproductive system. The presence of these risk factors in the workplace caused damage to the human reproductive system. The rate of these negative pathophysiological effects can be reduced by performing appropriate managerial, technical, and engineering measures in work environments.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.90-103
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• 2005

Objective: This study was carried out to assess the status of working environments, to improve the working environments, and to be helpful to prevent occupational disease. Methods: The authors measured the noise level, concentration of dust, heavy metals, organic solvents, and other chemicals at 95 industries (22 working processes) by type of working process in manufacturing industry of parts and accessories for motor vehicles and its engines from January to December 2003. Samples were measured and analyzed by regulations of Korea Ministry of Labor, manuals of National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Results: Results are as follows. 1. Major processes exceeding mean noise levels provided the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value (TLV) were shakeout [97.5 dB(A)]. shot-blast [94.2 dB(A)], pressing [92.9 dB(A)], crushing [91.2 dB(A)], and cleaning [90.6 dB(A)]. 2. Mean concentrations of dusts were not exceeded to the TLV. But concentration on some points of processes as like welding (6.50 mg/m3), foundry (5.24 mg/m3) were exceeded. 3. Mean concentrations of heavy metals were not exceeded to the TLV. 4. Mean concentrations of organic solvents and chemicals were not exceeded to the TLV. 5. Improving rate for working environment were significantly higher in industries with health manager than without (p<0.05), and by increasing the year of working environmental measurement (p<0.01). Conclusions: The results suggest that working processes of exceeding to the TLV will be needed rapid improvement of the working environment, and also the others will be needed positive management of the working environment. Health managers must be recommended to employ in the workplace, and further studies for relationship between working environment and health effects for the workers must be carried out.