• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
• /
• 제31권
• /
• pp.11.1-11.6
• /
• 2016

Objectives A hazard assessment of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a commonly used workplace chemical, was conducted in order to protect the occupational health of workers. A literature review, consisting of both domestic and international references, examined the chemical management system, working environment, level of exposure, and possible associated risks. This information may be utilized in the future to determine appropriate exposure levels in working environments. Methods Hazard assessment was performed using chemical hazard information obtained from international agencies, such as Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development-generated Screening Information Data Set and International Program on Chemical Safety. Information was obtained from surveys conducted by the Minister of Employment and Labor ("Survey on the work environment") and by the Ministry of Environment ("Survey on the circulation amount of chemicals"). Risk was determined according to exposure in workplaces and chemical hazard. Results In 229 workplaces over the country, 831 tons of DEHP have been used as plasticizers, insecticides, and ink solvent. Calculated 50% lethal dose values ranged from 14.2 to 50 g/kg, as determined via acute toxicity testing in rodents. Chronic carcinogenicity tests revealed cases of lung and liver degeneration, shrinkage of the testes, and liver cancer. The no-observed-adverse-effect level and the lowest-observed-adverse-effect level were determined to be 28.9 g/kg and 146.6 g/kg, respectively. The working environment assessment revealed the maximum exposure level to be $0.990mg/m^3$, as compared to the threshold exposure level of $5mg/m^3$. The relative risk of chronic toxicity and reproductive toxicity were 0.264 and 0.330, respectively, while the risk of carcinogenicity was 1.3, which is higher than the accepted safety value of one. Conclusions DEHP was identified as a carcinogen, and may be dangerous even at concentrations lower than the occupational exposure limit. Therefore, we suggest management of working environments, with exposure levels below $5mg/m^3$ and all workers utilizing local exhaust ventilation and respiratory protection when handling DEHP.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• 제44권1호
• /
• pp.9-13
• /
• 2011

Objectives: Although increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) is caused by stress accelerates collagen degradation, there was no data on the relationship between stress and urinary hydroxyproline (Hyp) and proline (Pro), a good marker of collagen degradation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between depression, anxiety, and stress (DAS) and concentrations of urinary Hyp and Pro. Methods: 97 hospital employees aged 20 to 58 were asked to fill out comprehensive self-administrated questionnaires containing information about their medical history, lifestyle, length of the work year, shit-work and DAS. Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS) was applied to evaluate chronic mental disorders. Urine samples were analyzed using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) with double derivatization for the assay of hydroxyproline and proline. Results: The mean value of Hyp and Pro concenturation in all subjects was $194.1{\pm}113.4\;{\mu}mol/g$ and $568.2{\pm}310.7\;{\mu}mol/g$. DASS values and urinary Pro concentrations were differentiated by sex (female > male, p < 0.05) and type of job (nurse > others, p < 0.05). In the stepwise multiple linear regressions, urinary Hyp and Pro concentrations were influenced by stress (Adjusted $r^2$ = 0.051) and anxiety and job (Adjusted $r^2$ = 0.199), respectively. Conclusions: We found that stress and anxiety were correlated with urinary Hyp and Pro concentrations. To identifying a definite correlation, further study in large populations will be needed.

• 한국환경보건학회지
• /
• 제39권5호
• /
• pp.438-446
• /
• 2013

Objectives: This study was performed in order to determine airborne fungi levels in homes and find related factors that may affect airborne fungi concentration. Methods: Fifty homes were study subjects for measuring airborne fungi. For sampling airborne fungi, the impaction method on agar plates was used and samples were counted as colony forming units per cubic meter of air ($CFU/m^3$). In addition, information regarding housing characteristics and atopic disease in each home were collected via questionnaire. Results: The geometric means (GM) of airborne fungi concentrations in fifty living rooms and bedrooms were 68.03 and 62.93 $CFU/m^3$, respectively. The GM of airborne fungi concentration in atopy homes was 78.42 $CFU/m^3$. This was higher than non-atopy homes' 54.34 $CFU/m^3$ (p-value=0.051). In the results of the multiple regression analysis, outdoor airborne fungal concentration proved a strong effective factor on indoor airborne fungal concentration. Also, construction year, floor area of house, indoor smoking and frequency of ventilation were factors that showed a significant association with indoor airborne fungi concentration. Conclusions: The results of this study show that some housing and living characteristics may affect the development and increase of airborne fungi. In addition, exposure to airborne fungi may be a risk factor for the prevalence of childhood atopic diseases.

• 한국직업건강간호학회지
• /
• 제9권2호
• /
• pp.110-120
• /
• 2000

The purpose of this study was to examine which factors affected the job stress of workers in the manufacturing industry. The subjects were 128 workers in automobile component manufacturing companies located in Kyonggi-do province. Data were collected through self-reporting technique for 8 days, October 24-31, 2000. The instrument to test the work related truss was NIOSH's Work-related Stress Inventory revised by Korea Occupational Safety and Health Association(KOSHA) in 1999. The collected data were analysed with SAS. and frequency, percentage, mean value, standard deviation, t-test, ANOVA. Scheffe's post hoc test and Pearson's Correlation Coefficients. The major findings were as follows: 1. Mean job stress score for the job-related stress was $2.6{\pm}0.5$ on the basis of 5.0 points. Job stress was significantly different according to gender. The stress by role conflict showed higher score than the stress by role ambiguity. 2. Discretionary power(freedom to determine) of workers was scored $2.6{\pm}0.7$ on the basis of 5.0 points. And it was significantly different according to gender, duration of work and shift experience. 3. The work environment scored $2.2{\pm}0.3$ on the basis of 3.0 points and significant difference according to gender, age, marital status, type of employment, type of service, and shift work. 4. Role ambiguity showed significant negatively correlate with job control(r=-.32, P=.000) and decision making(r=-.31, P=.000). And decision making showed positively correlated with job control(r=.62, P=.000), and role conflict(r=.26, P=.003).

• 한국산업보건학회지
• /
• 제18권1호
• /
• pp.32-40
• /
• 2008

Methyl bromide has been used as a representative fumigant for quarantine, and several poisoning cases have occurred recently by this chemical in Korea. The purpose of this study is to evaluate workers' exposures to airborne methyl bromide in the importing and exporting plant products quarantine companies. Air samples were collected 400/200 mg Anasorb 747TM and were analyzed by gas chromatograph /flame ionization detector according to the Occupational Safety and Health Agency (OSHA) Method PV2040. Geometric mean (GM) and arithmetic mean (AM) of total 27 workers' exposure concentrations to airborne methyl bromide were 1.12 ppm and 0.24 ppm, respectively. Two exposures(12.1 ppm and 12 ppm as 8hr-TWA) of total 27 workers' exposures exceeded the Korean standard (5 ppm) of Ministry Labor, while 4 exposures (15%) exceeded the Threshold Limit Value (TLV) (1 ppm) of American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). Seven samples (11%) of total 63 short-term air samples exceeded the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) 20 ppm (Ceiling). The opening (management) task in wood fumigation by tent showed the highest short-term exposure concentrations (AM: 18.6 ppm, GM: 0.58 ppm, maximum: 340.7 ppm). The maximum level in treatment task of the same process was 2.01 ppm. Methyl bromide concentrations in opening operation was significantly higher than that in treatment operation (p<0.05). In conclusion, the GM of workers' 8hr-TWA exposures to airborne methyl chloride in the importing/exporting plant quarantine industry was estimated below the ACGIH TLV (1 ppm). However, opening task in the fumigation of wood being covered with tent or fumigation of pant products in container showed the levels exceeding ACGIH TLV (1 ppm), and opening task in the fumigation of wood being covered with tent showed the level exceeding the Korean standard of Ministry of Labor (5 ppm).

• 한국도서관정보학회지
• /
• 제43권2호
• /
• pp.157-178
• /
• 2012

본 연구의 목적은 질적 다방법을 적용하여 사서의 직업사회화 경험 과정을 통합적으로 도출하고, 그 이해를 증진하고자 하였다. 순차적으로 이루어진 일련의 3개의 질적 선행연구에서 이론적 표집에 의해 수집된 총42명의 현직 사서(사서교사)들의 심층면담자료를 질적 다방법 접근의 최종 통합방법으로서 근거이론 방법을 적용하여 분석하였다. 그 결과, 사서의 직업사회화 경험의 전체 과정을 이끌고 통합하는 핵심범주는 '사회적 인정 추구하기' 이며, 그 과정은 '적응하기', '주변부임을 절감하기', '역할 인식하기', '발전 모색하기', '전문성 구현하기', '가치 재발견하기', '전문성 발현하기'로 도출되었다. 특히, '주변부임을 절감하기' 과정은 사서의 직업사회화를 나타내는 독특하고, 핵심적이며 강렬한 과정으로 나타났으며, 이는 사서들이 지각하는 이중적 직업인식 및 소외의식을 반영하는 것이라고 할 수 있다. 각 과정의 특색과 사회화 전략을 논의하였다.

• 대한통합의학회지
• /
• 제8권3호
• /
• pp.21-31
• /
• 2020

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a cognitive-exercise program using step on the cognitive function, gait, and depression of elderly with mild cognitive impairment. Methods : The subjects comprised 30 elderly people with mild cognitive impairment who used elderly welfare centers in the provinces A, B, and C between March 21 and June 7, 2019. They were divided into an experimental group (n=15) and a control group (n=15) before undergoing an experiment based on a pretest-posttest control group design. The lowenstein occupational therapy cognitive assessment-geriatric population was used to assess the subjects' cognitive function, while the 4-stage balance test, 30-second chair-stand test, timed up & go test, and functional reach test were employed to evaluate their gait. In addition, the beck depression inventory was used to measure their levels of depression. Results : The cognitive-exercise program using step enhanced the subjects' cognitive function and gait and reduced their levels of depression. Furthermore, statistically significant differences were found between the experimental group and the control group. Conclusion : The cognitive-exercise program using step promoted the process of sensorimotor and cognition through the learning process of various steps taking left and right steps and cognitive activities. It improves gait by activating the coordination of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems of the body and positively affecting posture control, balance, flexibility, and lower extremity muscles. It also relieved depression by performing successful step learning and cognitive activities with forward-looking (doing) that leads to pleasure and achievement. The present study confirmed the value of a cognitive-exercise program using step to treat multiple domains of functional decline in elderly patients with mild cognitive impairment. This is therefore proposed as an intervention program for this patient group.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• 제11권2호
• /
• pp.193-198
• /
• 2020

Background: Medical laboratory workers are frequently exposed to a wide range of chemicals. This exposure can have adverse effects on their health. Furthermore, a knowledge lack of the chemical risk increases the likelihood of exposure. The chemical risk assessment reduces the risk of exposure to hazardous chemicals and therefore, guarantees health and safety of the workers. Method: The chemical risk assessment was conducted using a modified INRS method, according to the new CLP Regulation, of 11 unit laboratories in a Moroccan medical laboratory. Observation of each workstation and analysis of safety data sheets are key tools in this study. Results: A total of 144 substances and reagents that could affect the health of the analytical technicians were identified. Among these products, 17% are concerned by the low priority risk score, with 55% concerned by the average priority risk score and 28% concerned by the high priority risk score. This study also enabled to better identify the chemical agents that have restrictive occupational exposure limit value and controls were conducted to this effect. On the basis of the results obtained, several corrective and preventive measures have been proposed and implemented. Conclusion: Risk assessment is essential to ensure the health and safety of workers and to meet regulatory requirements. It enables to identify all the risky manipulations and to adopt appropriate preventive measures. However, it is not a one-time activity but it must be continuous in order to master the changes and thus ensure the best safety of all.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• 제6권4호
• /
• pp.312-316
• /
• 2015

Background: Unleaded petrol contains significant amounts of monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene, and xylenes (BTX). Toxic responses following occupational exposure to unleaded petrol have been evaluated only in limited studies. The main purpose of this study was to ascertain whether (or not) exposure to unleaded petrol, under normal working conditions, is associated with any hepatotoxic or nephrotoxic response. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study in which 200 employees of Shiraz petrol stations with current exposure to unleaded petrol, as well as 200 unexposed employees, were investigated. Atmospheric concentrations of BTX were measured using standard methods. Additionally, urine and fasting blood samples were taken from individuals for urinalysis and routine biochemical tests of kidney and liver function. Results: The geometric means of airborne concentrations of BTX were found to be $0.8mg\;m^{-3}$, $1.4mg\;m^{-3}$, and $2.8mg\;m^{-3}$, respectively. Additionally, means of direct bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, blood urea and plasma creatinine were significantly higher in exposed individuals than in unexposed employees. Conversely, serum albumin, total protein, and serum concentrations of calcium and sodium were significantly lower in petrol station workers than in their unexposed counterparts. Conclusion: The average exposure of petrol station workers to BTX did not exceed the current threshold limit values (TLVs) for these chemicals. However, evidence of subtle, subclinical and prepathologic early liver and kidney dysfunction was evident in exposed individuals.

• 대한물리의학회지
• /
• 제17권3호
• /
• pp.87-95
• /
• 2022

PURPOSE: This study examined the impact of functional group cooking activities on the depression and interpersonal relationships of stroke patients with psychological impairments. METHODS: Ten stroke patients were divided into an experimental group and a control group and participated in this study from October 2015 to January 2016. The experimental group and control group each comprised five stroke patients. Traditional occupational therapy was given to the control group and the experimental group undertook the cooking activity. Depression changes were measured using the Beck depression inventory (BDI), and the interpersonal relationships were evaluated using the relationship change scale. RESULTS: The findings indicate that, first, there was a significant difference in the depression changes in both groups before and after the intervention. Second, after the intervention, the interpersonal relationships of the experimental group showed a higher mean change value and were significantly higher than the control (experimental: 22.4, control: 4, p < .05). In contrast, there was no change in the depression status between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Functional group cooking activities appear to be more effective in improving interpersonal relationships than traditional occupational therapy. However, to establish that functional group cooking activities are linked to improvements in the depression status and interpersonal relationships of the participants, further studies would be needed with more extensive group activities and larger sample sizes.