• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제30권4호
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• pp.342-352
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• 2020

Objectives: The characteristics of research workers are different from those working in the manufacturing industry. Furthermore, the reagents used change according to the research due to the characteristics of the laboratory, and the amounts used vary. In addition, since the working time changes almost every day, it is difficult to adjust the time according to exposure standards. There are also difficulties in setting standards as in the manufacturing industry since laboratory environments and the types of experiments performed are all different. For these reasons, the measurement of the working environment of research workers is not realistically carried out within the legal framework, there is a concern that the accuracy of measurement results may be degraded, and there are difficulties in securing data. The exposure evaluation based on an eight-hour time-weighted average used for measuring the working environment to be studied in this study may not be appropriate, but it was judged and consequently applied as the most suitable method among the recognized test methods. Methods: The investigation of the use of chemical substances in the research laboratory, which is the subject of this study, was conducted in the order of carrying out work environment measurement, sample analysis, and result analysis. In the case of the use of chemical substances, after organizing the substances to be measured in the working environment, the research workers were asked to write down the status, frequency, and period of use. Work environment measurement and sample analysis were conducted by a recognized test method, and the results were compared with the exposure standards (TWA: time weighted average value) for chemical substances and physical factors. Results: For the substances subject to work environment measurement, the department of chemical engineering was the most exposed, followed by the department of chemistry. This can lead to exposure to a variety of chemicals in departmental laboratories that primarily deal with chemicals, including acetone, hydrogen peroxide, nitric acid, sodium hydroxide, and normal hexane. Hydrogen chloride was measured higher than the average level of domestic work environment measurements. This can suggest that researchers in research activities should also be managed within the work environment measurement system. As a result of a comparison between the professional science and technology service industry and the education service industry, which are the most similar business types to university research laboratories among the domestic work environment measurements provided by the Korea Safety and Health Agency, acetone, dichloromethane, hydrogen peroxide, sodium hydroxide, nitric acid, normal hexane, and hydrogen chloride are items that appear higher than the average level. This can also be expressed as a basis for supporting management within the work environment measurement system. Conclusions: In the case of research activity workers' work environment measurement and management, specific details can be presented as follows. When changing projects and research, work environment measurement is carried out, and work environment measurement targets and methods are determined by the measurement and analysis method determined by the Ministry of Employment and Labor. The measurement results and exposure standards apply exposure standards for chemical substances and physical factors by the Ministry of Employment and Labor. Implementation costs include safety management expenses and submission of improvement plans when exposure standards are exceeded. The results of this study were presented only for the measurement of the working environment among the minimum health management measures for research workers, but it is necessary to prepare a system to improve the level of safety and health.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제43권1호
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• pp.1-22
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• 2017

'The worstest environment disaster', 'World's first biocide massacre', 'Home-based Sewol ferry disaster' are all phrases attached to the recent humidifier disinfectant disaster. In the spring of 2011, four of 8 pregnant women including 1 adult man passed away at a university hospital in Seoul due to breathing failure. Epidemiologic investigation conducted by the Korean CDC soon revealed the inhalation of humidifier disinfectant, which had been widely used in Korea during the winter, to be responsible for the disease. As well as lung fibrosis hardening of the lungs, other diseases including asthma, rhinitis, skin disease, liver disease, fetal disease or cancers have been researched for their relation with exposure to the products. By February 9, 2017, 5,342 cases had registered for health problems and 1,131 of them were already dead (20.8% mortality rate). Based on studies by government agencies and a telephone survey of the general population by Seoul National University and civic groups, around 20% of the general public of Korea has used these products. Since the market release of the first product by SK Chemical in 1994, over 7.1 million items from around 20 brands were sold up to 2011. Most of the products were manufactured by well-known large conglomerates such as SK, Lotte, Samsung, Shinsegye, LG, and GS, as well as some European companies including UK-based Reckitt Benckiser and TESCO, the German firm Henkel, the Danish firm KeTox, and an Irish company. Even though this disaster was unveiled in 2011 by the Korean government, the issue of the victims was neglected for over five years. In 2016, an unexpected but intensive investigation by prosecutors found that Reckitt Benckiser manipulated and concealed animal tests for its own brand and brought several university experts and company employees to court. The matter was an intense social issue in Korea from May to June with a surge in media coverage. The prosecutor's investigation and a nationwide boycott campaign organized by victims and environmental groups against Reckitt Benckiser, whose product had been used by more than 70% of victims, led to the producer's official apology and a compensation scheme. A legislative investigation organized after the April 2016 national election revealed the producers' faults and the government's responsibility, but failed to meet expectations. A special law for the victims passed the National Assembly in January 2017 and a punitive system together with a massive environmental epidemiology investigation are expected to be the only solutions for this tragedy. Sciences of medicine, toxicology and environmental health have provided decisive evidence so far, but for the remaining problems the perspectives of social sciences such as sociology and jurisprudence are highly necessary, similar to with the Minamata disease and Wonjin Rayon events. It may not be easy to follow this issue using unfamiliar terminology from medical and chemical science and the long, complicated history of the event. For these reasons the author has attempted to write this article in a question and answer format to render it easier to follow. The 17 questions are: Q1 What is humidifier disinfectant? Q2 What kind of health problems are caused by humidifier disinfectant? Q3 How many victims are there? Q4 What is the analysis of the 1,112 cases of death? Q5 What is the problem with the government's diagnostic criteria and the solution? Q6 Who made what brands? Q7 Has there been a recall? What is still on sale? Q8 Was safety not checked by any producers? Q9 What are the government's responsibilities? Q10 Is it true that these products were sold only in Korea? Q11 Why and how was it unveiled only in 2011 after 17 years of sales? Q12 What delayed the resolution of the victim issue? Q13 What is the background of the prosecutor's investigation in early 2016? Q14 Is it possible to report new victim cases without evidence of product purchase? Q15 What is happening with the victim issue? Q16 How does it compare with the cases of Minamata disease and Wonjin Rayon? Q17 Are there prevention measures and lessons?

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제28권1호
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• pp.103-121
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• 1995

교대작업이 근로자의 육체적, 정신적 및 사회적 건강에 미치는 영향을 조사하고자 1993년 5월 한 달간 경상남도 울산시 소재 모 자동차 공장 생산직 근로자 659명(교대작업자 : 544, 주간작업자 : 115)을 대상으로 설문조사 및 면접조사를 실시하였다. 조사시점에서 현재 교대작업을 하고 있으며 자신의 근무기간 중 80% 이상을 교대작업에 참여한 근로자를 지속적인 교대작업자로 간주하였으며, 조사 당시 교대작업에 참여하고 있지 않고 과거에도 교대 작업에 참여한 경험이 전혀 없었던 근로자룰 주간작업자로 하였다. 교대작업군과 대조군의 일반적인 특성 및 작업과 관련된 특성은 자기기입식 설문지를 이용하여 조사하였으며, 교대작업에 관련된 내용은 면접을 통한 자기기입식 설문지를 이용하여 조사하였다. 근로자의 수면양상과 식사형태에 관한 설문은 National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health에서 개발된 항목을 이용하여 조사하였으며, 위장관계질환의 자각증상에 관하여서도 자기기입식 설문지를 이용하여 조사하였다. 근로자의 일반적인 안녕 상태와 장해는 미국의 Health and Nutrition Examination Survey에서 개발된 자기기입식 설문인 General Well-Being Schedule(GWB)에 의해 측정되었다. 교대작업자에서 자신이 원하는 수면시간보다 1시간 이상 수면이 모자란다고 호소한 근로자가 56.8%로 주간작업군의 50.0%보다 높았으며, 수면 중 2회 이상 잠을 깨는 근로자의 비율, 잠에서 깨었다 다시 잠들기가 힘들다고 호소한 근로자의 비율, 일주일에 2일 이상 작업 중 피곤하거나 졸리다고 호소한 근로자의 비율, 일주일에 2일 이상 작업이 끝난 후에도 피곤하거나 졸리다고 호소한 근로자의 비율은 주간 작업자보다 교대작업자에서 현저하게 높았으며(p<0.01), 교대작업자에서 자고 일어난 후에도 피로감을 호소하는 율도 교대작업군에서 53.1%로 주간작업자의 40.0%보다 높았다(p<0.05). 수면의 형태를 보면 교대작업자에서는 각 교대작업 때마다 다른 형태의 수면을 취하는 근로자가 35.9%로 가장 많은 비율을 차지하였으며, 잠을 잘 못 잔다고 호소하는 근로자도 12.3%로 주간작업자의 6.1%보다 훨씬 많은 비율을 차지하였다. 잠을 자기 위해 약물을 상습적으로 복용하는 근로자도 주간작업자에서 1.7%, 교대작업자에서 2.8%를 차지하였다. 교대작업자들과 주간작업자는 다른 형태의 식사형태를 보였으나 유의한 차이는 없었으며, 식욕은 주간작업자의 13.0%에서 아주 좋다라고 응답한 반면 교대작업자에서는 6.6%만이 식욕이 아주 좋다라고 응답하였으며, 식욕이 매우 나쁘다라고 응답한 비율도 5.0%로 주간작업자의 2.5%보다 높았다. 교대작업자와 주간작업자의 위장관계 자각증상 호소율은 교대작업군에서 높았으며(p<0.01), 배변습관의 변화와 체중감소 호소율도 교대작업자에서 주간작업자에 비해 유의하게 높았다(p<0.05). 근로자의 일반적인 안녕 상태와 장해는 HANES I에서 개발된 General Well-Being Schedule(GWB)에 의해 측정되었는데 불안척도, 우울척도, positive well-being척도, 활력척도에서는 교대작업군에서 통계적으로 유의하게 낮았으며(p<0.05). 자기제어력척도, 일반건강척도도 교대 작업자에서 낮았으나 유의한 수준은 아니었다. 이상의 결과를 종합해 볼 때, 교대작업자에서 생체리듬의 부조화로 인한 수면, 식사, 위장관계장해 등의 일련의 자각증상에 대한 호소율이 주간작업자에 비해 전반적으로 높았으며, 일반적인 건강 장해 호소율도 교대작업자에서 높았다.

• 한국식품위생안전성학회지
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• 제30권1호
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• pp.109-114
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• 2015

Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens)와 Mycobacterium fortuitum (M. fortuitum)은 동물과 사람에서 심각한 질병과 관련이 있는 세균들로 알려져 있다. 본 연구에서는, povidone-iodine을 주성분으로 하는 소독제의 살균효과를 C. perfringes와 M. fortuitum을 대상으로 평가하였다. 소독제의 살균효과는 배지희석법을 이용하여, 대상 세균들을 $4^{\circ}C$에서 소독제에 30분 동안 노출시킨 다음, 가장 낮은 소독제의 살균 희석배수를 결정하였다. 소독제는 경수와 유기물로 희석하였으며, 경수 조건에서, C. perfringes와 M. fortuitum에 대해 효과적인 소독제 희석배수는 각각 50과 80배이었다. 유기물 조건에서는, C. perfringes와 M. fortuitum에 대해 효과적인 소독제 희석배수는 모두 15배로 나타났다. 이상의 결과로 부터, povidone-iodine을 주성분으로 하는 소독제는 C. perfringes와 M. fortuitum에 대해 살균효과를 갖는 것으로 확인되었으며, C. perfringes와 M. fortuitum에 의한 질병의 확산을 방지하기 위해 사용될 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.

• 한국화재소방학회논문지
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• 제34권2호
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• pp.86-93
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• 2020

본 연구는 옥외저장탱크에서 발생한 화재·폭발사고의 근본적인 사례분석을 통해 저장탱크의 안전을 유지할 목적으로 수행되었다. 이 사고는 저장탱크 야드에 사업장 외에서 날아온 풍등이 저장탱크 주변 잔디에 떨어지며 발생한 잔재 화재가 서서히 확산되어 탱크 내부의 유증기와 만나 폭발·화재로 이어진 사고였다. 사고의 원인을 밝혀내기 위하여 CCTV영상분석을 통한 대기확산 조건 도출, 전산유체역학을 이용한 풍향 분석, 플러팅 루프가 최저 위치일 때의 탱크 내부 유증기 발생량, 최고 위치일 때의 탱크 내부 유증기 거동을 통하여 저장탱크의 폭발이 일어난 원인을 밝혀내어 저장탱크의 레벨을 내부부상형 지붕 이하로 유지했을 경우 위험물이 충전되면서 그 공간에 있던 유증기가 내부 부상지붕위에 정체될 가능성이 있으므로 저장탱크의 Low liquid level이 폰튠 서포트 밑에 위치하지 않도록 운전절차를 개선하고, 오픈 벤트에는 화염방지기를 설치하여 화염이 저장탱크로 유입하지 못하도록 하는 대책을 제시하고자 한다.

• 해양환경안전학회지
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• 제20권5호
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• pp.468-473
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• 2014

본 연구에서는 정제되지 않은 ZnO 및 $TiO_2$나노입자를 M4배지에 노출시켜 두 나노입자가 어느 정도 크기의 응집체로 변화되는지를 살펴보고 또한 두 나노입자가 수생태계 생물종인 Daphnia magna에 어떠한 영향을 초래하는지 유영저해 및 폐사율을 통해 살펴보았다. ZnO 및 $TiO_2$나노입자의 분말상태 크기는 각각 20 nm와 40 nm였지만, M4배지에서는 1333 nm와 1628 nm로 약 40~70배의 크기로 응집되었다. 유영저해의 경우 ZnO와 $TiO_2$나노입자 모두 시간 및 농도가 높아질수록 D.magna가 유영하는데 영향을 미친 것으로 나타났으며, 특히 ZnO나노입자가 $TiO_2$나노입자에 비해 더 큰 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다. 폐사율의 경우 ZnO나노입자에서는 시간 및 농도가 높아질수록 폐사되는 비율이 높았으며, $TiO_2$나노입자에서는 72시간이 경과된 시점의 10 ppm 이상의 농도에서 폐사하는 것으로 관찰되었다. 이는 나노입자가 해양에 유입됨으로 인해 원래의 크기에 비해 응집되어 증가되어진다는 것을 알 수 있으며, 또한 그 응집체로 인해 수생태계 생물에 영향을 주는 것으로 나타났다.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제28권4호
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• pp.382-392
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• 2018

Objective: Allergic diseases such as asthma due to fungal exposure in houses have increased, and proper management is urgent. Mold can grow in the air, floor, walls, and other areas according to environmental conditions, and there are many limitations to the conventional methodology for examining fungal exposure. For this reason, the degree of fungal contamination is being evaluated by ERMI (Environmental Relative Moldiness Index), a quantitative analysis method proposed by the EPA. In this study, we compared ERMI values between water-damaged dwellings and non-damaged ones to evaluate the effectiveness of Korean ERMI values. We also explored the association of ERMI values with the level of airborne mold and characteristics of dwellings. Methods: Floor dust was collected after installing a Dustream collector on the suction port of a vacuum cleaner. The collected samples were filtered to remove only 5 mg of dust, and DNA was extracted using the FastDNA SPIN KIT protocol. Results: The ERMI values were found to be 19.6 (-6.9-58.8) for flooded houses, 7.5 (-29.2-48.3) for leaks/condensation, and 0.8 (-29.2-37.9) for non-damaged dwellings. The airborne concentration of mold for flooded, leakage or condensed, and non-damaged houses were $684CFU/m^3$, $566CFU/m^3$, and $378CFU/m^3$, respectively. The correlation between ERMI values and the levels of airborne mold was low (R = 0.038), but a weakly significant association of the ERMI values with the concentration of particulate matter ($PM_{10}$) was observed as well(R=0.231,P<0.05). Conclusions: Our findings show that the reference value using ERMI can be used to distinguish water-damaged and non-damaged dwellings. It is believed that ERMI values could be a promising tool for assessing long-term fungal exposure in dwellings.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.1-7
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• 2005

Although the Fourier Transform Infra-Red spectrophotometric Direct on Filter(FTIR-DOF) method is a useful analytical technique for quantifying quartz content in respirable dust samples, a number of analytical problems must be taken into consideration such as, to name only a few, inhomogeneous deposition of particles, level of environmental humidity, uneven surface of the filter, and interfering minerals in the sample. This study was designed to select the most suitable wavelength and proper filter material for the method, and to investigate effects of humidity and inhomogeneous deposition of particles on the filter. Samples of respirable dust, created in a dust chamber containing standard material of quartz, were collected using a cyclone equipped with a 25mm filter as a collection medium. The results were as follows; 1. Among seven (7) commercially available filters tested for the FTIR-DOF method, the DM 800 filter showed the best analytical performance having the lowest background absorbance bands and no overlapping peaks at 799, 779, and $695cm^{-1}$. 2. The variations of absorbance due to humidity ranged from 1.0% to 3.3% for $799cm^{-1}$, 1.0% to 3.3% for $779cm^{-1}$, and 8.9%~20.9% for $695cm^{-1}$ peaks, respectively. The $699cm^{-1}$ peak was proved to be most vulnerble to environmental humidity for quantitative analysis of quartz. 3. As for effects of inhomogeneous deposition of samples, the highest variation of absorbance of 10.9% ($13.5{\mu}g$) was observed when using the 695cm-1. The variations of absorbance from the other two peaks, 799 and $779cm^{-1}$, ranged from 1.2 to 3.2%, and 1.4 to 4.1%, respectively. Therefore, the $799cm^{-1}$ peak was considered to be most reliable for quantitative analysis of quartz. The results of this study suggest that, for quantitative analysis of quartz in the respirable dust samples, use of the $799cm^{-1}$ peak can minimize the influence of environmental humidity and inhomogeneous deposition of particles on the filter. The FTIR-DOF method, if adopted for routine analysis of quartz in the respirable dust samples, could save sample preparation time and efforts substantially and also could increase analytical throughputs. Since use of the $799cm^{-1}$ peak is prone to be affected by interferences in the sample, further research on minimizing the effects is needed.

• 대한방사선기술학회지:방사선기술과학
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• 제40권3호
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• pp.469-484
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• 2017

방사선사는 사람의 생명을 대상으로 하므로 전문적인 직무역량(job competency)이 요구된다. 그럼에도 현재 한국에서는 방사선사의 직무역량을 밝히고 있는 연구가 이루어진 바 없다. 이에 한국 방사선사의 핵심 직무역량 지표를 정의하고 역량군별 요인모델을 제시하고자 방사선사 직무역량에 대한 설문을 실시하여 최종 147명의 응답내용을 취합하였다. 응답 내용은 PASW Statistics Version 18.0와 AMOS Version 18.0을 이용하여 탐색적 요인분석과 확인적 요인분석을 실시하였다. 요인분석 결과 전문직업성', '환자관리', '건강 및 안전', '장비의 운영', '절차와 관리'의 5개 핵심 직무역량군과 17개의 하위 역량으로 구성된 모델을 구성하였다. 5개 핵심 직무역량군의 측정 모델 RMSEA 값은 0.1, CFI와 TLI 값이 0.9에 근사하게 나타나 양호한 적합도를 보였으며, 타당도 분석 결과 평균분산추출 값 0.5이상, 개념신뢰도 값 0.7이상으로 각 하위 역량에 포함된 세부 항목 간에 상관관계도 높게 나타났다. 이 연구의 결과는 한국의 의료 환경에서 방사선사에게 요구되는 직무역량을 명확히 제시하여 역량 중심의 인적 자원 양성과 관리에 필요한 구체적인 정보를 제공해 줄 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제46권1호
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• pp.103-109
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• 2020

Objectives: Using as a sleep evaluation tool the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), this paper studied the effects of earthing on the amount and quality of sleep by examining a patient population of people who used and did not use earthing mats and a group of general healthy people. Methods: From September to November 2019, 30 patients who voluntarily used an earthing mat, 40 patients who did not use an earthing mat, and 40 healthy people who did not use an earthing mat were selected. A questionnaire applying the PSQI (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) after being translated into Korean was distributed starting November 29, 2019 to 110 subjects. Out of them, 101 subjects who completed the questionnaire were examined. All statistics used SPSS 25.0. Results: The first overall score showed that all three groups had problems sleeping, with five points or more, but the general population had better sleep quality than the patient group. It also showed that the using matgroup had better quality of sleep than the ones that did not use the earthing mat In addition, the analysis of the third group through the variance analysis showed significance at >0.05 for the general population and the patient group. Based on this, a multi-comparison analysis of the third group showed significantly less than 0.05 in patients who do not use an earthing mat compared to the public. First of all, there are no statistically significant differences between the three groups in subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, and sleep time, but an analysis of multiple comparison analysis with the general population group showed that the quality of sleep was worse compared to those that used the mat. In addition, sleep efficiency, sleep disorder, sleeping pills, and daytime dysfunction were found to be less than >0.05 in the three groups. Conclusions: These results suggest that if you ground your body to Earth during sleep, the secretion of cortisol will decrease night levels, sync more with the natural 24-hour circulation rhythm profile, and that when you sleep, sleep is better and pain and stress are associated with the study. While the preceding study cannot confirm that contact with the ground affects the quality of sleep, it suggests that it is relevant as shown in this paper.