• 한국대기환경학회지
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• 제29권3호
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• pp.275-286
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• 2013

It is well known that exposure to high level of PM (particulate matter) can adversely affect human health. However, little is known about health burden of PM considering the relationship, exposed level of PM, and health level in local communities. And, there is scarcely methodical assessment of uncertainty for application to policies of these assessment results. The scope of this study is divided into two parts: firstly to estimate the death burden of PM10 (particulate matter less then $10{\mu}m$ in diameter) in Seoul metropolitan region, and secondly to evaluate potential uncertainties in these estimates. To estimate the death burden of PM10 in Seoul metropolitan region from 2005~2010, we firstly assessed the relationship between daily mean PM10 and daily death counts in Seoul from 2000~2010, and calculated the death burden of PM10 using BenMAP (Environmental Benefits Mapping and Analysis Program). After that, we identified and characterized uncertainties to substantially influence the results of death burden. The daily mortality risk was increased 1.000227 times (p-value/0.001) associated with $1{\mu}g/m^3$ increase of daily mean PM10 for all ages population, Seoul. And, death burdens of PM10 in Seoul metropolitan region were estimated from 5.51 in 2005 to 5.12 in 2010 per 100,000 people. Finally, we categorized context, model, and input uncertainty and characterized these uncertainties in three dimensions (i.e. location, level, and nature) using uncertainty typology. In our study, we argue that uncertainties need to be identified, assessed, reported and interpreted in order for assessment results to adequately support decision making, such as the establishment of air quality standards based on health burden of air quality.

• 한국패류학회지
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.93-105
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• 2004

Arkshell clams, Scapharca broughtonii, are economically important edible bivalves and widely cultivated in the Southern coast of Korea. Recently, the production of S. broughtonii has been dramatically decreased and various reasons including chemical pollution were suspected to be related to the production declines. However, it remains unknown whether the chemical pollution levels of the surrounding environments were high enough for the biological and ecological disturbance for the population of S. broughtonii, because no systematic toxicological study using S. broughtonii has been conducted previously. In the present study, we exposed arkshell clams, S. broughtonii to various waterborne pollutants including heavy metals (Cd, Cu and Hg), ammonia and organotins (tributyltin and triphenyltin) to determine the effect concentrations of these pollutants for the survival of S. broughtonii for 20 days. The median lethal concentrations ($LC_50$) of S. broughtonii were 2.1 mg/l for Cd, 0.065 mg/l for Cu, 0.40 mg/l for Hg, 79.4 mg/l for total ammonia (1.9 mg/l for unionized ammonia), 0.5 ${\mu}$g/l for TBT, and 14${\mu}$g/l for TPhT. Lethal toxicity of the most pollutants increased with both exposure duration and concentration. The toxicity of TBT was greatest for S. broughtonii, followed by TPhT > Cu > Hg > Cd > ammonia. The sensitivities of S. broughtonii to heavy metals and TBT were comparable to those of other aquatic organisms, but they were relatively tolerable to ammonia. The environmental concentrations of the tested pollutants were compared with the effect concentrations of those for the survival of S. broughtonii to assess the potential risks of the pollutants in the field conditions.

• 한국산업융합학회 논문집
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• 제24권6_2호
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• pp.781-786
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• 2021

Korean domestic workers are trend to avoid harmful and dangerous jobs calls 3D work due to the poor working conditions. Therefore, the incoming population of foreign workers is increasing to fulfill the required labor force. Mostly these foreign workers are placed in small and medium-size industries. As work that induces musculoskeletal disorders(WMSD) is equally exposed to domestic workers as well as foreign workers, this study attempted to investigate the work burdened by musculoskeletal disorders and derive improvement measures by understanding the actual conditions of the worksites of foreign workers. The result of this investigation defines that the possibility of developing musculoskeletal disorders is very high in the environment in which more than 40% of the respondents work with heavy objects and repetitive work of wrists and elbows. To prevent the symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders among foreign workers, three measures were proposed. To reduce the mandatory check-up period of WMSD under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, to revise the employment permit system, and to enhance the practical help of EPS education. Safety and health management of foreign workers is becoming an essential task not only for securing a workforce but also for the national image. Personal and economic losses at the national level should be minimized through policy support such as financial support for small and medium-sized businesses in Korea and supplementation of legal systems for the protection of foreign workers.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제56권5호
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• pp.1781-1795
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• 2024

This study investigated the levels of radioactivity in soil surrounding a phosphate fertilizer factory in Egypt, aiming to assess potential risks to the population exposed to radiation. Concentrations of ²³⁸U, ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K were measured in soil samples collected from two subsites: one near the factory (subsite 1) and another further away (subsite 2). Two different systems were used for measuring radioactivity, a high-purity gamma ray spectroscopy system with an HPGe detector for gamma-emitting isotopes and a CR-39 solid nuclear track detector for alpha-emitting radon gas. Subsite 1, located close to the factory, displayed significantly elevated levels of ²²⁶Ra compared to global background levels (514 and 456 Bq/kg vs. 35 Bq/kg). Additionally, the concentrations of ²³⁸U (241.06 Bq/kg vs. global average 35 Bq/kg), ²³²Th (16.15 Bq/kg vs. global average 30 Bq/kg), and ⁴⁰K (146.36 Bq/kg vs. global average 400 Bq/kg) were all above global averages. Furthermore, a high concentration of radon gas (337.06 μSv/y) was measured at subsite 1. The strong positive correlation observed between ²²⁶Ra and ²³⁸U (0.96256) provides further evidence of potentially elevated radioactivity levels near the factory. In contrast, subsite 2, situated farther from the factory, exhibited natural radioactive background levels within international limits. Quantitative analysis revealed that gamma ray absorbed doses for ²²⁶Ra and ²³²Th exceeded global averages in some samples. Specifically, ²²⁶Ra doses ranged from 7.8 to 46.26 ppm (exceeding the 20 ppm global average in some cases), and ²³²Th doses ranged from 1.98 to 9.14 ppm (exceeding the 10 ppm global average in some cases). The concentration of ⁴⁰K, however, remained within the global range (0.07%-0.69 %). The observed imbalances in the ratios of Th/U (0.17-0.24 Bq/kg and 0.73-0.24 ppm) and U/Ra (0.81-0.73 Bq/kg and 0.73-0.17 ppm), both of which are significantly lower than their respective global averages of 4 and 2.4, point towards the presence of fertilizer-derived contamination. This conclusion is further supported by the high phosphate concentrations detected in the samples. Overall, this study suggests that radioactive contamination near the phosphate fertilizer factory significantly exceeds global background levels and international limits in some cases. This raises concerns about potential risks posed to surrounding agricultural land and crops.

• 한국조경학회지
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• 제37권4호
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• pp.1-11
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• 2009

본 연구는 공원조성압력지수를 이용하여 청주시에 분포되어 있는 도심 미개발공원의 개발우선순위를 선정하는데 있다. 공원조성압력지수를 산정하기 위해 가법형 모델을 이용하였다. 지수는 총 5개의 등급으로 나누어졌으며, 각 등급화는 9개 항목 평가지표를 통해 이루어졌다. 9개의 평가지표에서는 다시 공원의 물리적 환경특성, 이용가능성, 공간배치특성으로 분류된다. 이러한 평가지표는 기존연구에서 제시하고 있는 지표와 관련공무원의 인터뷰를 통해 선정하였다. 물리적 환경평가지표로는 고도 경사, 정규식생지수(Normalized Difference Vegetation Index: NDVI)가 있으며, 이용가능성 평가지표로는 주거지면적비율, 이용가능예측인구, 미조성경과년수, 단절구역면적이 있으며, 마지막으로 공원배치특성의 경우에는 공원간의 거리와 대체시설의 분포특성이 있다. 연구 결과, 사천, 사직2, 당산근린공원이 1등급을 받았으며, 삼선당공원이 5등급을 받았다. 1등급 공원의 경우, 두 개의 공원이 청주시의 동서축인 사직로와 인접해 있었으며, 가장 높은 개발압력을 받고 있는 것으로 나타났다. 삼성당공원의 경우, 가장 낮은 개발압력을 받고 있는 것으로 나타났으며 이 공원의 경우, 지역 대학교와 밀접하게 위치하고 있으며, 이로 인해 주변지역에 주거용지비율이 작고 이용잠재인구 또한 적은 것으로 나타났다.

• 한국환경과학회지
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• 제22권3호
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• pp.359-369
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• 2013

Chronic effects such as reproduction and population dynamics with elevated $CO_2$ concentration were evaluated using two representative marine benthic species, copepod (Tisbe sp.) and amphipod (Monocorophium acherusicum) adopting long-term exposure. Juvenile copepod and amphipod individuals were cultivated in the seawater equilibrated with control air (0.395 mmol $CO_2$/air mol) and high $CO_2$ air having 0.998, to 3.03, 10.3, and 30.1 mmol $CO_2$/air mol during 20 and 46 days, respectively. After the exposure period, the number of benthic invertebrate was counted with separate larval and juvenile stage such as naupliar, copepodid and adult for copepod, or neonate and adult for amphipod, respectively. The individual number of both test species at each life-stage was significantly decreased in seawater with 10.3 mmol $CO_2$/air mol or higher. Recently, the technology of marine $CO_2$ sequestration has been developed for the reduction of $CO_2$ emission, which may cause climate change. However, under various scenarios of $CO_2$ leaks during the injection process or sequestrated $CO_2$ in marine geological structure, the potential risk to organism including various invertebrates can be expected to exposure. So the results of this study suggested that the detailed consideration on the adverse effect with marine ecosystem can be prerequisite for the marine $CO_2$ sequestration projects.

• 생물정신의학
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.19-25
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• 2017

Previous studies have found that firefighters have a tenfold higher prevalence of Parkinson's disease (PD) compare to the general population. Firefighters are constantly exposed to various occupational hazards including toxic chemicals of fire residue and the toxic chemicals can effects development and progression of PD. Nevertheless, there were no studies about the association between exposure to chemical byproducts of combustion and the development of PD among firefighters. Thus the aim of this study is to look into existing researches regarding the effect of chemical byproducts of combustion on the development of PD. An extensive literature search was conducted to identify harmful chemical components of smoke and fire residue, using the PubMed database during November of 2016. We searched for relevant articles by combining several keywords that contained "Parkinson's disease" and each of the different toxic chemicals, yielding a total of 1401 articles. After applying the selection criteria, 12 articles were chosen. Chemical substances reported to have a harmful effect on PD, in at least one article, were carbon monoxide, toluene, manganese and lead. Carbon monoxide and metal substances including manganese and lead were found to be associated with an increased PD risk in more than two articles. There was a heightened risk of PD in firefighters due to exposure of chemical byproducts of combustion including carbon monoxide, toluene, manganese and lead. However, to the best of our knowledge, to support this result we need more systematic epidemiological studies about these risk factors of PD among firefighters. In addition, further studies for the effects of prolonged exposure to toxic fire residue on the development and progression of PD in firefighters are needed.

• 한국화재소방학회논문지
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.84-92
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• 2001

현대 사회에 있어서 인구 과밀화와 더불어 대도시의 사회기반시설(SOC)증가에 따른 화학물질 사용시설의 중대사고의 경향이 높아져 가고 있다. 기존 위해·위험시설의 안전사고의 문제점과 더불어 신규 위해·위험시설물의 증가에 따른 안전사고의 심각성을 낮추기 위해 필요한 노력을 하지 않으면 안된다. 선진국에서는 산업시설 그리고 지역사회의 전문위원회가 잠재적인 위해 산업의 사고에 대한 off site 및 on site의 피해 심각성에 대한 평가와 이에 대한 적절한 조언 및 대책을 강구하고 있다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 국내의 위해·위험시설에 대한 안전도 수용기준 성립을 위하여 첫째, 영국 HSE(Heath & Safety Executive)의 QRA(Quantified Risk Assessment)와 Matrix of Risk of Evaluated Sources of Hazard를 적용한 사회적 위험성 평가 방법과 둘째, FTA(Fault Tree Analysis) 또는 ETA(Event Tree Analysis) 등 정량적인 사고 발생 확률과 시뮬레이션 및 계산식을 통해 국내 임의의 지역에 대하여(서울시 위해·위험시설)사고 피해 정도의 개인적 위험성을 평가, 적용함으로서 기존 시설 또는 신설 부지 개발을 위한 제한시 포괄적 안전도 수용기준(수용가능성) 여부를 판별하고자 한다.

• 한국공간정보시스템학회 논문지
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• 제9권3호
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• pp.17-24
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• 2007

소음문제는 대도시 환경문제 중 주요한 문제 중의 하나로 관심이 높으며, 도시계획과 설계분야에 소음지도의 활용이 증가하고 있는 추세이다. 그러나, 기존의 2D 소음지도는 주로 평면적인 소음분포만을 나타내고 있어 최근 고층화, 대형화 되어가는 건물의 각 공간에 대한 미시적 소음분석 및 시각화에는 한계를 갖고 있다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 평면적이고 지역적인 소음분포의 표현에만 머무르고 있는 기존 소음지도의 한계점을 인지하고 소음의 수직적인 분포를 고려하여 공간단위의 소음분석 및 시각화를 위한 데이터모델을 제시하였다. GIS의 토폴로지 구조를 3차원으로 확장함으로써 3차원 공간분석 및 공간단위 시각화가 가능한 3차원 GIS 데이터모델을 제안하고 이를 3차원 소음정보시스템에 적용하고자 하였다. 간단한 3차원 소음정보시스템을 구축하여 3차원 공간질의, 시간대별 3차원 소음시각화, 방음벽의 높이에 따른 소음의 변화량을 시뮬레이션하고 각각의 경우 소음노출가구 및 인구를 정량적으로 산정함으로써 도시계획 및 설계분야에서의 활용가능성을 예시하였다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권10호
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• pp.4339-4345
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• 2015

Occupational exposure to wood dust is one cause of nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC); however, assessing this exposure remains problematic. Therefore, the objective of this study was to develop a semi-quantitative exposure assessment method and then utilize it to evaluate the association between occupational exposure to wood dust and the development of NPC. In addition, variations in risk by histology were examined. A case-control study was conducted with 327 newly diagnosed cases of NPC at the National Cancer Institute and regional cancer centers in Thailand with 1:1 controls matched for age, gender and geographical residence. Occupational information was obtained through personal interviews. The potential probability, frequency and intensity of exposure to wood dust were assessed on a job-by-job basis by experienced experts. Analysis was performed by conditional logistic regression and presented in odds ratio (ORs) estimates and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Overall, a non significant relationship between occupational wood dust exposure and NPC risk for all subjects was observed (ORs=1.61, 95%CI 0.99-2.59); however, the risk became significant when analyses focused on types 2 and 3 of NPC (ORs=1.62, 95%CI 1.03-2.74). The significant association was stronger for those exposed to wood dust for > 10 year (ORs=2.26, 95%CI 1.10-4.63), for those with first-time exposure at age > 25 year (ORs=2.07, 95%CI 1.08-3.94), and for those who had a high cumulative exposure (ORs=2.17, 95%CI 1.03-4.58) when compared with those considered unexposed. In conclusion, wood dust is likely to be associated with an increased risk of type 2 or 3 NPC in the Thai population. The results of this study show that semi-quantitative exposure assessment is suitable for occupational exposure assessment in a case control study and complements the information from self-reporting.