• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.205-213
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• 2015

The objective of the current study was to assess the comparative risk associated with exposure to particulate matter (PM) while commuting via different public transport modes in Fukuoka, Japan. For the given routes and measuring days, a trip-maker carried a lightweight portable bag loaded the real-time measurement devices which take simultaneous measurement for size-fractioned particle number concentration, $PM_{2.5}$ mass concentration, and total suspended particle (TSP) collection. The results of the present study have shown significant differences between public transports as commuting modes in Fukuoka. The PM exposure levels on subway platform and inside subway train were overwhelmingly higher than those of other points on commuting route. The relative ratio between modes (i.e., the ratio of $PM_{2.5}$ inside subway to that inside bus) provides an idea for choosing a right commuting mode for our health. This study clearly provided evidence of the extremely high levels of iron exposure by subway uses compared to bus uses. The result of theoretically reconstructed mass concentration of $PM_{2.0-0.3}$ collected on subway platform suggests that the PM of underground subway will be associated with PM both generated in subway system and inleakaged from outdoor environment.

• Annals of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.182-195
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• 2018

Increasing prevalence of childhood obesity poses threats to the global health burden. Because this rising prevalence cannot be fully explained by traditional risk factors such as unhealthy diet and physical inactivity, early-life exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) is recognized as emerging novel risk factors for childhood obesity. EDCs can disrupt the hormone-mediated metabolic pathways, affect children's growth and mediate the development of childhood obesity. Many organic pollutants are recently classified to be EDCs. In this review, we summarized the epidemiological and laboratory evidence related to EDCs and childhood obesity, and discussed the possible mechanisms underpinning childhood obesity and early-life exposure to non-persistent organic pollutants (phthalates, bisphenol A, triclosan) and persistent organic pollutants (dichlorodip henyltrichloroethane, polychlorinated biphenyls, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). Understanding the relationship between EDCs and childhood obesity helps to raise public awareness and formulate public health policy to protect the youth from exposure to the harmful effects of EDCs.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.156-156
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• 2015

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
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• 2004.12a
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• pp.40-42
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• 2004

• International Journal of Safety
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.18-23
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• 2009

Due to dermal exposure to hazardous chemicals causing potential adverse health symptoms through skin absorption, dermal monitoring has had an important role in assessing such exposure. This paper overviews comparatively a number of studies of dermal monitoring with different methodologies such as surface monitoring, skin wiping, skin washing, adhesive methods and tape stripping, fluorescence and infrared spectroscopy, skin patches, pads and clothing, video exposure monitoring and dermal exposure assessment toolkits and models. However, there is a lack of information on the relationship between exposure levels and adverse health symptoms. Therefore, more specific strategies for dermal exposure monitoring should be developed and standardized with further development of biological and ocular monitoring.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.77-81
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• 2010

Tobacco smoking and secondhand smoke exposure are linked to a number of adverse health outcomes. There is a new concept of thirdhand smoke that is residual tobacco smoke contamination remained after the cigarette is extinguished. This paper reviews published studies examining the residual tobacco smoke. Tobacco smoke can be attached to various surfaces and reemitted to air for long period of time. The dynamic process can allow thirdhand smoke exposure to tobacco smoke without direct exposure to secondhand smoke. One critical evidence of the thirdhand smoke exposure was significantly high urinary cotinine level of infant who did not have direct secondhand smoke exposure. Potential exposure to new and more potent chemicals generated from chemical reactions between residual tobacco smoke and ambient air pollutants can get more attention. Considering toxicity and exposure route, children are uniquely susceptible to thirdhand smoke exposure. The review provides strong background information for thirdhand smoke but warrant more researches on this issue.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.72-78
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• 2009

Exposure to HDI(hexamethylene di-isocyanate) commonly used in vehicle crash repair workshops remains a leading cause of occupational asthma. Although skin and eye contamination are considered as absorption routes, there are no occupational exposure standards for skin and ocular exposure. This is the reason why there are more empirical data should be provided. Therefore this study was to determine contamination levels of HDI on the skin, eyes, work surfaces, respirators and eye protectors. There was evidence of contamination on a variety of work surfaces, for example, door handles, bench top and spray gun, etc. A high proportion(47~80%) of skin wipe samples from neck, forehead, back hand, palm and wrist was positive for HDI contamination, even though spray time was relatively brief. The contamination levels from spraying inside spray booth were generally higher than outside booth due to poor work practices and inappropriate personal protective use like safety gloves. Apprentices had higher exposure levels than the qualified painters, likely due to lack of the recognition of safety and hygiene. The extent of contamination inside the PPE might provide an indication of the potential for respiratory & skin exposure and ocular exposure. Eye fluid samples from 4 out of 14 workers had the positive detection of HDI contamination, due to poor work practices like no or inappropriate eye protection. Considering the potential for dermal & ocular exposure to contribute to possible health symptoms including respiratory sensitization, the empirical data point to a need for improving work practices and appropriate PPE selection, use and maintenance.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.16-39
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• 1995

From July 8 to September 2 1994, asbestos exposure level among asbestos textile workers was surveyed. Six plants out of plants in Korea were selected for this study. In addition to the exposure level, the relationship between the level of exposure and some factors affecting exposure were studied. Also, using historical data of asbestos concentrations in asbestos textile plants plus current data, trend of asbestos exposure level could be introduced. Historical exposure level was estimated on the basis of these data. The main results of this study are follows. 1. Average concentration of all six plants surveyed was 1.54 f/cc, and range of those concentrations was 0.03 - 11.58 f/cc. The minimum average concentration was 0.32 f/cc and the maximum was 8.04 f/cc which is four times higher than the Korean standard. A wide difference of exposure level among the workers of different plants was observed. In three plants, the half of all the plants surveyed, their average concentrations exceeded the Korean standard, and those in all the plants exceeded the ACGIH TLV. 2. Among total 56 samples, 22 samples(39%) were in excess of the Korean standard, and 53 samples(95%) were above the ACGIH TLV. Among 32 personal samples, 15 samples(47%) exceeded the Korean standard, and 30 samples(94%) exceeded the ACGIH TLV. Among 24 area samples excluding a few samples collected in office area, seven samples exceeded the Korean standard, and 23 samples( 96%) exceeded the ACGIH TLV. 3. Distributions of concentrations were observed by processes. In weaving, the highest, average concentration was 4.29 f/cc, and range was 2.61 - 11.58 f/cc. In spinning, average concentration was 2.22 f/cc, and range was 0.41 - 8.93 f/cc. In carding, average concentration was 1.98 f/cc, and range was 0.23 - 10.93 f/cc, In twisting, average concentration was 1.65 f/cc, and range was 0.21 - 9.83 f/cc. In mixing, the lowest, average concentration was 0.48 f/cc, and range was 0.22 - 1.20 f/cc. 4. All the samples from basic processes of asbestos textile plants were above the ACGIH TLV. Nineteen samples(45%) out of all these 42 samples exceeded Korean standard. Fourteen samples(58%) of total 24 personal samples, and five samples(28%) of total 18 area samples exceeded the Korean standard. Considering processes, all the samples in weaving process exceeded the Korean standard and 50 did 54% of those in spinning, 40% in carding, and 27% in twisting. 5. Trend of decreasing asbestos concentrations in asbestos textile plants was observed by time. 6. Asbestos concentrations in asbestos textile plant in 1975 were estimated to be 11.0 - 92.4 f/cc.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.197-210
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• 2013

Several US veterans stationed in Korea have told the press that around 250 fifty-five gallon drums of herbicides, including Agent Orange, were buried at Camp Carroll in 1978. Joint Korean-US Agent Orange investigation and environmental and health studies were started in July 2011. Korean soldiers and military personnel who served in Vietnam during 1964-1973 or near the demilitarized zone in Korea during 1967-1970 were exposed to dioxincontaminated Agent Orange. The joint Korean-US Agent Orange investigation team found that herbicides, pesticides, solvents and other chemicals -not Agent Orange- were buried at Camp Carroll. However, there remains the possibility that Agent Orange was stored and buried at Camp Carroll or other military camps in Korea. Adverse health effects have not been clearly explained despite a number of health studies among veterans in Korea with potential Agent Orange exposure. Although the Korean government has been compensating veterans and military personnel with 18 presumptive-service-connected-diseases and their offspring with three diseases, there are many veterans, military personnel and civilians who require the government°Øs support. The environmental study on contaminated sites and health studies among veterans and civilians were initiated three or four decades after possible Agent Orange contamination and exposure. Several toxic chemicals, including dioxin-contaminated Agent Orange, could remain in the environment and could have hazardous effects on the health of exposed people for more than several decades. Further environmental investigations and health studies are needed to ensure public safety and health, and government support should be guaranteed for people potentially exposed to these toxic chemicals.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.465-472
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• 2005

Objectives : The aim of this study was to assess the effect of air pollution on the daily respiratory symptoms of elementary school children in Seoul. Methods : Using the panel study design, we collected diary data for the children's respiratory symptoms during the 1st day$\sim$15th day of April, July, October and December in 2003 among the 2nd and 3rd grade elementary school students. We merged the respiratory symptom data with the ambient air pollution data that was monitored by Ministry of Environment. Using a generalized estimate equation, we evaluated the relationship between the daily symptoms of the subjects and the exposure to ai r pollution after controlling for various potential confounders. Results : The nitrogen dioxide (NO2) exposure of the current day significantly increased the upper respiratory symptoms (adjusted odds ratio=1.12, 95% CI=1.01-1.24) and the lower respiratory symptoms (adjusted odds ratio=1.18, 95% CI=1.06-1.31) in the elementary school children. The sulfur dioxide (SO2) and carbon monoxide (CO) exposure in the current day was associated with the lower respiratory symptoms (adjusted odds ratio=1.12, 95% CI=1.01-1.25 for SO2; adjusted odds ratio=1.16, 95% CI=1.02-1.32 for CO). Conclusions : We found that exposure to air pollution affects the daily respiratory symptoms in children. This study suggests that the effect on children's health? due to the short term changes in air pollution levels needs to be considered as an important public health problem.