• 생약학회지
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• 제52권4호
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• pp.219-227
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• 2021

By analysing the benzo(a)pyrene concentration using HPLC-FLD and LC-MS/MS, pollution levels of herbal medicines without permitted benzo(a)pyrene specification were investigated. Average benzo(a)pyrene concentrations were 38.30, 37.46 and 21.22 ㎍/kg for Amomi Tsao-ko Fructus, Mume Fructus and Coptidis Rhizoma, respectively, which are 4 to 7 times higher than maximum permitted benzo(a)pyrene concentration of Rehmanniae Radix Preparata and Rehmanniae Radix, i.e. 5.0 ㎍/kg. Proportion of detected samples exceeding 5.0 ㎍/kg benzo(a)pyrene concentration was 22% for Cimicifugae Rhizoma and Scrophulariae Radix, 44% for Forsythiae Fructus, 67% for Mume Fructus, 100% for Amomi Tsao-ko Fructus and Coptidis Rhizoma, and collectively 29% (36 out of 125 samples) in average. In terms of risk characterization results, human exposure of benzo(a)pyrene were 7.96, 3.49 and 1.61 ng/kg b.w./day and the margin of exposure(MOE) were 1.25 × 10⁴, 2.86 × 10⁴ and 6.20 × 10⁴ for Mume Fructus, Amomi Tsao-ko Fructus and Coptidis Rhizoma, respectively. MOE banding of those herbal medicines was categorized to 'low concern'. However, considering that human exposure of benzo(a)pyrene for food is legislated to 1.4~2.5 ng/kg b.w./day, it was urgent to set up the guideline of benzo(a)pyrene in herbal medicines.

• International Journal of Safety
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• 제11권1호
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• pp.33-36
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• 2012

Examples and experiences of risk management on radiation under prolonged exposure situation are shown. The accident of the Fukushima dai-ichi nuclear power plant after the great east Japan earthquake (11 March, 2011) elevates background level of environmental radiation around the east Japan. For example, ambient dose equivalent rate around Tohkatsu area next to Tokyo located about 200 km-south from the plant, is about 0.1-0.6 micro-Sv $h^{-1}$ mainly due to $^{134}Cs$ and $^{137}Cs$ falling on the ground soil. This level is about double or up to ten times higher than the genuine natural level around the area. International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) recommends how to face the existing exposure situation; that is the prolonged exposure situation. Referring to ICRP's reports and/or related international/domestic documents, we have been discussing and acting to gain public's safety and relief, who have a possibility to be exposed to prolonged lower-dose radiation. Here, we introduce our several experiences on risk management, especially focusing on risk communication, radiation education to public, and stakeholder involvements into making decision in local governments on radiation protection, relating to the accident.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제7권2호
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• pp.264-278
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• 1997

The average level of coke oven emissions in the work site was $0.04mg/m^3$, which was below the permissible exposure level($0.2mg/m^3$). The average level of 1-OH-pyrene in the urine of the wokers was $0.745{\mu}mol/mol$ creatinine which is far below the BEI($2.3{\mu}mol/mol$ creatinine). Correlation between airborne COE in working environment and urinary 1-OH-pyrene concentration was statistically significant. These results explain that exposure level by biological monitoring is much higher than that by environmental monitoring. The effect of hygienic measures for reducing internal exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons was studied in 25 coke-oven workers. Their 1-OH-pyrene levels increased by $0.77{\mu}mol/mol$ creatinine, while working with ordinary protective measures. The average levels of the same workers with extra hygienic measures increased by $0.34{\mu}mol/mol$ creatinine. The average increase of the urinary 1-OH-pyrene concentration over the 5-day work week was 56.3%($0.43{\mu}mol/mol$ creatinine) lower when extra hygienic measures were taken(p=0.0001).

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제8권1호
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• pp.95-104
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• 1998

This Study was conducted at nine Histological Laboratories in the hospitals located in Seoul from August 20 to October 10, 1996. The main purpose of this study was to assess the TWA & STEL exposure to formaldehyde and to evaluate factors affecting formaldehyde concentration in Histological Laboratory. With evaluated factors, proper improvement strategy to minimize exposure was suggested. The results are summarized as follows ; 1. The TWA concentrations of the personal samples ranged from 0.02 to 3.86 ppm and that of one laboratory out of nine was exceeding 0.75 ppm, USA OSHA standard. The TWA concentrations of the area samples ranged from 0.08 ppm to 1.49 ppm and those of three laboratories out of nine were exceeding OSHA standard. 2. When measurement was conducted on the working tables. around Formaldehyde vessel, fixation container and storage cabinet, the geometric means of TWA concentrations were 0.62 ppm, 0.64 ppm. 0.58 ppm and 0.37 ppm respectively. 3. When overnight fixed specimens were examined, the STEL concentrations of personal samples ranged from 0.59 ppm to 5.01 ppm, those of three laboratories out of nine were exceeding 2 ppm, OSHA standard and the STEL concentrations of area samples ranged from 0.31 ppm to 3.08 ppm, those of four laboratories from nine were exceeding OSHA standard. 4. Factors affecting Formaldehyde exposure level were sanitation state of laboratory, volume of the room and opening state of fixation container & formaldehyde vessel(p<0.05).

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제33권1호
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• pp.125-133
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• 2000

Objectives : This study uses meta-analysis methodology to examine the statistical consistency and importance of random variation among results of epidemiologic studies of occupational electromagnetic field exposure and leukemia. Methods : Studies for this meta-analysis were identified from previous reviews and by asking researcher active in this field for recommendations. Overall, 27 studies of occupational electromagnetic field exposures and leukemia were reviewed. A variety of meta-analysis statistical methods have been used to assess combined effects, to identify heterogeneity, and to provide a single summary risk estimate based on a set of simiar epidemiologic studies. In this study, classification of exposure metircs on occupational epidemiologic studies are reported for (1) job classification (20 individual studies); (2) leukemia subtypes (13 individual studies); and (3) country (27 individual studies). Results : Results of this study, an inverse-variance weighted pooling of all the data leads to a small but significant elevation in risk of f 1% (OR=1.11, 95% CI : $1.06\sim1.16$) among 27 occupational epidemiologic studies. Publication bias was assessed by the 'fail-safe n' that may be not influence for all combined results exception a few categories, ie, 'power station operators' and 'electric utility workers' by job classification on occupational study. And ail combined odds ratio results were similar for fixed-effects models and random-effects models, with slightly higher risk estimates for the random-effects model in situations where there was significant heterogeneity, ie, Q-statistic significant (p<.05). Conclusions : We found a small elevation in risk of leukemia, but the ubiquitous nature of exposure to electromagnetic fields from workplace makes even a weak association a public health issue of substantial power to influence the present overall conclusion about relationship between electromagnetic fields exposure and leukemia.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.156-165
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• 2015

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible effects of a gasoline vapor recovery system on personal exposure levels of gasoline vapor constituents including benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, xylene(BTEX), and methyl tert-butyl ether(MTBE) among gas station workers in a metropolitan area. Methods: Thirty-one gas station workers at ten gas stations in a metropolitan area were selected as subjects for this study. Test method PV2028 as recommended in the OSHA process was used for sampling and analysis. Results: The personal exposure levels of benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, xylene, MTBE and gasoline vapor in the gas station workers were $0.0018{\pm}0.0069ppm$, $0.0077{\pm}0.0137ppm$, $0.0002{\pm}0.0008ppm$, $0.0016{\pm}0.0084ppm$, $0.2619{\pm}0.3340ppm$, and $1.4940{\pm}1.7984ppm$, respectively. After adjustment for refueling frequency and volume, personal exposure levelswere higher in the gas stations where gasoline vapor recovery systems(Stage II) were not installed, but the results were not statistically significant. Gasoline vapor concentrations showed a positive correlation to the level of MTBE, a gasoline additive. Conclusions: Vapor recovery systems(Stage II) were effective not only in reducing emissions of air pollutants, but also in reducing exposure to hazardous substances among gas station workers. In addition, acorrelation between gasoline vapors and MTBE concentration was confirmed.

• International Journal of Safety
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• 제10권2호
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• pp.6-9
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• 2011

Examples and experiences of risk management on radiation under prolonged exposure situation are shown. The accident of the Fukushima dai-ichi nuclear power plant after the great east Japan earthquake (11 March, 2011) elevates background level of environmental radiation around the east Japan. For example, ambient dose equivalent rate around Tohkatsu area next to Tokyo located about 200 km-south from the plant, is about 0.1-0.6 micro-Sv $h^{-1}$ mainly due to $^{134}Cs$ and $^{137}Cs$ falling on the ground soil. This level is about double or up to ten times higher than the genuine natural level around the area. International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) recommends how to face the existing exposure situation; that is the prolonged exposure situation. Referring to ICRP's reports and/or related international/domestic documents, we have been discussing how to manage this situation and acting to gain safety and relief of public, who have a possibility to be exposed to prolonged lower-dose radiation. Here, we introduce our several experiences on risk management, especially focusing on risk communication, radiation education to public, and stakeholder involvements into decision making in local governments on radiation protection, relating to the accident.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제5권1호
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• pp.68-86
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• 1995

This study was conducted at five Ethylene Oxide(EO) sterilizing processes in hospitals located in Seoul from August 8 to August 30, 1994. The main purposes of this study were to assess the TWA(Time Weighted Average) and short term exposures to EO and to evaluate factors affecting EO concentrations in sterilizing room. Results are summarized as follows. 1. The TWA concentrations of the sterilizing operators ranged from <0.005ppm to 3.04ppm and those of two sterilizing rooms out of five exceeded 1ppm, the Korean and ACGIH standards. 2. When the door of the sterilizer is opened at the end of the sterilization cycle, the short term concentrations of operators ranged from <0.005ppm to 11.4ppm, and those of three sterilizing room out of five exceeded 5ppm, the ACGIH short term exposure limit(STEL). The short term concentrations of area samples ranged from 0.24ppm to 49.2ppm and those of four sterilizing room out of five exceeded 5ppm. 3. Factors affecting EO exposure level were aeration type, the location of storage site for sterilized item, amount of gas, use period of sterilizer(p<0.005). 4. Following recommendations are suggested to minimize exposure to EO. The use of EO gas should be reduced by using another available sterilization methods, and the sterilizers and gas tank storage site should be isolated from, other work areas. Combination of local and general ventilation system should be installed. Metal carts or baskets for sterilization load should be used, and work environment and medical monitoring should be performed regularly.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제48권3호
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• pp.138-150
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• 2022

Background: Epidemiology is a fundamental study of public health, including environmental health, since the features and causes of diseases discovered through epidemiology provide crucial information for developing successful disease prevention strategies. Objectives: This paper tried to define the role and function of epidemiologic research in the field of environmental health, summarize examples of epidemiological studies with regard to selected environmental health events in South Korea, and address important issues that should be considered when conducting epidemiological research in the future. Methods: Epidemiological studies of selected environmental health events were reviewed and summarized in terms of their contribution to environmental health in South Korea. Based on the information, important issues were suggested for future epidemiological studies in environmental health. Results: The role and function of epidemiologic research in the field of environmental health includes the systematic description of the health effects caused by environmental exposure, verification of the causal relationship between environmental exposure and health effects, and provision of background data for conducting prevention strategies and developing policies. A number of epidemiological studies have contributed to characterizing and assessing the environmental risks involved in a series of environmental health events in South Korea. Conclusions: Important issues for future epidemiological studies may include health effects from chronic low-level environmental exposure, application of analytical epidemiology to elucidate causal relationships, use of exposure/disease/susceptibility biomarkers, accurate reconstruction of past exposure status, cohort recruitment and long-term follow-up, and in-advance surveillance of diseases with environmental causes.

• 보건행정학회지
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• 제33권1호
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• pp.85-106
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• 2023

Background: The Korean government has established Health Plan and reinforced tobacco control policies step by step according to Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). This study aims to investigate yearly smoking and secondhand smoking (SHS) exposure rates adjusted by demographic and socioeconomic factors. Methods: Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted about the smoking experience, current smoking, and exposure to SHS at home, at work, and in public places using data from the 6th to 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2015-2020). Results: Comparing 2015 with other years, smoking experience rates significantly decreased from 2015 to 2018 in men and significantly increased from 2018 to 2020 in women. Compared to 2015, current smoking rates significantly decreased only in 2020 for men and significantly increased in 2018 and 2019 for women. The rate of exposure to SHS at home significantly decreased until 2018. Rates of exposure to SHS in the workplace and public places were significant all year. Conclusion: There were a slowly decreasing trend in men and an increasing trend in women at current smoking rates. It was found that there were significant decreasing trends at exposure to SHS. There is a need to set policies that reduce current smoking rates and especially to set a customized program to lower women's smoking rates.