• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.173-179
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• 2014

Asian sand dust is known to promote various respiratory symptoms or disorders. For the prevention of harmful health effects by Asian sand dust, the best strategy is known to avoid or reduce exposure to the Asian sand dust. Several studies have shown that Korean red ginseng (RG) has anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects. The study aimed to clarify the effect of Korean red ginseng intake on lung inflammation responses to artificial sand dust (ASD) similar to Asian sand dust. BALB/c mice were divided into five groups (n=12) of control (saline), ovalbumin (OVA), OVA with ASD, OVA plus RG with ASD, and OVA plus dexamethasone (DEXA) with ASD. Histopathologic evaluation of lung was conducted. Interleukin (IL)-5, IL-12, interferon (IFN)-${\gamma}$, IL-13, monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-1, and eotaxin within bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid were measured by ELISA. OVA+ASD group significantly increased concentrations of IL-5, IL-13, MCP-1, and eotaxin (P<0.01) compared to the control. OVA+ASD+RG group showed significant decreased levels of IL-2, IL-13, MCP-1 and eotaxin (P<0.01) compared with OVA+ASD. Between RG and DEXA treatment groups, there was no significant difference in all cytokines and chemokines. The inflammatory cells were significantly decreased in treatment groups with RG or DEXA compared to OVA+ASD group. This study suggests a beneficial effect of Korean RG administration in preventing inflammation of lung resulting from Asian sand dust.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.595-601
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• 2018

Recently, as the fine dust level has risen rapidly, there is a great interest. Exposure to fine dust is associated with the development of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and has been reported to increase death rate. In addition, there exist damage to fine dusts continues at industrial sites. However, exposure to fine dust is inevitable in modern life. Therefore, predicting and minimizing exposure to fine dust is the most efficient way to reduce health and industrial damages. Existing fine dust prediction model is estimated as good, normal, poor, and very bad, depending on the concentration range of the fine dust rather than the concentration value. In this paper, we study and implement to predict the PM10 level by applying the Artificial neural network algorithm and the K-Nearest Neighbor algorithm, which are machine learning algorithms, using the actual weather and air quality data.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.250-257
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• 2017

Background: Tasks involved in traditional charcoal production expose workers to various levels of charcoal dust and wood smoke. This study aimed to identify specific tasks influencing lung function and respiratory symptoms. Methods: Interviews, direct observation, and task/symptom checklists were used to collect data from 50 charcoal-production workers on 3 nonwork days followed by 11 workdays. The peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) was measured four times per day. Results: The PEFR was reduced and the prevalence of respiratory symptoms increased over the first 6-7 workdays. The PEFR increased until evening on nonwork days but not on workdays. Loading the kiln and collecting charcoal from within the kiln markedly reduced the PEFR and increased the odds of respiratory symptoms. Conclusion: Tasks involving entry into the kiln were strongly associated with a short-term drop in the PEFR and the occurrence of respiratory symptoms, suggesting a need for the use of protective equipment and/or the operation of an effective kiln ventilation system.

• Proceedings of the Korea Air Pollution Research Association Conference
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• 2009.10a
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• pp.305-308
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• 2009

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.20 no.12
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• pp.74-81
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• 2020

As of 2020, due to the influence of fine dust from China and domestic dust, the cloudy sky of Korea has become a daily routine not only in spring but also in autumn/winter. In 2013, the International Cancer Institute under the World Health Organization designated fine dust as a group 1 carcinogen that has been confirmed to be carcinogenic to humans. The purpose of this study is to theoretically review 5 fine dust-related design studies, by analyzing the case of three types of wearable air purifiers on the market, it is to propose an improved open wearable air purifier. As a verification method, a working prototype was produced to measure the amount of fine dust reduction. Therefore, this study derived three design insights of wearable air cleaner through case analysis. First, it maximizes openness by minimizing the area touching the face. Second, the nozzle where the air comes out should be close to the respiratory organ. Third, position of the motor is to be as far away as possible from the ear considering the noise. Based on this, I suggested an open-type wearable air purifier design that maximizes the user openness and improves the wearing comfort. I hope that it will be an opportunity to increase the coverage of wearable air cleaner and protect the respiratory health of users.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.71 no.5
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• pp.317-321
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• 2011

Occupational lung disease (OLD) is a group of lung diseases caused and/or aggravated by organic and inorganic inhaled dust, fumes, and mist. OLD can develop under various occupational situations. Therefore, occupational history should be considered when evaluating respiratory symptoms. Once OLD is developed, it may not be treated and may even progress after exposure to the causative agents has stopped. The best ways to treat OLD are prevention and early detection by controlling the working environment and conducting regular surveillance of workers. Common OLDs in Korea are coal worker's pneumoconiosis, asbestos-related diseases, and occupational asthma. Recent aspects of these common OLDs in Korea will be described based on recently published studies.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.587-591
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• 2019

Fine dust aerated in the atomsphere penetrates our lungs and blood lines through respiratory. Recent fine dust problems in Korea leads to development of various air purifiers. The researchers used this to study systems that could replace chemical filters. In order to compare the effect of the reduction of moss and conventional chemical filter(Hepa), a 1 cubic meter cube was prepared and the amount of the concentration of fine dust reduction was compared under controlled environment. Under the high concentration of fine dust, a test was done to figure out the reduction rate of the fine dust concentration by using air purification system with moss, hepa, and no filter. The air purification system(moss, hepa, and no filter) were operated 90 times in total, 30 times each. The test explains that the reduction of the fine dust amount and the rate of fine dust concentration. The results illustrate that the reduction of the amount fine dust was 138.93 after using air purification system with moss filter. In contrast, the usage of air purification system with hepa filter reduced the amount of fine dust to 76.57. And the air purification with no filter shows that the slight reduction of fine dust amount at 0.10. In the rate of fine dust concentration, moss filter was significantly higher than that of hepa, no filter (0.2379, 0.1298 and 0.0063 each). The results have confirmed that moss is effective in reducing fine dust concentration, and it is expected that with further improvement it can be used as a means to replace or supplement existing chemical filters in air purifier.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.416-426
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• 2019

Objectives: In recent years, transboundary air pollution from mainland East Asia has led to growing concerns about air pollution in Japan. Air pollution is reportedly associated with the exacerbation of respiratory diseases. In this study, we assessed the effects of air pollution on respiratory symptoms and the health status of participants with and without chronic respiratory diseases. Methods: Participants (n=2753) with and without chronic respiratory diseases who visited healthcare facilities in Japan during February from 2010 to 2015 filled out a self-report questionnaire regarding their symptoms and perceived health status. Participants were followed up during April-May and June-July. Results: Oxidant concentrations were associated with respiratory symptoms, overall health, and quality of life (QoL). Suspended particulate matter (SPM) and particulate matter <$2.5{\mu}m$ levels were associated with physical fitness; SPM was also associated with QoL. Recent experience of an Asian sand dust event had a significant effect on allergic symptoms, change in health, and QoL. Conclusions: Respiratory symptoms were more strongly affected by oxidants than by other pollutants. Significant associations of air pollutants were found with a comprehensive range of items related to perceived health status, including overall health and QoL. Although the effects of air pollutants on respiratory symptoms and health status were more apparent among patients with respiratory diseases, the adverse effects of air pollutants were significant even among participants without such conditions.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.131-140
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• 1992

In order to investigate the changes of hydroxyproline amount and pathologic finding in rat lung which were instilled the natural coal and free silica dust intratracheally, the subjects were divided into two groups as follows. The control group was only administered intratracheally 0.5 ml of normal saline, and the experimental groups were instilled at once the turbid solution containing 10 mg, 30 mg and 50 mg of natural coal and free silica dust each, subjects were sacrified at the 3rd and the 20th week each after the experiment. Hydroxyproline amount in the right upper lung was measured by Woessner method and HPLC (modified Dunphy) method, and the pathlogic finding of lung tissue were observed for hematoxylin-eosin staining, Bielschowski method and Masson's trichrome method. The results were as follows. 1) The wet lung weights of all experimental groups excluding in the groups instilled 10 mg and 30 mg of natural coal dust at 3rd week, were significantly increased (p<0.05) compared with control group. The weight in each free silica group was markedly increased (p<0.05) at 20th week compared with the same dose of natural coal dust group, while the weight in the same dose group of free silica dust was increased significantly at 20th week compared with at 3rd week. 2) The amount of hydroxyproline were significantly increased (p<0.05) in the natural coal and free silica groups at 20th week compared with the control groups, and in each experimental group instilled the same kind and dose of dust, its amount was markedly increased (p<0.05) at 20th week compared with at 3rd week. And also the hydroxyproline in 30 mg and 50 mg free silica groups increased markedly (p<0.05) at 20th week compared with the natural coal dust of the same dose. 3) The polymorphonuclear leukocytes, fibroblasts and macrophages in interstitium and alveolar space showed the increasing tendency in the free silica group more markedly than in the natural coal dust group. The exudate in alveolar space at 3rd week was disappeared at 20th week, and pneumoconiotic nodules observed microscopically in all experimental groups at 20th week, while the nodules apeared already at 3rd week in the 30 mg and 50 mg free silica dust groups. The significant increase of Hydroxyproline content in lung tissue and pneumoconiotic nodule formation in experimental groups found in this study indicate that the observation period, dust amount and kind of dust is important factors associated with pneumoconiosis. And these findings were generally more severe in free silica dust groups than in natural coal groups.

• ALGAE
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.261-273
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• 2017

Fine dust (FD) particles have become a major contributor to air pollution causing detrimental effects on the respiratory system and skin. Although some studies have investigated the effects of FD on the respiratory system, their possible effects on the skin remain under-explored. We investigated the FD mediated inflammatory responses in keratinocytes, present in the outer layers of skin tissues and the transfer of inflammatory potential to macrophages. We further evaluated the anti-inflammatory effects of the polyphenolic derivative, diphlorethohydroxycarmalol (DPHC) isolated from Ishige okamurae against FD-induced inflammation. Size distribution of FD particles was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. FD particles induced the production of cyclooxygenase-2, prostaglandin E2 ($PGE_2$), interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$, and IL-6 in HaCaT keratinocytes and the expression of nitric oxide (NO), inducible nitric oxide synthases (iNOS), $PGE_2$, tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ expression in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Further, we evaluated the inflammatory potential of the culture medium of inflammation-induced HaCaT cells in RAW 264.7 macrophages and observed a marked increase in the expression of NO, iNOS, $PGE_2$, and proinflammatory cytokines. DPHC treatment markedly attenuated the inflammatory responses, indicating its effectiveness in suppressing a broad range of inflammatory responses. It also showed anti-inflammatory potential in in-vivo experiments using FD-stimulated zebrafish embryos by decreasing NO and reactive oxygen species production, while eventing cell death caused by inflammation.