• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.154-165
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• 2004

Purpose : To provide basic data for establishing the policy of safe handling of cytotoxic drugs and for building training materials and clinical guidelines for nurses handling cytotoxic drugs. Methods: 255 nurses in Seoul and 257 nurses in D metropolitan area participated in the study. Questionnaires were based on the safe handling guideline for cytotoxic drugs issued by OSHA and ONA. Results: Nurses in Seoul scored higher in the cognition for safe handling guidelines of cytotoxic drugs in preparation, administration. as well as total score compared with nurses in D metropolitan area. The practical score also showed higher in nurses in Seoul in administration, disposal and total score. But both groups showed low level of practical score. The answers why they could not follow the guideline for cytotoxic drugs were "don't have", "busy", and "don't know", etc Conclusion: Handling of the cytotoxic drug is very common and important. The study findings suggest that hospitals especially in D metropolitan area should educate the nurses and supply equipments for safe handling of cytotoxic drugs. Thus, repetitive and continual education of all nurses including experts is needed. In addition, it is necessary to supply enough protective equipment for preventing exposure to the cytotoxic drugs.

• Journal of Urban Science
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.31-44
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• 2020

This study aims to analyze the relations among greenbelt, air pollution empirically in order to assess the environmental effects of the greenbelt in the Seoul metropolitan area, objectively. For this purpose, this study conducts an empirical analysis of impacts of greenbelt on urban air pollution using a multiple-regression model. The major findings are summarized as follows. As a result of an empirical analysis of the impacts of greenbelt on air pollution, it is found that the characteristics of the city have impacts on air pollution concentration. It is found that the population and employment are the causes of increases in CO and NO2 concentrations, and the number of employees in the manufacturers has impacts on increases of O3 and SO2, while power plants have impacts on PM10, CO and NO2. Intersections have impacts on O3 and SO2, while the areas of the roads have impacts on CO and NO2. In addition, as for the spatial distribution of air pollutants, it is found that CO and NO2 concentrations are relatively higher in the center of the Seoul metropolitan area, while PM10, O3 and SO2 concentrations are relatively higher in the suburbs. It is found that air pollution concentration is low in greenbelt zone. In the greenbelt zone, PM10, CO and SO2 concentrations are low.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.20-25
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• 2021

Purpose: The ability to access clinical trials for cancer treatment is important. This study investigated whether regional differences exist in oncologic clinical trial protocols conducted in South Korea. Methods: Records of all approved oncologic clinical trials conducted in 2019 were downloaded from the Republic of Korea Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. The study covered Seoul, the capital area, other metropolitan cities, and provincial areas. Descriptive statistics summarized the distribution patterns of clinical trials by region. Results: A total of 202 oncologic clinical trials were conducted in 63 institutions in 2019. Of these protocols, 186 (92%) were available in Seoul, 120 (59%) in the capital area, 64 (32%) in metropolitan cities, and 66 (33%) in provincial areas. More regional differences in protocol availability were observed in domestic trials, investigator-initiated trials, phase 1 and 2 trials, and smaller-scale trials. Conclusion: Most oncologic clinical trials were conducted in medical institutions located in Seoul, with the rest conducted in the capital area, metropolitan cities, and provincial areas. The findings reveal clear differences in protocol availability between Seoul and the other regions. Measures designed to improve geographical access to oncologic clinical trials may be needed given their growing importance in cancer treatment.

• Journal of the Korean Regional Science Association
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.21-34
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to analyze the spatial-temporal proliferation of individual factories in the Seoul Metropolitan Area and to provide policy implications. The location of the factory is divided into individual locations and planned locations. In the case of individual locations, it takes a long time to establish factories. Also, due to high cost and regulation, the establishment of individual factories is not easy. However, since the establishment process is simple and the price of land is low, the establishment of individual factories has led to an increase in the number of individual factories. The problem of the undeveloped factories is that the lack of infrastructure such as the road and environmental pollution treatment facilities around the factory deteriorates the pleasant environment and the cityscape and deteriorates the health of the residents in the surrounding area. In this study, we analyzed the location of individual factories established in the Seoul metropolitan area from 2001 to 2016 by using ArcGIS Pro. The results of the analysis are as follows. First, individual location factories are formed around existing industrial complexes and industrial sites. The reason for this is considered to be the external effect that can be obtained from the surrounding area. Secondly, since the Seoul city's individual location factories are established in many residential areas, it shows the conflicting result of the mixture of residence and factory. Third, the Gyeonggi province's individual location factories have a high proportion of non-urban areas. This is because the Gyeonggi province's management area occupies a larger proportion than other areas in Gyeonggi province. This study analyzed the spatial - temporal spreading process of individual factories and the unfolding of individual factories in the metropolitan area, and it can provide policy implications to control the over development of individual factories in the future.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.20 no.12
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• pp.1585-1598
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• 2011

Emission reduction program for in-use diesel vehicles (ERPDV) has been enacted since 2004 over the Seoul metropolitan area, and diesel emission reduction is forced to fulfill this regulation. This study was performed to evaluate the ERPDV using $PM_{10}$ concentrations of both road-side monitoring and national background network during the period of 2004-2010. In order to assess the pure road emission, we first eliminated the long range transport effect by deducting the trend of annual national background concentrations from the road-side $PM_{10}$ concentrations, and then analyzed the time series of the resultant $PM_{10}$ concentrations over Seoul metropolitan area. The annual rates of variations of road-side $PM_{10}$ with the deduction of trend of background level show -3.2, +0.4, and -2.4 ${\mu}g/m^3$/year, in Seoul, Incheon, and Gyonggi province, respectively. There are steadily decreasing trend in Seoul with all of statistic parameters such as mean, mediam, 5%ile, 10%ile, 25%ile, 75%ile, 90%ile, and 95%ile concentrations. Incheon shows some fluctuations with positive with no significant trend, and Gyonggi province shows overall decreasing but not consistent. Student-t test shows 95% significant level of ERPDV effect in Seoul, but there exists no significant level greater than 90% in both Incheon, and Kyonggi province. Total annual averaged trend over the whole Seoul metropolitan area is estimated to lie in approximately $-2.9{\mu}g/m^3$/year in this study, implying the intimate involvement of ERPDV to a large extent. This is also suggesting that the further research cost-effectiveness of ERPDV with consideration of the long range transport process would be needed over the Seoul metropolitan area.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.384-397
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• 2021

Background: With volatile organic compounds (VOCs) containing aromatic and halogenated hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene, and xylene that can adversely affect the respiratory and cardiovascular systems when a certain concentration is reached, it is important to accurately evaluate the source and the corresponding health risk effects. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to provide scientific evidence for the city of Seoul's VOC reduction measures by confirming the risk of each VOC emission source. Methods: In 2020, 56 VOCs were measured and analyzed at one-hour intervals using an online flame ionization detector system (GC-FID) at two measuring stations in Seoul (Gangseo: GS, Bukhansan: BHS). The dominant emission source was identified using the Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) model, and health risk assessment was performed on the main components of VOCs related to the emission source. Results: Gasoline vapor and vehicle combustion gas are the main sources of emissions in GS, a residential area in the city center, and the main sources are solvent usage and aged VOCs in BHS, a greenbelt area. The risk index ranged from 0.01 to 0.02, which is lower than the standard of 1 for both GS and BHS, and was an acceptable level of 5.71×10^-7 to 2.58×10^-6 for carcinogenic risk. Conclusions: In order to reduce the level of carcinogenic risk to an acceptable safe level, it is necessary to improve and reduce the emission sources of vehicle combustion and solvent usage, and eco-car policies are judged to contribute to the reduction of combustion gas as well as providing a response to climate change.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.29-35
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• 2013

This study was performed to analyze 48 kinds of pesticide residues using gas chromatography (GC)/nitrogen phosphorous detector, GC/micro electron capture detector, GC/mass selective detector, and high performance liquid chromatograph/diode array detector in 186 fresh ginseng samples collected in the Seoul area from 2010 to 2011. Fresh ginseng dietary intakes were estimated using the data from the 2009 Korea National Health and Nutrition examination survey. Residual pesticides were detected in 79 samples (42.5%) with eight different fungicides. Only 20 samples (10.8%) exceeded the maximum residue limits (MRLs) for pesticides registered by the Korea Food & Drug Administration. Among them, tolclofos-methyl residues (10.2%) exceeded the MRL for fresh ginseng in 18 ginseng seedlings and one of the two-year old fresh ginseng plants, and the residual level in just one ginseng seedling violated the MRL for pyrimethanil. The results showed that residual pesticides levels in marketable fresh ginseng around Seoul were relatively safe. The percent acceptable daily intake (%ADI) was calculated using pesticide residues in fresh ginseng and dietary intakes of fresh ginseng. The risk caused by pesticide residues in fresh ginseng was very low.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.34 no.4 s.117
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• pp.105-115
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• 2006

Biotope Area Ratio ($BFF; BiotopFl{\"{a}}chenFaktor$) was developed in Berlin, Germany in 1990s and introduced to Korea in 1999. It is the ratio of the uncovered soil areas which have the natural circulating capability compared to whole development areas. This study seeks for alternative ways to increase Biotope Area Ratio of residential areas in the metropolitan areas of Korea by investigation on new housing developments. The study investigates four new towns including Seoul Eunpyung new town, Yongin Kusung district, Goyang Pungdong and Juyeopdong districts and Hwasung Dongtan district. The Biotope Area Ratio of study sites is between 23.51 % and 40.69%. This result is not relevant to land use conditions, such as the building-ta-land ratio, natural ground green area ratio. This ratio satisfies the minimum requirements of City of Seoul, except 2 sites. Considering that the study sites are relatively low density land use areas compared to Seoul's average, thus, a higher standards is necessary for new town housing complexes. Because Biotope Area Ratio includes artificial ground green area ratio, Biotope Area Ratio is possible can be increased with decreased natural ground green area ratio. And so, when Biotope Area Ratio is applied to new town development, it must go side by side with a definite natural ground green area ratio.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.558-568
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• 2011

Hazardous volatile organic compounds (HVOCs) have been increasingly getting concern in urban air chemistry due to photochemical smog as well as its toxicity or potential hazards. In this study, we investigated their concentrations and the properties in tunnel, urban roadside and residential area. As a result, among 36HVOCs measured in this study, BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene) and dichlorodifluoromethane, 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene, trichlorofluoromethane were detected above the concentration of $1{\mu}g/m^3$ in every sampling site and the most abundant compound was toluene. The other compounds were detected at trace level or below the detection limit. In addition, we found that three CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons), such as CFC-12, CFC-11, CFC-113, were persistently detected because of the emission in the past. Toluene to benzene ratio (T/B) at tunnel and roadside were calculated to be 4.3~5.3 and at residential area 15.4, suggesting that the residential area had several emission sources other than car exhaust. The ratio of X/E (m,p-xylene to ethylbenzene) ratio was calculated to be 1.8~2.1 at tunnel, 1.7 at roadside and 1.2 at residential area, which means this ratio reflected well the relative photochemical reactivity between these compounds. Good correlation between m,p-xylene and ethylbenzene ($r^2$ > 0.85) were shown in every study sites. This indicated that correlation between $C_2$-alkylbenzenes were not severely affected by 3-way catalytic converter. In this study, it was demonstrated that the concentration of benzene was very low, compared with national air quality standard (annual average of $5{\mu}g/m^3$). Its concentration were $2.52{\mu}g/m^3$ in roadside and $1.34{\mu}g/m^3$ in residential area. We thought this was the result of persistent policy implementation including the reduction of benzene content in gasoline enforced on January 1, 2009.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.139-145
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• 2011

Objectives: This investigation is purposed to evaluate the airborne asbestos concentrations in the public buildings having asbestos containing materials(ACMs) in Seoul. Methods: The Seoul Metropolitan Government carried out an asbestos survey to the city-owned public buildings to identify the level of risk exposure, classified into low, moderate and high risk. To evaluate the airborne concentration of asbestos, 11 sampling sites in ten buildings based on the survey were selected. The air samples from the eleven sites were analyzed by Phase Contrast Microscopy(PCM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and compared the analytical results from the both. Results: 1. The airborne fiber concentrations by PCM were less than the detection limit($7f/mm^2$) in 9(82%) out of 11 sampling sites. The highest concentration was 0.0043 f/cc, but it was below the guideline value for indoor air quality(0.01 f/cc), proposed by the Ministry of Environment, Korea. 2. In two sampling sites, having moderate risk level, the chrysotile was identified and showed it's concentrations of 0.0102 s/cc and 0.0058 s/cc, less than $5{\mu}m$ lengths. 3. The ACMs identified in the two sampling sites were a packing material(65% of chrysotile) in mechanical area and a thermal system insulation(5% of chrysotile) in a boiler room. Having more possibility of asbestos emission in the mechanical area, it would be required to set up and carry out the asbestos management plan. Conclusions: Based on the result of this study, the airborne asbestos concentrations in the public buildings with ACMs were generally lower than the guideline value for indoor air quality. There are widespread concerns about the possible health risk resulting from the presence of airborne asbestos fibers in the public buildings. Most of the previous studies about airborne asbestos analysis in Korea were performed based on PCM method that asbestos and non-asbestos fibers are counted together. In the public and commercial buildings, having ACMs, it is suggested that the asbestos be analyzed by TEM method to identify asbestos due to concerns about asbestos exposure to workers and unspecified people.