• Water for future
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• v.56 no.11
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• pp.8-13
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• 2023

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2008

In this minireview we focus on how males may exploit female's sensitivity to predation risk in the context of mating. It has been shown in studies on guppies and jumping spiders that in response to altered female behaviors, which are adaptations to the unfavorable environment and a consequence of females' higher sensitivity to predator's presence as well as females' higher predation risk, males can adopt condition-dependent mating tactics. It appears that in such cases males do not modify their reproductive behavior directly in response to their own perception of predation risk, but indirectly in response to changes in female behavior induced by predator presence. It has also been recently shown in crabs that males can exploit female behavior by creating safer habitat spots, which increases the male mating success. Hence all the evidence suggests that males not only respond to female sensitivity to the natural variation in predation risk, but that males can also exploit female behavior by altering the environment. As a logical extension of these findings, we present a hypothesis that in certain conditions males can manipulate the environment in order to increase the predation risk and to induce female behaviors that enhance the male's mating success with the increased predation risk. We propose that such a manipulation to increase predation risk is expected to evolve in males of species with a strong sexual conflict and female-biased predation risk. Although empirical evidence has not been yet shown, initial observations in a water strider species in Korea, Gerris gracilicornis, seem to support this hypothesis.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.193-198
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• 2020

Background: Medical laboratory workers are frequently exposed to a wide range of chemicals. This exposure can have adverse effects on their health. Furthermore, a knowledge lack of the chemical risk increases the likelihood of exposure. The chemical risk assessment reduces the risk of exposure to hazardous chemicals and therefore, guarantees health and safety of the workers. Method: The chemical risk assessment was conducted using a modified INRS method, according to the new CLP Regulation, of 11 unit laboratories in a Moroccan medical laboratory. Observation of each workstation and analysis of safety data sheets are key tools in this study. Results: A total of 144 substances and reagents that could affect the health of the analytical technicians were identified. Among these products, 17% are concerned by the low priority risk score, with 55% concerned by the average priority risk score and 28% concerned by the high priority risk score. This study also enabled to better identify the chemical agents that have restrictive occupational exposure limit value and controls were conducted to this effect. On the basis of the results obtained, several corrective and preventive measures have been proposed and implemented. Conclusion: Risk assessment is essential to ensure the health and safety of workers and to meet regulatory requirements. It enables to identify all the risky manipulations and to adopt appropriate preventive measures. However, it is not a one-time activity but it must be continuous in order to master the changes and thus ensure the best safety of all.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2023.05a
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• pp.395-395
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• 2023

전 세계 곳곳에서 매년 발생하고 있는 홍수, 가뭄, 수질 문제는 인류가 해결해야 할 공통적인 문제이다. 홍수, 가뭄, 수질 문제뿐만 아니라 수자원의 지역적인 불균형과 인근 지역의 물 분배 문제, 공유하천 문제 등으로 인한 물 사용자 간의 물 갈등, 물 분쟁도 지속되고 있다. 최근 정보통신기술이 발달함에 따라 수자원 관련 각종 위험지표, 물 갈등, 물 분쟁 사례를 자료화하여 활용할 수 있는 온라인 플랫폼이 개발되고 있다. Aqueduct 3.0은 전 세계 물 위험을 식별하고 평가할 수 있는 물 위험평가 프로그램(water risk assessment tool)으로 세계 수자원 협회에서 2019년 기존 프로그램을 업데이트하여, 온라인 플랫폼을 통해 전 세계 각국의 지역별 수자원 분포에 따른 각종 위험지도와 데이터를 무료로 제공하고 있다. 또한 세계 자연기금(World Wide Fund For Nature)도 온라인 플랫폼으로 전 세계의 물 위험 필터도구(water risk filter tool)를 제공하고 있다. 또한 물 갈등 연대기(Water Conflict Chronology)는 태평양 협회에서 전 세계 물갈등 사례를 수집하여 연대별로 정리한 것으로, 업데이트되어 2022년 사례까지 제공하고 있다. 본 연구는 Aqueduct와 Water Conflict Chronology 등 온라인 플랫폼에 탑재된 한반도 관련 수자원 자료를 조사하여 기존 자료와 분석하였다. 연구 결과 Aqueduct와 Water Conflict Chronology 등 온라인 플랫폼이 수자원 관련 교육의 유용한 도구임을 알 수 있었다.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.271-279
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• 2009

Vinyl chloride (VC) is a known human carcinogen, and it is released to multi-environmental media via several exposure routes. VC was potentially evaluated as a water quality pollutant based on human health risk assessment in Korean water environments. In this study, we investigated physicochemical and toxicological properties of VC, human health and ecological risk assessment, and the regulation of VC as a water quality pollutant in developed countries. Currently there are no standard or guideline values of VC in Korean legal system for the protection of human health and aquatic ecosystem, except that it is designated as a specific toxic substance and a water quality pollutant. Human health risk assessment of VC was previously performed based on the limited water quality monitoring data. The monitoring level of VC in Korean water system is more higher than other countries'. VC was assessed as potential hazardous chemical based on the US EPA's cancer risk assessment. There were a few ecotoxicity data of VC available using very limited kinds of aquatic organisms, and the toxicity results obtained seem to be overestimated without considering the losses of VC in open exposure system. Therefore it is needed to monitor the VC in various areas and to carry out the ecotoxicity research using multi-level organisms. We expect that these results can be useful information for implementing VC as a water quality pollutant in legal system for the protection of human health and aquatic ecosystem in near future.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.11
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• pp.4459-4463
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• 2014

Background: Gastric cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide and infection with H. pylori is considered essential for its development. Helicobacter pylori infects more than 50% of the world's population with higher prevalence in developing countries than developed countries. The prevalence of H. pylori varies in different societies and geographical locations. The objectives of this study were to estimate the seroprevalence and determine the risk factors of H. pylori infection in dyspeptic patents in Ethiopia. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 209 dyspeptic patients was carried out from February 15 to April 30, 2013. Five to ten ml venous blood was collected from each dyspeptic patient and analyzed for detection of Helicobacter pylori immunoglobulin (IgG). The socio-demographic characteristic, hygienic practices, alcohol consumption, sources of drinking water and types of latrine were also obtained with a pre-tested questionnaire. Results: The overall seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori was 72.2%. There was statistically significant difference in the prevalence of H. pylori among age groups (p=0.02). Seroprevalence of H. pylori was higher in those patients who used unprotected surface water (76.4%) than those with access to piped tap water (65.9%). There was also statistically significant differences in prevalence of H. pylori with the habit of hand washing before meal (p=0.01) and alcohol consumption (p=0.001). Conclusions: The prevalence of H. pylori was high in the study area and increased with age of dyspeptic patients. Alcohol consumption and the type of drinking water are risk factors that have associations with the prevalence of H. pylori. Molecular epidemiological techniques can show a true picture of H. pylori and improvement in the drinking water quality is recommended.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.390-395
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• 2005

Purpose: To investigate the effects of a warm water-filled bag on body temperature, Oxygen demand, respiratory rate and blood sugar in high risk neonates. Method: The infants were assigned to two groups, 16 in the experimental and 20 in the control group. Infants in the experimental group was received $40{\~}42^{\circ}C$ warm water-filled bag therapy for 2 hours under radiant warmers. Infants in the control group were placed under the same kind of radiant warmers but without the warm water-filled bag. The following were measured every 30 minutes: rectal temperature, $O_2$ demand ($FiO_2$), and respiratory rate. Blood sugar was measured hourly. Result: Body temperatures increased significantly in the experimental group (P=0.0138), and there was a difference according to time (P=0.0001). Significant difference were found between the two groups fur $FiO_2$ (P=0.0180). There was no difference in respiratory rates between the two groups and rates according to time for the experimental group were also not significant (P=0.3569). No significant difference between two groups was found for blood sugar (P=0.2152), but there was a significant difference according to the times (P=0.0001). Conclusion: This results of this study indicate that a warm-filled bag is an effective means of resorting body temperature and reducing $O_2$ demand in high risk neonates.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.337-348
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• 2018

As the issue of microplastics (MPs) detection in tap water was raised in other countries in 2017, monitoring of MPs in drinking and source water, and sewage treatment plant (STP) effluents was initiated. This study intends to look into other studies on MPs in STPs at home and abroad, and review the characteristics of MPs and their removal efficiencies in the STPs, the risk and effect of MPs on watersheds, and management practices in order to help better understand MPs in STPs. To manage MPs effectively in STPs, it is necessary to investigate the detection of MPs discharged from STPs, do research on human health risk and control measures, and build a monitoring system including standardized analytical methods.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.305-317
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• 2015

The function failure of present major facilities is likely to lead to failure of related systems and/or whole facilities, increasing the necessity for protection of infrastructures, main structures, and major industrial facilities. In addition, safe and efficient management for urban infrastructure (waterworks and sewerage facilities, electricity, telecommunications, roads, etc) installed in the basement or on large cities grounds at various public areas is required. Recently in response to this demand, efforts for vitalizing asset management are being made such as enacting related laws and developing asset management system in the U.S., Australia, Europe and other advanced countries with the concept for a new maintenance. In our county, identifying maintenance system problems such as aging and rapid increasing of existing infrastructures and decision-making about updating maintenance is required for systematic and organizational maintenance. In this study, by comparing and observing the LOS(Level of Service) of each countries' waterworks and risk-based LOS, we suggest the direction of future urban water infrastructure management systems for more effective management.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.194-201
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• 2017

Objectives: Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are widely used in various commercial products, but they are exposed to the environment and can induce toxicity. In this study, we investigated the environmental fate and bioaccumulation of ZnO NPs in a microcosm. Methods: The microcosm was composed of water, soil (Lufa Soil 2.2) and organisms (Oryzias latipes, Neocaridina denticulata, Semisulcospira libertina). Point five and 5 mg/L of ZnO NPs were exposed in the microcosm for 14 days. Total Zn concentrations were measured using an Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS) and intracellular NPs were observed using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Results: In the initial stages of exposure, the Zn concentrations in water increased in all exposure groups and then decreased, while the Zn concentration in soil increased after three hours for the 5 mg/L solution. Zn concentrations also showed increasing trends in N. denticulata and S. libertina at 0.5 and 5 mg/L, and in O. latipes at 5 mg/L. Accumulation of NPs was found in the livers of O. latipes and hepatopancreas of N. denticulata and S. libertina. Conclusions: In the early stages of exposure, ZnO NPs remained in the water, and then were transported to the soil and test species. Unlike other species, total Zn concentrations in N. denticulata and S. libertina increased for both 0.5 mg/L and 5 mg/L. Therefore, ZnO NPs were more easily accumulated in zoobenthos than in fish.