• 한국환경보건학회지
• /
• 제43권1호
• /
• pp.1-22
• /
• 2017

'The worstest environment disaster', 'World's first biocide massacre', 'Home-based Sewol ferry disaster' are all phrases attached to the recent humidifier disinfectant disaster. In the spring of 2011, four of 8 pregnant women including 1 adult man passed away at a university hospital in Seoul due to breathing failure. Epidemiologic investigation conducted by the Korean CDC soon revealed the inhalation of humidifier disinfectant, which had been widely used in Korea during the winter, to be responsible for the disease. As well as lung fibrosis hardening of the lungs, other diseases including asthma, rhinitis, skin disease, liver disease, fetal disease or cancers have been researched for their relation with exposure to the products. By February 9, 2017, 5,342 cases had registered for health problems and 1,131 of them were already dead (20.8% mortality rate). Based on studies by government agencies and a telephone survey of the general population by Seoul National University and civic groups, around 20% of the general public of Korea has used these products. Since the market release of the first product by SK Chemical in 1994, over 7.1 million items from around 20 brands were sold up to 2011. Most of the products were manufactured by well-known large conglomerates such as SK, Lotte, Samsung, Shinsegye, LG, and GS, as well as some European companies including UK-based Reckitt Benckiser and TESCO, the German firm Henkel, the Danish firm KeTox, and an Irish company. Even though this disaster was unveiled in 2011 by the Korean government, the issue of the victims was neglected for over five years. In 2016, an unexpected but intensive investigation by prosecutors found that Reckitt Benckiser manipulated and concealed animal tests for its own brand and brought several university experts and company employees to court. The matter was an intense social issue in Korea from May to June with a surge in media coverage. The prosecutor's investigation and a nationwide boycott campaign organized by victims and environmental groups against Reckitt Benckiser, whose product had been used by more than 70% of victims, led to the producer's official apology and a compensation scheme. A legislative investigation organized after the April 2016 national election revealed the producers' faults and the government's responsibility, but failed to meet expectations. A special law for the victims passed the National Assembly in January 2017 and a punitive system together with a massive environmental epidemiology investigation are expected to be the only solutions for this tragedy. Sciences of medicine, toxicology and environmental health have provided decisive evidence so far, but for the remaining problems the perspectives of social sciences such as sociology and jurisprudence are highly necessary, similar to with the Minamata disease and Wonjin Rayon events. It may not be easy to follow this issue using unfamiliar terminology from medical and chemical science and the long, complicated history of the event. For these reasons the author has attempted to write this article in a question and answer format to render it easier to follow. The 17 questions are: Q1 What is humidifier disinfectant? Q2 What kind of health problems are caused by humidifier disinfectant? Q3 How many victims are there? Q4 What is the analysis of the 1,112 cases of death? Q5 What is the problem with the government's diagnostic criteria and the solution? Q6 Who made what brands? Q7 Has there been a recall? What is still on sale? Q8 Was safety not checked by any producers? Q9 What are the government's responsibilities? Q10 Is it true that these products were sold only in Korea? Q11 Why and how was it unveiled only in 2011 after 17 years of sales? Q12 What delayed the resolution of the victim issue? Q13 What is the background of the prosecutor's investigation in early 2016? Q14 Is it possible to report new victim cases without evidence of product purchase? Q15 What is happening with the victim issue? Q16 How does it compare with the cases of Minamata disease and Wonjin Rayon? Q17 Are there prevention measures and lessons?

• 한국환경교육학회지:환경교육
• /
• 제21권2호
• /
• pp.11-24
• /
• 2008

This research verifies the effect on environmental attitude and knowledge accomplishment by t-test as producing and running programs regarding global warming which is raised as a representative environmental issue subject to 6th grade-elementary students. For this, environmental education programs about global warming for elementary students are developed and applied 15 times by reconstituting classes based on the contents regarding global warming from the text books revised as of 7th course of study. The result is as below. First, some part of contents from social study and science of 6th grade elementary curriculum of 7th course of study was able to be reconstituted to 15 education programs. Secondly, the programs about global warming improved students' environmental attitude Application of the programs about global warming showed significant difference(p<.05) on building environmental attitude as it proved those are effective on both area of recognition level and practice level. The method used on the test had .866's Cronbach alpha modulus value therefore, it obtained reliability. Thirdly, the programs regarding global warming improved students' knowledge accomplishment. As a result of test for knowledge accomplishment which was executed with same method for attitude test, the application of the programs about global warming showed significant difference(p<.05) on improving students' knowledge accomplishment on the global warming therefore, it resulted that the application of the program is effective on knowledge acquirement.

• 대한원격탐사학회지
• /
• 제36권6_3호
• /
• pp.1635-1641
• /
• 2020

대기오염은 최근 급속한 인구증가와 산업화 등으로 인해 인류가 해결해야 할 중요한 문제로 인식되고 있다. 특히 미세먼지 노출에 따른 질병 사례들의 증가와 대기 질 정보에 대한 국민의 관심 증대로 인해 미세먼지는 환경문제를 넘어 사회적 재난 수준의 심각한 이슈로 대두되고 있다. 아울러 대기 중 미세먼지 농도는 실내 미세먼지 농도에 밀접하게 관여하여 실내 공기질의 악화를 야기시킬 수 있다. 따라서 실내외 미세먼지 측정, 모델링, 기여도 평가를 통한 오염 특성을 이해하고, 이를 과학적으로 규명하는 것은 매우 중요하다. 본 특별호는 부경대학교 i-SEED 지구환경교육연구단과 학교미세먼지관리 기술개발사업단에서 진행하고 있는 다양하고 흥미로운 실내외 미세먼지 측정과 관리 기술에 대한 여러 연구들을 소개한다. 이를 통하여 실내외 미세먼지 측정과 관리 기술에 대한 현 주소를 파악하고 참여 연구그룹의 연구 결과에 대한 정보 공유에 본 특별호가 기여하길 기대한다. 더불어 미세먼지에 관련한 지속적인 연구주제 발굴과 국가적인 지원을 이끌어 내기 위한 관련 전문가들의 노력을 기대한다.

• 한국의류학회지
• /
• 제34권10호
• /
• pp.1717-1730
• /
• 2010

This research analyzes the recent phenomenon of pursuing public benefit in fashion enterprises according to the increasing importance of corporate social responsibility attitudes towards the global sustainability crisis. The pursuit of public benefit in fashion enterprises has been realized by the activities that contribute to public welfare through one or plural corporations aligned with government, social corporations, and NGOs. The goals of public beneficial activities are to promote public issues and to support the underprivileged and communities both financially and voluntarily. Such activities can be categorized as philanthropy, sponsorship, social marketing, cause-related marketing, and public benefit product development. Especially public beneficial activities in fashion enterprises are featured as the charity donations of apparel products, the collaboration with fashion celebrities and artists in relation with popular culture and art, the limited edition of excellent design with slogans, and the visual campaigns to promote public issues. They deal with human right issues for the underprivileged and disease prevention issues. In addition, specially environmental issue and community trade issues (often raised in the fashion manufacturing and consuming process) are increasing.

• 한국심리학회지 : 문화 및 사회문제
• /
• 제10권spc호
• /
• pp.1-10
• /
• 2004

청소년의 문제행동 연구는 청소년이 미숙하고 의존적이기 때문이 아니라, 주위의 부정적 영향으로 그들이 누릴 수 있는 권리의 훼손을 방지하기 위한 것이다. 가정, 학교와 사회 등 환경이 청소년 행동에 미치는 영향을 고찰하고, 인터넷게임, 채팅, 운전과 같은 활동영역에서 접근한 청소년 행동연구를 살펴보며, 그리고 자살, 일탈행동과 같은 청소년의 위험행동 원인분석을 통하여 청소년 행동을 이해해 보려고 했다. 청소년 행동의 이해를 위해서는 다양한 접근방법과 학제간 연구가 필요하다는 사실을 고찰하였다.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
• /
• 제8권2호
• /
• pp.801-808
• /
• 2021

The issue of the relationship between environmental degradation and human health has been widely addressed by medical doctors. However, economists have sparsely debated it. The release of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the air can cause several environmental problems and, thus, it can affect human health. Therefore, it is imperative to examine the effect of CO2 emissions on life expectancy in the D-8 countries (Malaysia, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Egypt, Iran, Pakistan, and Turkey) from 1992 to 2017. The panel ARDL method is employed and, then, the PMG estimator is selected. The results show that economic growth, population growth and health expenditure can significantly and positively affect life expectancy, but CO2 emissions can have a significant and negative effect on life expectancy. Since, the major findings reveal that life expectancy can be explained by CO2 emissions. Hence, it is important to formulate policies on reducing CO2 emissions so that life expectancy will not be affected. Energy diversification policies should be formulated or improved in some countries. This is to ensure that the countries are not highly dependent on non-renewable energy that can harm the environment. The government should increase its expenditure on the health sector to save more lives by extend human lifespan.

• 한국환경보건학회지
• /
• 제37권1호
• /
• pp.1-11
• /
• 2011

Recent advances in Geographic Information Systems and spatial statistical and analytical methods, along with the availability of spatially referenced health and environmental data, have created unique opportunities to investigate spatial associations between environment exposures and health outcomes at multiple spatial scales and resolutions. However, the increased use of spatial data also faces challenges, one of which is to ensure certainty and accuracy of locational data that meets the needs of a study. This article critically reviews the use of spatially referenced data in epidemiologic studies, focusing on the issue of locational uncertainty generated from the process of geocoding health and environmental data. Primarily, major issues involving the use of spatially referenced data are addressed, including completeness and positional accuracy, potential source of bias and exposure misclassification, and implications for epidemiologic studies. The need for critical assessment and caution in designing and conducting spatial epidemiology studies is briefly discussed.

• Architectural research
• /
• 제21권2호
• /
• pp.41-48
• /
• 2019

The purpose of this study is to research and development of 'Korea B(Benefit)-impact Model' for Sustainable Development. A concept evaluation model is 'B(Benefit)-impact model' in U.S.A. We use the results of surveys that examined the importance of social value issues to stakeholders in Korea to implement the benefit-impact model in Korea. In particular, in this paper, we use the KSI(Korean Sustainability Index) survey data conducted by the Korea Standards Association to evaluate the social value of the construction industry for representative stakeholders in the construction industry. The social value pool and the activity indicator pool used for the survey are created based on relevant International Standards; ISO 26000, ISO 14001, ISO 37001. As a result, Korea B-impact model for construction industry included the following five core social value issues; Strengthen transparency of corporate management, Ensure fair employment and employment relations, Efforts to prevent corruption, Conduct fair competition, Efforts to prevent environmental pollution. In addition, the US B-impact model has three limitations. First, it is unclear whether the key indicators have been derived while considering all issues of social value. Second, US B-impact model indicators are developed by the social responsibility experts, so it is necessary to review by stakeholders in each industry. Finally, it would be more effective for companies to use the B-impact model index as a more detailed activity indicator. When developing a Korea B-impact model, the following methods are used to supplement it. First, we reviewed all social value issues using international standards. Secondly, we used the KSI(Korean Sustainability index) survey results to derive the importance of the social value issue of construction industry in Korea. Finally, we have clearly matched the activity indicators by social value core issues based on the GRI Standard so that companies can actually use the Korea B-impact model for the construction sector. The detailed development stages and results of this study are as follows;.

• 한국시스템다이내믹스연구
• /
• 제11권4호
• /
• pp.25-59
• /
• 2010

The Korean government has operated various mega-development projects in order to help nation progress into the future. However, many problems and concerns have been raised on the mega-projects' delay and failure in South Korea. Moreover, there are many technical and executive problems; such as trial and error of development work, failure of validity test, complicated decision-making processes, and so on. With these concerns and problems to mega-development projects, finding a sustainable development from mega-projects is becoming a new issue in the field of mega-development projects. Therefore, the main purpose of this study is to investigate whether or not most mega-development projects conducted by the government exactly corresponds with sustainable development (such as environmental soundness, economic efficiency and social equity) focusing on Saemangeum project. Using causal loop analysis, this study gives some significant results to us. First, for environmental soundness, both central and local government should ensure water-purity control system for farming, industry, leisure, and others. Second, for economic efficiency, both governments not only have to secure a budget for completion of infrastructure of the Saemangeum project but also support financial assistance to Saemangeum project. Third, for social equity, three local governments (i.e., Gunsan, Gimje, and Buan) should stop debate and conflict with regard to an administrative district of Saemangeum region. Finally, most politicians should not use Saemangeum project for political means. Rather, they should recognize the project as a motive power for economic development of Jeollabukdo.

• 환경정책연구
• /
• 제2권2호
• /
• pp.17-40
• /
• 2003

The objective of this paper is to formulate strategies and action programs for developing sustainable agriculture in Korea. There is increasing evidence that agriculture has been preoccupied with increasing productivity much to the detriment of environmental degradation. The issue of increasing agricultural productivity so as not to undermine the environment is a difficult task. In reality, there are many definitions of sustainable agriculture and sustainable agricultural development. In this paper, sustainable agriculture is defined by its ability to ensure future supplies of agricultural products at acceptable economic and environmental costs to the society. Sustainable agriculture development refers to the optimal level of interaction among the three dimensions - the environmental, the economic and the social - through dynamic and adaptive processes of trade-off. In order to formulate the strategies for developing sustainable agriculture, three stage approaches such as strategic analysis, strategic choice, and strategic implementation are employed. The basic framework for strategies of sustainable agriculture development consists of five steps such as vision, targets, principles, action plan and policy instruments. The major action plans for activating formulated strategies are suggested as integrating agricultural and environmental policy measures, establishing the system of optimal agri-environmental resources management practices, establishing safe and high quality product system and its effective marketing system, increasing the R&D investment for developing sustainable agro-technology, developing indicators for measuring sustainable agricultural development, and taking a share in related roles for all parties including farmers, consumers, policy makers, researchers and NGOs.