• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.431-441
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• 2019

Objectives: The Korean Working Conditions Survey(KWCS), which has been conducted five times over the past 13 years, presents a diverse picture of Korean workers across occupations, genders, and age groups. This study summarized the use of KWCS and explored how to make the most of the KWCS by reviewing published peer-reviewed journal articles employing the KWCS data. Methods: Articles were selected in accordance with PRISMA protocol for a systematic literature review. A total of 155 articles were included in this review. Results: The number of articles utilizing KWCS data has been increasing by year. The articles were published in 40 Korean journals and 16 international journals. The journals were mainly in the field of occupational safety and health and sociology. Keywords of mental health, working conditions survey, workforce, health, exposure to risk factor, and working time were mainly highlighted. The articles were grouped by the goals of the KWCS as stated in the survey. The majority of published articles(129 articles, 83%) aimed to 'analyze relationships between different aspects of working conditions'. Fifteen articles(10%) were intended to 'identify groups at risk and issues of concern.' The number of articles to 'monitor trends' were limited. Conclusions: The findings underline the limited utilization of the KWCS. Attention to the range and scope of utilization of KWCS should be developed to address current challenges in occupational health and safety management and policy issues.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.505-512
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• 2020

Background: In monitoring exposure to environmental smoke (ETS), biomarkers can overcome the subjectivity and inaccuracy of self-reporting measurements, and have the advantage of reflecting ETS exposure in all places. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of ETS exposure measurement using biomarkers such as urine cotinine. Methods: This study used the Korea National Health and Nutrition Survey data from 2009 to 2018. A total of 28,574 non-smokers with urine cotinine data were selected for the study. The cotinine concentration and ETS exposure rate using urine cotinine was estimated and then compared with the self-reporting measurements. The degree of agreement among measurements of ETS exposure was confirmed. Results: As a result of measuring ETS exposure with urine cotinine, 23,594 (83.8%) out of 28,574 subjects were classified as to exposure groups. This estimate differs significantly from measurements made by self-reporting. In addition, the average concentration of cotinine in non-smokers has decreased to a 10th level over the past 10 years. Based on the biomarker, the sensitivity of the self-reporting was 8.5%-29.0%, the specificity was 16.4%-19.5%, and the kappa value was 2.0%-5.8%. Conclusion: The findings of our study show that self-reporting measurement does not well reflect the extent to which non-smoker's exposure to smoking materials. Whereas cotinine concentration has decreased significantly over the past 10 years, the ETS exposure rate has not reduced. It strongly suggests the need for intervention in the group of non-smokers exposed to low concentrations of smoke. Therefore, an assessment using biomarkers such as cotinine-based measurement should be made in the Health Plan 2030.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.364-373
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• 2012

The United Nations Environmental Program Governing Council has regulated mercury as a global pollutant since 2001 and has been preparing the mercury convention, which will have a strongly binding force through Global Mercury Assessment, Global Mercury Partnership Activities, and establishment of the Open-Ended Working Group on Mercury. The European Union maintains an inclusive strategy on risks and contamination of mercury, and has executed the Mercury Export Ban Act since December in 2010. The US Environmental Protection Agency established the Mercury Action Plan (1998) and the Mercury Roadmap (2006) and has proposed systematic mercury management methods to reduce the health risks posed by mercury exposure. Japan, which experienced Minamata disease, aims vigorously at perfection in mercury management in several ways. In Korea, the Ministry of Environment established the Comprehensive Plan and Countermeasures for Mercury Management to prepare for the mercury convention and to reduce risks of mercury to protect public health.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.101-124
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• 2003

Performance of public hospitals is difficult to define and measure because not only their managerial or financial performance but also their role as a public entity is important. The purpose of this paper is to examine the internal and external factors that influence the performance of local government hospitals. A multiple regression was performed to analyze the effects of the environmental, organizational, operational, and cost-related factors on the return on total assets(ROA), operating margin(OM), and the ratio of Medicaid patients. Empirical results show that financial performance (ROA and OM) are more influenced by operational or cost-related factors, while the ratio of Medicaid patients is more affected by environmental or organizational characteristics. It is noteworthy that competition and the contract with private sector management have negative effects on the ratio of Medicaid patients that local government hospitals treat.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.444-453
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• 2014

Inequality of environmental impact is forecast to deepen due to the damage of environmental risk by the interaction between environmental and social inequalities causing more harms to environmentally vulnerable population. This study assessed the integrated cumulative impact of Seoul using Environmental Health Screening Tool developed by Environmental Protection Agency of California. In order to screen vulnerable area to environmental health, 10 indexes have been selected according to the environmental burden of exposure to environment and public health effects, population characteristics of sensitive populations and socio-economic factors. As a result of assessment conducted on cumulative impact of Seoul for years 2009~2011 through Environmental Health Screening Tool, risk factor for districts of Gangseo and Gangnam of Seoul showed high - Gangseo area indicated high risk factor both in environmental burden and population characteristics, while Gangnam area appeared high in environmental burden. The result of survey will be able to suggest scientific basis to push through fair and effective environmental policy in consideration of environment vulnerable population.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.102-115
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• 2015

Objectives: A learning organization was designed and implemented on the basis of the selection criteria and essential elements of knowledge translation theory. Methods: The learning organization was designed on the basis of biosafety harmonization criteria and risk management strategy and was implemented as the learning organization for biosafety management by the National Institute of Health, Korea Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. The effect of knowledge translation in the research institutions by evidence-based policy was verified. Results: The result of applying the knowledge translation theory involving all stakeholders showed a positive reaction in establishing and implementing biosafety management strategy and embodied risk assessment criteria and evoked sympathy with the necessity of learning and using of expert knowledge about risk assessment and risk management. All stakeholders initiated voluntarily action toward new human-network construction and communication between similar organizations. The learning organization's capability expanded the base of knowledge translation. Conclusion: These results showed that a learning organization could enhance the autonomous safety management system by diffusion of knowledge translation.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.151-156
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• 1995

Public participation in Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process has been implemented since the introduction of EIA project on August 1 1991, followed with Environmental Policy Act promulgation on August 1 1990. Though public participation has room for improvement. This study compared before and after the introduction of public participation on EIS preparation cost, project cost, EIS preparation term and project term through 293 EISs analysis. Also public opinions in EIS after introduction of public participation were analyzed. The results are expected to be contributed to the system improvement of public participation.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.11-22
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• 2015

Objectives: This study was to examine the influences of community characteristics on the mortality rates. Community characteristics included socioeconomic environmental characteristics, health care resources, and health lifestyle practice. Methods: This study used secondary data whose units of analyses were 249 administrative districts. Mortality rates were estimated with hierarchical regression models entered in the order of (1) socioeconomic environmental characteristics, (2) health care resources, and (3) health lifestyle practice. Results: About 70% of mortality rate was explained by socioeconomic environmental characteristics, health care resources, and health lifestyle practice. In particular, socioeconomic environmental characteristics showed the strongest impact on mortality rate. Among socioeconomic characteristics, community with lower rate of households headed with college or more, lower number of inhabitants per on-premise license, higher rate of population in poverty, and rural region showed higher mortality rate. Among health care resources, community with higher number of inhabitants per doctor and lower number of inhabitants per hospital bed showed higher mortality rate. Among health lifestyle practice, community with higher current smoking rate and lower moderate physical activity practice rate showed higher mortality rate. Conclusions: The results suggest that policy makers should take into account socioeconomic environmental characteristics of community in developing community-based health promotion rather than focusing on lifestyle changes of residents.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.105-116
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• 2013

Background: In Korea, there is low awareness of the respiratory health problems caused by the use of humidifiers, leading to a lack of governmental measures. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to review cases of varying degrees of humidifier lung and fever in connection with the use of humidifiers and to summarize the probable environmental agents causing these cases. Methods: We searched all articles reporting on humidifier lung, humidifier fever, and humidifier diseases caused by the use of a humidifier both at home and in the workplace. Results: We summarized a number of cases of varying degrees of respiratory diseases resulting from inhalation of water mist of humidifiers containing various species of bacteria and fungi and their toxins. Type of respiratory disease connected with humidifier lung includes interstitial pneumonitis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, fever and several respiratory symptoms. Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), Actinomycetes, endotoxins and contaminated humidifier water were the most commonly suspected probable environmental agents causing humidifier lung. In Korea, the use of humidifier biocide is suspected as a likely cause of fatal lung injury including death and lung transplantation. Conclusion: Governmental policy should be devised and measures including a national surveillance system should be taken to prevent humidifier lung caused by the use of humidifiers.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.376-384
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• 2014

Objective: The purpose of this study is to compare the health status of residents who were exposed to sources of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMFs) in the living environment and those who were not exposed to such a source of ELF-EMFs through a survey designed to appraise the residents' health levels. Method: Aimed at 251 residents exposed to a source of ELF-EMFs and 278 residents not exposed to a source, the survey was conducted to investigate the health status of the residents on the basis of questionnaire SF-36. Result: The health status scores of residents exposed to ELF-EMFs turned out to be lower than those of their counterparts. In terms of self-reported symptoms related to health and sleep quality, residents exposed to ELF-EMFs were found to have a higher complaint rate of self-reported symptoms such as dizziness, depression, and fatigue. Regarding sleep disorders, residents exposed to ELF-EMFs appeared to have a slightly higher complaint rate of sleep disorders compared to non-exposed residents. Conclusion: If a region is to be exposed to a source of ELF-EMFs, a more proactive policy for reducing such exposure is advised. In addition, it is necessary to better understand problems of residents by emplacing an ELF-EMFs risk information delivery system and building an efficient communication system for voluntary participation during the construction phase.