• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.302-310
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• 2024

Background: The prevalence of allergic rhinitis in South Korean adolescents is increasing. Adolescents in South Korea currently use liquid electronic cigarettes more than heated tobacco products. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the association between the use of liquid electronic cigarettes and allergic rhinitis diagnoses among South Korean adolescents. Methods: This study used data from the 17th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey in 2021. Out of a total of 59,066 students, data from 18,869 students who had experience with liquid electronic cigarettes were used in the final analyses. Diagnoses of allergic rhinitis by medical doctors were self-reported as outcome variables. Results: For females, when comparing 'daily users' and 'current users' with 'never users', the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for 'allergic rhinitis' were 2.20 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.00~4.84) and 1.49 (95% CI, 1.07~2.09), respectively. For males, when comparing 'daily users' and 'current users' with 'never users', the adjusted ORs for 'allergic rhinitis' were 1.42 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.91~2.22) and 1.41 (95% CI, 1.08~1.84), respectively. Conclusions: The use of liquid electronic cigarettes was statistically significantly associated with increased odds of allergic rhinitis, especially for females. The results of this study will provide a useful scientific basis for establishing public health policy and using the educational data related to the use of liquid electronic cigarettes in the future.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.233-243
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• 2013

Background: This study was conducted to evaluate the individual and community level factors which were influencing the severe injury patients' death and transfer at discharge. Methods: Analysis data is based on Korean National Hospital Discharge In-depth Survey Data released by the Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention from 2006 to 2008. Study subjects was 11,026 inpatients with of severe injury. For multi-level analysis, socio-demographic characteristics, injury related characteristics, hospitalization related characteristics were used as individual level factors, and socio-environmental characteristics and health care resource characteristics were used as community level factors. Results: As to community level factors affecting mortality of severe injury, the possibility of death was also high in cases of less numbers of surgeons per a population of 100,000 and more number of operation beds. As to community level factors affecting transfer of severe injury, vulnerable areas with higher social deprivation index and low population density had higher possibility of transfer. Conclusion: Both individual level factors and community level factors affected clinical outcomes of treatment for severe injury. In particular, since there happened higher death and transfer of severe injury in socioeconomic and medical vulnerable areas, special efforts for establishing preventive policy and care system for injury in national and area level should be directed toward such areas.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.65-83
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• 2006

Objectives: This is one of the first efforts to describe incidence of alcohol-related problems and to identify environmental correlates associated with them among colleges. Methods: Date were collected by a sample of 105 college administrators who are in charge of student affairs in colleges nationwide through self-administrated questionnaire. Both logistic and linear multiple regression analyses were employed to identify the correlates associated with alcohol-related problems. Results: Most of colleges(76.6%) under study reported to have at least one alcohol-related problem in previous years. Interpersonal violence was alcohol-related problem taken placed most frequently, followed by making noise episode, having property damaged and motor vehicle accidents. Logistic regression analysis identified factors associated with incidents of alcohol related problems. They included being private colleges, numbers of prevention activities, product promotion and marketing by alcohol industry and alcohol accessibility to drinking context. Multiple regression analyses showed that correlates associated with numbers of alcohol-related problems included being a private college, being located in rural area, having drinking density, product promotion and availability of alternative activities to drinking. Conclusions: Environmental correlates were associated with incidence of alcohol related problems in colleges nationwide. Policy implications were discussed.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.28-38
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• 1994

The objective of this study were to measure concentrations of indoor pollutants in public transportation systems to provide importance of indoor air quality in transportation systems to policy makers. Indoor air quality of the pollutants (CO, CO$_2$, PM-10) and environmental sources (temperature, humidity) were measured at subway, seat-type bus, and city-type bus in the Seoul area from April to September 1992. The same pollutants and environmental sources were also measured at selected bus stops and subway stations during October 1991-September 1992. The mean concentrations of indoor pollutants in the public transportation systems were showed 115.5 $\mu$g/m$^3$ in PM-10, 6.8 ppm in CO, and 2167.9 ppm in CO$_2$, respectively. The mean values of PM-10 and CO showed below the U.S. 24 hour standard value of PM-10 and the Korea ambient CO standard, while the mean concentrations of CO$_2$ exceeded the Korea CO$_2$ standard. The highest levels of indoor concentration at public transportation systems were PM-10 of 134.6 $\mu$g/m$^3$ in the subway, CO of 8.9 ppm in the city-type bus, CO$_2$ of 2,511.1ppm in seat-type bus, respectively. The results showed that indoor air quality in bus and subway seemed likely to be affected by number of passengers and outdoor air infiltrated from exhausted gases of automobiles.

• Annals of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.182-195
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• 2018

Increasing prevalence of childhood obesity poses threats to the global health burden. Because this rising prevalence cannot be fully explained by traditional risk factors such as unhealthy diet and physical inactivity, early-life exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) is recognized as emerging novel risk factors for childhood obesity. EDCs can disrupt the hormone-mediated metabolic pathways, affect children's growth and mediate the development of childhood obesity. Many organic pollutants are recently classified to be EDCs. In this review, we summarized the epidemiological and laboratory evidence related to EDCs and childhood obesity, and discussed the possible mechanisms underpinning childhood obesity and early-life exposure to non-persistent organic pollutants (phthalates, bisphenol A, triclosan) and persistent organic pollutants (dichlorodip henyltrichloroethane, polychlorinated biphenyls, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). Understanding the relationship between EDCs and childhood obesity helps to raise public awareness and formulate public health policy to protect the youth from exposure to the harmful effects of EDCs.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.526-538
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• 2007

Since air quality monitoring data sets are important base for developing of air quality management strategies including policy making and policy performance assessment, the environmental protection authorities need to organize and operate monitoring network properly. Air quality monitoring network of Busan, consisting of 18 stations, was allocated under unscientific and irrational principles. Thus the current state of air quality monitoring networks was reassessed the effect and appropriateness of monitoring objectives such as population protection and sources surveillance. In the process of the reassessment, a GIS-based decision support system was constructed and used to simulate air quality over complex terrain and to conduct optimization analysis for air quality monitoring network with multi-objective. The maximization of protection capability for population appears to be the most effective and principal objective among various objectives. The relocation of current monitoring stations through optimization analysis of multi-objective appears to be better than the network building for maximization of population protection capability. The decision support system developed in this study on the basis of GIS-based database appear to be useful for the environmental protection authorities to plan and manage air quality monitoring network over complex terrain.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.240-246
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• 2017

Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate the vulnerability of the human health sector to $PM_{10}$ due to climate change in Incheon over the period of 2005-2014. Methods: Vulnerability to $PM_{10}$ consists of the three categories of climate exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity. The indexes for climate exposure and sensitivity indicate positive effects, while adaptive capacity shows a negative effect on vulnerability to $PM_{10}$. The variables in each category were standardized by the rescaling method, and respective relative regional vulnerability was analyzed through the vulnerability index calculation formula of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Results: Regions with a high exposure index were the western and northern urban areas with industrial complexes adjacent to a highway, including Bupyong-gu and Seo-gu. Major factors determining the climate exposure index were the $PM_{10}$ concentration, days of $PM_{10}$ >= $100{\mu}g/m^3$, and $PM_{10}$ emissions. The regions showing a high sensitivity index were urban regions with high populations; these commonly had a high mortality rate for related diseases and vulnerable populations. Conclusions: This study is able to support regionally adjusted adaptation policies and the quantitative background of policy priority since it provides information on the regional health vulnerability to $PM_{10}$ due to climate change in Incheon.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.370-380
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• 2009

Reliable hazard and risk communication is needed to prevent the safety accident & occupational disease through right use of chemicals and MSDS(Material Safety Data Sheet) is mainly used as such a tool of communication. MSDS policy has been put into effect in order to prevent the safety accident & occupational disease through right use of chemicals and fulfill workers' right to know. If information on MSDS lacks reliability due to its inaccuracy, prevention of the various effects related with environmental safety & health in advance is not possible to achieve. The most essential thing regarding authoring MSDS is to exactly evaluate the composition and ingredients of the chemical and include reliability-guaranteed information. Therefore, in this study reliability was evaluated on MSDSs in 15 aromatic hydrocarbons(benzene, toluene, xylene, etc.) manufacturers and ways to secure reliability of MSDS were suggested. The results showed 93.5% of composition agreement rate and 89% of reliability on each section in MSDSs. In order to curb MSDSs with low reliability, examination on CBI(confidential business information) in MSDS, certification of MSDS, collection and verification of MSDS are suggested.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.18-40
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• 2008

Measurements of health related quality of life can be used to compare patients with specific conditions to average individuals in the general population in a similar age and gender group. However there are few data available regarding health related quality of life for the general population of Korea. Therefore, this study was conducted to examine the validity of the Korean version of EQ-5D and to measure the health related quality of life of the general adult population in a metropolitan city. The survey was cross-sectional and employed a stratified and multistage sampling design through 100 examination sites in 5 districts of UIsan. A total of 12,644 individuals from 4,112 households participated in the survey. Of these, we analyzed data from 8,068 adults who were over 19 years old and completed the EQ-5D. To examine the validity of the questionnaire, the differences in 5 dimensions and the $EQ-5D_{index}$ were analyzed with regard to demographic and socioeconomic factors such as sex, age, income, and education. In addition, visual analogue scales (VAS) were used to evaluate the overall health related quality of life issues of the respondents. The level of health related quality of life of the general adult population was then compared with the results from the third Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and other countries. There were a small number of people with problems related tomobility, self-care, and usual activity. In addition, many people complained ofpain/discomfort and anxiety/depression. The complaint rate in each dimension, VAS, and $EQ-5D_{index}$ indicated relatively better states for males, the younger group, the higher income group, and the higher education group. In addition, the level of health related quality of life of the general population of Ulsan was relatively higher than that of Koreans nationwide as well as the populations of other countries. EQ-SD provided a valid measure of the health-related quality of life of the general adult population. In addition, the results of a survey of Ulsan revealed that the quality of life of its population is better than that of the overall population of Korea and of the populations of other countries.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.74-84
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• 2024

Background: Despite many environmental problems, plastic waste emissions have been a significant surge during last few decades in the Republic of Korea. Furthermore, the emergence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has lead to an increased use and disposal of plastic waste worldwide. This paper tried to present summarized data related to the production and disposal of plastics especially before and after the COVID-19 pandemic with environmental impacts of plastics. Also, review of plastic waste reduction policies and feasible policies to promote an act for a safe, sustainable environment are presented. Results: Plastics cause many environmental problems due to their non-degrading properties and have a huge direct and indirect impact on Ecosystems and Public Health. Microplastics need a lot of attention because their environmental effects are not yet fully identified. Despite plastic's significant impact on climate change, the impact is not yet widely known to the public. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of plastic has surged and recycling has decreased due to the increase in delivery food and online shopping. Korea is introducing very active plastic and waste management policies, but it is necessary to implement more active policies by referring to the cases of other countries. Conclusions: In this article, we have scrutinized the evolution of plastic waste generation in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and delved into policy frameworks adopted by other nations, which South Korea can draw valuable lessons from. The formidable challenges posed by plastic waste, the remarkable shifts witnessed during the COVID-19 era, and the multifaceted response strategies elucidated in this paper all play a pivotal role in steering South Korea toward a sustainable future.