• Health Policy and Management
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.246-255
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• 2016

The study of public health systems is an important, but very difficult task. The concept and functions of public health systems are influenced by the views, interests, and influence of the various stakeholders belonging to public health systems and broader social, economic, political, and environmental sectors. To define public health system with conceptual clarification, we must take into account the dynamic and complex aspect of the public health system. This paper reviews health systems and public health systems literature to suggest the concept, goals, and functions of public health systems. In addition, this paper recognizes some challenges, such as leadership and management, resource development, economic support, and service delivery to strengthen public health systems for improving health and well-being of population.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.111-121
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• 2017

Objectives: In this study, an analysis was performed on local government adaptation plans for climate change focusing on the health sector. The limitations of past study results have been summarized and new research subjects for preparing for the advanced second period (2018-2022) of the local government adaptation plan for climate change have been suggested. Methods: First, a review of the literature related to vulnerability assessment and adaptation plans was performed. Next, a comparison among the 16 metropolitan governments' vulnerability assessment results and adaptation plans was made. Lastly, a classification of the adaptation policy and budgets to compare with their real budget amounts was performed. Results: The results show that there is a categorizing discrepancy between vulnerability assessment and adaptation policy. In addition, their adaptation budget amounts turned out to be too large in comparison with the actual budget amounts. Conclusion: The first period (2013-2017) local government adaptation plans for climate change had some limitations. This is because there was a rapid driving force for establishing adaptation plans under the green growth strategy in Korea. Now, we are confronting a risk of adaptation to climate change. By expanding this approach, the government would be able to set up a detailed policy to improve the plans during the second period.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.296-306
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• 2012

Purpose: This study was conducted to measure the relationships between ecological factors and Navy personnel's physical activity (PA) based on McLeroy's Ecological model. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with a convenience sample of 184 Navy personnel working in 10 Navyships. A self-reporting questionnaire consisted of measures of intrapersonal, interpersonal, organizational and community factors related to Navy personnel` s PA. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, $x^2$-test, t-test, analysis of variance, and hierarchical multiple regression using SPSS/WIN 17.0 programs. Results: Their mean PA level was $2,848.1{\pm}3,344.5$ MET-min/week, and mostly moderate level (50.5%). Hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that religion, working department, working type, perceived health status and community environment were significant PA correlates. Conclusion: Community environmental factors as well as intrapersonal factors were significantly associated with Navy personnel's PA, indicating that community health nurses should expand an approach for individual-level behavioral change to incorporate Navy personnel specific community environmental barriers into PA interventions.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.4 no.1_2
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• pp.55-65
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• 1989

Nevertheless the serious environmental pollution in Korea has been discussed in concern with health effect, the significant effect are not determined easily. Toxicological method has been used to establish safe levels of exposure for environmental pollutants to have threshold health effect below which significant effects are unlikely to occur. However the conventional method cannot to establish safe levels of exposure for non-threshold pollutants have been used to express comprehensive pollution degree, not in detailed toxic effects. Acceptable exposure or risk levels are decides by policymakers who consider descriptions and estimates of risks together with social and economic benefits. This paper focuses on the concept development of risk assessment and describes some risks of environmental pollution based on the surveyed date in Korea. The current concepts of risk assessment in policy descisions can be explored and areas for possible improvement, given current scientific knowledge are identified. The experience of foreign countries can provide a realistic basis for evaluating the existing data of environmental pollutants. To improve the environmental quality, risk regulation should be managed as soon as possible in Korea.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.30 no.sup
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• pp.5.1-5.5
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• 2015

Objectives To protect public health from risk, the Minister of Environment in Korea legislated an act concerning the registration and evaluation of chemical substances. In this study, we estimated the value of a statistical life (VSL) of carcinogenic chemicals to evaluate the socioeconomic analysis in Korea. Methods The estimation of the health benefit can be calculated through an individual's VSL and willingness to pay (WTP). To estimate the VSL and WTP, we used a contingent valuation method through a web-based survey. Results The survey is conducted with 1434 people living in Seoul and six large cities. An analysis of the survey is essential to review the distribution of the characteristics of the target population. The statistically significant variables affecting the WTP are location, age, household income, quality of life. Through the review of data, we secured statistical validity. The WTP was estimated as 41205 Korean won (KRW)/person, and the estimated VSL appeared as 796 million KRW/person. Conclusions There is a case in which the amount of statistical life value is estimated in connection with domestic environmental policy, fine dust, etc. However, there are no cases of evaluation for chemical. The utilization of this result is possible for conducting other study with chemicals.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.9-18
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• 2022

In today's civilization, it can be impossible to prevent disasters that cause large-scale human and material harm, and the environmental industry is not excepted from this. Over the last 50 years, several large and small environmental health catastrophes have occurred in Korea. Notable instances include the phenol pollution accident in the Nakdong River, the Hebei Spirit oil spill in Taean, Chungcheongnam-do, and the humidifier disinfectant disaster. Looking at these instances, it is clear that the government failed to prevent similar incidents and accidents after the tragedies. The government created and executed different policies to prevent such incidents and accidents, but the majority of them were highly fragmented. It is understandable that depending on the political and social level of the society in which the environmental health hazard incident/accident happened, the investigation of the cause, countermeasures, and policy reaction may differ. To put it another way, the more authoritarian and non-democratic a political social system is, the more likely it is to cover up occurrences and accidents without a deep examination. This is in line with the members of society's level of political awareness and acknowledgment of the importance of life and safety. In 1985, when the Onsan pollution disease was discovered, and in 2011, when we recognized the realities of the humidifier disinfectant disaster, South Korea's political and social systems were entirely different.

• Hwankyungkyoyuk
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.44-55
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to develop an environmental report for children and to examine the learning effects of the environmental report on elementary school students. This study is carried out by the survey. The results of this study are as follows. First, the Environmental Report for children, which consists of 8 subjects related to the environmental policy in Korea. 1) Green Growth and Sustainable Policy, 2) Climate Change, 3) Water Supply and Sewage Policy, 4) Sustainable Watershed Management, 5) Conservation of Biodiversity, 6) Resource Recirculation, 7) Environmental Health for Children, and 8) Environmental Dictionary, was systematically developed. Second, the Environmental report developed was examined the effects to third and fourth grade elementary school students in Incheon and Daegu. By dividing elementary school students into two groups: A Control group and an Experimental group, the lessons were respectively executed. In conclusion, the Environmental Report leads to good effects when it is applied to both Environmental Education and the public relation of the Environmental Policy in Korea. Finally, it would be expected to be efficient in learning Sustainable Development and the Environmental Policy.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.19 no.4 s.54
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• pp.34-47
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• 2004

Although Environmental Impact Assessment(EIA) in Korea has been improved markedly over the past two decades, by enlarging the range of projects for assessment, instituting pub lic participation and environmental monitoring, and similar measures, it remains deficient in its coverage of human health in Environmental Impact Statements(EISs). Health Impact Assessment(HIA) can supply the necessary correctives. HIA is a combination of procedures, methods and tools by which a policy, programme, projects or legislative procedure may be judged for its potential effects on the health of a population, and the distribution of these effects within it. The principle of health protection is, however, established as a primary concern in EIA processes, in practice health is scarcely mentioned or the discussion is limited to a description of effects through the biophysical environment. The whole range of possible effects on health, including those mediated by socio-economic factors is often ignored, and no effective mechanism are in place to successfully incorporating health criteria and expertise into environmental, assessment(EA) that include ElA, SEA. These are foremost among the current issues facing EIA in Korea.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.202-213
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• 2017

Objectives: HRA (Health Risk Assessment) is an important tool for measuring the health impacts of air pollution. HRA is already being used widely as an important reference for crafting air pollution policies. However, the absence of a domestic CRF (Concentration Response Function) standard, which is a main component for HRA, could cause confusion amongst policy-makers. The purpose of this study is to tabulate a domestic CRF standard for a PM (Particulate Matter)-related HRA. Methods: This study suggested a domestic CRF standard for HRA thorough a literature review. The literature review for meta-analysis was limited to the English language for epidemiological studies published from January 1980 to March 2016. This meta-analysis was conducted by assuming both fixed- and random-effects of CRF. In addition, studies that reported HRA of air pollution for WHO (World Health Organization), the EC (European Commission), and the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) were reviewed to compare the CRFs of South Korea to the recommended CRFs of WHO, the EC, or the EPA. Additionally, a domestic CRF standard was supplemented by these. Results: Nineteen studies were selected for the CRF for South Korea. Fifty-three CRFs were derived for meta-analysis. CRFs with a standard for PM-related HRA were divided according to the following four criteria: air pollution, exposure characteristics, type of health impact, and age group. Finally, a domestic CRF standard was created comprised of 21 CRFs. Among these, six CRFs were derived from the results of foreign HRA studies. Conclusions: This study is important in that a domestic CRF standard is first suggested. In addition, this study suggests a further area of study for using HRA as a policy tool and a direction of epidemiological study.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.129-141
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• 2007

With its more than 35 years of experience with EIA of NEPA in United States, the extensive knowledge base of EIA could be the most suitable place for initial field of HIA to explore lessons available for. However, caution is needed as the technical differences in analysis, different policy context, and distinct professional culture between EIA and HIA might be. The successe of EIA of NEPA is the integration of environmental goals into decision making process, improved planning, and increased transparency and public involvement, whereas shortcomings of it were defined as the excessive volume and complexity of EIA documents, the limited and adversarial public involvement, the procedural process (not substantive), focus on projects (not on policies and programs), and the limited consideration of health impacts. Integrating HIA into existing EIA process is positive in two reasons that the human health is closely related with natural environment and EIA process is a fully established process that effectively cuts across bureaucratic and sectoral boundaries. Also, integrating of HIA into EIA might be a way with least resistance for the widespread use. A freestanding HIA separated from EIA is desirable in terms of excessive volume of EIA documents and the procedural and legal focus of EIA. It is needed to develop the formulated methodologies for advancing HIA whether it is a part of or separated from EIA, and to estimate the potential values of HIA in the substantial society context. When possible, HIA should be established on the ways that EIAs have been used successfully.