• Advances in environmental research
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.17-41
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• 2021

Kazakhstan's cities experience high concentrations levels of atmospheric particulate matter (PM), which is well-known for its highly detrimental effect on the human health. A further increase in PM concentrations in the future could lead to a higher air pollution-caused morbidity and mortality, causing an increase in healthcare expenditures by the government. However, to prevent elevated PM concentrations in the future, more stringent standards could be implemented by lowering current maximum allowable PM concentration limit to Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)'s limits. Therefore, this study aims to find out what impact this change in environmental policy towards PM has on state economy in the long run. Future PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations were estimated using multiple linear regression based on gross regional product (GRP) and population growth parameters. Dose-response model was based on World Health Organization's approach for the identification of mortality, morbidity and healthcare costs due to air pollution. Analysis of concentrations revealed that only 6 out of 21 cities of Kazakhstan did not exceed the EU limit on PM10 concentration. Changing environmental standards resulted in the 71.7% decrease in mortality and 77% decrease in morbidity cases in all cities compared to the case without changes in environmental policy. Moreover, the cost of morbidity and mortality associated with air pollution decreased by $669 million in 2030 and $2183 million in 2050 in case of implementation of OECD standards. Thus, changing environmental regulations will be beneficial in terms of both of mortality reduction and state budget saving.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.169-178
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• 2001

Numerous regulations have been introduced and a various kinds of institutional intervention have been made by government against the occupational safety and health problems. However, it was serious issue to the workers that what can be claimed by those who meet with apparently harmful and risky working conditions in their social systems. In the view point of employees, their right to be free from unacceptable risk and hazards has not been clearly defined. Therefore, workers have very limited rights to take any actions unless employer or government do their actions. It is believed that this undesirable conditions resulted from Jack of legal definition of workers' right to work in the safe and healthy environment. It has been found increased social pressure to make intervention to the industry to protect workers' health. Also, increased pressure has been kept for deregulation. This conflict lay the current situation in dilemma. The concept of the working environmental right has been developed and discussed in this study to overcome this trade-off confliction. It should be clearly separated between legal aspects and administrative and Policy area to make the regulations effective. Strong enforcement to the industry based on the law should be minimum, however, it should be practically effective in the aspect of workers' right. Administration and policy should be focused on supportive and leading activities to achieve the ultimate goal, safe and healthy working environment. It is concluded that establishment of working environmental right would satisfy workers and industry and it would result in improvement workers' environment and conditions.

• 한국환경독성학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국환경독성학회 2001년도 춘계심포지움 및 학술발표회
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• pp.123-123
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• 2001

환경문제와 관련된 위해도 인식과 정부규제에 대한 인식을 조사하기 위하여, 일반인, 환경전문가, 공무원, 언론인 그리고 사회단체의 5개 집단을 대상으로 하여 2000년 3월부터 4월에 걸쳐 3000부의 설문지를 배포하여 총 1803부를 회수하였다(회수율 60.1%). 설문조사 내용은 환경문제가 사람의 건강에 미치는 위해에 대한 인식, 환경문제를 개선 및 방지하기 위해 정부의 규제가 어느 정도 필요한지 그리고 정부의 환경오염개선 및 보전을 위한 노력 정도, 환경오염개선을 위한 규제, 기업체에서의 환경관리의 노력정도에 대한 사회집단의 인식차이 등의 내용을 조사하였고, 조사결과의 해석을 위한 척도는 1점에서 7점 척도로 구성하였고, 높은 척도일수록 부정적인 응답으로 되도록 하였다.(중략)

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제44권3호
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• pp.205-216
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• 2018

Objectives: Scientific verification for health effects has been constantly demanded through the forest healing factors. In this study, phytoncide concentration which is one of the forest healing factors, was investigated according to stand density, season and visiting time, and analyzed correlation with micrometeorology factors. Methods: Total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) and Natural volatile organic compounds (NVOCs) were collected using a measuring instrument which is connected to an air pump with the Tenax TA tube. The 32NVOCs were selected through the detailed criteria of adequacy assessment for recreational forest. The statistical analysis (correlation and stepwise regression analysis) was conducted between phytoncide concentration and micrometeorology factors. Results: NVOCs concentration linearly increased according to stand density. The high level showed in the summer (p<0.05), and there is no significant difference according to visiting hours of the Healing forest. NVOCs is a negative correlation with solar radiation, PAR and wind direction, and a positive correlation with relative humidity and temperature (p<0.01). NVOCs increased following the increase of humidity and temperature ($R^2=0.55$). Conclusions: Phytoncide linearly increased according to stand density, and showed the correlation significantly with microclimate factors. In future, these results will be utilized as a basic material to promote the generation of phytoncide, which positively influences human health promotion and manage the forest welfare space.

• 한국지하수토양환경학회지:지하수토양환경
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• 제28권5호
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• pp.59-67
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• 2023

This review examined the current administrative policies and guidelines for management of reclaimed soils after remediation processes and proposed practical strategies to improve the potential value of the remediated soil as a resource. Three management practices are proposed to facilitate more efficient recycling of remediated soil; obligatory use, quality certification, and tracking of the remediated soils. If properly implemented in utilization of remediated soil, these strategies could contribute to enhancing public safety by assuring soil quality. Such administrative tools, for both suppliers and demanders, are expected to mitigate potential risks associated with the transactions of remediated soil. To enhance the quality assurance process, a soil quality certification combined with the soil health assessment index was proposed. The systematic integration of the suggested practices with soil health assessment can allow to produce optimal results, encompassing affordability, efficiency, and accessibility, which helps establishing more robust 'Remediated Soil Recycling Management System (RSRMS)'. Subsequent researches should be conducted to develop more effective policies that incorporate soil health assessment tools. The proposed management practices for remediated soil, coupled with soil health assessment, can be a pioneering effort to achieve such goals. By fostering an environmentally friendly policies, the sustainable utilization of remediated soil can be attained. Overall, the proposed strategies can provide a sound framework for responsible and sustainable soil management practices.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제44권5호
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• pp.433-443
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• 2018

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between dietary habits and concentrations of urinary phthalate metabolite in elementary school children. Methods: This study was conducted in Seoul, South Korea. We collected urine samples from 156 children from a single school in September 2016. Information on dietary habits was obtained from the parents of the children. Five types of urinary phthalate metabolites were analyzed using a high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometer. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to determine the factors affecting the concentrations of urinary phthalate metabolite. Results: Girls had a significantly lower concentration of urinary mono-n-butyl phthalate (MnBP) (p=0.006) than did boys. When the consumption of bean processed food and wrapped delivery food were more than once a week, urinary MnBP (p=0.021) and monobenzyl phthalate (MBzP) (p=0.032) concentrations were the highest, respectively. Conclusion: Several urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations were associated with demographic and dietary habits. Particularly, urinary MnBP and MBzP were associated with several processed foods. The findings of this study might be useful as basic data for establishing and educating on environmental health policy.

• 농촌의학ㆍ지역보건
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• 제48권1호
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• pp.13-27
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• 2023

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate changes in public health-related perceptions of residents of Gangwon province after the outbreak of Coronavirus disease-19(COVID-19) of the public. Methods: We performed paired T-test analysis to measure the change in public health-related perceptions before and after COVID-19. We also utilized generalized estimating equations to identify demographic factors correlated with public health-related perceptions. Results: The public perceived public health as 'All citizens can use medical care and protect/promote health.' The concept was the most popular, from 94.3% in 2019 to 95.5% in 2020. In addition, after COVID-19, residents of Gangwon province's satisfaction with medical services increased, but the overall level was not high. Among the eight essential healthcare needs after COVID-19, cardiovascular disease and injury services have emerged as preferred services. However, by sociodemographic factors, distinctive responses were detected. Conclusions: Through COVID-19, Gangwon residents' awareness of the public's health rights has increased. Those living in vulnerable areas or with unmet medical care, supported strengthening public health care. In addition, although medical satisfaction has increased, it is not satisfied, so listening to the voices of the population group with low satisfaction is essential. Lastly, since the necessity of essential health care may change due to specific events, the local government needs to plan health projects reflecting the needs of residents. Therefore, when designing the public health care strategy in Gangwon province, the local government should consider not only political factors but also environmental factors, demographic and conceptual factors.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.85-95
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• 2001

This study was to investigate factors of risk perception on major environmental issues among general public and environmental experts in Korea. Structured questionnaire surveys were conducted to samples from general public and environmental experts during March and April, 2000. Total numbers of respondents were 773, general public and 353 experts. Analysis of the data showed that risk perception was correlated with health concern, environmental satisfaction, perception of environmental pollution, interest on the environmental issues, knowledge, experiences, and social-cultural consciousness, and so on. Overall environmental risk perception was affected by knowledge on environmental issues, experience of damage from environmental problems, sex and perception of environmental pollution. According to the results, environmental risk perception is not independent from social and psychological factors, and it may be desirable to consider the related factors in the process of risk communication for a more effective risk management or environmental policy.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제13권1호
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• pp.32-39
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• 2022

Background: Industrial accidents can determine the overall level and quality of the work environment in industries and companies that contribute to national economic development. Korea has transformed the country from an international aid recipient to a donor country, but it has ranked first among the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development member countries in the number of fatal industrial accidents. Little has been known about the policy effects in terms of the workers' insurance for their industrial accidents and rehabilitation. This study raises two research questions about the influence of workers' personal characteristics and vocational rehabilitation services on their return to workplaces. Methods: The study implements weighted logistic regression analysis using propensity score matching. This research utilizes the relevant dataset (3,924 persons) of Korea's industrial accident and insurance. Results: The findings show that the level of workers' awareness of health recovery and their counseling for rehabilitation by physicians had positive effects on their return to work. Environmental factors such as workers' job stability at the time of industrial accidents and the temporal effects of industrial accidents (e.g., the level of disability, their age) had negative impacts on their return to work. Conclusions: These findings have policy implications that the concentration of rehabilitation services for patients who have been mildly affected by industrial accidents would be effective in the short and medium term. The findings also highlight the necessity of ongoing policies about workers' vocational recovery with concrete evidence about policy impacts.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제36권3호
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• pp.230-238
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• 2003

Objectives : To estimate the value of statistical life (VSL) and health damage cost on theoretical mortality estimates due to environmental pollution. Methods : We assessed the health risk on three environmental problems and eight sub-problems. Willingness to pay (WTP) was elucidated from a questionnaire survey with dichotomous contingent valuation method and VSL (which is the division of WTP by the change of risk reduction) calculated from WTP. Damage costs were estimated by multiplying VSL by the theoretical mortality estimates. Results : VSLs from death caused by air pollution, indoor air pollution and drinking water contamination were about 0.3, 0.5 and 0.3 billion won, respectively. Damage costs of particulate matters ($PM_{10}$) and radon were higher in the sub-problems and were above 100 billion won. Because damage cost depends on theoretical mortality estimate and WTP, its uncertainty is reduced in the estimating process. Conclusion : Health damage cost or risk benefit should be considered as one scientific criterion for decision making in environmental policy.