• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.283-292
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• 2004

Valid evaluation of community reaction to road-traffic noise exposure is important for the policy making and quality of life. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship between community reaction and nighttime road-traffic noise. The study measured nighttime roadside noise caused by high traffic which is greater than LAeq(22:00-07:00) 65dB(A) and lower than 65dB(A) at Chonju city, from March to April, 2003. Three hundred sixty seven subjects, aged from 20 to 65, were selected from those who are residing close to the major roads. They were asked to answer the questions regarding noise source, stress(PWI-SF), annoyance, disturbance of specific activity, disturbance of sleep, somatic symptom, and four suggested confounding factors. The relationship between annoyance, somatic symptom and noise exposure was not significant. Adjusted odds ratio(95% C.I.) for disturbance of communication　 and disturbance of attention and rest　 were 1.59(1.03-2.71), 1.64(1.06-2.81), respectively. On the other hand sleep disturbance　 was indicated as 1.34(0.77-2.32). The results suggested that federal policy-making about road-traffic noise should consider community reaction evaluated by various perspective including annoyance, disturbance of specific activity, disturbance of sleep, and confounding factors.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.30-36
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• 2023

Background: Among various pollutants, fine particle (PM_2.5, defined as particle less than 2.5 nm in aerodynamic diameter) shows the most consistent association with adverse health effects. There is scientific evidence documenting a variety of adverse health outcomes due to exposure to PM_2.5. Objectives: This study aims to assess the health benefits of that would be achieved by meeting the World Health Organization's air quality guidelines for PM_2.5 using AirQ+ and BenMAP. Methods: We estimated PM_2.5 related health benefits in Korea from implementing the World Health Organization's air quality guidelines (annual average 5 ㎍/m³ and 10 ㎍/m³) and Korea's National Ambient Air Quality Standard (annual average 15 ㎍/m³). We used World Health Organization's AirQ+ and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Environmental Benefits Mapping and Analysis Program. Results: The annual number of avoided PM_2.5 related premature deaths exceeding WHO guideline levels was assessed using both AirQ+ and BenMAP. We estimated that the health benefits of attaining the World Health Organization's air quality guidelines for PM_2.5 (annual average 5 ㎍/m³) would suggest an annual reduction of 26,128 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 17,363~34,024) and 26,853 (95% CI: 18,527~34,944) premature deaths. Conclusions: Our study provided useful information to policy makers and confirms that the reduction of PM_2.5 concentration would result in significant health benefits in Korea.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.102-124
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• 2002

To find out more efficient ways of implementing health promotion programs and to determine the factors affecting the results of various interventions, we reviewed 73 articles un the effectiveness of health promotion programs. These include the papers on the smoking, alcohol, drug abuse, nutrition(obesity) and stress management etc. Specific interventions evaluated in this review are education based on the lecture or video shows, health-related event activities, modifications of policy or the environment, health risk appraisal etc. By using KIHASA Line of Korea Institute of Health and Social Affairs, National Congress Library Database MEDLINE, we identified 201 articles published from 1980 to Jun. 1979 and finally selected 73 papers which contain the implementation process, and result of each program. The factors used in the analysis of the programs are (1) characteristics of participants (2) interventions evaluated (3) research design (4) length of programs and evacuation point (7) outcome indices (6) effect of program evaluated by each author. The study results did not prove positive effect of education based on lectures or video shows etc. Rather, it was suggested that lecture-based education has negative effect on the result. Event activity such as contest or health festivals has positive effect, and policy change or environmental change is closely related to the event activity. Also, the result shows that the overall effect of programs fur the students is less than that of the programs for the others. The programs conducted over, 1-year are mere likely to have positive outcomes than shorter ones. And, the outcomes of the programs with controlled research design such as experimental or quasi-experimental study tend to be evaluated inferiorly to those with non-experimental design.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.25 no.9
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• pp.1341-1348
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• 2016

The natural environment plays an important role not only in ecological sustainability, but also in human health. Growing attention has been focused on the health benefits of natural environments with increasing scientific evidence in this field. Urban green space has positive effects on individual and community health; thus, it is considered as social infrastructure. The natural environment promotes mental health by relieving psychological stress and depression. Physical health can be improved by experiencing nature, which reduces physiological stress and boosts the immune system. Several international initiatives have been undertaken to improve our understanding in this field and to utilize these benefits for health promotion. Interdisciplinary approaches are needed to promote human health through the natural environment in the fields of science, education, planning and policy.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.48-62
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• 2017

Korea and other countries have made various efforts to preserve soil. During the past several decades, Korea has implemented various policies on soil conservation practices; however, those policies have often lacked consideration of human and ecosystem risk management. while other countries have practiced various policies closely related to risk-based management for contaminated sites. Therefore, there is a great need for a paradigm shift of policy to better manage contaminated sites in risk-based strategies, while applying different management plans for soil and groundwater. In addition, the new policies should be administered with provision to improve soil health and related functions in ecosystem. This study has reviewed the trend in relevant policies in Korea and foreign countries to suggest the future policy directions for contaminated site management in Korea. For better management of contaminated sites, coherent policy that could complement the law, system, and relevant technology is required.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.253-255
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• 2015

The concept of precision medicine-prevention and treatment strategies that take individual variability into account-is hot issue of US in the year 2015. Precision medicine is a new concept that approach patients individually by there characteristics, such as genome, life style, environmental exposure, etc. For developing the precision medicine, National Institute of Health of US has been prepared the Precision Medicine Initiative Cohort Program, at least 1 million people cohort. The US President Obama announced the Precision Medicine Initiative on 30th January 2015. He announced that he will pioneer a new model of patient-powered research that promises to accelerate biomedical discoveries and provide clinicians with new tools, knowledge, and therapies to select which treatments will work best for which patients. Most medical treatments have been designed for the 'average patient.' As a result of this 'one-size-fits-all-approach,' treatments can be very successful for some patients but not for others. This is changing with the emergence of precision medicine, an innovative approach to disease prevention and treatment that takes into account individual differences in people's genes, environments, and lifestyles. Precision medicine gives clinicians tools to better understand the complex mechanisms underlying a patient's health, disease, or condition, and to better predict which treatments will be most effective. The healthcare researcher should prepare the new medicine era such as bio-information technology convergence, big data study.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.27-33
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• 2019

Objective: This study analyzed the status of the application of trade secrets in MSDSs according to size and type of industry. The contents of the MSDS non-public approval policy are summarized. We suggest proactive improvement requirements related to the operation of the MSDS non-public approval policy. Methods: To review this subject, we selected 153 manufacturers and six importers in such fields as organic chemical production. The trade secrets application status and ratio (%) of MSDSs by industry size and industry classification were investigated. Improvements toward a proactive system related to the operation of the MSDS non-public approval policy under the Occupational Safety and Health Act(OSHA) were summarized. Results and Conclusions: According to the results, the trade secret ratio in MSDSs by industry size was 33% in workplaces with less than 50 employees, 23.1% in workplaces with more than 50 but less than 100 workers, 73% in workplaces with more than 100 workers, and 83.4% in workplaces with 300 or more workers. For the trade secret writing rate for MSDSs by industry, the highest was MOCCP (Manufacture of ink, paint, coating and similar products) at 80.9%. MOC (Manufacture of other chemicals) was the lowest at 16.2%. We propose four proactive efforts to minimize the administrative burden of implementation of the MSDS non-public approval policy. The results of this study can be used as basic data for policy improvements to make more effective use of MSDS.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.371-371
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• 2018

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.328-338
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• 2021

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the factors influencing positive subjective health awareness of middle school-age multicultural adolescents in Korea. Methods: This study used data from the fourth to sixth waves of the Multicultural Adolescents Panel Study conducted by the National Youth Policy Institute. In this study, a panel logit model analysis was performed using the Eviews 8.0 program (p<.050). Results: Socioeconomic status (r=.02, t=2.13, p=.033), body satisfaction (r=.71, t=1.97, p=.048), and depression (r=-.74, t=2.35, p=.018) influenced positive subjective health awareness in multicultural adolescents. When multicultural characteristics were entered into a statistical model with environmental and personal characteristics, multicultural characteristics did not have a significant influence on positive subjective health awareness. Conclusion: Environmental, personal, and multicultural characteristics were related to positive subjective health awareness in multicultural adolescents; thus, an integrated approach considering those variables is recommended. Nursing interventions and educational programs are needed to improve the psychological status of multicultural adolescents and reduce prejudice about them. In addition, nurses need to be sensitive to multicultural characteristics and the developmental characteristics of multicultural adolescents.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.197-210
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• 2013

Several US veterans stationed in Korea have told the press that around 250 fifty-five gallon drums of herbicides, including Agent Orange, were buried at Camp Carroll in 1978. Joint Korean-US Agent Orange investigation and environmental and health studies were started in July 2011. Korean soldiers and military personnel who served in Vietnam during 1964-1973 or near the demilitarized zone in Korea during 1967-1970 were exposed to dioxincontaminated Agent Orange. The joint Korean-US Agent Orange investigation team found that herbicides, pesticides, solvents and other chemicals -not Agent Orange- were buried at Camp Carroll. However, there remains the possibility that Agent Orange was stored and buried at Camp Carroll or other military camps in Korea. Adverse health effects have not been clearly explained despite a number of health studies among veterans in Korea with potential Agent Orange exposure. Although the Korean government has been compensating veterans and military personnel with 18 presumptive-service-connected-diseases and their offspring with three diseases, there are many veterans, military personnel and civilians who require the government°Øs support. The environmental study on contaminated sites and health studies among veterans and civilians were initiated three or four decades after possible Agent Orange contamination and exposure. Several toxic chemicals, including dioxin-contaminated Agent Orange, could remain in the environment and could have hazardous effects on the health of exposed people for more than several decades. Further environmental investigations and health studies are needed to ensure public safety and health, and government support should be guaranteed for people potentially exposed to these toxic chemicals.