• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.375-384
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• 2006

Hairdressers may be exposed to many chemicals from hair dye, permanent, shampoo, hair spray and so on. The study was conducted to evaluate occupational exposure to 8 chemicals (isopropanol, ethanol, xylene, toluene, ethylbenzene, acetone, ammonia and formaldehyde) for workers and levels of these materials in airborne of a hairdressing salon. Since compared to ACGIH TLVs these 8 chemicals were very low, it is thought that there has no problem to occupational exposure to these chemicals. Even if hairdressing salon is not enforced on Korean Standards for Indoor Air Quality, level of TOVC was thought to be below the standards. At the aspect of indoor air quality formaldehyde needs to be controlled in the future. The results imply that emission of isopropanol, ethanol, acetone and ammonia are related with hairdressing job, but emission of xylene, toluene and ehtylbenzene is more related with traditional indoor air pollution than hairdressing job. Sources of formaldehyde is thought to be little related with hairdressing job. HVAC system was a little effective on general ventilation.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 1995.04a
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• pp.396-401
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• 1995

Epoxy coated reinforcing steels (ECRs) were acquired from ten sources and coatings from each source were initially characterized in terms of defects, thickness, solvent extraction weight loss and hardness. Testing involved exposure in three aqueous solutions at elevated temperature (8$0^{\circ}C$) and in chloride-contaminated concrete slabs under outdoor exposure, It was found that the density and size of coating defects was the promary factor affecting ECR performance. The equivalent circuit analysis using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) data indicated that the impedance response for well-performing ECR specimens showed no signs of active degradation at the interface although diffusional processes similar to those noted for poorly performing bars occurred here. Experimental results also indicated a relationship between corrosion behavior and bar source. Weight loss upon solvent extraction correlated with impedance reduction from hot water exposure. Coating defects during most of the tests, especially in high pH solutions containing chloride ions. ECRs with excessive coating defects, either initially present or ones which developed in service, performed poorly in every test category regardless of source. Forms of coating failure were extensive rusting at defects, blistering, wet adhesion loss, cathodic delamination, underfilm corrosion and coating cracks. These occurred sequentially or concurrently, depending on the condition of the ECR and nature of the environment

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.32 no.4 s.91
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• pp.275-281
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• 2006

Indoor air quality is the dominant contributor to total personal exposure because most people spend a majority of their time indoors. Especially exposure to indoor air can potentially pose a greater threat than exposure to ambient air when indoor environments have sources of contaminants. In this study, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and formaldehyde (HCHO) within newly constructed apartment have been determined in 27 houses of apartment in Seoul from December 2004 to March 2005. The measured indoor air pollutants were HCHO, volatile organic compounds including benzene, toluene, styrene, xylene, ethylbenzene and sampled on the standard method of Ministry of Environment in Korea. The indoor levels for benzene, xylene, toluene, ethylbenzene, styrene, and HCHO have significant increase trend after 5 hours closing of windows and doors. Levels of measured air pollutants concentrations between living rooms and bedrooms have not shown significant difference. Spearman correlation coefficient among the measured air pollutants ranged from 0.303 to 0.946, indicating similar source in building materials.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.113-113
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• 2003

A number of studies have demonstrated recently nonthermal interactions of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields with cellular systems, such as the cells of the immune system. Particular concern came from epidemiological findings, which correlated environmental exposure of human body to weak electromagnetic fields with an elevated risk for developing certain type of leukemias and cancers. Several home/environmental sources generating extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields, such as 50 - 60 Hz high-voltage transmission lines, video display terminals, electric blankets, clinical nuclear magnetic resonance imaging procedures, etc., may interact with the human body. In this study we examined the effects of static magnetic fields (SMF) on the phagocytosis of the murine peritoneal macrophages (C57BL/6). The cells were exposed in vitro for 24 h at 37$^{\circ}C$ to 400 G SMF. The phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages was determined with a luminometer. Exposure to the SMF decreased phagocytic activity of murine peritoneal macrophages. In order to provide a more exact mechanism of the phenomenon, we analyzed peritoneal macrophages for alteration in their proteomes. The expression levels of these 5 proteins were increased in the SMF. In total 5 proteins which were differentially expressed in the SMF compared with control group were identified. The expression levels of these 5 proteins were increased in the SMF.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.15 no.10
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• pp.929-933
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• 2006

Indoor air quality is the dominant contributor to total personal exposure because most people spend a majority of their time Indoors. Especially when indoor environments have sources of contaminants, exposure to in-door air can potentially pose a greater threat than exposure to ambient air. In this study, estimations of volatile organic compounds and formaldehyde omission rate in indoor environments of new apartments were carried out using mass balance model in indoor environment, because indoor air quality can be affected by source generation, outdoor air level, ventilation, decay by reaction, temperature, humidity, mixing condition and so on. Considering the estimated emission rate of volatile organic compounds and formaldehyde, it Is suggested that new apartment should be designed and constructed in the aspect of using construction materials to emit low hazardous air pollutants.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.549-558
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• 2004

TTo comply with increasingly strict regulations for protection against radiation exposure, many nuclear power plants have been working ceaselessly to reduce and control both the radiation sources within power plants and the radiation exposure experienced by operational and maintenance personnel. Many research studies have shown that deposits of irradiated corrosion products on the surfaces of coolant systems are the main cause of occupational radiation exposure in nuclear power plant. These corrosion product deposits on the fuel-clad surface are also known to be main factors in the onset of axial offset anomaly (AOA). Hence, there is a great deal of ongoing research on water chermistry and corrosion processes. In this study, a magnetic filter with permanent magnets was devised to remove the corrosion products in the coolant stream by taking advantage of the magnetic properties of the corrosion products demonstrated a removal efficiency of over 90% for particles above 5${\mu}m$. This finding led to the construction of an electromagnetic device that causes the metallic particulates to flocculate into larger aggregates of about 5${\mu}m$ in diameter by using a novel application of electromagnetic flocculation on radioactive corrosion products.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.335-343
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• 2012

Mercury is emitted to the atmosphere from various natural and anthropogenic sources, and degrades with difficulty in the environment. Mercury exists as various species, mainly elemental ($Hg^0$) and divalent ($Hg^{2+}$) mercury depending on its oxidation states in air and water. Mercury emitted to the atmosphere can be deposited into aqueous environments by wet and dry depositions, and some can be re-emitted into the atmosphere. The deposited mercury species, mainly $Hg^{2+}$, can react with various organic compounds in water and sediment by biotic reactions mediated by sulfur-reducing bacteria, and abiotic reactions mediated by sunlight photolysis, resulting in conversion into organic mercury such as methylmercury (MeHg). MeHg can be bioaccumulated through the food web in the ecosystem, finally exposing humans who consume fish. For a better understanding of how humans are exposed to mercury in the environment, this review paper summarizes the mechanisms of emission, fate and transport, speciation chemistry, bioaccumulation, levels of contamination in environmental media, and finally exposure assessment of humans.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.63 no.11
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• pp.422-428
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• 2020

In today's world, most children are exposed to various manmade electromagnetic fields (EMFs). EMFs are electromagnetic waves less than 300 GHz. A developing child's brain is vulnerable to electromagnetic radiation; thus, their caregivers' concerns about the health effects of EMFs are increasing. EMF exposure is divided into 2 categories: extremely low frequencies (ELFs; 3-3,000 Hz), involving high-voltage transmission lines and in-house wiring; and radiofrequencies (RFs; 30 kHz to 300 GHz), involving mobile phones, smart devices, base stations, WiFi, and 5G technologies. The biological effects of EMFs on humans include stimulation, thermal, and nonthermal, the latter of which is the least known. Among the various health issues related to EMFs, the most important issue is human carcinogenicity. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer's (IARC's) evaluation of carcinogenic risks to humans, ELFs and RFs were evaluated as possible human carcinogens (Group 2B). However, the World Health Organization's (WHO's) view of EMFs remains undetermined. This article reviews the current knowledge of EMF exposure on humans, specifically children. EMF exposure sources, biological effects, current WHO and IARC opinions on carcinogenicity, and effects of EMF exposures on children will be discussed. As well-controlled EMF experiments in children are nearly impossible, scientific knowledge should be interpreted objectively. Precautionary approaches are recommended for children until the potential health effects of EMF are confirmed.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.403-415
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• 2021

Background: This study aimed to assess the possibility of benzene exposure in workers of a Korean semiconductor manufacturing company by reviewing the issued patents. Methods: A systematic patent search was conducted with the Google "Advanced Patent Search" engine using the keywords "semiconductor" and "benzene" combined with all of the words accessed on January 24, 2016. Results: As a result of the search, we reviewed 75 patent documents filed by a Korean semiconductor manufacturing company from 1994 to 2010. From 22 patents, we found that benzene could have been used as one of the carbon sources in chemical vapor deposition for capacitor; as diamond-like carbon for solar cell, graphene formation, or etching for transition metal thin film; and as a solvent for dielectric film, silicon oxide layer, nanomaterials, photoresist, rise for immersion lithography, electrophotography, and quantum dot ink. Conclusion: Considering the date of patent filing, it is possible that workers in the chemical vapor deposition, immersion lithography, and graphene formation processes could be exposed to benzene from 1996 to 2010.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 1975

Development of a model system for mode of action studies of $SO_2$ was attempted with a plant tissue. Leaf disks, 1.0cm diameter, cut from the lamina of lettuce leaves, were floated on the testing medium and placed in light or dark condition to investigate the discoloration pattern with various sources of $SO_2$. Discoloration of leaf disks tended to be more serious with higher concentrations of $SO_2$ and on exposure to the light. Leaf disks were more severely discolored at lower pH with constant SO2 concentration. These discoloration patterns were highly reproducible and similar in all sources of $SO_2$. Spectrophotometric evidence suggested that light-mediated discoloration of leaf disks in the presence of $SO_2$ might occur mainly through chlorophyll ${\alpha}$ degradation.