• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2016

In this work, we evaluated the characteristics of flow field and uniformity of the nose-only exposure chambers for the inhalation toxicity test. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling was carried out to demonstrate uniformity of the nose-only exposure chambers. Because it is very important in the inhalation toxicity experiments that test materials are distributed uniformly to each holder of the chamber. The test was done with these 3 types of chamber with different form to develop inhalation toxicity evaluation system, easy-to-operate system among exposure chamber used for evaluating inhalation toxicity of environmental chemical mixtures. Through CFD interpretation, nose-only exposure chamber was made with the selection of the optimal conditions. For its evaluation, one type of fragrance was selected and measured particle size distribution of each port. The gene becoming luminous to green fluorescence was combined with GPT-SPE, a type of tGFP vector, to be inhaled to the mouse. Based on this, luminous intensity was checked. As a result, total particle number concentration of each port had average value of $3.17{\times}10^6{\sharp}/cm^3$ and range of the highest and lowest concentration value was approximately ${\pm}4.8%$. Autopsy of lung tissues of mouse showed that it had clearly better delivery of gene compared to the control group.

• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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• v.34
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• pp.42.1-42.11
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• 2022

Background: Occupational pesticide exposure is a potential risk for respiratory health effects. Most clinical studies on pesticide exposure were related to acute exposure, and only a few studies on chronic exposure have been conducted. This study investigated the chronic respiratory health status and the chronic effects of occupational pesticide exposures of farmers in Gyeonggi-do. Methods: Surveys and pulmonary function tests were conducted on 1,697 farmers in 16 regions of Gyeonggi-do. The structured questionnaire included demographic characteristics, medical history, recent respiratory symptoms and diseases, and work-related conditions, and was conducted through one-on-one interviews. The prevalence of respiratory diseases was compared by the odds ratios (ORs) at 95% confidence intervals (CIs) estimated by logistic regression analysis. Additional multivariate logistic regression analysis was also conducted. Results: Pesticide work groups showed significant association with an obstructive pattern in the lung function test (unadjusted OR, 2.38; 95% CI, 1.17-5.52). Selected work-related variables of pesticide exposure were 'start age,' 'cumulative duration,' 'mixing pesticides,' and 'protection(goggle).' The obstructive pattern of lung function test showed significant associations with mixing pesticides (OR, 2.30; 95% CI,1.07-5.46), and protection (goggle) use (OR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.12-0.79). Conclusions: Mixing two or more pesticides showed a significant association. Wearing goggles can be seen as an indicator of awareness of the protective equipment and proper wearing of protective equipment, and loss of pulmonary function can be prevented when appropriate protection is worn.

• Journal of Korean Dental Science
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.51-60
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• 2021

Purpose: Measuring viability of a three-dimensional in vitro organotypic human oral tissue model has been suggested as an alternative test method to the oral mucosa irritation test of oral care products. The aim of this study was to investigate the production of two different cytokines using organotypic human oral tissue model following exposure to chemicals that are commonly used in oral care products. Materials and Methods: The organotypic human oral tissues were exposed to ethanol, sodium lauryl sulphate or hydrogen peroxide for 90 minutes. Following exposure, interleukin (IL)-1α and IL-8 productions were assessed and correlated with cell viability testing as well as histology of the organotypic human oral tissues. Result: High levels of IL-8 were released from organotypic human oral tissues in all of the test and control groups without any significant differences between them. In contrast, differences were found in IL-1α release between the test and control groups. Additionally, the trend of IL-1α release corresponded to the phenotypes observed in histological analysis while different trend existed between IL-1α release and cell viability. Conclusion: The study concluded the non-specific release of IL-8 for the assessment of oral care product chemicals' toxicity, while potential of measuring IL-1α cytokine level as the possible alternative test method.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.130-136
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• 2017

The present work is for an evaluation of tension behavior and surface deterioration of FRP Hybrid Bar due to UV exposure and freezing/thawing(F/T) actions. For the work, FRP Hybrid Bar is subjected to UV exposure test, then F/T test is performed successively to 180 cycles. In FRP Hybrid Bar, no significant surface deterioration is evaluated after UV exposure. Tension hardening performance, a unique engineering advantage of FRP Hybrid Bar, is still maintained after F/T test. The performance in FRP Hybrid Bar exposed to UV is still effective. FRP Hybrid Bar exposed to UV have almost similar tension behavior of FRP Hybrid Bar without UV exposure. Although F/T cycles increase to 180, steel rebar, FRP Hybrid Bar, and FRP Hybrid Bar exposed to UV show no significant changes in tension behavior. In the work, UV exposure and F/T actions are evaluated to have little negative effect on surface deterioration and tensile performance in FRP Hybrid Bar, however spalling of silica coating due to impact should be considered since it affects bonding strength to outer concrete.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.187-195
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify associations among the sleep disturbance, fatigue, job stress, and blood and body fluid (BBF) exposure of shift-work nurses. Methods: A total of 299 shift-work nurses from two tertiary hospitals were enrolled in this study. We used the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), and the Korean Occupational Stress Scale-Short Form (KOSS-SF) to evaluate sleep disturbance, fatigue, and job stress, respectively. The data were analyzed using t-test or chi-squared test and Logistic regression analysis using the SPSS 23.0 program. Results: We found that 43.8% of participants reported BBF exposure over the past year. Splash or exposure to broken skin of BBF were most frequent (56.9%), and followed by needlestick injuries (30.4%) and sharp injuries (12.8%). Age, hospital, working period, level of stress, sleep disturbance ($ISI{\geq}15$), fatigue (FSS $score{\geq}4$), job demand and organizational climate subset in KOSS-SF were significantly associated with BBF exposure in shift-work nurses. In multivariate analysis after adjusting age and hospital, the risk factors of BBF exposure in shift-work nurses were the level of stress and fatigue (FSS $score{\geq}4$). Conclusion: Fatigue and job stress were related to BBF exposure in shift-work nurses. Our results suggest that management of sleep disturbance, fatigue, and high job stress in shift-work nurses is needed to reduce risk of BBF exposure.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.17-22
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• 2014

During the lateral x-ray testing of lumbar, in order to obtain the optimal image for diagnosis and to minimize the exposure dose, a glass dosimeter and spatial dose measuring meter was used to measure and evaluate the exposure dose and spatial dose distribution of each organs. The exposure dose of the organs have increased as they were closer to the X-ray tube and when the radiation field was completely opened, the exposure dose was increased. In addition, scattered rays have increased as the distance got closer to the subject and with the distance of more than 200cm, 95% of scattered rays was reduced. Such results can anticipate the exposure dose of patients during the lumbar x-ray test in the future and it can be proposed as a data for determining the testing methods and expected to be widely used as an important basic data for reducing the medical exposure dose.

• Korean Journal of Digital Imaging in Medicine
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.177-183
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• 2011

This study intends to investigate patients' exact exposure doses by comparatively measuring ESD (Entrance Surface Dose) with the DAP meter, which excludes scattered rays, and ESD with the Xi multifunction meter, which includes scattered rays, by posture changes for Esophagography test and UGI test. The materialwere examined through Sonialvision-SafireII SPEC overtube system. ESD was measured by using the DAP meter, and as a tool to measure ESD including scattered rays on the plane of incidence of human phantom, the Xi multifunction meter was used. The average fluoroscopic time of Esophagography test was 4.192 minutes and the average number of images was 47.7, while the average fluoroscopic time of UGI test was 6.881 minutes and the average number of images was 37.8. The ratios of the incident dose of DAP meter and the ESD of Xi meter were calculated bydividing the fluoroscopic time and the number of images by each posture change. As for Esophagography test, the dose increased by 21.6~55.5% in the fluoroscopic test and by 4.8~24.7% in the spot test. In the front spot test, however, the does increased by as little as 5.3%. As for UGI test, the dose increased by 21.1~49.5% in the fluoroscopic test and by 10.1~34.9% in the spot test. It is expected that measuring doses in consideration of scattered rays by posture changes will be an important index in evaluating and managing patients' exact exposure doses for each test above. Furthermore, it is judged that this sort of study is inevitable and desirable to reduce patients' exposure doses after all.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.181-189
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• 2016

The aim of this study was to identify the effects of dithiopyr (DTP), a herbicide, on behavior in zebrafish. The toxicity of DTP has rarely been investigated in fish. In the present study, zebrafish were exposed to different concentrations of DTP in the range of 10-20 μM for 48 h in a test container, in order to measure the value of median lethal concentrations (LC₅₀). Behavioral experiments were performed, including the novel tank test (NTT) and the open field test (OFT), to assess stress responses or locomotion. After exposure to the DTP solution at a sublethal concentration of 2.5–10 μM for 6 min, the behavior of the zebrafish was observed for 6 min. In the acute toxicity test, the LC₅₀ value of DTP showed as 14.49 μM in the zebrafish. The NTT showed that the duration of immobility and the velocity were significantly increased by exposure at a concentration of 5 μM of DTP, compared with a control group (p<0.05). However, compared with the control group, DTP significantly decreased the distance moved and the frequency at the top of the tank, and significantly increased the turn angle and duration at the bottom, in a concentration-dependent manner (p<0.05). In addition, in the OFT, exposure to DTP significantly decreased the distance moved and velocity compared with the control group (p<0.05). Exposure to DTP also significantly increased the duration of immobility, the turn angle, and the meandering movement, in a concentration-dependent manner (p<0.05). Further, exposure to DTP at a low concentration elevated whole-body cortisol levels in the zebrafish. The results of this study thus suggest that DTP induces a toxic response and negative effects on behavior and the endocrine system in zebrafish.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2014

A set of exposure factors that reflects the characteristics of individual behavior capable of influencing exposure is essential for risk and exposure assessment. In 2007, the Korean Exposure Factors Handbook was, therefore, issued, driven by the need to develop reliable exposure factors representing the Korean population. The purpose of this study was to overview the development process of the Korean Exposure Factors Handbook and major recommended exposure values for the Korean population to allow information exchanges and comparison of recommended values among nations. The researchers reviewed the domestic data that could be used in the development of exposure factors, confirmed a knowledge gap, and set a priority of development by phases. A methodology to measure exposure factors was established to develop measuring techniques and test their validity. Data were processed or a survey was conducted according to the availability of data. The study thus produced recommended values for 24 exposure factors grouped by general exposure factors, food ingestion factors, and activity factors by setting up a database of exposure factors and carrying out statistical analysis. The study has significantly contributed to reducing the potential uncertainty of the risk and exposure assessment derived by the application of foreign data or research findings lacking representativeness or grounds by developing a set of exposure factors reflecting the characteristics of the Korean people. It will be necessary to conduct revisions in light of the changing statistical values of national data and the exposure factors based on Korean characteristics.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.619-625
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• 2022

In the field of imaging medicine, computed tomography is one of the most common test methods and one of the most frequently used test methods in hospitals. However, it is accompanied by a very high radiation exposure compared to other test methods. In order to reduce exposure, CT scans should be performed only when absolutely necessary, and even if the tests are performed because they are absolutely necessary, a protocol that serves the purpose of the test and allows the test to be performed in a small dose should be used. In this study, we wanted to learn about the most up-to-date radiation dose usage information used by the region's leading general hospitals and develop a diagnostic reference level (DRL). In the experimental results, the Head CT and Abdomen CT tests showed that DLP was higher than the NRPB (U.K) and Korean DRL. The DLP values used by Chest CT were low for all 3 types of CT devices. The hospital found that efforts to reduce exposure should be made during CT examinations, and in particular, Head CT and Abdomen CT determined that efforts to reduce exposure were necessary.