• 한국콘텐츠학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국콘텐츠학회 2018년도 춘계 종합학술대회 논문집
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• pp.409-410
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• 2018

Background: Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases and can be affected by environmental factors. It has been reported that exposure to indoor environmental factors can cause infantile asthma during infancy and childhood, but the previous studies are not yet clear. Climate change has recently been shown to increase indoor mold. Exposure to fungi is known to be directly related to the development of aggravation. Methods: This study was conducted from July 20, 2016 to September 30, 2016. The study was conducted on 90 household with children under the age of 7 who attend atopy school. The questionnaire surveyed allergic symptoms, social and demographic characteristics, and environmental characteristics. Environmentally hazardous substances were measured such as temperature, humidity, fine dust, volatile organic compounds, formaldehyde, bacteria, fungus, house dust mite, endotoxin. Results: According to the survey results, 9 patients (10%) were treated with asthma, 6 (6.7%) were asthmatic patients during the past 12 months, and 4 patients (4.4%) were asthmatic patients during the past 12 months. There were statistically significant differences in the direct effect of smokers in the family (P=0.0328). High-filter vacuum cleaners collected $0.4222CFU/m^3$ in subjects without asthma, and $0.2222CFU/m^3$ in subjects with asthma. In addition, various results confirmed that asthma exacerbated by mold exposure. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that exposure to fungal by infants and toddlers may play an important role in the development of asthma. In this study, we investigated the relationship between asthma and fungal concentration.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제39권4호
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• pp.312-321
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• 2013

Objective: In May 2011, an interview with three United States Forces Korea veterans revealed that chemicals believed to be 'Agent Orange' were buried at Camp Carroll (situated in Waegwan, Chilgok-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea) in 1978. Many hazardous chemicals, such as perchloroethylene (PCE), trichloroethylene (TCE), and organochlorines were subsequently found in a joint US-ROK environmental investigation, although dioxins or burial evidence related to 'Agent Orange' have been not uncovered. This study was carried out to investigate the relevance of hazardous chemical exposure and health effects of the residents around Camp Carroll. Methods: The authors conducted a health questionnaire survey among residents around Camp Carroll regarding Waegwan groundwater ingestion, length of residence in Waegwan, and physician-diagnosed disease history (such as cancer, hypertension, diabetes and etc.). Logistic regression was performed to identify the associations between hazardous chemical exposure and physician-diagnosed diseases. Results: Among the 5,320 residents, excluding those living outside the Waegwan area, 3,430 subjects age 30 and over were analyzed. Among females, upon correction of age, smoking history and Camp Carroll working history, a higher distribution in the Waegwan groundwater ingestion group was demonstrated for patients with physician-diagnosed cancer and hypertension. The odds ratios have a tendency to increase with increased length of Waegwan groundwater ingestion. Conclusions: This study may be limited by not adopting a cohort study for the evaluation of factors that may confound environmental exposure. Yet it is meaningful that the correlation between Waegwan groundwater ingestion and chronic diseases were found through regression analysis in female; and further, this outcome may be used as a sampling basis for a secondary epidemiologic study.

• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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• 제35권
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• pp.27.1-27.12
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• 2023

Background: Environmental exposure is characterized by low concentration, chronic, and complex exposure. Traditional epidemiological studies show limitations in reflecting these characteristics since they usually focus on a single or very limited number of exposure factors at a time. In this study, we adopted the methodology of environment-wide association study (EWAS) to figure out the association of human liver function with various environmentally hazardous substances. Methods: We analyzed 2,961 participants from the Korean National Environmental Health Survey Cycle 4 (2018-2020). Using generalized linear model (GLM) analysis, we analyzed the association of 72 variables with 3 liver function indices (aspartate aminotransferase [AST], alanine aminotransferase [ALT], and gamma glutamyl transferase [GGT]). Finally, we visualized our results with Manhattan plot. Results: In GLM analysis, perfluorooctanesulfonate were positively associated with ALT (odds ratio [OR]: 2.2; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.39-3.46; p_adjusted = 0.0147) and perfluorodecanoic acid showed positive association with GGT (OR: 2.73; 95% CI: 1.36-5.5; p_adjusted = 0.0256). Plasma mercury showed positive association with GGT (OR: 1.45; 95% CI: 1.14-1.84; p_adjusted = 0.0315). Using a plastic container while keeping food in the refrigerator was associated with elevated GGT compared to using a glass container (OR: 1.51; 95% CI: 1.16-1.95; p_adjusted = 0.0153). 2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl phthalate, showed a negative trend with all 3 indices, with AST (OR: 0.54; 95% CI: 0.39-0.73; p_adjusted = 0.00357), ALT (OR: 0.5; 95% CI: 0.34-0.75; p_adjusted = 0.036), GGT (OR: 0.55; 95% CI: 0.4-0.76; p_adjusted = 0.00697). Bisphenol S and frequent use of sunblock cream showed negative association with ALT (OR: 0.77; 95% CI: 0.66-0.89), and GGT (OR: 0.25; 95% CI: 0.11-0.55), respectively. Conclusions: We conducted an exploratory study on environmental exposure and human liver function. By using EWAS methodology, we identified 7 factors that could have potential association with liver function.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.96-101
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• 2024

Background: Silicosis among workers who fabricate engineered stone products in micro or small-sized enterprises (MSEs) was reported from several countries. Workplace exposure data of these workers at high risk of exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) dust are limited. Methods: We surveyed workers performing cutting, shaping and polishing tasks at 6 engineered stone fabricating MSEs in Sydney, Australia prior to regulatory intervention. Personal exposure to airborne RCS dust in 34 workers was measured, work practices were observed using a checklist and worker demography recorded. Results: Personal respirable dust measurements showed exposures above the Australian workplace exposure standard (WES) of 0.1 mg/m³ TWA-8 hours for RCS in 85% of workers who performed dry tasks and amongst 71% using water-fed tools. Dust exposure controls were inadequate with ineffective ventilation and inappropriate respiratory protection. All 34 workers sampled were identified as overseas-born migrants, mostly from three linguistic groups. Conclusions: Workplace exposure data from this survey showed that workers in engineered stone fabricating MSEs were exposed to RCS dust levels which may be associated with a high risk of developing silicosis. The survey findings were useful to inform a comprehensive regulatory intervention program involving diverse hazard communication tools and enforcing improved exposure controls. We conclude that modest occupational hygiene surveys in MSEs, with attention to workers' demographic factors can influence the effectiveness of intervention programs. Occupational health practitioners should address these potential determinants of hazardous exposures in their workplace surveys to prevent illness such as silicosis in vulnerable workers.

• 한국소음진동공학회논문집
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.5-12
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• 2015

According to the analysis of special medical examination and work environment monitoring data, the rate of C1 and D1 on noise hazard exceeded 90 % among those of total hazardous factors. The rate of company exceeding noise exposure limit was also more than 90 %. The analysis result shows that main ages diagnosed with C1 and D1 was age of 50s. The majority scale company having workers diagnosed with C1 and D1 was the companies employing 5~49 workers. Types of industries which have a large number of companies exceeding noise exposure limit were automobile and trailer manufacturing, metal processing industry and primary metal manufacturing. A large number of work processes exceeding noise exposure limit were forming and processing work, cutting and bending work and grinding. To reduce the number of company exceeding noise exposure limit, the reduction counterplan should be focused on the type of industry and the work process which exceeded noise exposure limit frequently. However, the reduction counterplan is preemptively necessary to the type of industry and the work process which exceeded noise exposure limit consecutively if the purpose of reduction counterplan is not to merely reduce the number of company exceeding noise exposure limit but to abate workers' suffering from noise.

• 한국컴퓨터정보학회논문지
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.175-179
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• 2019

This study is a descriptive research of paramedic students who could be exposed to blood and body fluids during the clinical practicum to analyze the risk factors. From June 1 to June 30, 2018, 172 paramedic students who attended the University in Jeolla-do region were analyzed. The collected data were analyzed by using the SPSS WIN 21.0 program. The general characteristics of subjects, the exposure level of blood and body fluids, and etc were obtained for frequency and percentage analysis. The study found that 72.7 percent of students had experience to blood or body fluids exposure during the clinical practicum. Except for any needle injury, 70.4 percent of student were exposed to blood or body fluids. 28.8 percent of them which was the highest percentage of injection injury were exposed during the venous blood draw. 36.5 percent of exposure were related to wound dressings which was the highest percentage related to clinical procedures. 71.2 percent of students mentioned that they did not report this exposure because 68.5 percent students thought that it has no danger. According to the survey on hepatitis B, 50.6% of students had antibodies, but 31.8 percent of students did not confirm that the antibodies were formed. Even though paramedic students do practical training in a hazardous environment with repeated exposure to blood and body fluids due to the nature of job characteristics, the systemic infection control education program is insufficient. In order to prevent exposure and to protect paramedic students who do practical training with patients, it is necessary to make more systematic and active efforts in the continuous monitoring and the preventive education.

• 한국재난정보학회 논문집
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• 제10권3호
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• pp.420-430
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• 2014

화재와 같은 재난현장에서 재난대응활동을 수행하는 소방공무원은 진압 구조 구급활동을 하는 동안 열, 연기, 유독가스에 노출되며 정신적인 스트레스, 생물학적 유해인자, 그리고 화재 진압 시 요구되는 인체공학적으로 부자연스러운 자세로 인한 육체적 과부하 등의 다양한 유해인자에 노출되고 있다. 그러나 지금까지 이에 대한 연구는 개별적 수준에서는 일부 존재해 왔지만 화재현장에서 소방관에게 노출되는 유해인자를 종합적으로 정리하고 그 대책까지 제안한 연구는 존재하지 않았다. 본 연구의 목적은 재난현장에서의 안전 및 유해인자를 종합적으로 도출하고 그 대응방안까지 제시함으로써 소방공무원의 노출로 인한 건강장애 및 사고 예방에 기여하는 데 의미가 있다고 할 수 있다. 이에 소방업무환경별로 화재진압분야, 구조 및 구급분야, 생활환경분야로 나누어 환경분석을 하고 물리적 화학적 생물학적 심리적 측면으로 구분하여 화재현장의 유해인자를 도출하고 노출현황을 제시하였다. 그리고, 물리적 유해인자 중에는 특수건강검진 결과 가장 많은 케이이스수를 차지하는 소음분야에 대하여 대처방안을 모색하였다. 화학적 유해인자는 보호장비와 클린룸 운영방안을, 생물학적 유해인자는 감염예방교육과 예방접종, 주기적 관리점검 체계확립을, 심리적 유해인자는 PTSD 경감 부스 설치와 멘토링제도의 도입을 제시하였다.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.128-133
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• 2012

People are exposed to air pollution from a range of indoor and outdoor sources. Concentration of nitrogen dioxide $(NO_2)$, which is hazardous to health, can be significant in both types of environment. This paper reports on the measurement and analysis of indoor and outdoor $NO_2$ concentrations and their comparison with measured personal exposure in house and workplace indoors with 28 office workers during winter and summer seasons. Time activity patterns were used to determine the effects of these factors on personal exposure. The residential indoor and office indoor times were $12.29{\pm}1.58,$ $7.86{\pm}1.97$ hours in winter and $11.04{\pm}2.18,$ $8.26{\pm}2.04$ hours in summer, respectively. Measured residential indoor, outdoor and office indoor, personal exposure $NO_2$ concentrations were $23.10{\pm}8.46$ ppb, $23.97{\pm}6.86$ ppb, $21.91{\pm}11.50$ ppb, $22.08{\pm}8.64$ ppb in winter, and $19.94{\pm}6.04$ ppb, $21.21{\pm}6.84{\pm}$ ppb, $22.55{\pm}9.54$ ppb, $27.45{\pm}8.96$ ppb in summer, respectively. Contributions of residential and office indoor $NO_2$ concentration on personal exposure were estimated by 57.98%, 35.62% in winter and 37.38%, 28.97% in summer, respectively.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제38권2호
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• pp.105-117
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• 2012

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the concentration of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) in blood and factors controlling their exposure among Koreans. Methods: Study subjects were selected to include 718 members of the general population residing in five metropolitan cities and the Gangwon Province area from August 2008 to January 2009. A questionnaire was administered to investigate lifestyle, socio-demographic characteristics, and other related factors. Blood samples were collected and extracted using solid-phase extraction and anion-exchange methods, and quantified by high-performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC, Agilent 1200 Series) coupled with a Triple Quad LC-MS/MS system (Agilent 6410). Results: Geometric mean concentrations of PFOA and PFOS in the blood were measured as 1.82 and 6.06 ng/ml, respectively. Mean PFOA and PFOS concentrations generally increased with age in both genders. Blood PFOA concentration was significantly different according to such variables as age, family income, residential district, and province. Blood PFOS concentration was significantly different by such variables as gender, age, lifestyle factors such as regular exercise, alcohol consumption, and smoking status. Also, family income, hazardous facilities, job classification, and province contributed significantly to differences in blood PFOS concentration levels. Conclusions: Blood PFOA and PFOS concentrations in Koreans were similar with those found in Japan, the USA, and Germany, but less than those in Australia. PFOA and PFOS exposure seems to be affected by a variety of factors in Korea. Therefore, investigation is required for each factor to assess the relative contribution of different variables.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.80-90
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• 2000

To determine the effect of air pollutants in Taejon City, we used medical insurance claim data for asthma and the data monitored from telemetry system of Ministry of Environment for air pollutants and meteorological factors. From November 1st, 1997 to October 31th, 1998, 95,629 asthma patients were covered by medical insurance at Taejon City. Subjects were composed of 49,563 males (51.8%) and 46.336 females(48.2%), and among the subjects, the proportion under 15 years old was 62.8% of the total. During the study period, daily mean concentrations of each air pollutants-So2, No2, CO, O3 and TSP-were 9.8 ppb, 17.6 ppm, 1.414 pp, 17.3 ppb and 60.6 $\mu\textrm{g}$/㎥, respectively, which were lower than each of the environmental recommended exposure levels, Through the simple correlation analysis between each air pollutants and meteorological factors, O3 was positively correlated with temperature, but negatively with relative humidity. TSP, SO2, NO2, CO were negatively correlated with meteorological factors, and these air pollutants except O3 were positively correlated with each other, O3 was correlated with TSP positively but the others negatively. Estimating relative risks of each air pollutant with the baseline general additive model, daily mean concentrations of TSP(Lag 0, 1, 4, 5day) were significantly associated with the increase of the asthma admission. Two age subgroups, under 15 and 15~54 have shown various association of all air pollutants concentration with the asthma admission. However, in case of over 54 age subgroup, only TSP(Lag 0 day) among all air pollutants was associated with the asthma admission. Each of ambient outdoor pollutant concentrations in Taejon City are significantly associated with the admission of asthma patients even though all concentrations in Taejon City are significantly associated with the admission of asthma patients even though all concentrations were much lower than the environmental recommended exposure levels. Therefore, continuous effort lowering air pollutant concentration and introducing an active environmental conservation policy should be implanted for preventing hazardous health effects. Considering major proportion of asthma admissions, high susceptibility and less confounding factors among the age subgroup under 15 will be a useful target population for assessing such health effect monitoring.