• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.207-214
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• 2006

This study was designed to assess the level of nitrogen dioxide from several microenvironments including inside the home, outdoors near the home, inside the school, outdoors near the school, and on the road for 42 primary schoolchildren during the month of December 2002 in Seoul, Korea. The average personal, indoor, outdoor $NO_2$ levels, and indoor/outdoor ratio were 45.08 ppb, 27.89 ppb, 30.96 ppb, and 0.89, respectively. The indoor $NO_2$ concentrations were significantly associated with the presence of a smoker with a gas stove. The estimated personal $NO_2$ exposure using time-weighted average equation of $34.64{\pm}5.29$ ppb was significantly lower than the measured personal exposure of $45.08{\pm}5.50$ ppb. Our results indicate that indoor $NO_2$ levels were associated with the presence of a smoker and a gas stove. Moreover, personal $NO_2$ exposure with a gas stove in the house was significantly higher than those without a gas stove.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.38-42
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• 1979

The objectives of this study were to identify the determinants of the 1. Home visiting activities by FHWs 2. Utilization of village Family Health Workers(FHWs) 3. Attitudes towards FHWs 4. Knowledge about FHW's activities] among housewives in the Kang Wha Community Health Project area This study was analysed by using path analysis Exogenous variables were 1. Distance between the housewives' houses and that of their local FHW 2. Duration of work of each FHW as FHW in her village 3. Number of preschool children in the households Endogenous variables were 1. Home visiting frequency to each household by FHW 2. Knowledge about FHW's activities 3. Attitude towards FHWs 4. Utilization of FHW] by the housewives The results were as follows: The shorter the distance between client's and FHW's house, the higher the number of preschool children in the household, and the longer the duration of work of FHW as FHW, the higher is the number of her household visits in a given time span. The more frequently the FHW visits a household and the higher the knowledge about FHW's activities in the household, the more positive is the attitude of the housewives to the FHW and the more frequently she visits and utilizes the FHW on her own initiative.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.93-104
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• 2005

Purpose： This study compared lifestyles of middle school students with and without atopic dermatitis in order to obtain the baseline information for health education. Methods： This study involved 256 students from 20 middle schools in Busan who suffered from atopic dermatitis and 231 students from 2 middle schools in Busan who did not have atopic dermatitis. Results： Students with atopic dermatitis had a lower family income (탑=16.99, p<.001) and were more likely to come from a nuclear family (탑=10.28, p<.001) than control students. 98% of the students with atopic dermatitis had several skin symptoms. 78.5% of students with atopic dermatitis reported experiencing difficulties in their daily because of their condition. Students with atopic dermatitis took shorter baths and used soap less frequently than the students in the control group. The students with atopic dermatitis cleaned their houses and bedclothes more often than normal students in an attempt to remove cockroaches and house-dust mites. Students with atopic dermatitis also ate fast and instant foods more often than normal students. Conclusions： Some lifestyle differences exist between students with and without atopic dermatitis. Therefore, education and guidance may be important to promote good health and improve lifestyle quality.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.19-24
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• 2012

This study was performed to evaluate the prevalence rate of Toxoplasma gondii on 217 stray cats in Daejeon. The positive infection rate of T. gondii was 15.7% in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), 12.4% in latex agglutination test (LAT), 14.7% in indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IFA) and 0.5% in polymerase chain reaction (PCR) respectively. In districts, Yuseong-gu was shown the highest seropositive rate of T. gondii as 31.8% in ELISA, 22.7% in LAT and 31.8% in IFA. In gender, the seropositive rate of female cats was slightly higher than that of male cats as 17.2% in ELISA, 15.2% in LAT, 15.2% in IFA and 1.0% in PCR. Cats captured in National science museum, detached house and apartment was shown relatively high prevalence rate of T. gondii.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.273-280
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• 2014

The spectrum weighted responses of various detectors were calculated to provide guidance on the proper selection and use of survey instruments on the basis of their energy response characteristics on the neutron fields. To yield the spectrum weighted response, the detector response functions of 17 neutron-measuring devices were numerically folded with each of the produced calibration neutron spectra through the in-house developed software 'K-SWR'. The detectors' response functions were taken from the IAEA Technical Reports Series No. 403 (TRS-403). The reference neutron fields of 21 kinds with 2 spectra groups with different proportions of thermal and fast neutrons have been produced using neutrons from the $^{241}Am$-Be sources held in a graphite pile, a bare $^{241}Am$-Be source, and a DT neutron generator. Fluence-average energy ($E_{ave}$) varied from 3.8 MeV to 16.9 MeV, and the ambient-dose-equivalent rate [$H^*(10)/h$] varied from 0.99 to 16.5 mSv/h.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.528-539
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• 2015

Purpose: The aim of this study is to provide baseline data on the housing environment of a vulnerable population. Methods: This study provides a descriptive survey on the housing environment of a vulnerable population of a city in Gyeong-gi province. A total of 9,061 households were selected as research participants. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews by visiting nurses from February 2014 to March 2014. Results: Interviewees answered "poor" on items including cold drafts, illumination, daylight penetration, inflow of polluted air, house odor, stairs safety, noise, mold, pests, and ventilation. The score for housing environment problems showed a significant group difference due to gender, age, economic status, family type, type of housing, and type of ownership. Conclusion: These results indicate that the vulnerable population is exposed to a poor housing environment. Thus, there is an urgent need to improve the housing environment for the vulnerable population. Based on this study, linking a visiting health care service program and housing environment improvement projects from relevant administrative agencies might be recommended in order to effectively improve the housing environment.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.183-187
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• 2008

Indoor air quality can be affected by indoor sources, ventilation, decay, and outdoor levels. Various indoor and out-door combustion sources produce nitrogen dioxide ($NO_2$), which is a by-product of high temperature fossil fuel combustion. Especially, the presence of gas ranges and smoking have been identified as major factors contributing to indoor $NO_2$ exposures. In this study, we compared an industrial complex area with a country area by assessing the personal exposure to $NO_2$with measurements of indoor and outdoor $NO_2$ levels in residences and by house characteristics and questionnaire. Personal exposure concentrations were significantly correlated with indoor $NO_2$ concentrations of residences in both the industrial complex area and the country area with correlation coefficients of 0.561 and 0.664, respectively, compared to outdoors. Multiple regression analysis, indicated that indoor $NO_2$ levels in residences were only affected by outdoor levels (p = 0.000) in spite of higher indoor sources such as smoking. Therefore, it is suggested that outdoor air quality as well as indoor air quality should be considered in the reduction of the personal exposure to air pollutants.

• 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.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.109-117
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• 2020

Asthmatics are more susceptible to fine particulate matters (PM_2.5), compared to the general population. It has been reported that indoor PM_2.5 is mainly generated by combustion of fossil fuels, meat or fish In particular, asthmatics are known to be more susceptible to indoor PM_2.5 because 65~95% of child or adult asthmatics stay inside the house. Thus, understanding the association between indoor activity patterns and variations in indoor PM_2.5 levels is important. The purpose of this study is to determine the distribution of hourly indoor PM_2.5 concentrations in asthmatics' homes, and to evaluate its association with pan-frying cooking activity patterns, the most common PM_2.5 emission related activity. From November 2017 to February 2018, real-time PM_2.5 concentrations were measured in the living room of each asthmatic's house (n = 35) for three weeks at 1 minute intervals. At the same time, self-reported daily activity patterns, hourly proportion (%) of cooking activities, were also recorded every hour over three weeks for each patient. In this study, we provided quantitative evidence that the distribution patterns of indoor hourly PM_2.5 concentrations were associated with indoor cooking activities, especially in the homes of adult asthmatics. In addition, we observed that PM_2.5 emitted by pan-frying could maintain even over up to 2 hour lagtime.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.63-80
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• 2002

Objectives: The objective of this study is to evaluate the job characteristics of container terminal workers by applying the Job Strain model, and to assess the relationship among the general characteristics, job characteristics and psychosocial distress. Methods: A self-administrated questionnaire survey was performed to the container terminal workers in Pusan. Among the 200 male workers who answered the questionnaires, white-collar workers and blue-collar workers were 100, respectively. Karaseks Job Content Questionnaire was utilized to evaluate the job characteristics and Psychosocial well-being index (PWI) was applied to measure the extent of their psychosocial stress. Results: In white-collar workers, the skill discretion, created skill, decision-making authority, decision-making latitude, psychological job demand, and supervisor support of the job characteristics were significantly high, while in blue-collar workers physical exertion was significantly high. The result of Psychosocial well-being index (PWI) reveals that blue-collar workers were more stressed than white-collar workers, especially, the indices of depression (factor 2), sleeping disturbance and anxiety (factor 3), General well-being and vitality (factor 4) were significantly increased; whereas, in white-collar workers, only the index of social performance and self-confidence (factor 1) was significantly increased. And PWI scores were significantly increased in the lower social support and psychological job demand. By the multiple logistic regression analysis for PWI, blue-collar workers had increased odds ratio of 2.66(95% CI;1.11-6.41) compared with white-collar workers. The unmarried workers increased odds ratio of 3.54(95% CI;1.18-10.62) compared with married workers. And workers who have not own house increased odds ratio of 2.35(95% CI;1.15-4.79) compared with workers who have own house. Particularly, odds ratio of work-shift in blue-collar workers was 11.10(2.14-57.64). Conclusion: Skill discretion, created skill, decision-making authority, decision-making latitude, psychological job demand, and supervisor support were increased in white-collar workers. Decreased skill discretion and increased physical exertion were found in blue-collar workers, which is supported the Job Strain model. Job stress of blue-collar workers was comparatively higher than that of white-collar workers, especially, skill discretion, decision-making authority, decision-making latitude, job insecurity, physical exertion were noticeable factors. Especially, sleeping, smoking, and work shifting turned out to be a main cause that increases stress. Therefore, in order to decrease the job stress, a health promotion program to change the health behaviors should be activated and an organized job stress management program should be introduced. Especially, working condition for blue-collar such as physical exertion and work-shift should be improved.