• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.119-134
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• 2010

Objectives & Method：Based on the statistic from January 2008 to December 2008 include 66-year-old 375 people (159 men, 216 women) who got examined in National Health Insurance Corporation, this study set a goal to establish a new health index by analyzing the relation between the cardio-cerebra vascular disease and risk factor such as obesity, smoking, exercise, alcohol consumption, blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol. Results：1) Examine results, health status according to gender；People who are diagnosed as abnormal health status have higher risk for both men and women. As for the detailed diseases, high blood pressure was highest followed by hyperlipidemia and obesity. In case of the women, 96.3% in bone mineral density was highest. 2) Correlation of disease and health risk factors based on gender；Correlation of disease according to gender in the obesity(p<0.001), lipid abnormalities(p<0.001), kidney diseases(p<0.001), chest diseases(p<0.05), osteoporosis(p<0.001) showed a statistically significant difference. The analysis showed that the men have more obesity and lipid abnormalities as well as thoracic disease than the women, but the women have more kidney disease than the men. As for the osteoporosis examine which is conducted only for the women, most of the women were abnormal even though it cannot compare the result according to gender. Obesity(p<0.001), alcohol(p<0.001), smoking(p<0.001) and LDLcholesterol(p<0.001) showed statistical correlation between gender and health risk factor. And only high blood pressure(p<0.001) showed a statistical correlation between gender and risk of cardio-cerebra vascular disease. 3) Risk of cardio-cerebra vascular disease related to health risk factor characteristic；Obesity assessment(p<0.001), alcohol(p<0.05), smoking(p<0.05), blood pressure(p<0.001), glucose(p<0.001) showed correlation between health risk factor and stroke. Drinking(p<0.001), smoking(p<0.05), exercise(p<0.001), blood pressure(p<0.001), LDL cholesterol(p<0.001) showed health risk factor and myocardial infarction. Obesity assessment(p<0.001), smoking(p<0.05), blood pressure(p<0.001), glucose(p<0.001) and showed correlation between health risk factor and diabetes. Obesity assessment(p<0.001), blood pressure(p<0.001) showed correlation between health risk factor and high blood pressure. Conclusion：Therefore, we have to take one step farther after the health examination. In order to prevent and reduce the risk of disease, people have to understand their health status exactly first, and correct their habit with recognizing the amount of risk related to cardio-cerebra vascular disease.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.72-84
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• 2013

In the study, pollution levels of indoor polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in public facilities (vapor phase or particulate phase) were evaluated, and a health risk assessment (HRA) was carried out based on exposure scenarios. Public facilities in Korea covered by the law, including underground subway stations, funeral halls, child care facilities, internet cafes (PC-rooms), and exhibition facilities (6 locations for each type of facility, for a total of 48 locations), were investigated for indoor assessment. For the HRA, individual excess cancer risk (ECR) was estimated by applying main toxic equivalency factor (TEF) values suggested in previous studies. Among the eight public facilities, internet cafes showed the highest average $PM_{2.5}$ concentration at $110.0{\mu}g/m^3$ (range: $83.5-138.5{\mu}g/m^3$). When assuming a risk of facility exposure time based upon the results of the surveys for each public facility, the excess cancer risk using the benzo(a)pyrene indicator assessment method was estimated to be $10^{-7}-10^{-6}$ levels for each facility. Based on the risk associated with various TEF values, the excess cancer risk based upon the seven types cancer EPA (1993) and Malcolm & Dobson's (1994) assessment method was estimated to be $10^{-7}-10^{-5}$ for each facility. The excess cancer risk estimated from the TEF EPA (2010) assessment was the highest: $10^{-7}-10^{-4}$ for each facility. This is due to the 10-fold difference between the TEF of dibenzo(a,e)fluoranthene in 2010 and in 1994. The internet cafes where smoking was the clear pollutant showed the highest risk level of $10^{-4}$, which exceeded the World Health Organization's recommended risk of $1{\times}10^{-6}$. All facilities, with the exception of internet cafes, showed a $10^{-6}$ risk level. However, when the TEFs values of the US EPA (2010) were applied, the risk of most facilities in this study exceeded $1{\times}10^{-6}$.

• International Journal of Safety
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.35-42
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• 2010

We measured the concentrations of air pollutants at several residential sites, roadside sites and industrial sites in Iwate Prefecture, Japan. And the concentration distributions of air pollutants were estimated by atmospheric dispersion model using air emissions data. Based on those results, we calculated environmental risk of air pollutants emitted in Iwate Prefecture. As a result, it was found that the surround of factories with high emissions and highly toxic chemicals and the roadsides were high risk area, benzo(a)pyrene, formaldehyde and ozone exceeded the $10^{-5}$ risk level. Moreover, we tried to use "Loss of life expectancy: LLE" for an index to explain those risk to general public intelligibly. The total LLE of the carcinogenic chemicals was about 8.6 hours. Moreover, LLE of ozone was about 9.2 hours. Ozone has a big influence compared with the carcinogenic chemicals.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.63-70
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• 2014

As preventive measures have received tremendous attention to prevent any possible accident in advance, many work places have introduced safety and health management systems. However despite of this government's effort, the industrial accident rate of small-scale businesses with less than 50 employees does not decline, which is mainly because the projects are not differentiated according to the risk level of individual business. To evaluate the risk level of small-scale businesses with less than 50 employees and then establish effective safety and health management systems according to the risk level, this study has conducted the following processes. The small-scale businesses with less than 50 employees were evaluated through accident type, and potential accident risk factor was evaluated through location, business type, and business size. The results of this analysis are expected to make contribution to improving the effectiveness of the safety and health management supports to small-scale businesses with less than 50 employees.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.82-90
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• 2019

Meeting the regulations based on the short-term leaching tests may not necessarily assure the environmental and human health safety of reusing mine wastes. This study investigated heavy metal leachability of four metal mine waste samples (e.g., Z, Y, H, and M) and human health risk of reusing them as construction materials. The heavy metal leachability did not depend on the total heavy metal contents. For example, the Z sample contained greater amounts of As and Fe than Zn, but the leachates contained only Zn at a detectable level. This can be attributed to the crystalline structure and heavy metal fractions of the mine wastes. The leaching test results suggested that the four mine waste samples are potentially reusable. But the Z and M samples reused in industrial areas imposed carcinogenic risks. This was largely attributed to As that is exposed via dermal contact. The Y and H samples reused in residential areas imposed carcinogenic risk. The major exposure route was the ingestion of crops grown on the mine wastes and Cr was the major concern. The two-stage assessment involving leaching tests and risk assessment can be used to promote safe reuse of mine wastes.

• Journal of Environmental Policy
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.1-29
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• 2008

The Ministry of Environment(MoE) of Korea has recently established the Environmental Health Act. This Act contains a clause related to implementation of Health Impact Assessment(HIA). So, selecting a landfill which was expected to have an influence on human health among major development projects, this study carried out the human risk assessment due to inhalation exposure to landfill gas emission and attempted to measure the possibility of domestic application of HIA in the future. The process for HIA on landfill site extension focusing on human risk assessment is as follows: The first step is to presume and calculate the amount of landfill gas emissions using LandGEM, The second step is to carry out exposure assessment using K-SCREEN Model which is used for predicting the concentration in a conservative method. The last step is to carry out human risk assessment of carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic substances. It is considered that it is likely to apply a technique for human risk assessment due to inhalation exposure to landfill gas emission performed here more specifically in the case of implementing HIA. In addition, it is also believed that more systematic studies are needed to overcome some weak points and limits found in this study and if these weak points and limits are improved more reliable outcomes will be produced.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.347-353
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• 2005

The risk assessment is the qualitative or quantitative evaluation of the risk posed to human health and the environment by the actual or potential presence or release of hazardous substances, pollutants or contaminants. The environmental impact assessment (EIA) is assessed by the environmental criteria, and risk assessment is assessed by the risk rate. Risk rate based on dose-response values may not be easy to apply on regulatory basis like EIA for uncertainty. Internationally there is an example of OECD program. Risk assessment of High Production Volume (HPV) Chemicals has started since the OECD Program with the 1990 Council Act on the Co-operative Investigation and Risk Reduction of Existing Chemicals. These HPV chemicals include all chemicals produced or imported at levels greater than 1,000 tonnes per year in at least one Member country or in the European Union region. The SIDS called the Screening Information Data Set is regarded as the minimum information needed to assess an HPV chemical to determine whether any further work should be carried out or not. All the data elements of SIDS including assessment for environment and health are prepared as three formats of the full SIDS Dossier, the SIDS Initial Assessment Report (SIAR), and the SIDS Initial Assessment Profile (SIAP) of an HPV chemical. In 1998 the global chemical industry through the International Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA) has joined to work with OECD. The OECD has assessed approximately 1,000 chemicals from 1991 through 2004 with ICCA. Till the February of 2005, 592 chemicals of those chemicals completed SIDS reports. Member countries have been targeted the goal of 1,000 new chemicals from 2005 to 2010 and Korea shared 36 chemicals from the 1,000 new chemicals. Currently Korea has completed SIDS reports of 7 chemicals among sponsored 24 chemicals. In conclusion SIDS project will be linked to national program for outputs application with more reliable production. Both the OECD and industry will carry out their commitment to complete assessments for more and the remaining chemicals assessment. The major outputs will contribute to cope with international chemical management.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.473-478
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• 2012

To protect human health and manage increasing hazardous chemicals in stream area, it is necessary to expand water quality hazardous items based on risk assessment with proper monitoring data. Also, it is essential to set up the suitable monitoring frequency to produce reliable exposure data to derive water quality guidelines. However, there has been no harmonized monitoring frequency for risk assessment in both domestic and international monitoring systems. In addition, the monitoring frequency for risk assessment has been selected as 'Research needs' in the International Conference on Deriving Environmental Quality Standards for the Protection of Aquatic Ecosystems (EQSPAE) of 2011. In this study, Cases of UNEP/WHO, EU, European countries, USEPA, ANZECC/ARMCANZ, CCME, Japan, and Korea were analyzed to propose the monitoring frequency for risk assessment. Monitoring frequencies depending on environmental conditions, monitoring object, measurement parameters, and monitoring duration were extensively collected. We observed that a monthly monitoring has been applied at most of organizations including EU, USEPA, and UNEP/WHO. In this study, monitoring frequency of minimum 6 times during 3 years were proposed to conduct the risk assessment based on the current domestic status. However, it is necessary to make agreements among interested parties, and perform additional studies about optimal monitoring frequency to protect the aquatic ecosystem and human health in Korean rivers and streams.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.51-58
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• 2021

Purpose: This study is based on the results of previous studies that falls, which is a frequent social problem, causes physical, mental and social health problems in the elderly. In order to identify risk factors for falls in the elderly, this study derives a relationship with oral health and proposes the necessity of oral health care as part of countermeasures to prevent falls in the elderly. Methodology: The final 6,936 people were analysed using the 2018 Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing(KLoSA) survey data, and the analysis was conducted using the multiple logistic and multiple regression analysis to investigate the relationship between Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) and falls experience. Findings: As a result of the analysis in this study, the number of falls experiences and whether or not falls were higher in the elderly female group than in the male group. The likelihood of falls experience has been statistically reduced as Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index increases by one unit.(OR : 0.991) The number of falls has also been statistically reduced as Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index increase by one unit.(B : -0.001) Practical Implications: The results of this study, which showed that higher Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index was lower risk of falls, explained by the connection that oral health may affect nutritional intake, which leads to sarcopenia and physical loss, which in turn increases the risk of falls. As a way to solve the fall problem, efforts should be made to improve the oral health of the elderly, and furthermore, the importance of nutrition management thorugh oral health care of the elderly is increasd.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.49-60
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• 2021

Objectives: Laboratories have various latent physical, chemical, biological, and ergonomical factors according to the diversification and fusion of research and development activities. This study aims to investigate the chemical exposure concentrations of college laboratories and evaluate their health risks, and use them as basic data to promote the health of college students. Methods: The sampling and analysis of harmful chemicals in the air in laboratories were performed using Method 1500 of the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)의 Method 1500. The harmful chemicals in the laboratories were divided into carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic chemicals. Risk assessment was performed using the cancer risk (CR) for carcinogenic chemicals and using the hazard index (HI) for non-carcinogenic chemicals. Results: The harmful chemicals in college laboratories consisted of acetone, diethyl ether, methylene chloride, n-hexane, ethyl acetate, chloroform, tetrahydrofuran, toluene, and xylenes. They showed the highest concentrations in laboratories A (acetone 0.001~2.34ppm), B (chloroform 0.95~6.35ppm), C (diethyl ether 0.08~8.68ppm), and D (acetone 0.07~14.96ppm). The risk assessment result for non-carcinogenic chemicals showed that the HI of methylene chloride was 2.052 for men and 2.333 for women, the HI of N-hexane was 4.442 for men and 5.05 for women. Thus, the HI values were higher than 1. The risk of carcinogenic chemicals is determined by an excess cancer risk (ECR) value of 1.0×10^-5, which means that one in 100,000 people has a cancer risk. The ECRs of chloroform exceeded 1.0×10^-5 for both men and women, indicating the possibility of cancer risk. Conclusion: College laboratories showed the possibility of non-carcinogenic health risks for methylene chloride, n-hexane, tetrahydrofuran (THF), toluene, and xylenes, and carcinogenic health risks for chloroform, methylene chloride. However, this study used the maximum values of measurements to determine the worst case, and assumed that the subjects were exposed to the corresponding concentrations continuously for 8 hours per day for 300 days per year. In consideration of the nature of laboratory environment in which people are intermittently exposed, rather than continuously, to the chemicals, the results of this study has an element of overestimation.