• Title/Summary/Keyword: health-care waste

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A Study on Medical Waste Generation Analysis during Outbreak of Massive Infectious Diseases (대규모 감염병 발병에 따른 의료폐기물 발생량 예측에 관한 연구)

  • Sang-Min Kim;Jin-Kyu Park;In-Beom Ko;Byung-Sun Lee;Sang-Ryong Shin;Nam-Hoon Lee
    • Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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    • v.31 no.4
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    • pp.29-39
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    • 2023
  • In this study, an analysis of medical waste generation characteristics was conducted, differentiating between ordinary situation and the outbreaks of massive infectious diseases. During ordinary situation, prediction models for medical waste quantities by type, general medical waste(G-MW), hazardous medical waste(H-MW), infectious medical waste(I-MW), were established through regression analysis, with all significance values (p) being <0.0001, indicating statistical significance. The determination coefficient(R2) values for prediction models of each category were analyzed as follows : I-MW(R2=0.9943) > G-MW(R2=0.9817) > H-MW(R2=0.9310). Additionally, factors such as GDP(G-MW), the number of medical institutions (H-MW), and the elderly population ratio(I-MW), utilized as influencing factors and consistent with previous literature, showed high correlations. The total MW generation, evaluated by combining each model, had an MAE of 2,615 and RMSE of 3,353. This indicated accuracy levels similar to the medical waste models of H-MW(2,491, 2,890) and I-MW(2,291, 3,267). Due to limitations in accurately estimating the quantity of medical waste during the rapid and outbreaks of massive infectious diseases, the generation unit of I-MW was derived to analyze its characteristics. During the early unstable stage of infectious disease outbreaks, the generation unit was 8.74 kg/capita·day, 2.69 kg/capita·day during the stable stage, and an average of 0.08 kg/capita·day during the reduction stage. Correlation analysis between generation unit of I-MW and lethality rates showed +0.99 in the unstable stage, +0.52 in the stable stage, and +0.96 in the reduction period, demonstrating a very high positive correlation of +0.95 or higher throughout the entire outbreaks of massive infectious diseases. The results derived from this study are expected to play a useful role in establishing an effective medical waste management system in the field of health care.

A Study on the Radioactive Products of Components in Proton Accelerator on Short Term Usage Using Computed Simulation (몬테칼로 시뮬레이션을 활용한 양성자가속기 단기사용 시 구성품의 방사화 평가)

  • Bae, Sang-Il;Kim, Jung-Hoon
    • Journal of radiological science and technology
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    • v.43 no.5
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    • pp.389-395
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    • 2020
  • The evaluation of radioactivated components of heavy-ion accelerator facilities affects the safety of radiation management and the exposure dose for workers. and this is an important issue when predicting the disposal cost of waste during maintenance and dismantling of accelerator facilities. In this study, the FLUKA code was used to simulate the proton treatment device nozzle and classify the radio-nuclides and total radioactivity generated by each component over a short period of time. The source term was evaluated using NIST reference beam data, and the neutron flux generated for each component was calculated using the evaluated beam data. Radioactive isotopes caused by generated neutrons were compared and evaluated using nuclide information from the International Radiation Protection Association and the Korea Radioisotope association. Most of the nuclides produced form of beta rays and electron capture, and short-lived nuclides dominated. However, In the case of 54Mn, which is a radioactive product of iron, the effect of gamma rays should be considered. In the case of tritium generated from a material with a low atomic number, it is considered that handling care should be taken due to its long half-life.

A Study on the Kidney Function Improvement of the Corn Silks Tea through Jigak Region Color Analysis (지각 영역 색상 분석을 통한 옥수수수염 차의 신장 기능 향상 연구)

  • Han, Kil-Sung;Cho, Dong-Uk
    • Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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    • v.12 no.2
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    • pp.694-698
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    • 2011
  • Many modern people are concerned health care and maintenance. If we take medicine, weak our body immunity. so, we are used to a dietary treatment instead of prescription of medicine. Tea of dietary treatment offered much effect to excrete waste matter from the body. In particular, tea of corn silks give a good effect on the kidneys by a diuretic effect actively. In this paper, we intake before-after compared and analyzed a change area of Jigak we performed to improve it give a good effect on the kidneys analysis related in color of area of Jigak by tea of corn silks.

Reuse and Remediation of Closed Landfill in Korea

  • Shin, Chan-ki
    • Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
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    • 2002.04a
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    • pp.91-99
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    • 2002
  • A recent survey investigated that there were over one thousand un-controlled closed landfills(1,072 sites) in Republic of Korea. Most of these landfills were constructed before 1986. Waste management act were not promulgated at that time, so they usually do not have dranage system and leachate treatment facility. Also, considerable attention has been received to landfill leachate pollution, leachate has an adverse impact on the surrounding environment such as soil, groundwater, and water supply source. According to the result of survey for closed landfill management, it was reported that 875 sites out of 1,072sites(81.6%) have no leachate treatment facility and 630 sites out of 1,072sites(58.7%) have been used for farm lands and residence. Consequently it is hard to do postclosure care continuously in most of cases and these uncontrolled landfills have contaminated farm lands and residence. The average age of these landfills are ranged mostly between 2 to 15 years. Much time and advanced technology are needed to remediate these uncontrolled landfills, therefore the survey for present status of closed landfill sites is required and suitable treatment processes should be prepared. With this point of view, We has been investigated to find out the present status of closed landfill, problems of post management and discussed plans for remediation and reuse. Remedial actions of un-controlled landfill have been carried out the many cities since 1997 upto now. Most frequently applied technology were reuse after excavation and there were several cases to capping in the surface of landfill and to construct subsurface barriers. It is considered that landfills in use have a possibility not to be controlled because of inadequate construction and improper management. Therefore remediation of uncontrolled landfills and recovery technology should be develop continuously Especially, it has been expected that resource technology of landfill gas as a energy has some advantages in controlling odors in the site area and accelerating stabilization of landfills with the energy.

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Self Management of Pain by Folk Remedies in Patient with Chronic Arthritis (만성 관절염 환자의 민간요법을 이용한 자가통증조절 행태)

  • Kim, Jong-Im;Kang, Hyun-Sook
    • Journal of muscle and joint health
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    • v.6 no.2
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    • pp.242-252
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    • 1999
  • The purpose of this study was to explore self management of pain by folk remedies in patient with chronic arthritis. The participant of this study were 90 volunteers who were visit C hospital and who want to counsel with researcher for their pain control by convenient sampling method. The results of this study were summarized as follows : The subjects were the 90 patients who had been diagnosed rehumatoid arthritis(52.5%)and osteoarthritis(47.8). 93.3% of participants were women. Mean age of participants was 53.7 and duration of arthritis was 7 years. Mean pain score was 5.5cm. Eighty five kinds of folk remedies were used for pain management. The mean cost for folk remedies was 3,723,207 won and the patients with rheumatoid arthritis paid to folk remedies as much as 3 times. The perceived effect score of pain management by folk remedies was 2.932(the range of perceived effect score were 0-10cm). Percentage of discontinue to use folk remedies was 82.8% and the major reason of discontinue to use folk remedies was no effect to pain control(50.4%). Some participants(30.5%) were experienced side effect such as exacerbation of pain(50.5%). In conculusion, chronic arthritis patients have been experienced various kind of folk remedies for the management of their pain. But the effect of pain control was very low. The important weakness of folk remedies were economical waste and loss of opportunity to treatment for arthritis. The nurse who care for arthritis should be teach about weakness of folk remedies for their pain control to the patients with arthritis.

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Analysis of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients and Drug Cost of Prescription Medications Returned to Community Pharmacies through 'Drug-Take Back' Program ('폐의약품 수거사업'을 통해 지역약국으로 회수된 처방전의약품의 성분 및 약가 분석)

  • Chun, Pusoon
    • YAKHAK HOEJI
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    • v.58 no.4
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    • pp.262-267
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    • 2014
  • Unused medication disposal is a burden due to the cost of disposing as well as the cost of the drugs. Investigating medication returns is expected to suggest areas of intervention to reduce unused medications. Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine types, quantity, costs, active pharmaceutical ingredients, and therapeutic category of the medications returned to community pharmacies. Method: From January 15, 2014 to February 28, 2014, the medications returned to the 17 community pharmacies in Gimhae, Jinju, and Incheon, Korea were examined. The pharmacists and student volunteers worked cooperatively to identify the medications and analyze drug cost of prescription pill medications returned to the pharmacies. Results: A total of 2,720 pills of prescription medication were analyzed and 91 active pharmaceutical ingredients were identified. According to the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification, the most predominant group was A (alimentary tract and metabolism) with 33.3%, followed by N (nervous system) with 15.0%. With regard to the drug cost of groups, group A was the highest with 26.6%, followed by J01 (antibacterials for systemic use) with 20.2% and N (nervous system) with 18.3%. The total cost of the oral pill prescription medications was 468,477 won. Conclusion: The result from this study implies that unused drugs impose a significant cost to the health care system in Korea. In this study, medicines used to treat gastrointestinal conditions were returned most frequently with the highest drug cost. Further research in nationwide level is necessary to establish strategies to reduce the wastage of unused medicines.

Monogastric Animal Production Systems in Small Farms in Tropical Countries - Review -

  • Saadullah, M.;Saad, T.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.13 no.3
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    • pp.401-412
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    • 2000
  • Like other livestock, monogastric animals are essential components of the farming systems in the tropical countries. Pigs, chicken and ducks are by far the most important animals in the culture of the peoples of developing countries in the tropics. Traditionally these animals are raised in small farms and they are also the bulk producers of meat, eggs etc. in the tropics. In many countries the farmers of these small farms are unable to meet the requirement set by financial institution and other loan giving agencies for agricultural loan. Thus, the small farmers can get neither the opportunity to generate sufficient income to support the family nor to extend the livestock activities. The production systems are characterized by small number of animals with no or minimal inputs, low outputs and periodic destruction of animals by disease. Typically the litter size or flocks are small in number with each household containing 5-6 pigs and 7-10 poultry. Animals are owned by individual households and mostly maintained under a scavenging systems with little or no inputs for housing, feeding or health care. Because of the nature of this production system, productivity of these animals is rather low. The low level of inputs is due to a lack of capital and a low risk oriented outlook. The feed resource base for monogastric is scavenging and consists of household waste, roots and tuber, grain by-products and anything edible found in the immediate environment. Usually farmers select breeding gilts from their own female piglets or to a lesser extent, buy them from neighbors for natural mating. As regards poultry attempts have been made to increase egg and meat production by improving local poultry birds by upgrading and crossbreeding with exotic germ plasma in the tropics. Animal disease present a major constraint to animal production in the tropical region and the extent of the losses due to disease is very high.

Utilization of Body Computed Tomography Scanners in Non-Metropolitan Area (비수도권(非首都圈) 지역(地域)에서의 전신용(全身用) X선(線) CT의 이용(利用))

  • Park, Young-Sun
    • Journal of radiological science and technology
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    • v.8 no.2
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    • pp.29-45
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    • 1985
  • Computed Tomography Scanner (CT) is highly expensive in operation as well as purchasing. That reason may cause not only to increase the burden of patients but also to waste the capital resources leading to financial difficulties. However the numbers of CT installed throughout the country is increasing, because of efficiency in medical care, patient's concern, competitions among the hospitals within the same area. In the non-Metropolitan area the scanners were expected to be less utilized and less profitable. Nine hospitals equipped with the CT were studied on the utilization of that equipment during the period from November 1984 to February 1985 in non-Metropolitan area and break-even point in one hospital was analyzed for estimating profitabilities. The results were as follows ; 1. Among those nine hospitals, four hospitals had less than 400 beds, which is one of the restrictive minimum standards on the installation of Whole-body Computed Tomography Scanner. 2. The operating time during the normal operation period was longer than those of any other studies, but the accumulated down time was also longer than those of any other studies. The average number of scanning per week for each CT was 45, while the estimated number of for the break-even point was 56.7 cases. 3. When the downtime was excluded in calculating the average operation would be much closer to the cases for the break-even point. Therefore the break-down of the equipment was to be a main cause of the low profitability. 4. The average scanning rate for head area was 33.6%, however three of the nine hospitals showed about 20%. 5. If scanning ratio for the body parts excepting head was increased, the number of scanning for the break-even point would be diminished. 6. The small size hospital especially located near the Metropolitan area showed largest loss in the CT operation. In purchasing the highly expensive equipments in hospitals, demand should be taken into account and planning is recommended.

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A Review of Renal Dialysis Unit Environment for Infection Prevention - Focused on Evidence Based Design (감염 예방을 위한 인공신장실 의료 환경에 대한 고찰 - 근거 기반의 디자인 중심으로)

  • Han, Su Ha;Yoon, Hyungjin
    • Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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    • v.24 no.3
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    • pp.49-57
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    • 2018
  • Purpose: The increase in patients requiring hemodialysis has resulted in an increase dialysis-associated infections risk. but there are no Renal Dialysis unit design standard meet specified safety and quality standards. Therefore, appropriate Establish standards and legal regulation is important for the provision of initial certification and maintenance of facility, equipment, and human resource quality. Methods: Literature survey on the design guideline and standards of Renal Dialysis unit design in Korea, U.S, Germany, Singapore, Hongkong, Dubai. Results: There are no established standards for facilities in dialysis units in Korea. To prevent infections in dialysis patients, necessary establish standards. Considering the domestic and overseas Health-care facilities standards, the major factors to be considered in the medical environment for Renal Dialysis Unit are as follows. First, planning to separate Clean areas(treatment area) from contaminated areas(medical waste storage area). Second, ensure sufficient space and minimum separation distance. Although there may be differences depending on the circumstances of individual institutions, renal dialysis unit consider the space to prevent droplet transmission. Third, secure infrastructure of infection prevention such as sufficient amount of hand hygiene sinks. Hand washing facilities for staff within the Unit should be readily available. Hand hygiene sinks should be located to prevent water from splashing into the treatment area. Fourth, Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system for Renal Dialysis Unit is all about providing a safer environment for patients and staff. Implications: The results of this paper can be the basic data for the design of the Renal Dialysis Units and relevant regulations.

Occurrence of Synthetic Musk Compounds in Surface and Waste Waters in Korea (국내 하천수 및 하수처리장 유입.방류수의 합성머스크화합물 오염실태 조사)

  • Lee, In-Jung;Lee, Chul-Gu;Heo, Seong-Nam;Lee, Jae-Gwan
    • Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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    • v.33 no.11
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    • pp.821-826
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    • 2011
  • Synthetic musk compounds are widely used as fragrances in a variety of personal care products like soaps, sampoos, cosmetics and perfumes. The occurrence of synthetic musk compounds in municipal sewage effluent and other environmental samples could negatively impact the health of the ecosystem and humans, due to persistent and long-term chronic exposure of aquatic organisms. Fifteen synthetic musk compounds (musk ketone, musk xylene, musk ambrette, musk moskene, musk tibetene, HHCB, AHTN, ADBI, AHDI, DPMI, ATII, ethylenebrasssylate, ambretettolide, cyclopentadecanolide, OTNE) were analysed in surface waters and sewage treatment plants (STP) influents/effluents in Korea by GC/MS. Method detection limits were $0.005{\sim}0.398{\mu}g/L$. HHCB and AHTN were most frequently observed in both surface waters and STP influents/effluents.