• Atmosphere
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.195-207
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• 2020

This study aims to introduce the structure of the impact-based heat health warning system on 165 counties in South Korea developed by the National Institute of Meteorological Sciences. This system was developed using the daily maximum perceived temperature (PTmax), which is a human physiology-based thermal comfort index, and the Local ENSemble prediction system for the probability forecasts. Also, A risk matrix proposed by the World Meteorological Organization was employed for the impact-based forecasts of this system. The threshold value of the risk matrix was separately set depending on regions. In this system, the risk level was issued as four levels (GREEN, YELLOW, ORANGE, RED) for first, second, and third forecast lead-day (LD1, LD2, and LD3). The daily risk level issued by the system was evaluated using emergency heat-related patients obtained at six cities, including Seoul, Incheon, Daejeon, Gwangju, Daegu, and Busan, for LD1 to LD3. The high-risks level occurred more consistently in the shorter lead time (LD3 → LD1) and the performance (r_s) was increased from 0.42 (LD3) to 0.45 (LD1) in all cities. Especially, it showed good performance (r_s = 0.51) in July and August, when heat stress is highest in South Korea. From an impact-based forecasting perspective, PTmax is one of the most suitable temperature indicators for issuing the health risk warnings by heat in South Korea.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.28 no.7
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• pp.617-627
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• 2019

This study investigated the relationship between heat-related illnesses obtained from healthcare big data and daily maximum temperature observed in seven metropolitan cities in summer during 2013~2015. We found a statistically significant positive correlation (r = 0.4~0.6) between daily maximum temperature and number of the heat-related patients from Pearson's correlation analyses. A time lag effect was not observed. Relative Risk (RR) analysis using the Generalized Additive Model (GAM) showed that the RR of heat-related illness increased with increasing threshold temperature (maximum RR = 1.21). A comparison of the RRs of the seven cities, showed that the values were significantly different by geographical location of the city and had different variations for different threshold temperatures. The RRs for elderly people were clearly higher than those for the all-age group. Especially, a maximum value of 1.83 was calculated at the threshold temperature of $35^{\circ}C$ in Seoul. In addition, relatively higher RRs were found for inland cities (Seoul, Gwangju, Daegu, and Daejeon), which had a high frequency of heat waves. These results demonstrate the significant risk of heat-related illness associated with increasing daily maximum temperature and the difference in adaptation ability to heat wave for each city, which could help improve the heat wave advisory and warning system.

• Journal of Korean Society of Rural Planning
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.67-74
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• 2019

This study is to identify the heat vulnerability area as represented by heat risk factors which could be attributable to heat-related deaths. The heat risk factors were temperature, Older Adults(OA), Economic Disadvantage(ED), Accessibility of Medical Services(AMS), The population Single Person Households(SPH). The factors are follow as; the temperature means to the number of days for decades average daily maximum temperature above $31^{\circ}C$, the Older Adults means to population ages 65 and above, furthermore, the Economic Disadvantage means to the population of Basic Livelihood Security Recipients(BLSR), the Accessibility of Medical Services(AMS) means to 5 minutes away from emergency medical services. The results of the analysis are showed that the top-level of temperature vulnerability areas is Dong, the top-level of vulnerability OA areas is Eup, the top-level of AMS vulnerability is Eup. Moreover, the top-level of vulnerability ED area appears in the Eup and Dong. The result of analysing relative importance to each element, most of the Eup were vulnerable to heat. Since, there are many vulnerable groups such as Economic Disadvantage, Older Adults in the Eup. We can be figured out estimated the number of heat-related deaths was high in the Eup and Dong by the data of emergency activation in the Chungcheongnam-do Fire Department. Therefore, the result of this study could be reasonable.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.433-440
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• 2022

Recently, owing to global warming, average summer temperatures are increasing and the number of hot days is increasing is increasing, which leads to an increase in heat stroke. In particular, outdoor workers directly exposed to the heat are at higher risk of heat stroke; therefore, preventing heat-related illnesses and managing safety have become important. Although various wearable devices have been developed to prevent heat stroke for outdoor workers, applying various sensors to the safety helmets that workers must wear is an excellent alternative. In this study, we developed a smart helmet that measures various vital signs of the wearer such as body temperature, heart rate, and sweat rate; external environmental signals such as temperature and humidity; and movement signals of the wearer such as roll and pitch angles. The smart helmet can acquire the various data by connecting with a smartphone application. Environmental data can check the status of heat wave advisory, and the individual vital signs can monitor the health of workers. In addition, we developed an algorithm that classifies the risk of heat-related illness as normal and abnormal by inputting a set of vital signs of the wearer using a support vector machine technique, which is a machine learning technique that allows for rapid binary classification with high reliability. Furthermore, the classified results suggest that the safety manager can supervise the prevention of heat stroke by receiving feedback from the control system.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.325-331
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• 2023

Background: Heat stress is a harmful physical hazard in many occupational settings. However, consequences of occupational heat exposure among workers in a sugarcane factory in Ethiopia are not well characterized. This study aimed to assess the level of occupational heat exposure-related symptoms and contributing factors. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, five workstations were selected for temperature measurement. Heat stress levels were measured using a wet-bulb globe temperature index meter. A stratified random sampling technique was used to select 1,524 participants. Heat-related symptoms were assessed using validated questionnaires. Results: The level of occupational heat exposure was 72.4% (95% CI: 70.2%-74.8%), while 71.6% (95% CI: 69.3%-74.9%) of participants experienced at least one symptom related to heat stress. The most common heat-related symptoms were swelling of hands and feet (78%), severe thirst (77.8%) and dry mouth (77.4%). The identified risk factors were a lack of reflective shields (AOR: 2.20, 95% CI: 1.53, 3.17), not-enclosed extreme heat sources (AOR: 1.76, 95% CI: 1.23, 2.51), a lack of access to shade (AOR: 9.62, 95% CI: 6.20, 14.92), and inappropriate protective clothing provision (AOR: 1.58, 95% CI: 1.27, 2.71). Conclusions: The burden of occupational heat exposure and heat-induced symptoms was high. Lack of reflective shields, the absence of enclosed extreme heat sources, a lack of access to shade, and inappropriate protective clothing provision were considerable attributes of heat stress. Therefore, the use of mechanical solutions to stop heat emissions at their sources and the key factors identified were areas for future intervention.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.85-91
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• 2016

Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess heat stress, compare heat stress indices, and evaluate the usefulness of wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) among outdoor workers exposed to heat during the summer season. Methods: WBGT, dry temperature, and heat index were measured using WBGT measurers (QUESTemp 32 model and QUESTemp 34 model, QUEST, WI, USA) by industrial hygienists from August 27 to September 16, 2015. Heat stress indices were measured at the workplaces of a shipbuilder in Ulsan and a construction site in Daegu. The dry temperature observed by the Automated Synoptic Observing System (ASOS) of the Korea Meteorological Administration was also compared. Results: Dry temperature measured by WBGT is different from that by ASOS. The temperature obtained from ASOS was less than $33^{\circ}C$, above which point a heat wave is forecast by the Korea Meteorological Administration. A heat index above $32.8^{\circ}C$ as a moderate risk was not observed during measurement. WBGT was consistently higher than $22^{\circ}C$, above which the risk of heat-related illness is increased in unacclimated workers involved in work with a high metabolic rate. WBGT was sometimes higher than $28^{\circ}C$, above which the risk of heat-related illness is increased in acclimated workers involved in work with a moderate metabolic rate in September. Conclusion: According to the measurement of heat stress indices, WBGT was more sensitive than heat index and temperature. Thus, general measures to prevent heat-related diseases should be implemented in workplaces during the summer season according to WBGT.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.230-246
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• 2023

Objectives: The climate crisis has arrived and heat-related illnesses are increasing. It is necessary to discover new high-heat risk industries and understand the environment . It is also necessary to prioritize risks of industries that have not been included in the management target to date. The study was intended to monitor and evaluate the thermal risk of high-priority workplaces. Methods: A prioritization method was developed based on five factors: occurrence of and death due to heat-related illnesses, work environment monitoring, indoor work rate, small heat source, and limited heat dissipation. it, was applied to industrial accidents caused by heat-related illnesses. Wet bulb temperature index and apparent temperature were measured in July and August at 24 workplaces in seven industries and assessed for thermal risk. Results: The wet bulb temperature index was in the range of 23.8~31.9℃, and exposure limits were exceeded in the growing of crops, food services activities and accommodation, and building construction. The apparent temperature was in the range of 26.8~36.7℃, and exceeded the temperature standard for issuing heatwave warnings in growing of crops, food services activities and accommodation, warehousing, welding, and building construction. Both temperature index in growing of crops and building construction were higher than the outside air temperature. Conclusions: In the workplace, risks in industries that have not be controlled and recognized through existing systems was identified. it is necessary to provide break times according to the work-rest time ratio required during dangerous time period.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.54-59
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• 2006

The toxicity of cadmium on Caenorhabditis elegans was investigated to identify sensitive biomarkers for environmental monitoring and risk assessment. Stress-related gene expression were estimated as toxic endpoints Cadmium exposure led to an increase in the expression of most of the genes tested. The degree of increase was more significant in heat shock protein-16.1, metallothionein-2, cytochrome p450 family protein 35A2, glutathione S-transferase-4, superoxide dismutase-1, catalase-2, C. elegans p53-like protein-1, and apoptosis enhancer-1 than in other genes. The overall results indicate that the stress-related gene expressions of C. elegans have considerable potential as sensitive biomarkers for cadmium toxicity monitoring and risk assessment.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.51-62
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• 2014

Objectives: The objective of study was to calculate the municipal level environmental burden of disease (EBD) due to heat wave. Methods: The data used were Korea National Health Insurance 2011 claim data and 2011 death registry. Heatwave related diseases included hypertensive heart diseases, ischemic heart diseases, cerebrovascular disease, and heat related illness. According to the method that WHO proposed, the study computed population-attributable fraction with relative risk which come from previous study and proportion of exposure which the study calculated with historical meteorology data. Results: The Average of 251 municipal EBD was 2.11 per thousand persons. The value of years lost due to disability was 11 times higher than that of years of life lost. On average EBD of county and southern geographical areas tended to be higher than those of District or city areas. The relationship between municipal deprivation index (composite deprivation index) and EBD showed the positive association, which means that the worse deprived municipal is, the higher EBD takes. Conclusions: Climate change is getting one of the major risk factors of cardio-cerebrovascular disease, which is the second leading cause of death. The study results suggested the urgent policy planning and reaction of climate change adaptation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.18-25
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• 2016

The incandescent lamp is an electric light fixture with a tungsten filament heated to a high temperature, by passing an electric current through it, until it glows with visible light. The hot filament is protected from oxidation with a glass bulb that is filled with inert gas. The incandescent lamp has fire risk when combustible materials are close to its glass bulb. Because its lamp has the property which converts 90~95 percents of the electric power to heat energy. 2015 national fire statistics show that fires caused by lighting fixtures were 652 cases, and incandescent lamps(44 cases) and halogen lamps(53 cases) accounted for 15 percents in those of high heating light fixtures. Since incandescent lamp fires account for about 45 percents in the high heating light fixture, we could not overlook the fire risks by the incandescent lamp. Although many studies related with those have been conducted, incandescent lamp fires are continuously occurred. This study was carried out to study the fire risk of ignition of wood due to radiant heat of incandescent lamp. Radiant heat flux of the incandescent lamp was predicted by applying point source model, and critical distance for ignition of wood was calculated by applying integral model. The results from this study could applied to fire prevention activities related to light bulb, and it could be used in fire cause investigations related to radiant heat of incandescent lamp.