• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.65-77
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• 2020

Objectives: This study investigated the average number of drinkers in Korea, the number of high-risk drinkers, the average amount of alcohol consumed by high-risk drinkers, and the types of alcohol consumed according to the characteristics of the group of dependent drinkers. Methods: The results were obtained by analyzing the following data: The Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health; Country Profile 2014; WHO Country Profile 2014; Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2014, Korean Statistical Information Service; National Tax Statistics-Liquor Tax; Gallup Drinking Frequency Survey 2015 Results: This study found that a large proportion of drinkers in Korea are already high-risk drinkers, and even among drinkers, alcohol consumption was highly biased. It was reported that 49.8% of men in the problem, abuse, and dependence groups accounted for 92.4% of total alcohol consumption among the male population. Notably, the 9.6% of men making up the dependent group consumed more than 30% of the alcohol ingested among males. Women had significant variations within groups that were considered high-risk and exhibited a large share of alcohol consumption in the problem (10.0% of the female population), abuse (1.8% of the female population), and dependence (1.5% of the female population) groups, constituting 72.8% of total alcohol consumption. The average amount of alcohol consumed by drinkers in Korea seems to have exceeded the level of intake by high-risk groups. Alcohol-dependent groups consumed 900.7 mL of soju, 405.2 mL of table wine, and 2,043.8 mL of beer, which is very similar to the consumption average of 2,031 mL of beer and 895.2 mL of soju in the drinking group. Conclusion: It has been shown that men's dependence on alcohol is serious, and it is possible to infer that alcohol consumption in some vulnerable groups is very high. As the average alcohol intake among alcohol-dependent groups and ordinary drinkers is very similar, it is highly likely that the drinker is an alcohol-dependent consumer in Korea.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.139-144
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• 1998

For the ambient monitoring of acrylamide, the adequate condition of sampling and analysis was checked. The adequate adsorbents and desorption solvents were tested. The combination of charcoal tube as a adsorbent and acetone as a desorption solvent showed 87% desorption efficiency. Flame ionization detector was used to detect acrylamide. The detection limit was 0.814 mg acrylamide in 1 L acetone. It is the equivalent concentration of 0.0203 mg acrylamide in $1m^3$ air if the volume of air collected was 40L. The permissible exposure level (PEL) of acrylamide in the workplace air recommended by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA, USA) is 0.3 mg acrylamide in $1m^3$ air. So, it is very simple and economic analytical method for acrylamide to be set in the industrial hygiene laboratories.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.374-383
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• 2012

In this study, we have observed the airborne radon levels in the subway cabins before and after platform screen doors (PSD) installation. The measurements have been conducted at Seoul metropolitan subway lines in 2008, 2009 and 2010. The mean concentration of the radon inside subway cabins were increased by approximately 53% from $20.1Bq/m^3$ to $30.8Bq/m^3$ by installing PSD. After PSD installation, measured values for the different lines were rather different, and varied between 8.2 and $76.5Bq/m^3$. And mean radon concentrations were in the decreasing order for subway lines 5, 6, 7, 8, 3, 4, 2, 9 and 1. It was also found that the indoor radon concentrations in the subway cabins were highly dependent on the management approach of a ventilation system at the subway stations. By assuming an average of $720\;h\;year^{-1}$ and $2,880\;h\;year^{-1}$ spent in subway cabin, effective doses to passengers and employee were estimated. The expected annual effective dose, in case of an equilibrium factor of 0.4, were $0.07mSv\;y^{-1}$ and $0.26mSv\;y^{-1}$, respectively.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.39 no.sup2
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• pp.253-259
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of implant drilling speed on the composition of particle size of collected bone debris. Methods: $Br{\aa}nemark$ $System^{(R)}$ drills were used to collect bone debris from 10 drilling holes (1 unit) at 1,500 rpm (Group A) and 800 rpm (Group B) in bovine mandible. After separating particles by size into > 500 ${\mu}m$, between 250 ${\mu}m$ and 500 ${\mu}m$, and < 250 ${\mu}m$ fractions, particle wet volume, dry volume, and weight were measured and the proportion of 3 fractions of bone debris to total wet volume, dry volume and weight was calculated as wet volume % , dry volume % and weight %. Results: No significant differences were found between Group A and B in wet volume, dry volume, and weight. However, of >500 ${\mu}m$ fractions, Group B had significantly higher wet volume %(P = 0.0059) and dry volume %(P = 0.0272) than in Group A. Conclusions: The drilling speed influenced the composition of particle size in collected drilling bone debris. The drilling in 800 rpm produced the more percentage of large particles than in 1,500 rpm. However, the drilling speed didn't effect on total volume of and weight of bone debris.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.45-51
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• 2005

This survey was performed to measure concentrations of airborne microbes, utilizing the six-stage cascade air sampler, according to the sampling site and time in the general hospital and to evaluate the degree of correlations between airborne microbes and environmental factors. Besides the main lobby, airborne microbes and environmental factors were not significantly different between the forenoon(9:00-10:00 AM) and afternoon(2:00-3:00 PM). Concentrations of airborne bacteria and fungi were 404 and $156CFU/m^3$ in the main lobby, 188 and $56CFU/m^3$ in the intensive care unit, 323 and $96CFU/m^3$ in the ward, 239 and $127CFU/m^3$ in the laboratory, and 139 and $33CFU/m^3$ in the newborn baby room, respectively. As a result, the level of airborne microbes was significantly highest in the main lobby and lowest in the newborn baby room(p<0.05). Outdoor airborne microbes concentrations were significantly lower than those of the sampling sites in the general hospital except for the newborn baby room(p>0.05). It was observed that temperature, relative humidity and carbon dioxide in the general hospital had generally positive correlation with airborne microbes. However, there was no correlation between the odor index level and airborne microbes.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.9
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• pp.5503-5506
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• 2013

This cross-sectional analytic study aimed to investigate any relationship between the body mass index (BMI) and an abnormal Pap smear. The subjects were 7,720 women aged 30-69 years who lived in Khon Kaen Province, Thailand, and had been recruited as participants in the Khon Kaen Cohort Study during 1990-2001. All had received Pap smear screening for cervical cancer. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Multiple logistic regression was used to determine the relationship between body mass index and an abnormal Pap smear. The mean BMI was $24.53kg/m^2$ (SD=3.98), and 2.14% had abnormal Pap smears. Compared with the reference group of women with a BMI ${\leq}22.9kg/m^2$, those with a body mass index of $23.0-24.9kg/m^2$ had a reduced risk of an abnormal smear (ORadj=0.92, 95%CI: 0.57-1.47), but women with a BMI $25.0-29.9kg/m^2$ were found to have an approximately 1.24 times higher risk ($OR_{adj}=1.24$, 95%CI: 0.86-1.80), and those with a BMI ${\geq}30.0kg/m^2$ had an approximately 1.63 times higher risk ($OR_{adj}=1.63$, 95%CI: 0.98-2.69). The results indicated that the risk of Pap smear abnormalities is increased in women who have a higher than normal body mass index, but this finding was not statistically significant. Nevertheless, public health personnel should encourage women to maintain their BMI in the normal range to reduce the possible future risk of cervical cancer.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.170-179
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• 2017

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the occupational radiation exposures of emergency medical technicians(EMTs) in emergency medical centers in Korea. The results will provide a basis for developing prevention programs to minimize adverse health effects relating to radiation exposure among emergency medical technicians working in this area. Methods: Radiation exposure doses were measured for twenty-two EMTs working in six emergency medical centers. Thermo Luminescent Dosimeters(TLD) were placed on three representative body parts, including chest, neck, and a finger. Measurements were conducted over the entire working hours of the participants for foor weeks. Dosimeters were analyzed according to a standard method by a KFDA-designated lab. Detection rate, annual radiation exposure dose, and relative levels to dose limit were derived based on the measured doses from the dosimeters. SPSS/Win 18.0 software(IBM, US) was used for statistical analysis. Results: Detection rates were 45.5%, 36.4%, and 45.5% for the dosimeters sampled from chest, neck, and a finger, respectively. The average annual doses were $2.39{\pm}3.44mSv/year$(range 0.38-10.0 mSv/year) for the chest, $2.72{\pm}3.05mSv/year$(2.00-11.34) for the neck, and $20.98{\pm}17.57mSv/year$(1.25-53.50) for the hand dose. The average annual eye dose was estimated to $3.61{\pm}2.37mSv/year$(1.50-8.34). The exposure dose levels of EMTs were comparable to those of radiologists, who showed relatively higher radiation dose among health care workers, as reported in another study. Conclusions: EMTs working in emergency medical centers are considered to be at risk of radiation exposure. Although the radiation exposure dose of EMTs does not exceed the dose limit, it is not negligible comparing to other professionals in health care sectors.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.265-271
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• 1996

This study was conducted to investigate distribution of lead particles by operation of industry, to evaluate the effect of particle size on the absorption to workers, and to recommend the Occupational Health Standard for lead. Total lead concentrations in the secondary smelting industry were higher than those in the battery and litharge manufacturing industry. Total lead concentrations in other industries except radiator manufacturing industry exceeded the standard of $50{\mu}g/m^3$. Only radiator manufacturing industry indicated lead concentrations significantly lower than those in other industries(p<0.05). Average blood lead level of workers was $85.1{\mu}g/dl$ in secondary smelting manufacturing, $51.3{\mu}g/dl$ in the battery manufacturing, and below $40{\mu}g/dl$ in the litharge and radiator manufacturing industry. Blood lead levels of workers by industry were significantly different(p<0.05). From relationship between airborne lead concentrations by size and lead in blood, confidence limits of airborne lead concentration equivalent to $40{\mu}g/dl$ of permissible limit in blood, was $147.9-489.8{\mu}g/m^3$ as total lead and $28.8-79.4{\mu}g/m^3$ as ACGIH-RPM. It is recommended that two separate occupational health standards for lead should be established by particle size. Airborne concentration of $150{\mu}g/m^3$ as fatal lead dust and $30{\mu}g/m^3$ as respirable lead dust was recommended.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.8
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• pp.3046-3053
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• 2023

Radon is a naturally occurring carcinogenic agent, poses a serious health hazard when inhaled or ingested in significant amounts. The water of the Padma river will be used as a tertiary coolant for the soon-to-be-commissioned 'Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant'. Hence, it is important to assess the radiological status of the river prior to the commission of this power plant. Therefore, for the first time, 25 samples of water were collected from various locations of the Padma River and analyzed for radon concentration using the RAD H₂O (DURRIDGE) radon monitoring device. The radon concentrations were found in the range from 0.077 ± 0.036 to 0.494 ± 0.211 Bq/L with a mean of 0.250 ± 0.093 Bq/L. All the concentrations were found to be below the recommended limits of WHO (100 Bq/L) and USEPA (11.1 Bq/L). The mean annual effective dose due to the radon exposure via inhalation and ingestion pathways were 0.638 µSv/y and 0.629 µSv/y, respectively, which were all well below the annual effective dose recommended by WHO (0.1 mSv/y). Since Bangladesh lacks a national safety limit of radon in water, this pioneering study provides baseline data on radon levels for the environment around Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.179-188
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• 2012

Purpose: This study aimed to describe the cultural competence among community health practitioners (CHPs). Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study design was used with a convenience sample of 257 CHPs. Data collection was conducted with a structured questionnaire, including Cultural Competence Assessment. Data were analyzed by t-test and ANOVA with the SPSS/WIN 17.0 program. Results: Most participants reported a moderate level of cultural competence (M=3.0,SD=0.41). Scores for culturally competent behaviors were high (M=3.4, SD=0.48) and cultural knowledge scores were low (M=2.6, SD=0.54). Those CHPs who were living with their family, were working in rural area, and had more opportunities to contact with multicultural patients and experience abroad showed significantly higher cultural competence. Conclusion: The findings support the need for future education and training to enhance CHPs' cultural competence.