• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.131-141
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to serve as a basis for the planning of oral health education and the development of an oral health-promotion program for patients who visited dental clinics by examining how much dental hygienists offered oral health education to adult patients at dental clinics. A parent group was selected, being made up of 1,600 dental hygienists who registered with the Dental Hygienist Association and worked in Seoul. The questionnaire survey was carried out and an ${\chi}^2-test$ was made using the data collected from 218 subjects to determine how their practice of oral health education was different according to certain general characteristics(the sort of organization for which they worked, age, the term of their service, and the mean number of patients per day). As a result, the following findings were obtained: 1. Thees general characteristics made the following differences to the content of oral health, education: The sort of organization for which the subjects worked made a significant difference in the following tooth brushing instruction (p<0.05), the effect of oral prophylaxis or education about aftereffects (p<0.05), the regular examination of prosthesis (p<0.05), smoking-prohibition education (p<0.05), and the prevention poor-quality fillings (p<0.01). The mean number of patients per day made significant differences to the regular examination of prosthesis (p<0.05) and the prevention poor-quality fillings (p<0.01). But no significant disparity was generated by age or the term of service. 2. The general characteristics made the following differences to education about nutrition and diet counseling: The sort of organization for which the subjects worked had a significant effect just on the importance of a balanced menu (p<0.05). Age made significant differences in advice for vitamin, mineral, protein or other nutrients (p<0.01), and the importance of balanced menu (p<0.001). The term of service made significant differences in the importance of balanced menu (p<0.01), and advice for nutrients including vitamin, mineral or protein (p<0.01). 3. The general characteristics made the following differences to the recommendation and use of oral hygiene aids: The sort of oragnization for which they worked made significant differences only to a gingival massager and water pick (p<0.05). No significant difference was produced by age, the term of service or the mean number of patients per day. 4. The use of educational media for oral health was different according to the general characteristics: The use of pamphlets or booklets significantly varied depending on the organization for which they worked and with the mean number of patients per day (p<0.05). The use of slides or slide projectors was significantly affected by age (p<0.05). But no significant disparity was yielded by the term of service. 5. The general characteristics made the following difference as to whether a continued oral management system was carried out or not: The sort of organization for which they worked had very a significant effect on this result (p<0.001), and no significant disparity was made by age, the term of service or the mean number of patients per day. 6. The place where oral health education was giver differed according to the following general characteristics: The sort of organization for which they worked made very a significant difference as to the use of an examination room's dental unit chair or waiting room (p<0.01), and to the use of an oral health education room or reception counter (p<0.001). The term of service had a significant effect on the use of a counseling room (p<0.01). And the mean number of patients per day made significant differences in the use of a dental unit chair or reception counter (p<0.05), and to the use of an oral health education room or waiting room (p<0.01).

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.125-141
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• 2001

The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors affecting hearing loss in adolescent's use of PCPs, and to give the basic data for adolescent's hearing conservation program development and prevention education against their hearing loss. This study was a descriptive research about three factors affecting hearing loss; the knowledge and attitude about noise, the perception of hearing loss and the hearing threshold. The subjects of this study were 383 students in two general high schools and two vocational high schools in Teagu. They have been using PCPs but with no current or past ear disease. This study was carried out from Sep. 1. 2000 to Oct. 24, 2000. The instrument used for the knowledge and attitude about noise was a questionnaire developed by Rhee. Kyung Yong and Yi. Kwan Hyung(1996). The instrument used for the perception of hearing loss was a Smith Hearing Screening Questionnaire. A Belton Model 112 Audiometer. air-conduction hearing test instrument. was used for the hearing threshold. Data was analysed by a SPSS/Win 10.0 program with frequency. percentage, t-test. ANOVA and pearson correlation. The results of this study were as follows; 1. The average of concern about hearing scored the highest $3.66{\pm}0.70$. The average of perceived susceptibility scored $2.64{\pm}0.85$ and the average of knowledge about noise scored $2.13{\pm}0.56$. The average of total knowledge and attitude about noise scored $2.82{\pm}0.46$. The average of discomfort of hearing loss($2.51{\pm}0.81$) scored higher than that fear of hearing loss($1.35{\pm}0.53$). The average of total perception of hearing loss scored $1.93{\pm}0.59$. The hearing threshold of the subjects scored the highest at 500Hz(Lt. $23.21{\pm}6.62$, Rt. $23.39{\pm}7.02$) and scored higher in order of 1000Hz, 2000Hz, 4000Hz and 8000Hz. 2. The knowledge and attitude about noise and the perception of hearing loss were both affected only by one important characteristic, which was general and vocational high schools. The knowledge and attitude about noise raked (t=5.258, p=0.000), and perception of hearing loss raked(t=2.241. p=0.026). However. several other important characteristics also impacted significantly on the knowledge and attitudes about noise. They included grade (t = 1. 987. p=0.048), father's education(F=2.745. p=0.043), marks(F=3.157, p=0.044), drinking(t=2.307, p=0.022) and smoking(t=2.587, p=0.010). The left hearing threshold differed significantly by sex at 1000Hz(t=5.175, p<0.001) and 8000Hz (t=3.334, p<0.01). According to general and vocational high schools (p<0.001), at 500Hz (t=-5.056), 1000Hz (t=-5.253), 2000Hz (t=-4.905), 4000Hz (t=-4.704) and 8000Hz (t=-5.204) significant differences were also shown. Marks were significant at 1000Hz (F=3.824, p<0.05) and drinking was found to be significant at 500Hz(t=2.203, p<0.05). The right hearing threshold differed significantly by sex at l000Hz(t=5.557. p<0.001). 4000Hz(t=2.234. p<0.05) and 8000Hz (t=2.730. p<0.01). According to general and vocational high schools(p<0.001) at 500Hz (t=-4.730), 1000Hz(t=-6.271). 2000Hz (t=-4.573). 4000Hz(t=-3.554) and 8000Hz (t=-3.405) significant differences were also shown. Grades impacted at 500Hz(t=2.201. p<0.05) and 4000Hz(t=2.511. p<0.05), while marks were significant at l000Hz(F=4.1l5. p<0.05) and drinking was significant at 500Hz(t=2.333. p<0.05). 3. The left hearing threshold in accordance with use of PCPs differed significantly at 2000Hz(F=2.996. p=0.03l) according to volume level and at 8000Hz(F=2.197. p=0.022) according to duration${\times}$hours per day. The right hearing threshold differed significantly at l000Hz(F=3.075. p=0.028) according to volume level and at 8000Hz(F=2.925. p=0.034) according to duration. 4. The knowledge and attitudes about noise showed a light positive correlation with the perception of hearing loss. A positive correlation was shown. as stated previously in all Hz, between the left hearing threshold and the right hearing threshold, especially the highest correlation at 2000Hz(r=0.761. p=0.000). This study has shown that the factors related to adolescent's use of PCPs are important as they impact significantly an adolescent's hearing. These results then indicate that in future, when designing a hearing conservation program and prevention education this data should be considered.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.9
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• pp.1388-1397
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• 2005

This study has been carried out to obtain information regarding to the food habits including health-related behaviors, the nutrition knowledge and the satisfaction on the dormitory food service. The subjects of this study were 758 college students (580 male and 178 female) residing in the dormitory in Ulsan. The data were obtained through questionnaire and interview, and were analyzed using the SPSS package program. the results of this study are as follows: The average age of the subjects was $20.7\pm2.3$ years old. The average height and weight of male were $175.2\pm5.0\;cm\;and\;69.4\pm9.6\;kg$, respectively. Those of female were $162.6\pm4.1\;cm\;and\;51.8\pm5.9\;kg$, respectively. The BMI value of male was $22.6\pm0.1$ which ranged within normal level, but that of female was $19.6\pm0.2$ which ranged underweight level. In the case of food habits, $26.0\%$ of total subjects always skipped a meal (especially breakfast). The main reasons for skipping meals were no time to eat, no appetite, and weight control. Most of subjects ($69.3\%$) have usually eaten snack after dinner, their most favorite food was noodle (ramen), and the next was pizza. With regard to the health care, there was a significant difference between male and female respect to smoking (p<0.001), drinking (p<0.01) and exercise level (p< 0.001). The mean food habit score of the subjects was $59.9\pm11.1$. Male students had a higher food habit score than female students (male: $60.6\pm10.9$, female: $57.7\pm11.4$), and the group residing longer period had a higher food habit score than the one residing shorter period. Average nutrition knowledge score of subjects was $7.8\pm1.8$. Gender, residing periods, monthly pocket money influenced on the nutrition knowledge score. Female had a higher score than that of male (P<0.001), and the group residing longer period had a higher score than the one residing shorter period (p<0.01), and the group who had more monthly pocket money had a higher score than the one who had less. No significant correlation was found between food habit score and nutrition knowledge score. In the case of dormitory food service, the total subjects showed high satisfaction scores for the sanitation and the atmosphere, while low scores for the menu and the quality of food service. This study may provide basic information on the eating habits and health-related behaviors of college students in dormitory. However, further studies and nutrition counseling are needed to improve food habits and nutrition knowledge.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.889-900
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• 2003

This study was carried out to obtain information regarding eating habits, including health related behavior and health food consumption patterns. The subjects of this study were 149 men and 152 women residing in the Ulsan area. We obtained results by means of a questionnaire and an interview, and these were analyzed using the SPSS package program. The results of this study are summarized as follows The average age of the men was 47.6 $\pm$ 7.3 years and of the women was 47.3 $\pm$ 7.6 years old. The average height and weight of the men were 169.4 $\pm$ 5.5 cm and 67.7 $\pm$ 8.2 kg, respectively. Those of the women were 157.6 $\pm$ 5.0 cm and 58.2 $\pm$ 7.5 kg, respectively. The BMI values of all the subjects ranged from 20.0 to 25.0, all within the normal levels. In the case of dietary patterns, 24.3% of the total population always skipped a meal. In particular, 15.9% of the total population skipped breakfast. No time to eat, no appetite, having no taste, and having poor health were themain reasons for skipping meals. With regard to health care, there was a significant difference between the men and the women with respect to smoking and drinking (p<0.001). Of the total population, 40.5% hardly exercised (less than once a week), 26.2% exercised occasionally, 13.6% frequently exercised, and 19.6% exercised almost every day. A total of 60.7% responded that they were not interested in their health. The mean eating habit score of the subjects was 65.6 $\pm$ 9.9. The women had a higher eating habit score than the men (64.0 $\pm$ 9.6 for the men and 67.2 $\pm$ 9.9 for the women). Except for one group above 60 years, the older group had a higher eating habit score than the younger one. The group having a higher income and a more specialized career had a higher eating habit score than the one having a lower income and a less specialized career. There was also a marital difference. The group of single subjects showed a lower eating habit score than the married group. The group having a higher eating habit score drank, smoked and went out for meals less, and exercised more than the group having lower scores. They also were more concerned about their health. In the older group, there were more diabetic and hypertensive individuals. The subjects who had a higher BMI index were more likely to be patients with hypertension, especially in the men's group. Those who had a higher BMI index and hypertension simultaneously took a variety of medicines and foods for promoting health. Those who worried a lot about their health and had health problems tended to take special foods for their health. Patients usually took tonics. Special foods for health included Chinese medicines, tonic foods, vitamin or mineral supplements and manufactured health food supplements. Preferences for them depended on the sex and age of the subject. In the case of tonic foods, the men liked them more than the women. Foods other than tonic foods were favorites with the women. This study may provide basic information on the eating habits and health related behaviors of middle-aged people. However, further studies are needed to improve the eating habits and to change the nutritional attitudes, so that people can make better choices of health foods.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.197-211
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• 2011

Objectives : OHIP-14 and EQ-5D were used, targeting the residents of farming communities to identify the elements that influence oral cavity's health and quality of life due to health and to identify the importance of oral cavity's health in order to increase health of adults' oral cavity and quality of life via improved health. Methods : This research was conducted from July 17th, 2010 to August 16th, 2010 targeting 600 residents in Goryeong-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, aging over 40. The data has been analyzed using Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test and hierarchical multiple regression through SPSS Win Program 18.0 version. Results : 1. OHIP-14 and EQ-5D based on general characteristics showed lower oral health-related quality of life and health-related quality of life on the following cases: women (p=0.004, p<0.001), older (p<0.001, p<0.001), lower scholastic ability (p<0.001, p<0.001), lower average of average spending money (p<0.001, p<0.001), higher number of chronic disease (p<0.001, p<0.001), less drinking (p=0.012, p=0.008), lower perceived oral health and health status (p<0.001, p<0.001) and non smoking showed only EQ-5D (p<0.001). 2. OHIP-14 and EQ-5D based on oral health behavior showed lower oral health-related quality of life and health-related quality of life on the following cases: no periodic oral check-up (p<0.001, p<0.001), less experience of oral health education (p<0.001, p<0.001), horizontal tooth-brushing method(p<0.001, p<0.001) and lower frequency of tooth-brushing showed only OHIP-14 (p=0.042). OHIP-14 and EQ-5D based on oral health status and subjective oral symptom showed lower oral health-related quality of life and health-related quality of life on following cases: number of existing tooth less than 20 (p<0.001, p<0.001), the number of missing teeth more than 9 (p<0.001, p=0.044), DMFT (Decay, Missing, Filling Teeth) index more than 18 (p<0.001, p<0.001), wears denture (p<0.001, p<0.001), edentulous (p<0.001, p=0.002), have xerostomia (p<0.001, p<0.001) and have chewing discomfort (p<0.001, p<0.001). 3. Factors affecting OHIP-14 were gender, age, perceived oral health status, perceived health status, number of existing teeth, dental status, xerostomia and chewing discomfort, and the of reliability (how well it explains) the final model was 48.7%. EQ-5D showed relevance on gender, age, presence of chronic disease, perceived health status, xerostomia, chewing discomfort and oral health-related quality of life, and the reliability of the final model was 42.9%. Conclusions : In order to improve the quality of life of ruralists, oral health needs to be improved or remained by increasing the rate of possession of the existing teeth and preventing the loss of teeth. In order to do so, improvement of accessibility of dental clinic, change of direction from treatment-centered to prevention-centered health care system, development of oral health education program and various oral health care policies which would vitalize continuous oral health care system are considered to be necessary.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.1-27
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• 1996

Recently diseases related to personal health habit and lifestyle have become common in modern industrial society. These kinds of diseases can be prevented simply by changing one's lifestyle to be more healthy. As a result of realization our interest in general health has become stronger. The most basic environment for human-being in society is the home. Humans secure their livelihood, physically. mentally, and socially at home. Therefore health care at home is very important. In modern society the responsibility for this task is traditionally given to housewives. The purpose of this study was to measure the degree of the health knowledge, health concern, health behavior and family health care of the married women and to analyze its related factors. The subjects for this study. 1,100 married women who studied at social education institutes and who had children attending an elementary school or a kindergarten, were surveyed with questionnaires. The preliminary survey was carried out from Aug. 7, to Aug. 19, 1995. With complement of questions, the main survey was carried out from Sep. 11, to Sep. 30, 1995. The data was analysed by using the SAS program. The results were as follows. 1. General Characteristics (1) In the individual characteristics of the respondents, the married women aged 30-39 were 54.8%, the average age was 39.8 years old. 33.8% of respondents had 6-10 years of marriage period, and the average marriage period was 14.9 years. Most of them(96.5%) lived with their husband. Those who graduated from college and graduate school were 53.4%. And 68.3% of respondents had no job. (2) In the family characteristics, 69.3% of the married women had 3 or 4 family members and the average family size was 4.1 person. 60.0% of the respondents had 2 children. Most of the respondents(90.9%) had no married children. 84.8% of the respondents lived with their parents. Those who reported that the total family income was more than 2,500,000 won a month were 32.3%. When making the decisions, 68.5% of the married women discussed the family matter with their husband. (3) In the individual characteristics of the respondents, 51.5% answered they were in good health. 61.7% of the married women answered they obtained the health knowledge through mass media. 24.3% of the women answered they had patients in their family in these days. 67.5% of the respondents answered they could generally control their health by themselves. 2. The Health Knowledge, Concern and Behavior. (1) For the health knowledge, the average score was 11.8. The lowest percent of correct answer(27.8%) was in the item about the skin tests for tuberculosis. And the highest percent(97.%) was in the item about taking a rest. (2) For the health concern, the married women had the highest concern about washing hands. But they were indifferent to smoking. (3) For the health behavior, the highest score was in "changing socks and underwear everyday", and the lowest one was in "taking a regular dental examination". 3. The Family Health Care (1) For the family health care, the item of "using a drug with the order of doctor or pharmacist" had the highest grade(4.78), and "consulting with the family physician about the health problem" had the lowest grade(2.03). (2) Older women and the women with a longer period of marriage had the highest level of the family health care(p<0.001). The married women who had 3 children had the highest level of the family health care(p<0.001). Those who had 5 or 6 family member and higher income had the highest level had the high level of the family health care(p<0.01). Women in good health and those who had the health knowledge from health experts had a high level of the family health care. (3) For the correlation of the family health care and other variables, the health behavior showed the highest correlation with family heath care practice(r=0.74) and the second was health concern(r=0.43). The variables which could explain the family health care were health behavior, the health concern and married women's health status(r²=55.87). The most closely associated with family health care was health behavior(r²=54.93)

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.587-599
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• 2004

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to compare abdomen-fat rate, life style and social-support between normal weight women and obese women. Method: 304 women objectives from their 30 to 59 years of age were selected living in Je-chon city, Chung-Buck province and their height and weight were measured from April 1st to June 30th, 2003. Data were classified into low-weight group ($18.5kg/m^2$), normal-weight group ($18.5{\sim}22.9kg/m^2$), over weight group ($23{\sim}24.9kg/m^2$), and obese group ($25kg/m^2$) following the Korean Conference of Obesity, 2001. in which 119 people in the normal weight group and 91 people in the obese group, i.e. total 210 people were analyzed in sequence. Using SPSS Win 10.1 Program, frequency and percentile, and by ANOVA, $X^2-test$ and t-test were treated. Results: The average age of obese women was 46.68 distributing 40.7% of forties and 39.6% of fifties while normal-weight women were average 41.73-year old distributing 53.8% of forties and 34.5% of thirties, which revealed aged in obese women. The body fat rate of obese women averaged $37.52{\pm}4.17%$, in which 98.9% of obese women and 21.0% of normal weight women with a more than 30% of body-fat rate resulted in a higher body-fat rate in obese women. The waists of obese women averaged $88.37{\pm}8.22cm$, in which more than 85cm showed in obese women of 68.2% and normal weight women of 7.6% indicating a higher waist-fat rate in obese women. The abdomen-fat rate of more than 0.85 of waist vs hip-fat showed 74.7% in obese women and 58.4% in normal weight women, indicating a higher abdomen-fat rate in obese women. Obese women and normal weight women showed significant differences in education level, number of children, religion, menstrual status, and mother's weight. Especially, obese women ate hotter or saltier food than normal weight women preferring meat. However, no significant differences appeared in marital status, social economic status. occupation. eating habits. smoking. drinking and physical exercise. Social support levels showed a lower rate in obese women than in normal weight women, indicating a statistically significant difference (p<.05). Observing areas of social support, obese women showed lower rates in attachment/intimacy, social integrity, opportunity of foster and confidence in value except help and instruction, which indicated a statistically significant difference (p<.05). Social support for obese women showed significant differences in age, education level, social hierarchy, religion and menstrual status. Obese women were more negative than normal weight women in health recognition, indicating a statistically significant difference (p<.01). Normal weight women showed higher health recognition when provided high social support and significantly low (p<.01) health recognition when provided low social support. However, there was no significant difference in health recognition in obese women whether high or low social support was given. The health recognition of obese women showed significant differences in age, education level, social hierarchy, number of children, menstrual status, physical exercise, eating habits, eating taste and preference of food. Conclusion: Obese women showed elder than normal-weight women, higher body-fat rate and abdomen-fat rate, lower social support, and a tendency to more negative health recognition. Therefore, providing weight-control programs for the treatment of obesity and prevention of recurrence for obese women to prevent progressing to adult disease and promote a healthy life, we suggest that better eating habits and the encouragement of regular physical exercise should be included, as well as total approachment on change of health recognition and social support would be needed.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.29 no.4 s.55
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• pp.801-814
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• 1996

Background: Korean people could abuse healthy foods as well as medications, which might cause serious side effects. The aim of this study was elucidating liver dysfunction due to the self-medications of hepatotonics, healthy foods and herb medications by nested case-control study. Methods: Study subjects were drawn from male members of Seoul Cohort Study who were recruited by self-administered structured questionnaire survey through mailing to the healthy men between the age of 40 and 59 years through the program of biennial health check-up offered by Korea Medical Insurance Corporation(KMIC). The liver dysfunction was defined as the level of serum AST and ALT above 40 IU/L and increased in more than one hunderd per-cent during the 2 year follow-up period. To estimate the odds ratio between self-medication and liver dysfunction after controlling for potential confounders, logistic regression was performed. Results: During the follow-up period, 30 members were identified to fit into case criteria and 2,625 members were selected as control. In logistic regression analyses, history of healthy foods intake, age under 45 years, obesity, and habit of regular exercise were significantly associated with liver dysfunction. The following factors exhibited no statistical significance: intake of hepatotonics, of herb medicine; history of disease in family, of operation, and of radiologic examination; smoking habits and drinking amounts. Conclusion: The significant association between the intake of healthy foods and the liver dysfunction illustrates that chronically optional overuse of healthy foods might bring to hazards to health. As the increasing trend of the size of purchasing healthy foods in Korea, pharmacoepidemiologic studies evaluating the safety and efficacy of the widely used healthy foods should be performed in the near future.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.23 no.3 s.31
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• pp.324-337
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• 1990

To assess the effectiveness of the interventions in working environment and personal hygiene for the occupational exposure to the lead, 156 workers (116 exposed subjects and 40 controls) of a newly established battery factory were examined for their blood lead concentration (Pb-B) in every 3 months up to 18 months. Air lead concentration (Pb-A) of the workplaces was also checked for 3 times in 6 months interval from August 1987. Environmental intervention included the local exhaust ventilation and vacuum cleaning of the floor. Intervention of the personal hygiene included the daily change of clothes, compulsory shower after work and hand washing before meal, prohibition of cigarette smoking and food consumption at the work site and wearing mask. Mean Pb-B of the controls was $21.97{\pm}3.36{\mu}g/dl$ at the preemployment examination and slightly increased to $22.75{\pm}3.38{\mu}g/dl$ after 6 months. Mean Pb-B of the workers who were employed before the factory was in operation (Group A) was $20.49{\pm}3.84{\mu}g/dl$ on employment and it was increased to $23.90{\pm}5.30{\mu}g/dl$ after 3 months (p<0.01). Pb-B was increased to $28.84{\pm}5.76{\mu}g/dl$ 6 months after the employment which was 1 month after the initiation of intervention program. It did not increase thereafter and ranged between $26.83{\mu}g/dl\;and\;28.28{\mu}g/dl$ in the subsequent 4 tests. Mean Pb-B of the workers who were employed after the factory had been in operation but before the intervention program was initiated (Group B) was $16.58{\pm}4/53{\mu}g/dl$ before the exposure and it was increased to $28.82{\pm}5.66{\mu}g/dl$(P<0.01) in 3 months later (1 month after the intervention). The values of subsequent 4 tests remained between 26.46 and $28.54{\mu}g/dl$. Mean Pb-B of the workers who were employed after intervention program had been started (Group C) was $19.45{\pm}3.44{\mu}g/dl$ at the preemployment examination and gradually increased to $22.70{\pm}4.55{\mu}g/dl$ after 3 months(P<0.01), $23.68{\pm}4.18{\mu}g/dl$ after 6 months, and $24.42{\pm}3.60{\mu}g/dl$ after 9 months. Work stations were classified into 4 parts according to Pb-A. The Pb-A of part I, the highest areas, were $0.365mg/m^3$, and after the intervention the levels were decreased to $0.216mg/m^3\;and\;0.208mg/m^3$ in follow-up tests. The Pb-A of part II was decreased from $0.232mg/m^3\;to\;0.148mg/m^3,\;and\;0.120mg/m^3$ after the intervention. Pb-A of part III and W was tested only after intervention and the Pb-A of part III were $0.124mg/m^3$ in Jannuary 1988 and $0.081mg/m^3$ in August 1988. The Pb-A of part IV not stationed at one place but moving around, was $0.110mg/m^3$ in August 1988. There was no consistent relationship between Pb-B and Pb-A. Pb-B of the group A and B workers in the part of the highest Pb-A were lower than those of the workers in the parts of lower Pb-A. Pb-B of the workers in the part of the lowest Pb-A incerased more rapidly. Pb-B of group C workers was the highest in part I and the lowest in part IV. These findings suggest that Pb-B is more valid method than Pb-A for monitoring the health of lead workers and intervention in personal hygiene is more effective than environmental intervention.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.31 no.1 s.60
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• pp.112-126
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• 1998

To investigate the effectiveness of the interventions in working environment and personal hygiene for the occupational exposure to the lead, the blood zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP) concentrations of 131 workers (100 exposed subjects and 31 controls) of a newly established battery factory were analyzed. They were measured in every 3 months up to 18 months. Ai. lead concentration (Pb-A) of the workplaces was also checked for 3 times in 6 months interval from August 1987. Environmental intervention included the local exhaust ventilation and vacuum cleaning of the floor. Intervention of the personal hygiene included the daily change of clothes, compulsory shower after work and hand washing before meal, prohibition of cigarette smoking and food consumption at the work site and wearing mask. Mean blood ZPP concentration of the controls was $16.45{\pm}4.83{\mu}g/d\ell$ at the preemployment examination and slightly increased to $17.77{\pm}5.59{\mu}g/d\ell$ after 6 months. Mean blood ZPP concentration of the exposed subjects who were employed before the factory was in operation (Group A) was $17.36{\pm}5.20{\mu}g/d\ell$ on employment and it was increased to $23.00{\pm}13.06{\mu}g/d\ell$ after 3 months. The blood ZPP concentration was increased to $27.25{\pm}6.40{\mu}g/d\ell$ on 6 months (p<0.01) after the employment which was 1 month after the initiation of intervention program. It did not increase thereafter and ranged between $25.48{\mu}g/d\ell$ and $26.61{\mu}g/d\ell$ in the subsequent 4 results. Mean blood ZPP concentration of the exposed subjects who were employed after the factory had been in operation but before the intervention program was initiated (Group B) was $14.34{\pm}6.10{\mu}g/d\ell$ on employment and it was increased to $28.97{\pm}7.14{\mu}g/d\ell$ (p<0.01) in 3 months later(1 month after the intervention). The values of subsequent 4 tests were maintained between $26.96{\mu}g/d\ell$and $27.96{\mu}g/d\ell$. Mean blood ZPP concentration of the exposed subjects who were employed after intervention program had been started (Group C) was$21.34{\pm}5.25{\mu}g/d\ell$ on employment and it was gradually increased to $23.37{\pm}3.86{\mu}g/d\ell$ (p<0.01) after 3 months, $23.93{\pm}3.64{\mu}g/d\ell$ after 6 months, $25.50{\pm}3.01{\mu}g/d\ell$ after 9 months, and $25.50{\pm}3.10{\mu}g/d\ell$ after 12 months. Workplaces were classified into 4 parts according to Pb-A. The Pb-A of part I, the highest areas, were $0.365mg/m^3$, and after the intervention the levels were decreased to $0.216mg/m^3$ and$0.208mg/m^3$ in follow-up test. The Pb-A of part II which was resulted in lowe. value than part I was decreased from $0.232mg/m^3$ to $0.148mg/m^3$, and $0.120mg/m^3$ after the intervention. The Pb-A of part III was tested after the intervention and resulted in $0.124mg/m^3$ in January 1988 and $0.181mg/m^3$ in August 1988. The Pb-A of part IV was also tested after the intervention and resulted in $0.110mg/m^3$ in August 1988. There was no consistent relationship between Pb-A and blood ZPP concentration. The blood ZPP concentration of the group A and B workers in the part of the highest Pb-A were lower than those of the workers in the parts of lower Pb-A. The blood ZPP concentration of the workers in the part of the lowest Pb-A increased more rapidly. The blood ZPP concentration of the group C workers was the highest in part III. These findings suggest that the intervention in personal hygiene is more effective than environmental intervention, and it should be carried out from the first day of employment and to both the exposed subjects, blue color workers and the controls, white color workers.