• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.806-813
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• 2018

$^{222}Rn$ exists in nature in the form of a rare radioactive gas. In terms of environmental radiation, issues regarding $^{222}Rn$ have persisted because of its radiological hazardousness. Ulju County is one of the regions of Ulsan metropolitan city, with a population of 227,699. Ulju County has the highest density of industrial complexes in Korea. In this study, $^{222}Rn$ radioactivity concentration was measured and analyzed in 57 schools in Ulju County using 114 passive LR-115 type detectors to secure radiological safety and confirm basic information for reduction of resident exposure to $^{222}Rn$. The effective dose of $^{222}Rn$ was assessed to find the actual risk of the concentration surveyed in schools to human beings. The dose depended on four factors: subjects, $^{222}Rn$ concentration, dose coefficient, and time. The individuals subjected to dose estimation were classified into three types: students, teachers, and office workers. The subjects had different dwelling locations and times. The findings demonstrate that the radiological hazard to students and workers at schools in Ulju County owing to $^{222}Rn$ is negligible in terms of $^{222}Rn$ activity recommendation level.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.302-306
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• 2013

We report the dietary exposure to rotenone in the Korean population and children (1-18) through consumption of lettuce and cucumber. To obtain the residue data, we analyzed using the GC-NPD and HPLC-DAD method. Rotenone residues in samples were as follows; lettuce 0.16-1.15, cucumber < 0.001-0.006. The average dietary intake was determined using result from the 2009 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Data. The risk index (RI) was calculated using rotenone residues and dietary intakes. The lettuce and cucumber showed the highest at 18.41%, 0.00, respectively. RI fell below 100 of %RfD showing no risks in these vegetables. Therefore, the risk assessment on the detected rotenone was evaluated as safe level.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.267-271
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• 2023

Background: The objective of this study is to identify the working conditions and health status of Vietnamese male migrant workers in Republic of Korea, in comparison to the Korean general population. Methods: We conducted our survey through the Migrant People Center, and we received completed questionnaires from 87 male Vietnamese migrant workers. The questionnaire employed was identical to those used in the Korean Working Conditions Survey and the 2020 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The collected data from the Vietnamese migrant workers was then compared with the Korean reference population using indirect age-standardization. Results: Vietnamese male workers demonstrated a higher prevalence of health problems including hearing problems (age-standardized prevalence ratio (aSPR) 13.22, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 8.07-20.4), skin problems (aSPR 13.49, 95% CI: 8.07-20.4), and low back pain (aSPR 8.40, 95% CI: 6.50-10.69). Elevated exposure to workplace hazards such as chemicals (aSPR 2.36, 95% CI: 1.51-3.51), organic solvents (aSPR 2.22, 95% CI: 1.44-3.28), handling of heavy objects (aSPR 1.67, 95% CI: 1.24-2.21), and high temperatures (aSPR 1.96, 95% CI: 1.46-2.57) was observed among them. Additionally, they faced a higher risk of no personal protective equipment (aSPR 2.53, 95% CI: 1.26-4.52) and a greater prevalence of unmet medical needs (aSPR 7.14, 95% CI: 4.74-10.32). Conclusion: Our findings highlight the elevated workplace hazards, health problems, and unmet medical needs among Vietnamese male workers compared to the Korean reference population. These findings underscores the urgency for enhanced scrutiny over working conditions and protective equipment provision, coupled with efforts to improve healthcare accessibility and worker education.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.1431-1438
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• 2022

In this study, natural radioactivity concentrations and dosimetric values of fly ash samples were evaluated for the landfill area of the coal-fired power plant (CFPP) complex at Binh Thuan, Vietnam. The average activity concentrations of ²³⁸U, ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K were 93, 77, 92 and 938 Bq kg^-1, respectively. The average results for radon dose, indoor external, internal, and total effective dose equivalent (TEDE) were 5.27, 1.22, 0.16, and 6.65 mSv y^-1, respectively. The average emanation fraction for fly ash were 0.028. The excess lifetime cancer risks (ELCR) were recorded as 20.30×10^-3, 4.26×10^-3, 0.62×10^-3, and 25.61×10^-3 for radon, indoor, outdoor exposures, and total ELCR, respectively. The results indicated that the cover of shielding materials above the landfill area significantly decreased the gamma radiation from the ash and slag in the ascending order: Zeolite < PVC < Soil < Concrete. Total dose of all radionuclides in the landfill site reached its peak at 19.8 years. The obtained data are useful for evaluation of radiation safety when fly ash is used for building material as well as the radiation risk and the overload of the landfill area from operation of these plants for population and workers.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.sup3
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• pp.59-64
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• 2016

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer in females (27% of the total) and the main cause of death (16%) due to cancer in women in developed and developing countries. Variations in its incidence rate among geographical areas are due to various contributing factors. Since there have been a lack of studies on this topic in our country, the present spatial analysis of breast cancer incidence in Iran in 2009 was conducted using data from the national cancer registry system. The reported incidences of the disease were standardized according to the World Health Organization population and the direct method. Then data was inserted into the GIS software and finally, using the Hot Spot Analysis (Geties-Ord Gi), high-risk areas were drawn. Provinces with incidences 1.96 SD higher or lower than the national average were considered as hot spots or cold spots, at the significance level of 0.05%. In 2009, a total of 7,582 cases of BC occurred in Iran. The annual incidence was 33.2 per hundred thousand people. Our study showed that the highest incidence of BC in women occurred in the central provinces of the country, Tehran, Isfahan, Yazd, Markazi and Fars. The results of hot spots analysis showed that the distribution of high-risk BC was focused in central parts of Iran, especially Isfahan province (p <0.01). The other provinces were not significantly different from the national average. The higher incidence in central provinces may be due to greater exposure to carcinogens in urban areas, a Western lifestyle and high prevalence of other risk factors. Further epidemiological studies about the etiology and early detection of BC are essential.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.395-399
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• 2016

Background: Whether ambient exposure to environmental pollutants leads to hematopoietic malignancies such as multiple myeloma (MM) remains to be ascertained. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the immunotyping distribution of serum monoclonal paraprotein and the environmental influence on MM and monoclonal gammopathy of uncertain significance (MGUS) in the Taiwanese population. Materials and Methods: Serum protein electrophoresis with immunosubtraction by the capillary zone electrophoresis method was performed as primary screening for MM and MGUS. Clinical, pathological, and residence data of patients were also obtained. Results: From August, 2013 to June, 2015, a total of 327 patients underwent serum protein electrophoresis with immunosubtraction. Among these, 281 demonstrated no remarkable findings or non-malignant oligoclonal gammopathy, 23 were detected to have MGUS, 18 were identified as MM, and a further 5 were found as other malignancies. The most frequent immunotyping distribution of serum monoclonal paraprotein was IgG kappa (54.3%, n=25), followed by IgA lambda (15.2%, n=7) and IgG lambda (10.9%, n=5) in subjects with gammopathy. Additionally, it was shown that the elderly (OR: 4.61, 95% CI: 1.88-11.30, P<0.01) and males (OR: 2.04, 95% CI: 1.04-4.02, P=0.04) had significantly higher risk of developing MM and MGUS. There was no obvious impact of environmental factors on the health risk of MM and MGUS evolution (OR: 0.77, 95% CI: 0.40-1.50, P=0.49). Conclusions: The most frequent immunotyping distribution of serum monoclonal paraprotein included IgG kappa, IgA lambda and IgG lambda in MM and MGUS in the Taiwanese population. The elderly and male subjects are at significantly higher risk of MM and MGUS development, but there was no obvious impact of environmental factors on risk.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.390-397
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• 2023

Introduction: Biological risks are a major global problem in the workplace. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for a more comprehensive understanding of the biological risks at work. This study presents data on both communicable infectious biological agents and noncommunicable factors leading to death and disability for the year 2021. Methods: We followed the methodology established by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in their past global estimates on occupational accidents and work-related diseases. We used relevant ILO estimates for hazardous substances and related population attributable fractions derived from literature, which were then applied to World Health Organization mortality data. The communicable diseases included in the estimates were tuberculosis, pneumococcal diseases, malaria, diarrheal diseases, other infectious diseases, neglected tropical diseases, influenza associated respiratory diseases and COVID-19. Noncommunicable diseases and injuries considered were Chronic Obstructive Diseases (COPD) due to organic dusts, asthma, allergic reactions and risks related to animal contact. We estimated death attributable to biological risk at work and disability in terms of disability adjusted life years (DALYs). Results: We estimated that in 2022, 550,819 deaths were caused by biological risk factors, with 476,000 deaths attributed to communicable infectious diseases and 74,000 deaths caused by noncommunicable factors. Among these, there were 223,650 deaths attributed to COVID-19 at work. We calculated the rate of 584 DALYs per 100,000 workers, representing an 11% increase from the previous estimate of the global burden of work-related disabilities measured by DALYs. Conclusion: This is a first update since previous 2007 ILO estimates, which has now increased by 74% and covers most biological risks factors. However, it is important to note that there may be other diseases and deaths are missing from the data, which need to be included when new information becomes available. It is also worth mentioning that while deaths caused by major communicable diseases including COVID-19 are relatively rare within the working population, absences from work due to these diseases are likely to be very common within the active workforce.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 2020

We evaluated the toxic effects of antifouling paint (irgarol and diuron) on the population growth rate (r) of the marine diatom, Skeletonema costatum. The r of S. costatum was determined after 96 hrs of exposure to irgarol (0, 0.31, 0.63, 1.25, 2.5 and 5 ㎍ l^-1) and diuron (0, 7.81, 15.63, 31.25, 62.5 and 125 ㎍ l^-1). It was observed that r in the control (absence of irgarol and diuron) were greater than 0.04, while r in the treatment groups decreased with increasing irgarol and diuron concentrations. Irgarol and diuron reduced r in a dose-dependent manner with significant decreases occurring at concentrations above 0.63 and 15.63 ㎍ l^-1, respectively. The EC₅₀ values of r in irgarol and diuron exposure were 1.09 and 45.45 ㎍ l^-1. No observed effect concentration (NOEC) were 0.31 and 7.81 ㎍ l^-1, the lowest observed effect concentration (LOEC) were 0.63 and 15.63 ㎍ l^-1. This result indicate that a concentration of greater than 0.63 ㎍ l^-1 of irgarol and 15.63 ㎍ l^-1 of diuron in marine ecosystems induced to decreasing r of S. costatum. Also, these toxic values can be useful as a baseline data for the toxic evaluation of irgarol and diuron in marine ecosystems.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.359-369
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• 2013

Chronic effects such as reproduction and population dynamics with elevated $CO_2$ concentration were evaluated using two representative marine benthic species, copepod (Tisbe sp.) and amphipod (Monocorophium acherusicum) adopting long-term exposure. Juvenile copepod and amphipod individuals were cultivated in the seawater equilibrated with control air (0.395 mmol $CO_2$/air mol) and high $CO_2$ air having 0.998, to 3.03, 10.3, and 30.1 mmol $CO_2$/air mol during 20 and 46 days, respectively. After the exposure period, the number of benthic invertebrate was counted with separate larval and juvenile stage such as naupliar, copepodid and adult for copepod, or neonate and adult for amphipod, respectively. The individual number of both test species at each life-stage was significantly decreased in seawater with 10.3 mmol $CO_2$/air mol or higher. Recently, the technology of marine $CO_2$ sequestration has been developed for the reduction of $CO_2$ emission, which may cause climate change. However, under various scenarios of $CO_2$ leaks during the injection process or sequestrated $CO_2$ in marine geological structure, the potential risk to organism including various invertebrates can be expected to exposure. So the results of this study suggested that the detailed consideration on the adverse effect with marine ecosystem can be prerequisite for the marine $CO_2$ sequestration projects.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.368-376
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• 2023

Objectives: Recent research indicates a potential association between workplace violence and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the working-age population. However, the relevant evidence in the United States is sparse. Thus, this study was conducted to explore the possible relationship between workplace violence and CVD among United States workers. Methods: We utilized cross-sectional data from the 2015 National Health Interview Survey, which included a representative sample of 18 380 workers, to investigate the associations between workplace violence and the prevalence of CVD using logistic regression. Workplace violence was determined based on self-reported threats, bullying, or harassment at work over the past 12 months, supplemented with additional information regarding frequency. CVD included all forms of heart disease and stroke. Results: A total of 1334 workers reported experiences of workplace violence, and 1336 workers were diagnosed with CVD. After adjustment for covariates, participants who reported any instance of workplace violence had significantly higher odds of having CVD (odds ratio [OR], 1.76; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.35 to 2.30) than those who reported no such violence. Furthermore, the highest odds of CVD (OR, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.23 to 2.63) were observed among those frequently exposed to workplace violence. Even occasional exposure to workplace violence was associated with 74% excess odds of CVD. Conclusions: Our study indicates an association between workplace violence and CVD in United States workers, exhibiting a dose-response pattern.