• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.162-168
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• 2009

The aim of this study is to investigate microbial sanitary condition of public baths in Seoul, Korea. A total of 28 water samples were collected from 14 different public baths and sudatoriums. The prevalence of fecal indicator microorganisms such as total coliform, fecal coliform, and Escherichia coli was characterized. In addition, bacteria in water was membrane filtered by 0.45um nitrocellulose membrane, and the filter was analyzed by both cultivation and PCR amplification of partial 16S rRNA gene. The levels of chlorine were measured for each of water samples. More than 40% of 14 collected water samples, the concentrations of total coliform bacteria exceeded the water quality for bath water guideline. There was no significant correlation between chlorine residue and the presence of total coliform. Various microorganisms including pathogenic microorganisms were identified from cultivation and subsequent analysis of 16s rRNA gene sequences. Our results suggest that appropriate hygiene practice and continuous monitoring is needed for reducing health risk associated with public bathhouses.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Rural Architecture
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.129-138
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• 1999

The aim of this study is to obtain new design factors which can be applied to the constructing design of bathrooms. This study was especially focused on the using patterns of the bathrooms of the rural apartment houses in Chungbuk Province which have been constructed by the public program to improve old farm houses. To carry out this study, field study, questionnaire survey and personal interview have been made. The results are as follows. 1) It is essential to lay out a bathtub, because farmers need to relieve their fatigue caused by manual labor, and mostly they don't find a bathhouse in the neighborhood. 2) With the drainage way, it is necessary to equip an apparatus to collect and remove the fallen hair and garbage which usually stop up the beak. 3) Considering the using patterns of the bathrooms as the place of washing one's face, foot, hair and clothes, one more hydrant is needed in the bathroom besides the two hydrants in the washstand and bathtub.