• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.35 no.1
• /
• pp.49-56
• /
• 2002

Objectives : To identify the relationship between the use of medical services by workers with three types of respiratory diseases(total respiratory diseases, acute upper respiratory infections and chronic lower respiratory diseases) and exposure to hazardous agents after controlling for other factors affecting medical services use, such as characteristics of the enterprises(scale, industry type) and employee demographics (sex, age). Methods : The study population comprised 28,882 workers who had undergone general or special medical examinations at the industrial health center at least once between Jan 1995 and Dec 1997 and had possessed medical insurance during the period. We combined medical examination data with medical insurance data in order to analyze the relationship between exposure to hazardous agents and respiratory diseases, Results : Among the 28,882 study subjects, 17,454 employees(60.4%) used medical services more than once during 3-year study period, owing to more than one kind of respiratory diseases. In logistic regression analysis, sex, age and the size of the enterprises proved to be significant variables on the use of medical services for all three types of respiratory disease; The use of medical services increased with employee age. Women used more medical services than men and the employees in the large-scale enterprises used more services than employees in small-scale enterprises. However, exposure to dust or organic solvents did not affect medical service use due to total respiratory diseases or acute upper respiratory infections. Only in the case of chronic lower respiratory diseases did workers exposed to dusts(OR=1.12, 95% CI=1.01-1.24) or organic solvents(OR=1.19, 95% CI=1.05-1.35) use more medical services than those not exposed. Conclusions : Workers exposed to dusts or organic solvents are particularly apt to suffer from chronic lower respiratory diseases and use medical services more often than those not exposed. That is, chronic exposure to hazardous agents such as dusts and organic solvents is believed to be harmful and to cause respiratory symptoms and diseases.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
• /
• v.11 no.3
• /
• pp.53-61
• /
• 1996

The subject of this study was to analyse overviews of companies which exceed TLV by industry, hazardous factors, and to estimate the numbers of companies measured in 1993 and the implementation rate of working environment measurement by the act of industrial safety and health The result of this study was as follow. 1. The number of cases which exceed TLV was 5,937 companies. In distribution of excess companies by the scale of workers, small scale cases under the 49 workers were 3,150 companies(53.0%) of total cases, medium scale cases between 50 - 299 workers were 2,248 companies(37.9%), and large scale cases over 300 workers were 539 companies(9.1%). By the industry of excess companies, it was marked high rate in manufacture of fabricared metal products(except machinary and equipment), manufacture of textiles of each 1,048 companies(17.7%), and 1,018 companies(17.1%). By the area of excess companies, it was shown high rate in Kyeongki area marked 1,679 companies(28.3%) and Daegu-Kyeongbuk area were marked 1,417 companies (23.9%). By the hazardous factors of excess companies, noise was recorded high rate in 5,160 companies (86.9%), dust was shown in 1,245 companies(21.0%), organic solvent was marked 130 companies(7.9%). The number of excess factors by the company was 1.2. In this result, the more it was bigger scale companies, the more excess factors were much more and the more it was recorded higher rate in noise organic solvent heavy metals, etc. 2. The measured cases in institutes during 1994 were 1,596 companies, and excess cases were 157 companies(9.8%) among them. By the scale of workers, small scale cases under the 49 workers were 190 companies (17.9%) among 1,064 companies, cases of medium scale cases between 50-299 workers were 127 companies (27.9%) among 463 companies, and large scale cases over 300 workers were 31 companies(44.9%) among 69 companies. In this result industry of the highest rate shown was manufacture of basic metals in 20 companies exceeded among 53 companies (37.7%), and was manufacture of pulp, paper production in 14 companies exceeded among 40 companies(35.0%), and the excess rate were high in bigger scale. 3. Companies estimated by the data of excess cases and excess rate in 1993 were 30,474 implementation rate estimated for measurement of working environment was 34.3% of companies in korean industry. In this result, it was comparatively shown of measurement rate for the working environment in manufacture of pulp, paper product, manufacture of machinary and equipment n.e.c., and of high measurement rate and excess rate in manufacture of electrial machinary and apparatus, and manufacture of basic metals.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.263-271
• /
• 2014

Objectives: Along with the several cases of pulmonary disorders caused by exposure to indium that have been reported in Japan, China, and the United States, cases of Korean workers involved in processes that require handling of indium compounds with potential risk of exposure to indium compounds have also been reported. We performed biological monitoring for workers in various target manufacturing processes of indium, indium oxide, and indium tin oxide(ITO)/indium zinc oxide(IZO) in domestic factories. Materials: As biological exposure indices, we measured serum concentrations of indium using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and Krebs von den Lungen 6(KL-6) and surfactant protein D(SP-D) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. We classified the ITO/IZO target manufacturing process into powdering, mixing, molding, sintering, polishing, bonding, and finishing. Results: The powdering process workers showed the highest serum indium level. The mixing and polishing process workers also showed high serum indium levels. In the powdering process, the mean indium serum concentration in the workers exceeded $3{\mu}g/L$, the reference value in Japan. Of the powdering, mixing, and polishing process workers, 83.3%, 50.0%, and 24.5%, respectively, had values exceeding the reference value in Japan. We suppose that the reason of the higher prevalence of high indium concentrations in powder processing workers was that most of the particles in the powdering process were respirable dust smaller than $10{\mu}m$. The mean KL-6 and SP-D concentrations were high in the powdering, mixing, and polishing process workers. Therefore, the workers in these processes who were at greater risk of exposure to indium powder were those who had higher serum levels of indium, as well as KL-6 and SP-D. We observed significant differences in serum indium, KL-6, and SP-D levels between the process groups. Conclusions: Five among the seven reported cases of "indium lung" in Japan involved polishing process workers. Polishing process workers in Korea also had high serum levels of indium, KL-6, and SP-D. The outcomes of this study can be used as essential bases for establishing biological monitoring measures for workers handling indium compounds, and for developing health-care guidelines and special medical surveillance in Korea.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.312-320
• /
• 2020

Various LIDs with natural water circulation function are applied to reduce urban environmental problems and environmental impact of development projects. However, excessive Infiltration and evaporation of LID facilities dry the LID internal soil, thus reducing plant and microbial activity and reducing environmental re duction ability. The purpose of this study was to develop a real-time measurement system with complex sensors to derive the management plan of LID facilities. The test of measurable sensors and Internet of Things (IoT) application was conducted in artificial wetlands shaped in acrylic boxes. The applied sensors were intended to be built at a low cost considering the distributed LID and were based on Arduino and Raspberry Pi, which are relatively inexpensive and commercialized. In addition, the goal was to develop complex sensor measurements to analyze the current state o f LID facilities and the effects of maintenance and abnormal weather conditions. Sensors are required to measure wind direction, wind speed, rainfall, carbon dioxide, Micro-dust, temperature and humidity, acidity, and location information in real time. Data collection devices, storage server programs, and operation programs for PC and mobile devices were developed to collect, transmit and check the results of measured data from applied sensors. The measurements obtained through each sensor are passed through the Wifi module to the management server and stored on the database server in real time. Analysis of the four-month measurement result values conducted in this study confirmed the stability and applicability of ICT technology application to LID facilities. Real-time measured values are found to be able to utilize big data to evaluate the functions of LID facilities and derive maintenance measures.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.40 no.3
• /
• pp.204-214
• /
• 2014

Objectives: Vehicular emissions are one of the main sources of air pollution in urban areas. Correlation analysis was conducted between air pollutants and traffic volume in order to identify causes of air pollution in Gwangju. Methods: Using traffic volumes and air quality monitoring data from 2002 to 2012 from nine stations (seven urban areas, two roadside areas), especially at three sites where traffic volumes were high, the correlation coefficients were obtained between air pollutants as PM-10 (particulate matter), $NO_2$, $SO_2$, CO and $O_3$ at the stations and traffic volumes near the air monitoring stations. Results: Due to traffic volume and distance between the station and the traffic road, concentrations of pollutants at roadside areas were higher than at urban areas, with the exception of $O_3$. The concentration of $O_3$ showed statistically significance with those of other gas materials as $NO_2$, $SO_2$, and CO in winter (p<0.001) and spring (p<0.05). During the period of October 7 to 20, 2012, excluding periods of yellow dust, smog and rainy season, the ratio of $NO/(NO+NO_2)$ showed the highest value 0.57 and 0.40 at Unam and Chipyeong of two roadside stations, followed by 0.35 at Nongseong with vehicular effects. The correlation coefficient between traffic volume and $O_3$, CO, $NO_2$ became higher when the data on mist and haze days were excluded, than when all hourly data were used in that period, at the three sites of Unam, Chipyeong, and Nongseong. Conclusions: Air quality showed a considerable effect from vehicles at roadside areas compared to in urban areas. Air pollutant diminishment strategies need to be aggressively adopted in order to protect atmospheric environment.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
• /
• v.16 no.7
• /
• pp.89-96
• /
• 2018

In this paper, we proposed a parametric estimation method for estimating H/W cost by using the development data of professional service robot in Korea. In addition, we derived the factors and weights that we can estimate the costs depending on the application environmental conditions of the robot. For the analysis, we developed the equation of professional service robot cost estimation using parametric method. We also derived the adjustment factors and following weights through FGI and Delphi for environmental conditions. We have developed a cost estimation equation that reflects the weight, volume, and manufacturing difficulty, and can derive a relational equation that reflects the environmental factors(dust/water, heat/cold, safety, test, technology innovation). This provides an objective basis for estimating the cost of professional service robots and will lead to ongoing research for estimating the H/W development cost of professional service robots. In the future, we will increase reliability by collecting abundant data, and will strengthen models through finding functional factors.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.11-19
• /
• 2017

Reddish brown clay-silt sediments covered granitoid weathering crust in the Jangdongri area, Naju, Korea. Mineralogical and geochemical properties of the ~2 m sediment section were investigated. The sediments were composed mainly of quartz (50%) and clay minerals (45%) with minor contents of K-feldspar, goethite, hematite, and gibbsite. The clay minerals were illite, illite-smectite mixed-layers, vermiculite, hydroxy-Al vermiculite, kaolinite, and halloysite. Mineral composition varied little through the section with the minor upward enrichment of plagioclase and chlorite. Abundant illitic clay minerals indicated the remote source of the sediments because clays derived by granite weathering in Korea were dominated by kaolin minerals. A comparison with the mineral composition of Asian dust (Hwangsa) suggested that plagioclase and K-feldspar disappeared by chemical weathering after deposition, resulting in the quartz and clay-rich sediments. Plagioclase and chlorite altered to kaolin and vermiculite, respectively. Goethite and hematite derived by the weathering of iron-bearing minerals stained the sediment to reddish brown color. The mineralogical and geochemical properties of the reddish brown clay-silt sediments were consistent with those of eolian deposits identified in Korea, supporting eolian origin of the Jangdongri sediments, requiring future confirmation including age dating and isotopic analysis.

• Journal of Conservation Science
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.25-38
• /
• 2009

The Gyeongju Seokbinggo (Treasure No. 66) is an ice-storing stone warehouse, consisting mainly of alkaligranite which shows milky white color and medium-grained textures with drusy cavities. As results of deterioration assessment, the deterioration rates were determined as crack (12.5%), disjoining (6.7%), breaking-out (25.1%), exfoliation (20.9%), efflorescence (6.5%), brown discoloration (9.8%), darkgray discoloration (2.0%) and biological discoloration (36.5%). Comprehensive physical deterioration rate and discoloration rate were calculated as 43.7% and 68.7%, respectively, that indicates the Seokbinggo has been severely weathered. Indoor relative humidity was above 90% except in winter season. Indoor microclimate was hardly fluctuating although indoor microclimate was dependent on the outdoor climate. The main cause of deterioration was high relative humidity and a long time of wetness due to penetration of rain, underground water and condensation. It was identified that the water brought out biological discoloration, dissolution of minerals, structural movement and efflorescence, and the dust from the ground soil in front of the entrance accelerated brown and dark gray discoloration on the stone surface.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.323-335
• /
• 2020

In this study, a series of site measurement of particulate and gases pollutants at five tunnels were carried out along with case studies to review the suitability of the current road tunnel ventilation design standards. Previous studies by other researchers have shown that the ratios of the level of measurement to the standard were 27.9%, 1.6% and 3.4% for TSP, CO and NOx, respectively. Those measured in this site study shows even lower ratios; the ratios were 2.6%, 0.8% and 0.3%, for TSP, CO and NOx, respectively. The particle size analysis of TSP for the five tunnels shows that PM10 including tire wear and re-suspended road dust exceeded 20.4%. This implies that non-exhaust particulate matter must be taken into account, since the current design standards for the particulate matter (visibility) include only the engine emission. Based on the recent research results, for vehicle emission rate and slope-speed correction factors, revision of ventilation design standards for pollutants is required. WRA (PIARC) also emphasizes the necessity of the ventilation design standards for pollutants. In addition, enactment of a new road tunnel ventilation system operation standard or guideline is strongly recommended when considering the low operating rate of the ventilation system with jet-fans.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.366-375
• /
• 1998

Optical characteristics of the yellow sand and their influences on the ocean color remote sensing has been studied using ocean color sensor SeaWiFS measurements. Two cases of April 18 and April 25, 1998, representing yellow sand and background aerosol, are selected for emphasizing the impact of high aerosol concentration on the ocean color remote sensing. It was shown that NASA's standard atmospheric correction algorithm treats yellow sand area as either too high radiance or cloud area, in which ocean color information is not generated. Optical thickness of yellow sand arrived over the East Asian sea waters in April 18 indicates that there are two groups loaded with relatively homogeneous yellow sand, i.e.: heavy yellow sand area with optical thickness peak around 0.8 and mild area with about 0.4, which are consistent with ground observations. The movement of the yellow sand area obtained from surface weather maps and backward trajectory analysis manifest the notion that the weak yellow sand area was originated from the outer region of the dust storm. It is also noted that high optical thickness associated with the yellow sand is significantly different from what we may observe from background aerosol, which is about 0.2. These characteristics allow us to determine the yellow sand area with an aid of atmospheric correction parameter. Results indicate that the yellow sand area can be determined by applying the features revealed in scattergrams of atmospheric correction parameter and optical thickness.