• Proceedings of the KOR-BRONCHOESO Conference
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• 1972.03a
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• pp.7-8
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• 1972

The effects of noise exposure are of two types: Nonauditory effects and auditory effects. Nonauditory effects of noise exposure are interference with communication by speech, sleeping and emotional behavior. The noise will cause the high blood pressure and rapid pulse, also that decrease the salivation and gastric juice. in experimentaly showed that the Corticoid hormon: Gonatotropic hormone were decrease and Thyrotropic hormoone is increase. Auditory effect of noise exposure. when the normal ear is exposed to noise at noise at hamful intensities (above 90㏈) for sufficiently long periods of time, a temoral depression of hearing results, disappearing after minutes or hours of rest. When the exposure longer or intesity greater is reached the Permanent threshold shift called noise-induced hearing loss. Hearing loss resulting from noise exposure presents legal as well as medical problems. The otologist who examines and evaluates the industrial hearing loss cases must be properly informed, not only concerning the otologic but also about the physical and legal aspects of the problems. The measurement of hearing ability is the most important part of a hearing conservation, both preplacement and periodic follow-up tests of hearing. The ideal hearing conservation program would be able to reduce or eliminate the hazardous noise at its source or by acoustic isolation of noisy working area and two ear protections (plugs and muff type) were developed for personal protection.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.22 no.3 s.27
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• pp.368-379
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• 1989

The relationship between mercury level of hair and mental retardation was investigated. The 297 subjects with mental retardation were drawn from two schools providing special educational services, one, consisted of children living in an orphan home, another, children with parents. The 117 centre] subjects were drawn from whom had got average or above average academic achivement in a regular elementary school. Hair sample were taken from the nape of the neck and the mercury analysis was carried out on an atomic absorption spectrophotometer(IL 551). There was no relationship between mercury contents and age, and there was a statistically significant difference in mercury contents between male and female in the mentally retarded children living with parents. Children in the retarded group had significantly higher mercury contents compared with control group except the female group with parents. Also, the mercury levels in the retarded group living in an orphan home were significantly higher than that of the retarded group with parents. The concomitant diseases were Down's syndrome, epilepsy, cerebral palsy and autism. There were statistically significant differences in hair mercury levels in the cases of accompanying Down's syndrome and cerebral palsy in male and Down's syndrome and autism in female compared with the control group of the same sex. The most accompanying handicap was speech disturbance(40.7%) and the others were crippled, emotional disturbance etc. The percentages of double handicap were 66.7% among 6 persons exceeding 6ppm of their hair mercury contents. 10.4% among $3{\sim}6$ ppm and 15.7% among the group of 3ppm or less. The findings of this study suggest that the more opportunities of exposure to mercury in mentally retarded children may have occurred, so it can not be excluded the possibility of mercury as a contributing factor to mental retardation. Therefore, the causal relationship between mercury levels and mental retardation should be established through the examinations about their living environments, dietary pattern, eating habit etc.