• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.40 no.5
• /
• pp.397-406
• /
• 2014

Objectives: Perchloroethylene (PCE) is a volatile chemical widely used as a solvent in the dry-cleaning and textile processing industries. It was evaluated as Group 2 "probably carcinogenic to humans" by the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) of the United State Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) in 2012. In order to provide a scientific basis for establishing risk management measures for chemicals on the national priority substances list, aggregate risk assessment was conducted for PCE, included in the top-10 substances. Methods: We conducted the investigation and monitoring of PCE exposure (e.g., exposure scenario, detection levels, and exposure factors, etc.) and assessed its multi-media (e.g., outdoor air, indoor air, and ground water) exposure risk with a deterministic and probabilistic approach. Results: In human risk assessment (HRA), the level of human exposure was higher in the younger age group. The exposure level through inhalation at home was the highest among the exposure routes. Outdoor air or uptake of drinking water represented less than 1% of total contributions to PCE exposure. These findings suggested that the level of risk was negligible since the Hazard Index (HI) induced by HRA was below one among all age groups, with a maximum HI value of 0.17 when reasonable maximum exposure was applied. Conclusion: In conclusion, it was suggested that despite low exposure risk, further studies are needed considering main sources, including occupational exposure.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.47 no.1
• /
• pp.7-17
• /
• 2014

Risk assessment considers the situations and characteristics of the exposure environment and host. Various physiological variables of the human body reflects the characteristics of the population that can directly influence risk exposure. Therefore, identification of exposure factors based on the Korean population is required for appropriate risk assessment. It is expected that a handbook about general exposure factors will be used by professionals in many fields as well as the risk assessors of the health department. The process of developing the exposure factors handbook for the Korean population will be introduced in this article, with a specific focus on the general exposure factors including life expectancy, body weight, surface area, inhalation rates, amount of water intake, and soil ingestion targeting the Korean population. The researchers used national databases including the Life Table and the 2005 Time Use Survey from the National Statistical Office. The anthropometric study of size in Korea used the resources provided by the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards. In addition, direct measurement and questionnaire surveys of representative samples were performed to calculate the inhalation rate, drinking water intake, and soil ingestion.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.211-221
• /
• 2018

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify work-related risk factors associated with upper extremity symptoms among construction workers using the fourth Korean Working Condition Survey(KWCS). Methods: Subjects were 2,724 construction workers selected from 50,007 respondents in the 2014 KWCS. The presence or absence of upper extremity symptoms and work-related risk factors, including individual, physical, and psychosocial factors, were used as variables. A multiple logistic regression analysis was performed in order to evaluate the relationship of the upper extremity symptoms with work-related risk factors. Results: Upper extremity symptoms were significantly associated with: employment type(OR: 1.57, 95% CI: 1.18~2.09); job satisfaction(OR: 2.06, 95% CI: 1.33~3.18); verbal abuse(OR: 2.06, 95% CI: 1.33~3.18); tiring or painful posture(OR: 2.33, 95% CI: 1.73~3.15); carrying or moving heavy loads(OR: 1.68, 95% CI: 1.23~2.24); repetitive hand or arm movement(OR: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.06~1.91) Conclusions: In order to prevent the upper extremity musculoskeletal disease in the construction industry, it is necessary to stabilize employment, enhance job satisfaction, and eliminate violence in the workplace and improve physical work environment.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.51 no.1
• /
• pp.139-142
• /
• 2013

Pinworm infection can occur through contact with contaminated surfaces followed by ingestion or even through inhalation of infective eggs. We have limited information regarding environmental contamination by eggs of Enterobius vermicularis. In order to determine environmental risk factors associated with the rate of E. vermicularis infection, we investigated possible environmental risk factors using a questionnaire from 46 kindergartens in 3 different cities of the southeast area of Korea. In total, using the cellotape anal swab technique, 3,422 children were examined for E. vermicularis infection. We evaluated E. vermicularis egg of books, educational materials, toys, room door handles, dusts of window edges, desks, chairs, tables, and dusts of classrooms. The overall egg-positive rate for E. vermicularis was 6.0%, and the prevalence of enterobiasis in each kindergarten ranged between 0% and 16.9%. We found that 78.9% of egg positive kindergartens were managed by private foundations, which was significantly higher, compared with kindergartens managed by public foundations or the nation. Compared with public or national kindergartens, most private kindergartens were located in residential areas and the number of children in these areas was significantly higher. In conclusion, numbers of children in kindergartens was found to be an environmental risk factor associated with transmission of enterobiasis in Korea.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.1-15
• /
• 2008

Recently, because of the various factors by uncertainty of underground, the risks in tunnelling have been occurred increasingly. Therefore, it is very important to estimate and control the risks considering geotechnical conditions for tunnel stability and environmental problems by tunnel construction. In this study, the risk analysis for tunnel stability was carried out by classifying the risk factors such as ground support capacity, ground settlement, the inflow of groundwater into the tunnel and the damage by the earthquake. Also, the risk assessment for the environmental problems was performed by calculating the vibration and noise by blasting and the drawdown of the groundwater level caused by tunnel construction. Each risk factor was evaluated quantitatively based on the probabilistic and statistic technique, then it was analyzed the distribution characteristic along overall tunnel site. Finally, it was evaluated that how much each risk factor influences on the construction cost with a period for tunnel construction, so it is possible to perform reasonable tunnel design which was capable of minimizing the risks in the tunnel construction.

• 한국지형공간정보학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2005.08a
• /
• pp.61-72
• /
• 2005

The landslide risk assessment process consists of hazard risk assessment and vulnerability analysis. landslide hazard risk is location dependent. Therefore, maps and spatial technologies such as GIS are very important components of the risk assessment process. This paper discusses the advantages of using GIS technology in the risk assessment process and illustrates the benefits through case studies of live projects undertaken. The goal of this study is to generate a map of landslide vulnerability map by analysis of static natural factors with GIS. A simple and efficient algorithm is proposed to generate a landslide potentialities map from DEM and existing maps. The categories of controlling factors for landslides, aspect of slope, soil, vegetation are defined. The weight values for landslide potentialities are calculated from AHP method. Slope and slope-direction are extracted from DEM, and soil informations are extracted from digital soil map. Also, vegetation informations are extracted from digital vegetation map. Finally, as overlaying, landslide potentialities map is made out, and it is verified with landslide place.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.20-26
• /
• 2008

The objective of the study which utilised population based data was to determine the respiratory condition of elementary school children in Gangneung. From October 9th to December 14th, 2006, Pulmonary Function Tests (PFT) including Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) and Forced Expiratoy Volume in I Second $(FEV_1)$ were conducted on the target group of children using a spirometer. The prevalence of asthmatic symptoms was 29.8% among boys and 39.6% among girls. By using logistic regression, we found that family history of allergic rhinitis (OR=3.90, CI=1.05-14.51), experience of allergic conjunctivitis (OR=4.67, CI=1.54-14.16) and atopic dermatitis (OR=2.86, CI=1.17-7.05) significantly increased the asthmatic symptoms. Also, a family history of asthma and food allergy were associated with asthmatic symptoms. In relation to housing and environmental risk factors, residences under the ground (OR=3.59, CI=1.35-9.51) and big-size dolls (OR=2.71, CI=0.86-8.53) significantly increased the prevalence of asthmatic symptoms. For PFT, above four families, exposure of passive smoking and pets significantly reduced FVC in both groups (p<0.05). In girls, a big-size doll was significantly associated with decreased lung function (FVC and $FEV_1$). In boys, using bed significantly reduced $FEV_1$. Also, the risk of asthmatic symptoms was found to increase when the house has been built for 5 years or more, the house is close to a road $({\leq}100m)$, a gas/Kerosene heater or carpet is utilized within the house. However, their differences were not significant. It is concluded that genetic factor such as a family history of respiratory disease, allergic symptoms and housing risk factor are related to asthmatic symptoms. These results were worth noting because the findings will help address risk factors related respiratory symptoms especially in relation to housing and environment.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.43 no.6
• /
• pp.459-471
• /
• 2010

The main behavioural and environmental risk factors for cancer mortality in the world are related to diet and physical inactivity, use of addictive substances, sexual and reproductive health, exposure to air pollution and use of contaminated needles. The population attributable fraction for all cancer sites worldwide considering the joint effect of these factors is about 35% (34 % for low- and middle-income countries and 37% for high-income countries). Seventy-one percent of lung cancer deaths are caused by tobacco use (lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death globally). The combined effects of tobacco use, low fruit and vegetable intake, urban air pollution, and indoor smoke from household use of solid fuels cause 76% of lung cancer deaths. Exposure to these behavioural and environmental factors is preventable; modifications in lifestyle could have a large impact in reducing the cancer burden worldwide. The evidence of association between lifestyle factors and cancer, as well as the main international recommendations for prevention are briefly reviewed and commented upon here.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.287-294
• /
• 2004

Diabetic complication is one of major risk factors leading to vascular disease such as atherosclerosis, stroke, coronary heart disease and etc. Several factors affecting the acceleration of diabetic vascular complication have been known such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, immune complex and genetic factors. To screen and develop new therapeutics agents for diabetic vascular complication, it is strongly needed to develop animal models for diabetic complications. However in rodents models, diabetic complications is not well developed. Furthermore to assess the possibility of new therapeutics for diabetic vascular complications, diabetic animal models which have the risk factors of diabetic complications is needed. We aim to develop and establish an diabetic animal model which have diabetic complications with hyperlipidemia which is one of risk factors for diabetic complications. We induced insulin -dependent diabetes by intra. venous injection of streptozotocin (35 mg/kg/day) in RICO rats which is a spontaneous animal model for hyperlipidemia. Our models (STZ RICO) showed hyperglycemia, persistent high level of plasma cholesterol and triglyceridemia with severe diabetic renal changes until 28 weeks after induction of diabetes. STZ-RICO rats could be used for the evaluations of newly developed diabetic drugs.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.65-72
• /
• 2004

Environmental risk assessment of cadmium compounds was conducted using national monitoring data of aquatic and terrestrial compartments of local area. Aquatic and terrestrial toxicities of cadmium compounds on algae, daphnid, fish, earthworm, springtails and other species were evaluated. The toxicity data evaluated in this study were mainly from ECOTOX database provided by US EPA. Assessment factors were determined according to the EU technical guidance document and/or OECD proposal. Predicted no effect concentration (PNEC) values of aquatic and terrestrial toxicity were 25$\mu\textrm{g}$/L and 0.2 mg/kg, respectively and they were compared with cadmium exposure data of several local areas, which were used as Predicted exposure concentration(PEC) values. Most of the local area were found to be not risky. However, the risk values (PEC/NEC) of some metropolitan areas were greater than 1 when the most conservative PNEC value was applied.