• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.67-75
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• 2009

In order to provide basic data for the prevention of adverse effects of lead on health, we examined lead levels in the blood of 30 handicapped workers employed in manufacturing electronic components in Seoul from 2002 to 2008. The average lead level in the blood of all the subjects was $4.79{\pm}4.32{\mu}g/dL$ in females, $2.64{\pm}2.31{\mu}g/dL$ in males, and $3.88{\pm}3.75{\mu}g/dL$ in total. Lead levels examined in this study were significantly lower than other investigators study have reported. The average lead level from personal exposure of the subjects was $1.44{\pm}0.91mg/m^3$ in the workplace. The relation between blood lead levels and personal exposure was a simple linear regression; it's equation was "Lead level in blood = 6.04 - 1.92 lead level by personal exposure".

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.70-78
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to investigate the appropriate metabolite as biomarker for the biomonitoring of 1,3-butadiene(BD) inhalation exposure. We measured the hemoglobin adducts which were extracted from the blood of the ICR mice inhalation exposure with 100ppm and 500ppm 1,3-butadiene for 2 weeks(5 hr/day ${\times}$ 5 days/week). Hemoglobin adducts were the (N-2-hydroxy-3 -butenyl) valine (HB Val) and (N-2,3,4-trihydroxy-butyl)valine (THB Val). Body weights of the exposure groups were significantly lower from 11 exposure post-day in 100ppm BD inhalation mice and from 7 exposure post-day in 500ppm BD inhalation mice than in control. The levels of HB Val are 0.8~1.7pmol/mg globin for 100ppm BD inhalation exposure, and 2.1~4.4 pmol/mg globin for 500ppm BD inhalation exposure. The levels of THB Val are 15.0~22.0 pmol/mg globin in 100ppm BD inhalation exposure, and 34.8~45.7 pmol/mg globin for 500ppm BD inhalation exposure. So the levels of THB Val and HB Val are proportional relationship with BD exposure level. THB Val is 12.9~18.8 times higher level that HB Val in 100ppm BD exposure group and 10.4~16.6 times higher level than HB Val in 500ppm BD exposure group. We concluded that THB Val is an appropriate metabolite as biomarker for the biomonitoring for BD inhalation exposure.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.45-53
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• 2011

Background: Increasing numbers of young people go to clubs. In Korea, however, no studies have been conducted regarding the exposure of club patrons to secondhand smoke. The present study was conducted to evaluate the degree of club customers' exposure to secondhand smoke. Methods: The study subjects included 10 male and 12 female non-smokers. The investigational site was a club located in Daegu. Urine samples were collected before exposure to secondhand smoke in the club and 6 hours after a 3-hour exposure. The urine cotinine levels were measured via the LC -MS/MS method. A survey was conducted to collect data regarding the subjects' smoking experiences and the degree of exposure to secondhand smoke in their daily lives. Results: The average urine cotinine level increased from 1.09 ${\mu}g/L$ to 5.55 ${\mu}g/L$ ($p$<0.05). No significant difference existed in the change in urine cotinine level between the male and female subjects. In addition, there was no significant difference in the change in urine cotinine level by the degree of exposure to secondhand smoke in daily life. Conclusions: The average urine cotinine level in all the subjects significantly increased after exposure to secondhand smoke. This is the first study on exposure to secondhand smoke in clubs; these results can be used to craft measures that reduce exposure to secondhand smoke in public places, such as clubs.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.16 no.8
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• pp.419-426
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• 2016

The research is done to analyze the change of personal dosimeter according to the elapsed times(24 hours, 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 4 weeks) and magnetic field and find out the effective exposure treatment for radiation workers. At first, research the heat treatment and radiation of grouped TLD and keep them in different environments-exposed separately to observe the consequences of glow curve and the level of radiation exposure. As a result, we could find that 24 hours passing TLD group showed the difference in glow curve and the level of radiation. This can be considered as the change caused by magnetic exposure. Also the average radiation exposure level of TLD group, unexposed to the magnetic field, was 15.41 mSv. And the average radiation exposure level of TLD group, exposed to the magnetic field, was 14.83 mSv which decreased the biggest amount(3.80%) among the other groups. If a radiation worker, who works in PET-MRI room, uses TLD as a personal dosimeter, the level of real radiation exposure caused by exposure to the magnetic field won't change significantly as recorded at a regular record cycle but with not regular record but interim record, the lower exposure dose will be appeared than the real level of radiation.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.23 no.9
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• pp.831-840
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• 2013

The noise levels of workers in tunnel sites are likely to be high because tunneling work places are confined space. However, research on the noise exposure levels of tunneling workers have not been performed intensively due to restricted accessibility to tunnel construction sites. The aim of this study is to evaluate the noise exposure levels for workers engaged in tunneling work sites. Noise dosimeters were used for monitoring workers' noise exposure level in 5 tunneling work sites in accordance with the Notification of the Ministry of Labor. Among 5 tunneling work sites, 4 of them used NATM tunneling method and 1 work site used shield TBM tunneling method. The average noise exposure levels of NATM tunneling workers was 81.1 dB(A) and 15.4 % of the workers' noise level were exposed more than 90 dB(A) which is the exposure limit value. In Shield TBM tunneling method, 4.3 % of the workers were exposed more than 90 dB(A) of noise level, the average noise exposure levels of TBM tunneling workers was 84.1 dB(A).

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.19 no.2 s.20
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• pp.177-183
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• 1986

Subjective symptoms, counts of blood cells and liver function test were conducted on 198 male workers who were exposed to toluene in Kyungin area from September to November, 1986. According to the level of urinary hippuric acid concentration, the total sample was classified into the high exposure group ($concentration{\geqq}3g/1$) and the low exposure group(concentration<3g/1). The following findings were obtained by comparing the two group: 1) Contrary to the previous findings. the urinary hippuric acid concentration of toluene exposed workers showed bimodal distribution. It meant that the toluene exposed workers were mixed with the non-exposed or minimal exposed workers. 2) The high exposure group showed a lower level of leucocytes counts ($6,630{\pm}1,860{\mu}l$) than the low exposure group ($6,340{\pm}1,960/{\mu}l$). 3) The high exposure group showed a higher level of SGOT, SGPT and r-GTP than the low exposure group (p<0.05). 4) The high exposure group complained much more subjective symptoms (e. g. skin rash, loss of appetite, palpitation) than the low exposure group.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.sup3
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• pp.205-211
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• 2016

Excessive exposure to chemicals in the workplace can cause poisoning and various diseases. Thus, for the protection of labor, it is necessary to examine the exposure of people to chemicals and risks from these materials. The purpose of this study is to evaluate semi-quantitative health risks of exposure to harmful chemical agents in the context of carcinogenesis in a latex glove manufacturing industry. In this cross-sectional study, semi-quantitative risk assessment methods provided by the Department of Occupational Health of Singapore were used and index of LD50, carcinogenesis (ACGIH and IARC) and corrosion capacity were applied to calculate the hazard rate and the biggest index was placed as the basis of risk. To calculate the exposure rate, two exposure index methods and the actual level of exposure were employed. After identifying risks, group H (high) and E (very high) classified as high-risk were considered. Of the total of 271 only 39 (15%) were at a high risk level and 3% were very high (E). These risks only was relevant to 7 materials with only sulfuric acid placed in group E and 6 other materials in group H, including nitric acid (48.3%), chromic acid (6.9%), hydrochloric acid (10.3%), ammonia (3.4%), potassium hydroxide (20.7%) and chlorine (10.3%). Overall, the average hazard rate level was estimated to be 4 and average exposure rate to be 3.5. Health risks identified in this study showed that the manufacturing industry for latex gloves has a high level of risk because of carcinogens, acids and strong alkalisand dangerous drugs. Also according to the average level of risk impact, it is better that the safety design strategy for latex gloves production industry be placed on the agenda.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 2022

Background: The global shift toward greener societies demands new technologies and work operations in the waste-management sector. However, progressive industrial methods do not necessarily consider workers' health. This study characterized workers' exposure to bioaerosols and investigated the bioaerosols' potential to engage the immune system in vitro. Methods: Full shift personal aerosol sampling was conducted over three consecutive days. Dust load was analyzed by gravimetry, fungal and actinobacterial spores were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, and endotoxin by limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) assay. In vitro exposure of HEK cells to airborne dust samples was used to investigate the potential of inducing an inflammatory reaction. Results: The total dust exposure level exceeded the recommended occupational exposure limit (OEL) of 5.0 mg/m³ in 3 out of 15 samples. The inhalable endotoxin level exceeded the recommended exposure level by a 7-fold, whereas the fungal spore level exceeded the recommended exposure level by an 11-fold. Actinobacterial spores were identified in 8 out of 14 samples. In vitro experiments revealed significant TLR2 activation in 9 out of 14 samples vs. significant TLR4 activation in all samples. Conclusion: The present study showed that the dust samples contained potentially health-impairing endotoxin, fungi, and actinobacterial levels. Furthermore, the sampled dust contained microbial components capable of inducing TLR activation and thus have the potential to evoke an inflammatory response in exposed individuals.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.403-411
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• 2023

Objectives: Formalin is used as an anthelmintic in farms where flounder are raised. In this study, we aim to identify formaldehyde exposure levels for aquaculture industry workers and provide basic data for managing formaldehyde exposure. Methods: Exposure levels of formaldehyde in the air, including formalin spraying operations, were assessed separately for personal and area samples. In addition, considering the formalin administration method, dermal exposure to the hands was estimated when administering the chemical, and dermal exposure to the legs during water tank work was estimated by collecting water in the water tank and evaluating the amount of formaldehyde remaining. Finally, the respiratory exposure level and the estimated dermal exposure level were added to derive the total exposure level and compared with the maximum allowable human dose. Results: As a result of the airborne evaluation, the formaldehyde concentration of the worker (1 person) who performed the formalin spraying and flounder sorting was 33.61 ppb, and the arithmetic mean of formaldehyde concentrations of the workers (3 people) who only performed the flounder sorting was 3.28 ppb (range: 2.25-4.89 ppb). In the case of dermal exposure, when spraying formalin once, the amount was estimated to be 0.33-2.62 mg when wearing protective gear and 3.27-26.12 mg when not wearing it. Conclusions: There was a difference in the formaldehyde exposure level of workers depending on their operation of handling formalin and whether or not protective gear was worn. In particular, because the level of formaldehyde exposure due to dermal exposure can be significant, there is a need to improve formalin administration methods in a way that avoids skin contact as much as possible.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.17-30
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• 2014

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the status of exposure to blood and body fluid and factors affecting on blood and body fluid exposure of nursing students including knowledge, performance regarding standard precautions. Methods: 280 nursing students in D-city and S-city participated in this study. Data collection was conducted from January to March 2012. Students' knowledge and performance on standard precautions of infection control in hospitals were measured using the measurement developed by Hong(2010). Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics, t-test, one way-ANOVA, ${\chi}^2-test$, Pearson correlation coeficient, logistic regression by the SPSS WIN 18.0 program. Results: 58.6 percent of subjects experienced a exposure to blood and body fluid. The level of nursing students' knowledge level regarding standard precautions was $22.44{\pm}2.11$ and performance level was $4.31{\pm}0.50$. The factors affecting on blood and body fluid exposure of nursing students were knowledge level and education type about infection control. Conclusions: Based on the findings of this study, to decrease the exposure to blood and body fluid of nursing students, a proper education need to be stressed to improve nursing students' infection control knowledge and awareness.