• Development and Reproduction
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.95-100
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• 2012

Bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical with weak estrogenic activity is reported to affect preimplantation embryos, fetuses and alter their postnatal development. This study amied to determine the relation between the levels of BPA in the amniotic fluid and pregnancy outcomes. ELISA was used to measure amniotic fluid BPA in 120 pregnant women who underwent genetic amniocentesis at 15~20 weeks gestation. The most common indication for amniocentesis was advanced maternal age (35 yrs or older). BPA was detected in all amniotic fluid. The range of amniotic fluid BPA concentrations was from 0.89 ng/mL to 37.13 ng/mL with a mean level of 7.24 ng/mL. We compared the means of amniotic fluid BPA concentrations according to maternal age (${\geq}35$ vs. <35 yrs), fetal sex (male vs. female), gestational age at birth (${\geq}37$ vs. <37 weeks), and infant birth weight (${\geq}2.5$ vs. <2.5 kg). No significant differences were found in these outcomes. This is the first report of amniotic fluid BPA levels in Korean pregnant women. Our findings suggest that BPA may not affect the pregnancy outcomes such as fetal sex, preterm delivery and low birth weight. Whether prenatal exposure to BPA can have teratogenic effect on developing embryo needs to be studied.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.381-389
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• 2009

Confined spaces are inherently dangerous workplace and many fatal and nonfatal accidents have been reported. Even though these accidents occur in various kinds of confined spaces, there has rarely been reported on the health hazard agent, i.e., the types of gases and their concentration ranges. Therefore in this study, we evaluated several toxic and asphyxiating gas concentrations in various confined spaces. We surveyed 57 manholes, 3 sewage treatment plants, 2 yellow radish manufacturing companies and 7 barges to measure the concentrations of oxygen($O_2$), hydrogen sulfide($H_2S$), carbon monoxide(CO), ammonia($NH_3$). Lower Explosion Limits(LEL) and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). Those four types of confined spaces occupies 56% of accidents during last 9 years in Korea. In 57 manholes, the concentration varied according to the types of manholes; rainfall and sewage, and by location; residential and industrial areas. Sewage manhole in industrial area was evaluated as the most hazardous than other types of manhole like rainfall manholes, residential sewage manholes. The highest $H_2S$ concentration and the lowest $O_2$ concentration at sewage manhole in industrial area were 300 ppm, 8.7% respectively. In 3 sewage treatment plants, $H_2S$ and $NH_3$ concentrations were reached up to the 500 ppm and 200 ppm respectively. Two yellow radish manufacturing companies showed the concentrations of 316 ppm, 505.2 ppm, 90 ppm and 15.7% for $H_2S$, CO, VOCs and $O_2$, respectively. Seven barges showed 15.9%~20.9% oxygen concentration. Gas species and concentration ranges varied by the types and location of confined spaces; CO, $H_2S$, $O_2$ could be hazardous in manhole, especially manhole connected to sewage plants. CO, $H_2S$, LEL, $O_2$, $NH_3$ should be controlled in sludge silo and sluge pumping confined spaces in sewage treatment plant. The activity of lifting out radish from the storage tank was evaluated more hazardous rather than the other activities in yellow radish manufacturing industry. The employers must conduct the survey to identify all possible confined spaces in their local workplace prior to performing the tasks. At the national level to reduce the accidents in the confined spaces, we suggest that systemic approach and active education program including possible hazards, standard operation procedures, ventilation plan, and personal protective equipment in confined spaces should be implemented.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2007.04a
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• pp.58-60
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• 2007

Magnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI) has become a very widely used medical procedur e. Clo.sed and open systems are typically used with static magnetic fields at or below 2 Tesla. BWhole body SAR(specific absorbsion rate) is the value of SAR averaged over the entire body of the patient over any period of 15 minutes. Head SAR is the value of SAR averaged over the head of the patient for any period of 10 minutes. SAR is a measure of the absorption of electromagnetic energy in the body' (typically in watts per kilogram (W/kg)). The normal operating mode comprises values of head SAR not higher than 3 W/kg. The second level controlled operating mode comprises values higher than 3 W/kg. Current FDA guidance limits the SAR in the whole body. including the head to a range of 1.5 to 4.0 W/kg, depending on the patient's clinical condition. SAR, limit restrictions are incorporated in all MRI systems. and domestic' s guidance limits the SAR in a part body. including the head to 3.2w/kg and less. The purpose of this study is to evaluate on change of head SAR in using MRI pulse sequence and to check if exceed 3.2(w/kg) level in domestic a part exposure through measured head SAR. 23 patient's the average head SAR of pulse sequence is that T2WI sagittal is 0.5375. T2WI axial(FSE) is 0.4817, T1WI axial(SE) is, 0.8179. FLAIR axial is 0.4580. GRE axial is 0.0077, Diffusion is 0.0824w/kg. The head SAR exposed per patient was proved 2.3845w/kg less than the international standard. Coefficient of correlation for the relations body weight and SAR or for the relations ETL(echo train length) and SAR is 1 value. Coefficient of correlation for the relations between TR(time to repeat) and SAR is -0.602 value. so SAR increased relative to weight body and ETL. But the relations between TR and SAR is negative definite.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.109-120
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• 1999

Residual radiation and radioactivity level in TRIGA Mark-II, III research reactors and facilities at the KAERI Seoul site, which are to be decommissioned, have been measured, analyzed and evaluated to know the current status of radiation and radioactivity level and to establish and to provide the technical requirements for the safe decommissioning of the facilities which shall be applied in minimizing the radiation exposure for workers and in preventing the release of the radioactive materials to the environment. Radiation dose rate and surface radioactivity contamination level on the experimental equipments, floors, walls of the facilities, and the surface of the activated materials within the reactor pool structure were measured and evaluated. Radioactivity and radionuclides in the pool and cooling water were also analyzed. In case of the activated reactor pool structures which are very difficult to measure the radiation and radioactivity level, a computer code Fispin was additionally used for estimation of the residual radioactivity and radionuclides. The radiation and radioactivity data obtained in this study were effectively used as basic data for decontamination and dismantling plan for safe decommissioning of TRIGA Mark-II, III facilities.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.sup3
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• pp.191-195
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• 2016

Breast cancer is the most frequent cancer in females. Its incidence is higher in developed countries than in developing ones partly due to variation in risk exposure and partly due to better detection methods. Scattered evidence in Basrah, Iraq, suggests that breast cancer has been increasing at a significant pace in recent years. This study aimed to measure the current level of risk of breast cancer among females in Basrah and to describe the time trend over almost a decade of years. Data on breast cancer cases from all sources of cancer registration in Basrah governorate were compiled for the years 2005-2012. The data for each year were first checked separately for duplicate reporting of cases among various sources. Then the eight files were pooled together and checked again for any duplicate cases among years of registration. The final set of data contained 2,284 cases of breast cancer (2,213 female cases and 71 male cases). All patients were inhabitants of Basrah governorate at the time of diagnosis. Figures on the Basrah population were obtained from various sources including the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Planning and Developmental Collaboration and local household surveys. It was possible to have total population estimates for each year and by age and sex. The data were imported into SPSS (version 17) software. Age specific and year specific incidence rates were calculated. The age standardized incidence rate was also calculated using world population as the standard population to be 34.9 per 100,000 females. Age-wise, no case was reported among children aged less than 15 years and the incidence increased with advancing age reaching a peak of 123.8/100,000 females at the age range of 50-54 years. The time trend of the crude incidence rate showed only modest increased risk with passage of years and no age shift could be documented in this study. Breast cancer in females in Basrah is a significant health problem. The current incidence rate (crude, 23.7/100,000, age-standardized, 34.9/100,000) is high and justifies intensive efforts to improve early detection of cases, provide better treatment amenities and introduce long term preventive measures. Using the age standardized incidence rate as reported in this paper, it is possible to put the risk in Basrah within a regional and international context.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.2311-2314
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• 2012

Genetic polymorphisms of uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferases 1A6 (UGT1A6) and 1A7 (UGT1A7) may lead to genetic instability and colorectal cancer carcinogenesis. Our objective was to measure the interaction between polymorphisms of these repair genes and tobacco smoking in colorectal cancer (CRC). A total of 68 individuals with CRC and 112 non-cancer controls were divided into non-smoker and smoker groups according to pack-years of smoking. Genetic polymorphisms of UGT1A6 and UGT1A7 were examined using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). We found a weak association of UGT1A6 polymorphisms with CRC risk (crude odds ratio [OR], 1.65;95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.9-3.1, P=0.107; adjusted OR 1.95%, 95% CI 1.0-3.8, P=0.051). The ORs for the UGT1A7 polymorphisms were statistically significant (crude OR: 26.40, 95% CI: 3.5-198.4, P=0.001; adjusted OR: 21.52, 95% CI: 2.8-164.1, P=0.003). The joint effect of tobacco exposure and UGTIA6 polymorphisms was significantly associated with colorectal cancer risk in non-smokers (crude OR, 2.11; 95% CI, 0.9-5.0, P=0.092; adjusted OR 2.63, 95% CI, 1.0-6.7, P=0.042). In conclusion, our findings suggest that UGT1A6 and UGT1A7 gene polymorphisms are associated with CRC risk in the Japanese population. In particualr, UGT1A6 polymorphisms may strongly increase CRC risk through the formation of carcinogens not associated with smoking.

• The Korean Nurse
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.56-69
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• 1994

This study was done to develop self - directed learning modules related to asepsis and elimination including urine and stool for Fundamentals in Nursing practice education contents and to measure the effectiveness of those modules. The subjects of this study were 96 sophomore students in the nursing college. Self-directed learning modules were developed by the researcher on the basis of the Lippincott Learning System of Kruger (1986) and Modules for Basic Nursing Care of Ellis (1992). Videotape was editted by using videotape made by the Lippincott Company and Film strip made by the Trainex Company with Korean dubbing. Self-directed learning was done for one week with the asepsis module and two weeks with the elimination modules after confirming the requiered level of knowledge acquisition through pre-test. For measuring proficiency in self-directed learning, a written test for cognitive domain, a sufficiency test for psychomotor domain, and a confidnece examination for affective domain were given. The data were analyzed using descritive statistics, and Pearson correlation coefficient using a SPSS-PC program. The results are summarized as follows: 1. Sufficiency test and confidence examination grades showed high levels in both asepsis and elimination. 2. Written test grades showed a high level in asepsis and elimination of urine but showed a medium level in eliminationin of stool. 3. Grades of sufficiency and confidence in asepsis and elimination practice were statistically significant with a moderate positive correlation (r=0.4- 0.5, p<0.001). 4. Grades of sufficiency and written tests in asepsis and elimination practice also were statistically significant with a moderate positive correlation (r=0.5-0.7, p<0.001). 5. Students showed relatively high contentment with the self-directed learning modules themselves but revealed relatively low contentment with video program and the self-directed learning process. In conclusion, this study disclosed that proficiency levels in cognitive, affective, and psychomotor domains were high when asepsis and elimination modules were applied. Also students showed high satisfaction with the modules themselves, but didn't show high contentment with the video programs. In considering low contentment with the self-directed learning process, it is estimated the students had experienced some difficulties about using self-directed learning modules because this was their first exposure to the self-directed learning module and they were already accustomed to the demonstration-practice method.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.156-161
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• 2016

When air discharged from a radioisotope production facility is contaminated with radiation, the public may be exposed to radiation. The objective of this study is to manage such radiation exposure. We measured the airborne radioactivity concentration at a 30 MeV cyclotron radioisotope production facility to assess whether the exhaust gas was contaminated. Additionally, we investigted the radioactive contamination of the air filter for efficient air purification and radiation safety control. To measure the airborne radiation concentration, specimens were collected weekly for 4 h after the beginning of the radioisotope production. Regarding the air purifier, five specimens were collected at different positions of each filter-pre-filter, high-efficiency particulate air filter, and charcoal filter-installed in the cyclotron production room. The concentrations of F-18, I-123, I-131, and Tl-201 generated in the radioiodine production room were $13.5Bq/m^3$, $27.0Bq/m^3$, $0.10Bq/m^3$, and $11.5Bq/m^3$, respectively; the concentrations of F-18, I-123, and I-131 produced in the radioisotope production room were $0.05Bq/m^3$, $16.1Bq/m^3$, and $0.45Bq/m^3$, correspondingly; and those of F-18, I-123, I-131, and Tl-201 generated in the accelerator room were $2.07Bq/m^3$, $53.0Bq/m^3$, $0.37Bq/m^3$, and $0.15Bq/m^3$, respectively. The maximum radiation concentration of I-123 generated in the radioiodine production room was 1,820 Bq/g, which can be disposed after 2 days. The maximum radiation concentration of Tl-202 generated in the radioisotope production room was 205 Bq/g, and this isotope must be stored for 53 days. The I-123 generated in the radioiodine production room had a maximum concentration of 1,530 Bq/g and must be stored for 2 days. The maximum radiation concentration of Na-22 generated in the radioisotope production room was 0.18 Bq/g and this isotope must be disposed after 827 days. To manage the exhaust, the efficiency of air purification must be enhanced by selecting an air purifier with a long life and determining the appropriate replacement time by examining the differential pressure through systematic measurements of the airborne radiation contamination level.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.565-570
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• 2016

Radioactive iodine($^{131}I$) treatment reduces recurrence and increases survival in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer. However, it is important in terms of radiation safety management to measure the radiation dose rate generated from the patient because the radiation emitted from the patient may cause the exposure. Research methods, it measured radiation dose-rate according to the elapsed time from 1 m from the upper abdomen of the patient by intake of radioactive iodine. Directly comparing the changes over time, high dose rate sensitivity and efficiency is statistically significant, and higher chamber than GM counter(p<0.05). Low dose rate sensitivity and efficiency in the chamber had lower levels than gm counter, but not statistically significant(p>0.05). In this study confirmed the characteristics of calibrated ionization chamber and GM counter according to the radiation intensity during high-dose radioactive iodine therapy by measuring the accurate and rapid radiation dose rate to the patient explains, discharged patients will be reduced to worry about radiation hazard of family and others person.

• Proceedings of the Korean Radioactive Waste Society Conference
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• 2009.06a
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• pp.84-85
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• 2009

New approaches for detecting, preventing and remedying environmental damage are important for protection of the environment. Procedures must be developed and implemented to reduce the amount of waste produced in chemical processes, to detect the presence and/or concentration of contaminants and decontaminate fouled environments. Contamination can be classified into three general types: airborne, surface and structural. The most dangerous type is airborne contamination, because of the opportunity for inhalation and ingestion. The second most dangerous type is surface contamination. Surface contamination can be transferred to workers by casual contact and if disturbed can easily be made airborne. The decontamination of the surface in the nuclear facilities has been widely studied with particular emphasis on small and large surfaces. The amount of wastes being produced during decommissioning of nuclear facilities is much higher than the total wastes cumulated during operation. And, the process of decommissioning has a strong possibility of personal's exposure and emission to environment of the radioactive contaminants, requiring through monitoring and estimation of radiation and radioactivity. So, it is important to monitor the radioactive contamination level of the nuclear facilities for the determination of the decontamination method, the establishment of the decommissioning planning, and the worker's safety. But it is very difficult to measure the surface contamination of the floor and wall in the highly contaminated facilities. In this study, the poly(styrene-ethyl acrylate) [poly(St-EA)] core-shell composite polymer for measurement of the radioactive contamination was synthesized by the method of emulsion polymerization. The morphology of the poly(St-EA) composite emulsion particle was core-shell structure, with polystyrene (PS)as the core and poly(ethyl acrylate) (PEA) as the shell. Core-shell polymers of styrene (St)/ethyl acrylate (EA) pair were prepared by sequential emulsion polymerization in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SOS) as an emulsifier using ammonium persulfate (APS) as an initiator. The polymer was made by impregnating organic scintillators, 2,5-diphenyloxazole (PPO) and 1,4-bis[5-phenyl-2-oxazol]benzene (POPOP). Related tests and analysis confirmed the success in synthesis of composite polymer. The products are characterized by IT-IR spectroscopy, TGA that were used, respectively, to show the structure, the thermal stability of the prepared polymer. Two-phase particles with a core-shell structure were obtained in experiments where the estimated glass transition temperature and the morphologies of emulsion particles. Radiation pollution level the detection about under using examined the beta rays. The morphology of the poly(St-EA) composite polymer synthesized by the method of emulsion polymerization was a core-shell structure, as shown in Fig. 1. Core-shell materials consist of a core structural domain covered by a shell domain. Clearly, the entire surface of PS core was covered by PEA. The inner region was a PS core and the outer region was a PEA shell. The particle size distribution showed similar in the range 350-360 nm.