• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제14권3호
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• pp.325-331
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• 2023

Background: Heat stress is a harmful physical hazard in many occupational settings. However, consequences of occupational heat exposure among workers in a sugarcane factory in Ethiopia are not well characterized. This study aimed to assess the level of occupational heat exposure-related symptoms and contributing factors. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, five workstations were selected for temperature measurement. Heat stress levels were measured using a wet-bulb globe temperature index meter. A stratified random sampling technique was used to select 1,524 participants. Heat-related symptoms were assessed using validated questionnaires. Results: The level of occupational heat exposure was 72.4% (95% CI: 70.2%-74.8%), while 71.6% (95% CI: 69.3%-74.9%) of participants experienced at least one symptom related to heat stress. The most common heat-related symptoms were swelling of hands and feet (78%), severe thirst (77.8%) and dry mouth (77.4%). The identified risk factors were a lack of reflective shields (AOR: 2.20, 95% CI: 1.53, 3.17), not-enclosed extreme heat sources (AOR: 1.76, 95% CI: 1.23, 2.51), a lack of access to shade (AOR: 9.62, 95% CI: 6.20, 14.92), and inappropriate protective clothing provision (AOR: 1.58, 95% CI: 1.27, 2.71). Conclusions: The burden of occupational heat exposure and heat-induced symptoms was high. Lack of reflective shields, the absence of enclosed extreme heat sources, a lack of access to shade, and inappropriate protective clothing provision were considerable attributes of heat stress. Therefore, the use of mechanical solutions to stop heat emissions at their sources and the key factors identified were areas for future intervention.

• 한국소음진동공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국소음진동공학회 2014년도 추계학술대회 논문집
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• pp.698-698
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• 2014

According to the analysis of special medical examination and work environment monitoring data, the rate of C1 and D1 on noise hazard exceeded 90% among those of total hazardous factors. The rate of company exceeding noise exposure limit was also more than 90%. The analysis result shows that main ages diagnosed with C1 and D1 was age of 50s. The majority scale company having workers diagnosed with C1 and D1 was the companies employing 5~49 workers. Types of industries which have a large number of companies exceeding noise exposure limit were automobile and trailer manufacturing, metal processing industry and primary metal manufacturing. A large number of work processes exceeding noise exposure limit were forming and processing work, cutting and bending work and grinding. To reduce the number of company exceeding noise exposure limit, the reduction counterplan should be focused on the type of industry and the work process which exceeded noise exposure limit frequently. However, the reduction counterplan is preemptively necessary to the type of industry and the work process which exceeded noise exposure limit consecutively if the purpose of reduction counterplan is not to merely reduce the number of company exceeding noise exposure limit but to abate workers' suffering from noise.

• 한국구조물진단유지관리공학회 논문집
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• 제19권3호
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• pp.64-72
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• 2015

고속도로교량을 위한 위험도기반점검주기를 제안하였다. 고속도로 교량유지관리시스템에서 얻은 상태데이터를 분석하여 교량상태 열화에 영향을 주는 위해성인자를 찾았다. 그러한 인자와 상태열화사이의 특정한 상관성을 찾았다. 이들을 이용하여 위해성점수를 평가하는데 이용하였다. 여러 가지 위해성 인자들을 종합하여 최종 위해성을 높음, 보통, 낮음의 세 단계로 구분하였다. 취약성은 교량의 현재상태로 평가하였다. 위험도행렬을 점검주기를 위해 제안하였다. C, D, E등급 교량의 점검주기는 현행대로 유지하였다. 그러나, 보통과 높음으로 위해성이 평가된 A 및 B 등급교량은 점검주기를 최대 6년까지 연장하였고 최소주기는 현행과 같이 3년으로 하였다. 위험도 평가에 따라 점검주기를 보정하므로써 평균 점검인력을 27% 절약할 수 있었다.

• 한국지하수토양환경학회지:지하수토양환경
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• 제29권3호
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• pp.14-22
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• 2024

This study established risk-based fluoride soil contamination standards according to the Korean Soil Contaminant Risk Assessment Guidelines (SRAG). Ten exposure scenarios were evaluated, broadly categorized into Scenario 1, which used the default parameters from the current SRAG, and Scenario 2, which used the latest exposure factors and bio-concentration factors. Fluoride soil standards corresponding to a total hazard index (HI) of 1.0 were determined for each scenario. For children in agricultural areas, the derived risk-based soil fluoride standard was 70 mg/kg for Scenario 1 and 27 mg/kg for Scenario 2. In industrial areas, the risk-based fluoride soil standard was 2200 mg/kg in Scenario 1 and 2300 mg/kg in Scenario 2. This study clearly demonstrated that the crop ingestion exposure pathway exerted predominent influence on the estimated human health risk standards. Additionally, using the Added Risk Approach and considering soil background concentrations, the total fluoride soil standards for residential areas ranged from 232 mg/kg to 444 mg/kg, while the standards for industrial areas ranged from 2405 mg/kg to 2674 mg/kg.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.199-206
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• 2020

Background: In a wide range of industries, noise-induced hearing loss remains one of the most prevalent occupational problems. This study aimed to assess the noise exposure level and associated factors of hearing loss among textile workers in Yangon Region, Myanmar. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at a Textile mill (Thamine), Yangon Region, from April to December 2018. In total, 226 workers who were randomly selected from 3 weaving sections participated in face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire. A digital sound level meter and pure-tone audiometer were used for the assessment of noise exposure level and hearing loss, respectively. Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the associated factors of hearing loss. Results: In total workers, 66.4% were exposed to ≥85 dB(A) of noise exposure, and the prevalence of hearing loss was 25.7%. Age ≥35 years, below high school education, hearing difficulty, tinnitus, hypertension, > 9 years of service duration in a textile mill were positively associated with hearing loss. After adjusting confounding factors, age ≥35 years (adjusted odds ratio = 6.90, 95% confidence interval = 3.45-13.82) and tinnitus (adjusted odds ratio = 2.88, 95% confidence interval = 1.13-7.37) were persistently associated with hearing loss. Conclusion: Providing occupational hazard education and enforcement of occupational safety regulations should be taken to decrease the noise exposure level. The regular audiometry test should be conducted for assessment of hearing threshold shift. The employer needs to implement a hearing conservation program in workplace when noise exposure reaches or exceeds 85 dB(A) for 8 hours.

• 산업경영시스템학회지
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• 제13권21호
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• pp.29-41
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• 1990

An assessment of risk in industrial and urban environments is essential in the prevention of accident and in the analysis of situations which are hazardous to public health and safety. The risk imposed by a particular hazard increases with the likelihood of occurence of the event, the exposure and the possible consequence of that event. In a traditional approach, the calculation of a quantitative value of risk is usually based on an assignment of numerical values of each of the risk factors. Then the product of the values of likelihood, exposure and consequences called risk score is derived. However vagueness and imprecision in mathematical quantification of risk are equated with fuzziness rather than randomness. In this paper, a fuzzy set theoretic approach to risk analysis is proposed as an alternative to the techniques currently used in the area of systems safety. Then the concept of risk evaluation using linguistic representation of the likelihood, exposure and consequences is introduced. A risk assessment model using approximate reasoning technique based on fuzzy logic is presented to drive fuzzy values of risk and numerical example for risk analysis is also presented to illustrate the results.

• 한국지하수토양환경학회지:지하수토양환경
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.64-72
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• 2007

토양매체중의 오염물질들은 다양한 경로를 통해 인체나 생태계에 노출되어 위해성 문제를 유발하고 있다. 토양위해성평가(Soil Risk Assessment)는 토양오염물질로 인한 악영향의 개연성을 정량적으로 평가하는 과정으로, 유해성 확인(Hazard Identification), 용량-반응평가(Dose-Response Assessment), 노출평가(Exposure Assessment), 그리고 위해도 결정(Risk Characterization)의 4가지 단계적 과정으로 이루어진다. 이중 노출평가과정에서 매우 중요하게 작용하는 노출인자(Exposure Factor)는 토양오염물질의 인체노출량을 산정하는데 필수적인 요소로, 미국, 유럽국가 등 선진국에서는 나라별 상황에 적절한 노출인자를 사용하고 있으나, 우리나라는 아직 국내에 적용하기 적합한 노출 인자에 대한 연구가 매우 부족한 실정이다. 본 연구에서는 토양오염 위해성평가를 위한 국가별 노출인자를 비교분석하고, 이를 토대로 국내상황에 적용가능한 노출인자를 제시하였다. 국가별 노출인자 연구는 미국 Environmental Protection Agency, 영국 Environmental Agency, 네덜란드 RIVM, 호주, 그리고 독일에서 적용되고 있는 노출인자값에 대해 노출인자별로 총괄적인 비교분석을 수행하였다. 또한 국가별 비교분석연구와 국내에서 제시된 노출인자 자료를 종합하여, 국내자료가 없는 경우 외국에서 보편적으로 적용하고 있는 인자값을 국내 적용 타당성을 고려하여 제시하였다. 본 연구에서 고려된 노출인자 조사항목은 평균수명, 노출기간, 노출빈도, 체중, 체표면적(또는 노출체표면적), 피부흡수계수(Skin Absorption Factor), 토양-피부간 흡착계수(Soil-Skin Adherence Factor), 음용수 섭취량, 호흡률, 토양 섭취량 그리고 농작물 섭취량 등이다. 본 연구는 오염토양의 위해성평가를 수행할 때 국내 상황을 고려한 노출평가에 필요한 기반연구가 될 것이다.

• 한국환경과학회지
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.163-171
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• 2013

The aggregate risk assessment on xylene and ethylbenzene was carried out according to the guidance established newly in 2010 with the purpose of providing information for risk management. In human exposure assessment, the results indicated that lower ages were exposed more and that, in the interior space at home, the highest level of human exposure occurred via inhalation. At outdoor spaces, exposures via inhalation and drinking were less than 1%. In human health risk characterization, xylene showed HI(Hazard Index) < 1 in all ages. When reasonable maximum exposure(RME) was applied, HI for young children was 0.64. The HI of ethylbenzene was also below 1(0.02~0.04) in all ages, indicating no potential risk. From this study, it is considered that xylene need to be continous monitoring with interest because this substance may be more sensitive on young age group. In additon, to reduce the uncertainty of the risk assessment, the korean exposure factors on young age group such as infant, children had to be established as soon as possible.

• 한국환경과학회지
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• 제14권1호
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• pp.9-14
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• 2005

This study evaluated the hazard caused by $NO_{2}$, an oxidant generated in the process of welding. We com­pared hematological and biochemical parameters in workers who chronically inhale $NO_{2}$ and office workers not exposed to $NO_{2}$. $NO_{2}$ exposure affected the hematological and biochemical parameters. Increasing $NO_{2}$ concen­trationincreased the number of leukocytes, while decreasing the number of erythrocytes. Blood urea nitrogen, cre­atinine, uric acid, and lactate dehydrogenase were increased, while total protein and triglycerides were decreased. The mean concentration of $NO_{x}(NO_{2}^{-}/NO_{3}^{-})$ in the serum of welders and the control group was $35.97{\pm}2.85\;and\;55.40{\pm}5.81\;{\mu}mol/L,$ respectively. The difference was significant (p < 0.05), although $NO_{2}^{-}$ was not detected in the serum.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제45권1호
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• pp.9-17
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• 2019

Objectives: This study examined the safety of tattoo ink by analyzing the phenol contents in tattoo inks and its risk assessment of selected phenol. Methods: A sample of 30 tattoo inks was purchased, the phenol contents were analyzed, and a risk assessment on dermal exposure from tattooing was carried out. Hazard identification was collected from toxicity data on systemic effects caused by dermal exposure to phenol, and the most sensitive toxicity value was adopted. Exposure assessment ($Exposure_{phenol}$) was calculated by applying phenol contents and standard exposure factors, while dose-response assessment was based on the collected toxicity data and skin absorption rate of phenol, assessment factors (AFs) for derived no-effect level ($DNEL_{demal}$). In addition, the risk characterization was calculated by comparing the risk characterization ratio (RCR) with $Exposure_{phenol}$ and $DNEL_{dermal}$ Results: The phenol concentration in the 30 products was from 1.4 to $649.1{\mu}g/g$. The toxicity value for systemic effects of phenol was adopted at 107 mg/kg. $Exposure_{phenol}$ in tattooing was from 0.000087 to 0.040442 mg/kg. $DNEL_{dermal}$ was calculated at 0.0072 mg/kg (=toxicity value 107 mg/kg ${\div}$ AFs 650 ${\times}$ skin absorption rate 4.4%). Thirteen out of 30 products showed an RCR between 1.02 and 5.62. The RCR of all red inks was above 1. Conclusions: Phenol was detected in all of the 30 tattoo inks, and the RCR of 13 products above 1 indicates a high level of risk concern, making it necessary to prepare safety management standards for phenol in tattoo inks.